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Title: Ghost World by Daniel Clowes ISBN: 1-56097-427-3 Publisher: Fantagraphics Books Pub. Date: 01 April, 2001 Format: Paperback Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $9.95 |
Average Customer Rating: 4.63 (41 reviews)
Rating: 5
Summary: Enid and Rebecca's Ghost World is fun reading!
Comment: Seeing what was one of 2001's refreshing alternatives to the cinema, i.e. Terry Zwigoff's adaptation of Daniel Clowes' Ghost World, was what prompted me to get the graphic novel that inspired the movie, and I was NOT disappointed, believe you me.
Most of the scenarios seen in the movie are in the book. The garage sale, the lame comedian, the "Satanists," the 50's diner with "Weird Al," the prank call leading to the fake date, the note on Josh's door, etc. Two of them involve different characters. Enid's visit to the adult shop has Josh as her unwilling escort, while the recipient of the fake date was an unnamed character. Seymour was the subsitute in the movie for both occasions.
The interactions between Enid and Rebecca are realistic and human, as the bored duo spend days looking for excitement. Towards the end, their friendship gets frayed, as both have different visions of where they want to be, and the differences between them become pronounced and explored. Rebecca wants to belong somewhere, but Enid isn't sure.
The humor here is more human and natural while being profane at times. Certain characters add to the laughs, such as the obnoxious John Ellis, a right-leaning WASP who endorses controversial views and people, such as a ex-priest into child porn. He might as well be a refined Eminem. He constantly taunts Enid whenever they meet. In one conversation, we learn poor Enid's last name--Coleslaw. Enid: "My Dad has his name changed legally!" To which Ellis replies, "From what... three-bean salad?" Now that's funny! Another bit: Enid: "Look how hot we are... How come no boys ask us out on dates?" In the next frame, she says "Maybe we should be lesbos!" to which Rebecca says "Get away from me!"
Josh may be awkward and shy, but he is, as Enid tells him, "the last decent person on Earth." Both want to go out with him, but he is put off by Enid's sarcasm and he isn't sure about Rebecca. When pressed on his political views, he says he endorses "policies opposed to stupidity and violence,... cruelty in any form, censorship..." That makes two of us.
I've wondered this since I saw the movie, but does the bus stop where Norman finally gets his bus and where Enid goes, symbolizes hope? There's no interaction with Norman in the book, but it's revealed that the bus line has been reopened, while there's no such information provided in the movie. The novel doesn't change the symbolism of the bus stop.
Compare the book to the movie, which is different in some ways, but still explores the themes of alienation and growing up; see how perfect Thora Birch and Scarlet Johansson were in playing Enid and Rebecca. Both are stunning. Truly a rare gem of a comic.
Rating: 5
Summary: This book and David Boring . . .
Comment: had a lot to do with convincing me that a graphic novel could really achieve the depth and complexity of a genuine work of art. Clowes is a subtle enough artist to get more character in a frame than most novelists can manage in a hundred pages. I'd already seen the movie before I read the book, and I think I liked the episodic quality of the comic much better than the movie - it suited the aimless, repetitive nature of adolescence a lot better than the more conventional narrative of the movie.
I also thought the fantasylike ending of the movie was a false note: the conclusion of the comic book is much more consistent with the tone of the rest of the chapters, which are grounded in the reality of the characters and the world where they live, although I thought the movie beautifully showed how the increasingly phoniness and monotony of their town mirrored the slow separation of the friends, since Rebecca is a lot more willing to live in such an environment than Enid.
I remember reading an interview with Clowes when he was trying to explain why Enid and Rebecca like eating in those fake 50s diners. He said that it was the fact that whoever made them obviously had no idea what he was doing that was attractive, because it showed the hand of a human creator, instead of some corporation that would probably take the time to get all the details right (see for example Cracker Barrel, where every store feels down home but is exactly the same) - and I felt the same way about this book: the spirit of the author is really there. He isn't just trying to impersonate two teenage girls: he's obviously put a lot of his life and thoughts into Enid, and it's no surprise that her name (Enid Coleslaw) is an anagram for Daniel Clowes.
Anyway, this book is hilarious and authentic and groundbreaking, just the thing to give to friends who don't understand why you're still reading comic books...
Rating: 5
Summary: Surprised
Comment: Had never read what after looking through a few of the reviews here I now know is called a "graphic novel." But there was a copy of "Ghost World," translated into French, on the bookshelves of the apartment I'm subletting. I'd seen it there all along but got around to it only after first trying my hand at the real literature also on the shelves. Men of letters such as I do have our pride, after all.
And what a suprise! "Ghost World" was true, natural, human. The qualities, I think, of the finest literature. I was so moved by my quick first reading of the book that I've gone to the trouble of trying to remember my Amazon password just so I could write this review.
I'm not qualified to judge the drawings, but some of them--"drôle d'Al," as the French translator calls him, serving Enid a plate of onion rings or Rebecca, timid and ashamed, showing up at Josh's place at quarter to three in the morning--had me laughing out loud or shaking my head in wonder.
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Title: David Boring by Daniel Clowes ISBN: 0375406921 Publisher: Pantheon Books Pub. Date: 12 September, 2000 List Price(USD): $26.95 |
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Title: Jimmy Corrigan: The Smartest Kid on Earth by Chris Ware ISBN: 0375404538 Publisher: Pantheon Books Pub. Date: 12 September, 2000 List Price(USD): $29.95 |
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Title:Ghost World ASIN: B00005T30L Publisher: Mgm/Ua Studios Pub. Date: 06 August, 2002 List Price(USD): $19.98 Comparison N/A, buy it from Amazon for $17.98 |
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Title: Twentieth Century Eightball (20th Century Eightball) by Daniel Clowes ISBN: 1560974362 Publisher: Fantagraphics Books Pub. Date: August, 2002 List Price(USD): $19.00 |
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Title: Caricature by Daniel Clowes ISBN: 1560974583 Publisher: Fantagraphics Books Pub. Date: April, 2002 List Price(USD): $16.95 |
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