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A review by iseefeelings
The Liszts by Kyo Maclear
4.0
3.5*
-
Admittedly, the first and foremost reason I brought this book home is because of Júlia Sardà's illustrations (this is her debut picture book!).
All the detailed patterns are like continuous waves coming in with every page I flip through. Speaking personally, such dark midtone palette in her style is not an easy thing to adjust, both with traditional and digital medium: Do it right or the whole piece will be nothing but a muddy one. A fearless act this is since many readers would prefer brighter hues, yet it seems to be amazingly suitable for the story, though.
On another hand, the storyline is quite inconsistent somehow. The more you try to connect the dots, the less this story makes sense. Why are there too many characters but no bond between family members? Why does nobody care about a stranger in the house? If more strangers to come, is it truly a fun thing to be a part of the Listzs? I don't know if I'm missing the point by analysing it with an adult's mindset or if any child would be likely to ask similar questions. The book may have a positive message: how you can always find a group that embraces your oddities in life but I don't think the story is clear enough to deliver it.
After all, the illustration is what takes me back to this book so I would not bother much but enjoy it aesthetically.
-
full review
-
Admittedly, the first and foremost reason I brought this book home is because of Júlia Sardà's illustrations (this is her debut picture book!).
All the detailed patterns are like continuous waves coming in with every page I flip through. Speaking personally, such dark midtone palette in her style is not an easy thing to adjust, both with traditional and digital medium: Do it right or the whole piece will be nothing but a muddy one. A fearless act this is since many readers would prefer brighter hues, yet it seems to be amazingly suitable for the story, though.
On another hand, the storyline is quite inconsistent somehow. The more you try to connect the dots, the less this story makes sense. Why are there too many characters but no bond between family members? Why does nobody care about a stranger in the house? If more strangers to come, is it truly a fun thing to be a part of the Listzs? I don't know if I'm missing the point by analysing it with an adult's mindset or if any child would be likely to ask similar questions. The book may have a positive message: how you can always find a group that embraces your oddities in life but I don't think the story is clear enough to deliver it.
After all, the illustration is what takes me back to this book so I would not bother much but enjoy it aesthetically.
-
full review