Friday, July 20, 2012

So Weird, So Good.

I was looking for books by Shaun Tan, but instead stumbled across Pretty Monsters by Kelly Link, which features some of Tan's illustrations.  I was all set to put it back on the shelf and then I noticed the blurb by Garth Nix.  If a book is recommended by Garth Nix, I'll try it.

This collection of short stories actually lived up to its blurbs (so very few books do, you know).  The stories were strange and weird and wonderful and haunting and eerie.  Some of them were funny, some of them were terrifying, and some of them were lovely in their oddness.  It felt at times as if I had wandered into a Surrealist illustration of a Brothers Grimm fairy tale, which was a strange but not altogether unpleasant sensation.  My personal favorite story was "The Constable of Abal," but I liked them all, even when they gave me the chills.  And the TV show in "Magic for Beginners" must be made.  I want to watch magic-wielding, dueling librarians!

If you enjoy weird, then you should try Pretty Monsters.  The writing is most excellent and the imagery and ideas are fantastic.  And the weirdness is perfect.

~ Book Ninja

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