Black Hole by Charles Burns Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of Black Hole
Book Review: Great value, great art, engrossing read...
Summary: 4 Stars
Years ago I picked up the first two or three issues of Burns' BLACK HOLE comic series but then could never track down the rest of them. I finally bought this collection and am very glad I did. The original series was published over something like ten years. I can't imagine trying to follow this story stretched out over such a long period of time! I read this collection over several hours on a vacation day and I think that's the way to go. The price of this book is equal to about three or four of the individual comics so there's another reason to go with this format. I'm normally a more mainstream, superhero comics guy, however I consider myself a huge fan of the comic book medium in general and BLACK HOLE is certainly a fascinating work of sequential art. Burns' artwork is really impressive. The details on his close up shots of everyday items, the way everyone looks like a real person and some intricate scenery shots steal the show. Content wise, I would recommend you know what you're getting into before buying this book. In movie terms it would be a very hard R-rated film.Book Review: I keep wanting more.
Summary: 3 Stars
I read this, and I read this quickly. I enjoyed the story and the artwork. I would pass it around and tell my friends to read it, buy it, check it out of the library. However, there is a lot of ambiguity in the story. I as a reader was interested but I keep wanting more. Not more in the sense of I like the universe of the story which is in itself a well-contained narrative.
What Black Hole lacks is a well contained narrative itself. This device might be a conscious effect of the writer. The reader is left with many questions unanswered about the plot in general, the motive force behind the plot, and the ultimate fate of the characters. I want you to read this book so I can ask you what you think the bug is.
I think it's a metaphor for teenage alienation, but I'm not sure. I just don't want to get it.
Book Review: Nothing bad so say, it just wasn't amazing.
Summary: 4 Stars
This was an excellent, well-drawn novel with a great story. I would recommend it to anyone. It just wasn't five-stars good. I picked it up at the book swap here at work, and I'm glad I did. I enjoyed the read, but I would have been slightly disappointed if I had bought it.
This book was a very easy read. The drawings are, for the most part, pretty simple, and the dialouge flows well. I finished it in about 2 hours. For most of the first chapter, I contemplated stopping and returning the book, but it does slowly draw you in.
Like I said, it's a good read, and worth the time, but I'm not sure it's worth the money. I doubt I would ever re-read it.
Book Review: One of the best books i've ever read
Summary: 5 Stars
This is not only an incredible graphic novel, filled with top notch and telling illustrations, it's also one of the best written pieces of modern fiction that I've read. It captures the fear, insecurity, confusion, sexuality, and perversion of high school and teenage life in an incredibly detailed way. On top of that, the story is truly compelling, and there were several times in the book when I found myself worried to turn the page. The characters are clear and succint, and the artwork is fantastic. Do yourself a favor and put this one on your shelf. I literally couldn't put it down once I'd picked it up.Book Review: Something so familiar, yet it feels so strange...
Summary: 5 Stars
I suppose I'm grateful to have stumbled upon this book now, as it's available all in one piece, as opposed to as the serials which were released over a 10-year time period. It would've been hard to wait that long to read more!
This book was recommended to me by a community interested in "disturbing books." How right they were, but in the best possible way. I've scarcely read anything that was so surreal, and yet still seemed so in touch and to perfectly describe the unbearable awkwardness and insecurity of being a teenager, with your hormones developing faster than your brain could keep up.
Everything in this book feels disturbingly familiar, and yet surprisingly alien, all at once, which is part of it's genius. While you feel so in touch with the characters, having experienced that awkwardness, that young love, and that desperate longing for sex, coupled with the intense fear of the consequences, everything seems just a tiny bit...off. Just far enough from reality, just surreal enough to keep you on your toes.
I would highly recommend this book, and am already trying to pass it on to friends to share the read. The book is overall very strong, and I did not find it predictable, pandering or even boring at any point, which is saying a lot. I will agree with some of the other reviews - the two biggest complaints would be that I absolutely wanted more, more of everything, and the fact that one storyline ends...in a way that feels mildly like trying too hard for a happy ending for someone, when you might not believe it could be.
Again, overall...I really recommend this book. If you're into graphic novels, if you liked Ghost World, or if you're just looking for something a bit disturbing, make the time to read it. You won't be sorry.