Review by Barbara Larkin -- Winners and Losers in words ...
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Barbara Larkin
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Review by Barbara Larkin -- Winners and Losers in words ...
[Following is a volunteer review of "Winners and Losers in words and cartoons" by Arthur Hartz.]
Winners and Losers: in words and Cartoons is a graphic book written by Arthur Hartz. With illustrations by Alexandar Jovic, Heroud Ramos and Michael Wolfe, this book is a quick, entertaining read. The second book in the Mundane Fortune series, it can be read as a standalone or in the order of the series.
A delightfully funny graphic novel that combines illustrations, quotes, aphorisms and dialogue, Winners and Losers is an unconventional take on society's obsession with winning. This book posits that failure is relative by breaking down our preconceived notions about winning and losing. It provides examples of each in a manner that induce critical thinking, along with an overflow of belly-aching laughs. Winners and Losers identifies the flaws in our very material world and makes overcoming them a feasible task for the average individual.
This book pointed out a variety of issues we face as a whole. It forces readers to question what exactly matters to them, underlining how we glorify inconsequential stuff. I liked how simple yet (dare I say it?) profound this book was. One of the key takeaways is in the name. We strive to be winners, and the fear of becoming losers largely dictates the direction our lives take.
Another thing that’s worthy of note is the general tone of the book. I was torn between roaring with laughter and wincing as each point hit home. The best I can describe it was to call it a work of sad hilarity. This was executed using a healthy dose of irony and satire, juxtaposed against the severity of the message. Even the phrase used in the synopsis ‘American religion of winning’ fed into the theme of the story.
There was only a single thing I disliked about this book, but even that was rather minor. Sometimes a page would only consist of a quote or an aphorism without the accompanying cartoon. It felt like these were only filler pages where the meaning remained but the feeling that more could have been done also pervaded. This didn’t exactly detract from the story, but it was slightly bothersome.
I had zero issues with the writing quality of Winners and Losers. There were no errors found, and even the illustrations were on point. Additionally, no quote or statement seemed surplus, and they all were designed to provoke thought and introspection. Because of this, I assumed the book was professionally edited.
I rate this book 4 out of 4 stars. This perfect rating is fully justified as I felt this story had no negative elements. I think that, with its deep, underlying message that was delivered in an appealingly hilarious manner, Winners and Losers is well worth the read. I recommend this book to those interested in a quick but meaningful read or readers who enjoy satire.
******
Winners and Losers in words and cartoons
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Winners and Losers: in words and Cartoons is a graphic book written by Arthur Hartz. With illustrations by Alexandar Jovic, Heroud Ramos and Michael Wolfe, this book is a quick, entertaining read. The second book in the Mundane Fortune series, it can be read as a standalone or in the order of the series.
A delightfully funny graphic novel that combines illustrations, quotes, aphorisms and dialogue, Winners and Losers is an unconventional take on society's obsession with winning. This book posits that failure is relative by breaking down our preconceived notions about winning and losing. It provides examples of each in a manner that induce critical thinking, along with an overflow of belly-aching laughs. Winners and Losers identifies the flaws in our very material world and makes overcoming them a feasible task for the average individual.
This book pointed out a variety of issues we face as a whole. It forces readers to question what exactly matters to them, underlining how we glorify inconsequential stuff. I liked how simple yet (dare I say it?) profound this book was. One of the key takeaways is in the name. We strive to be winners, and the fear of becoming losers largely dictates the direction our lives take.
Another thing that’s worthy of note is the general tone of the book. I was torn between roaring with laughter and wincing as each point hit home. The best I can describe it was to call it a work of sad hilarity. This was executed using a healthy dose of irony and satire, juxtaposed against the severity of the message. Even the phrase used in the synopsis ‘American religion of winning’ fed into the theme of the story.
There was only a single thing I disliked about this book, but even that was rather minor. Sometimes a page would only consist of a quote or an aphorism without the accompanying cartoon. It felt like these were only filler pages where the meaning remained but the feeling that more could have been done also pervaded. This didn’t exactly detract from the story, but it was slightly bothersome.
I had zero issues with the writing quality of Winners and Losers. There were no errors found, and even the illustrations were on point. Additionally, no quote or statement seemed surplus, and they all were designed to provoke thought and introspection. Because of this, I assumed the book was professionally edited.
I rate this book 4 out of 4 stars. This perfect rating is fully justified as I felt this story had no negative elements. I think that, with its deep, underlying message that was delivered in an appealingly hilarious manner, Winners and Losers is well worth the read. I recommend this book to those interested in a quick but meaningful read or readers who enjoy satire.
******
Winners and Losers in words and cartoons
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Latest Review: We are Voulhire: The Flesh of the Mind by Matthew Tysz
