This says almost everything I want to say about this book: /review/show...
Here are the very few things it doesn't.
I know thisThis says almost everything I want to say about this book: /review/show...
Here are the very few things it doesn't.
I know this is a proximity thing since I just finished these two books, but Woom does pretty much everything right that The Troop did wrong. Gross, but not dragged out so long that it loses any semblance of entertainment (a tight, basically 119 pages compared to the horrific slog of 358 pages of The Troop). Compelling characters that actually have some heart. And humor! There are a dozen or so jokes in here that are, of course, remarkably dark, but still... when I wasn't covering my face in shock, I was covering it to hide a laugh. There were maybe only three instances where the writing could be tighter (or there was an error in the 2022 edition I read) and, well, I guess that runs counterpoint to the whole point of Woom, now doesn't it? We need to streeeeeeetch.
Oh, I guess it was predictable (p. 5 and I knew where we were headed, eheh) but I don't mind that. What I do mind is the afterword which suggests continuation and further travel with the same characters... I don't really see how this could be good but I still hope it will be (if Ralston does go ahead with that plan). I just really doubt it... but I also really love to be wrong about pessimistic feelings....more
Really really good. I think the only bits that really detracted (ironically) were the superhero bits. Or, not necessarily detracted, but didn't ring sReally really good. I think the only bits that really detracted (ironically) were the superhero bits. Or, not necessarily detracted, but didn't ring so true as the rest... which of course is ironic because of the whole superhero thing not being true (maybe?), but still. Either way, very very good.
Strong 3 for various reasons. The shopkeep design was... somewhat lackluster? Or tonally confused? Honestly, I would've liked it if the graphic novel Strong 3 for various reasons. The shopkeep design was... somewhat lackluster? Or tonally confused? Honestly, I would've liked it if the graphic novel had spruced up and tightened the whole masks origin story a bit, too.
The mask itself too... I wish it went harder on the scare. The illustration for the original book cover is genuinely unsettling, but here we have more of a Green Goblin feel. Not bad, but not great. More than the mask, and in spite of its benevolence, Carly Beth's replica head (and corresponding faceless dream sequence!!) is the scariest bit, and its actions go unexplained! Hear hear! Okay, time for more complaining.
Pages 96 through 99 would be positively AMAZING... without narrator boxes. LET THE ART DO THE WORK!! It could've totally carried that load!
Finally, the manga influence on this is very apparent, and very well done. ← This is not a complaint, just so we're clear
Anyways. The Haunted Mask was always one of the stronger Piccoli Brividi tales, and this is a good adaption... I just wish it had been great....more
I was going to give this two stars until I hit that last teensy chapter. LMAO. Give me a BREAK. So bloody BAD. So many similes. So many overwrought "oI was going to give this two stars until I hit that last teensy chapter. LMAO. Give me a BREAK. So bloody BAD. So many similes. So many overwrought "oh this thing happened in my past and it was AWFUL" flashbacks. So much navel gazing (beware when you gaze in your navel, the worm in it gazes back at you!)... cut about 200 pages from this and we might have something. There are flickers of brilliance here. As it stands, this SUUUUUUUUUUUCKED
Oh, and dear God, do NOT listen to the audiobook. It's unbearable. I don't know if anyone could read this effectively, it's so loaded down with "THE HORROR, THE HORROR!" (I'm starting to get the sense that Coppola is a hack, too, by the way)
Edit: Oh, and I entirely forgot about the (view spoiler)[bit where Ephraim is convinced by Shelly to mutilate himself. This was so ridiculous that it threw me right out of the story. Shelly is just sooooo hypnotic that he can get another kid to cut himself up, because, in case you didn't know, humans can't feel pain, so we can just hack ourselves apart at our leisure. There's no real justifying buildup to this, and the book doesn't have the guts (lol, GET IT??) to zoom in on this whole process and at least make it worth it. What's the point if you're not even going to exploit it like every other nonsense torture-porn gore-fest in the book? But still, Lord of the Flies, AMIRITE? (hide spoiler)]...more
![呪術廻戦 21 [Jujutsu Kaisen 21]](https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1669924371l/61124345._SY75_.jpg)
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