The Melancholy Death of Oyster Boy: and Other Stories
HarperEntertainment - HarperEntertainment
Release date: 1997-10-22
Hardcover
Author: Tim Burton
Black humor, Fiction - General, English, USA, American - General, Fiction / Humorous, Fiction / Short Stories (single author), Humor / General, Humorous, Short Stories (single author), Fantasy, Science fiction, Short stories, American Contemporary Poetry, Fiction, Humor, Abnormalities, Human, Children, Fantasy poetry, American, Poetry, Science Fiction & Fantasy
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The Melancholy Death of Oyster Boy: and Other Stories
Date undefinedIt is as if he's been writing for decades, so naturally does his peculiar grasp of the English language grace each page of this charming book. "The Melancholy Death of Oyster Boy: and Other Stories" is everything you would expect a book of poems by Tim Burton to be, yet somehow not at all over-familiar but as fresh, as enchanting and memorable as to watch a film like "Edward Scissorhands" or "Ed Wood" for the first time. The gentle stories are told with an ironic and understated compassion. Some--such as the poignant tale of the titular Oyster Boy--will stay with you long after you've turned the page. His artwork is reminiscent of Edward Gorey in tone and humor but retains Burton's unmistakable stamp. The characters as illustrated are not infrequently gruesome yet also endearing and earnest. You wouldn't quite trust them off paper, yet feel compelled to treat the pages very kindly, all the same. The entire ensemble is so wrong it's come all the way back round to right again.
I let three of my friends read it, and each of them read the pitiful tales of Robot Boy, The Girl Who Turned Into A Bed or Mummy Boy with blankness at first, then a sharp if morbid curiosity, and at last a smile of incredulous bewilderment. I guess Burton is an acquired taste. I'm happy to say that I acquired him years ago on a little film called "Beetlejuice" and he's been a joyous source of illumination ever since. This book is a gem. I highly recommend it not only to his fans, but to everyone who likes to mix a little macabre in their whimsy. Or vice versa.
The Melancholy Death of Oyster Boy: and Other Stories
Date undefinedThere isn't a whole lot to not like about this book. While it is short, sometimes brevity is key to good storytelling. Tim Burton's little comic strip style book perfectly captures readers with it's dark wit and laughable illustrations. While this is and never could be considered good literature by any stretch of the imagination, it is never-the-less an entertaining read with a cast of colorless characters (most of the illustrations are in black in white) that will make you laugh out loud. Any fan of Tim Burton or dark humor will enjoy this quick read!
The Melancholy Death of Oyster Boy: and Other Stories
Date undefinedAs short and sweet as I need to be, the book is very well put together. The quality is good. It's built to last. And if you are a true Burtonian, then you will love this book.
