Friday 25 January 2013

ARTWORK AND REVIEW FOR JANUARY 'ARTFUL READERS'


                  MY FIRST 'ARTFUL' BOOK OF THE YEAR


Positives 
  • This was a successful 'in-betweener', easy reading and light-hearted,  the kind I like to read between more serious books.
  • I read it in just a few hours in my coffee breaks - it's one of those books I keep meaning to put down and then find myself well into the next chapter and into the next coffee break.
  • It's unlike anything I've read before, beautifully daft, tongue-in-cheek, great fun, with a bit of black humour.
  • Cleverly alternates between the present and past, with the great idea of the hundred-year-old-man acting as an unlikely catalyst in events of world importance.
Slightly less positive aspects - but not really negative ones
  • As with most books, there are a few slow, patchy or repetitious pages, but it's well worth getting through those for the entertainment of the rest of the book.
  • Perhaps readers much younger than me may not know of all the historical people and events, and may not enjoy those sections as much as I did.  Yes, there is a flavour of 'Forrest Gump' in there.
  • Disappointed that I finished it so quickly - I'll read it again!
ARTWORK INSPIRED BY THYOMWCOOTWAD
     
As children my sister and I drew simple comic strips, and later I drew them for my young kids.  This story was so visual that I kept seeing it as a comic cartoon.  OK, elephants aren't pink, but grey elephants would have looked very dull, and given the quantities of alcohol imbibed in the story pink ones seem appropriate. 



I hope you enjoy it as much as I enjoyed doing it.





34 comments:

  1. Hurray Jez I managed to find your post, but only via Facebook as the link on Darcy's blog said I didn't have permission to take a look, not sure if anyone else is suffering the same problems. I'm so glad I managed to get to your review, the book sounds fabulous and a quick read to boot, I don't think I've put any of those in my pile grrr! Loving the pink elephant too!

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  2. Glad you enjoyed the book, it sounds like it was a fun read. And I LOVE your comic strip - such a cute pink elephant, but ouch! for the keeper :)

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  3. I downloaded this book when I saw it in the Kindle sale - am really looking forward to reading it now :D

    I used to do that with the comic strips too! Love that you did that and it's really made me smile this morning.

    Thanks for stopping by mine and your lovely words, believe it or not that was a short review for me :D and yours is perfect! Told me to bump the book up my 'to read' pile for sure!

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  4. I keep thinking of Dumbo and the dancing pink elephants now :)

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  5. Oh Jez... your Elephant Tale is wonderful... awesome comic strip... love the pink elephants... and the book you read sounds like it was lots of fun... adding that one to my wishlist as well...

    Jenny ♥

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  6. Wow! i love that pink elephant! :) Great review! Lol! Quick reads is all I read.

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  7. Jez, since reading the kids book I posted about I have wanted to draw an elephant! Once again you have inspired me! love this & shall check out the book.
    cheers, dana

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  8. Jez, since reading the kids book I posted about I have wanted to draw an elephant! Once again you have inspired me! love this & shall check out the book.
    cheers, dana

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  9. Jez, since reading the kids book I posted about I have wanted to draw an elephant! Once again you have inspired me! love this & shall check out the book.
    cheers, dana

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  10. Jez, since reading the kids book I posted about I have wanted to draw an elephant! Once again you have inspired me! love this & shall check out the book.
    cheers, dana

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  11. Ahw, such a cute elephant! With my 5yo I only get to see purple dogs, pink cats and yellow suns, so why not add a pink elephant?
    You made me so curious and I really want to read this book now! Thanks! ♥

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  12. Hahaha...fabulous comic strip :D Sounds a really interesting little book too :D XXX

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  13. Love the comic strip!! that cheeky pink elephant made me chuckle x

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  14. haha love the pink elephant haha the book sounds great, i love dark humor im going to def check it out

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  15. loving your enthusiasm for this book, i really must read this one. just for title alone it deserves to be read lol It is def going on my list. Your artwork comic strip is a genius idea, totally fabulous,quirky and fun.

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  16. Great pink (and I think it's a great alternative to grey) elephant comic, Jez! I used to draw comics as a kid too :)

    So, overall you would recommend this book? (You must, since you're going to read it again!) I LOVE to read, and this looks like it might be right up my alley...

    xo
    Kristin

    p.s. When I read that the hundred year old man was "an unlikely catalyst in events of world importance" I thought, 'Hmmmm... That sounds like Forrest Gump.' Then, sure enough you talked about that connection. But, I love Forrest Gump so that really isn't a negative for me.

    p.p.s. This art/reading group you belong to sounds like lots of fun! (Two of my most favorite things!)

    p.p.s. Sorry so rambly today... I'm just in one of those moods, I guess ;)

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  17. The comic strip is fun. Sounds like an interesting book.

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  18. This is one of those books I saw on the initial lists that had me interested. I'd like to read this one at some time.

    And wow on the comic. So very cool. Great job on the artwork!

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  19. I was looking at this book in town today and was quite tempted so I think your review has persuaded me to give it a go, thank you! I love your art work, the elephants are such fun :)

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  20. Aaaaaah I am half way through this book for next month and really smiled when Sonja appeared on your page in pink. Just like I imagined her to be! So far I love the book and I am old so I know all about the history stuff too. There is a bit of a patch just like you mentioned where I am getting only a tinny bit bored. So great to hear it is going to get better soon. I love your cartoon and can't wait to see what you create for you next book. Absolute gorgeousness just being here. Thanks for sharing you made my day!
    ManonX

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  21. What a wonderful piece of visual art!
    I often think in pictures and wish I had your ability to draw what I have visualized. Superb.

    Janet xx

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  22. thanks for joining my APR but I can't find your post with your art, without the actual URL (specific blog post address) I can't post your art to my wrap up at the end of the week. If you could re-enter your art by finding the specific post and clicking on it's title, the specific blog post URL will be in the address bar (will look something like http://jezartjournal.blogspot.co.uk/SPECIFIC BLOG POST TITLE
    Thanks so much!

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  23. I really enjoyed your review, thanks Jez. Sounds like a fun book and I really admire your art - it's fab.

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  24. I enjoyed your review and love your whimsical artwork. It's fun and quirky. Thanks for the heads up on the book. Michelle Vanstrom

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  25. Always Love pink elephants...FABulous elephant tale comic strip...great review.

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  26. Damn! I think a spammer has got into your blog!

    What fun you make the book sound and the artwork is so jolly! Love it!
    Hugs xx

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  27. Thanks SusieJ - Blogger is usually very good at blocking them, but the same one was in Spam and on the blog at the same time. Banished them now, hopefully to oblivion. Thanks for your encouraging comment.
    Thanks also to everyone for raising my morale with these great comments.

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  28. Such a cute elephant! The book sounds great too!

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  29. Thanks for a great review. It sounds like it should go on the TBR (to be read) list! Great art work. You pink elephant is wonderful!

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  30. Love the Pink Elephant comic strip, we have some walls in our home covered in satirical cartoons, they are always great to look at. Yours would look brilliant amongst them. :-) Thanks for the concise and interesting review, I need to read this now, as I downloaded it the other day thanks to your link. X

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  31. Love the comic strip, which reminds me of Dumbo (which my 3yo loves so I've had to watch it A LOT recently). The book sounds good so it's now on my list!

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  32. I love your comic strip. Personally, I think all elephants should be pink...much more fun for such a large animal. Your kids must have loved the ones you drew for them. This book is now on my "to-read" list. Thanks for sharing your review and artwork.

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  33. Love the comic strip. Full of admiration for your drawing ability. I have this book on my kindle awaiting me. Looking forward to it.
    Jen x

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  34. Fantastic comic sip and this book is now jumping onto my list to read ... The list is getting longer with each blog post I read!

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