Allow me to commend to you Mervyn Peake's "Captain Slaughterboard Drops Anchor". Violence is offstage, but it's there. It's mostly about friendship (please don't read too much into it) and the illustrations are fabulous.
As for horror-stories (the good ones, anyway), I have written elsewhere:
"Horror stories are effective when they successfully undermine (or enable you plausibly to suspend) your belief in a narrowly rational universe. A staple of the genre is a character that is in denial about a horrific reality until it overtakes him. The genre is thus a rebuke to rationalist hubris and complacent materialism. It operates in a universe that is mysteriously open, liberating the reader or viewer from the oppression of one-dimensional rationalism (and its pecksniff enforcers)."
Extremely rare ctrl post (and I'm sure that a plaintext/casual/direct, you know what I mean, post like this book review is even rarer) :0
Thoroughly enjoyed reading this: praise of children's literature, fairy history & lore, those that rid the dullness of life, magic everywhere, thoughtful sudden parellels to our world; I've never heard of this book before, but now I feel I must have it :)
A lovely, stimulating reflection. Thank you.
Allow me to commend to you Mervyn Peake's "Captain Slaughterboard Drops Anchor". Violence is offstage, but it's there. It's mostly about friendship (please don't read too much into it) and the illustrations are fabulous.
As for horror-stories (the good ones, anyway), I have written elsewhere:
"Horror stories are effective when they successfully undermine (or enable you plausibly to suspend) your belief in a narrowly rational universe. A staple of the genre is a character that is in denial about a horrific reality until it overtakes him. The genre is thus a rebuke to rationalist hubris and complacent materialism. It operates in a universe that is mysteriously open, liberating the reader or viewer from the oppression of one-dimensional rationalism (and its pecksniff enforcers)."
I had no idea Mervyn Peake published a picture book! I will certainly check it out, having immensely enjoyed his writing and illustrations elsewhere.
I'd love to hear what you think of it. That, and his marvelous poem: "The Frivolous Cake".
Extremely rare ctrl post (and I'm sure that a plaintext/casual/direct, you know what I mean, post like this book review is even rarer) :0
Thoroughly enjoyed reading this: praise of children's literature, fairy history & lore, those that rid the dullness of life, magic everywhere, thoughtful sudden parellels to our world; I've never heard of this book before, but now I feel I must have it :)
It's really a jewel. Not flashy or mind-bending, but a comfortable sort of perfection, if that makes sense. I will always remember it fondly.