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Friday 24 January 2020

THE MELANCHOLY DEATH OF OYSTER BOY AND OTHER STORIES by Tim Burton

The Melancholy Death of Oyster Boy and Other Stories
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I like Tim Burton's storytelling style and art. A lot. He's got a certain way of capturing the strange and weird in a sad, yet very entertaining way. I mean, The Nightmare Before Christmas is one of my all-time faves.

So, when I found this adorable black book in one of the thrift stores we frequent, I HAD to buy it.

This magical and grim book is full of poems featuring some very strange and tragic characters. It's full of senseless and somewhat selfish parents who don't consider the children they bear. And as a result, a lot of the kids in this book are pitiful and really make you feel for their very glum existence.

There aren't many happy endings here, but there are countless of wonderfully bizarre characters you'll fall in love with. And then weep for. But, you'll also laugh because the morbid humour definitely tickles the funny bone.

No matter how long or short, I enjoyed all of these poems but especially enjoyed the very horrifying The Melancholy Death of Oyster Boy and the despairing Anchor Baby. Both of these stories are told in a way that is strange and fantastical, yet carry so much weight in relation to parenthood and motherhood, that it makes both quite powerful.

While the Stain Boy, Roy, the Toxic Boy, Mummy Boy and Junk Girl stories are tragic tales of bad luck and misery, I found Staring Girl, The Girl Who Turned into a Bed and Sue to be slices of delight that filled me with joy and laughter.

And the illustrations are quirky and gorgeous and beautiful and bright. Even the gloomiest of artwork is lovely.

I have to be honest, this hardcover book is a piece of art that fills my freaky heart to bursting. 🖤

I'll treasure this always. 




ADDITIONAL NOTES:

I love Tim Burton's creepy but oh-so pretty with so much heart style because he can so easily make the ghastly beautiful. The macabre sympathetic.

He makes you fall in love with the monsters, and appreciate the freaky.

This gorgeous book captures everything I love the best about his storytelling and unique art style.

I still can't believe how lucky I was to come across this book. For one thing, I didn't even know it had been published. And the fact I found it in a thrift store--a thrift store!--makes everything SO much more amazing.

Like I said, super lucky. 😃

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