Author: Tim Burton
Type: Paperback
Read: 11th May 2017
Rating: 5/5
Published: 1st December 2005 by Faber and Faber
Occupying a similarly sinister and macabre world to the American artist Edward Gorey, Tim Burton's work is similarly difficult to place. This is a beautifully produced book filled with fine line drawings – many in colour – illustrating 23 small verse stories which all centre on a surreal deformity – the eponymous Oyster Boy, Stain Boy, The Boy with Nails in his Eyes, Junk Girl, The Pin Cushion Queen... The tales are all quietly disturbing. As with Burton's cinematic work (Edward Scissorhands, Nightmare Before Christmas and Mars Attacks) the book seems aimed at children but the subtexts feel too disquieting. This however is where Burton's genius lies. Children are outcasts in the adult world and their own notion of what is important, grave, frightening and odd is different to ours. We each remember the child inside of us and so are each compelled to recognise the otherness within ourselves: the outcasts that Burton paints are somehow strangely well known to us. As dark and disturbing as the best fairy tales Burton shares a space with the Brothers Grimm – a place that all children know exists when the lights go out and the adults leave the room.
Tim Burton, is not only a film director, but also a poet. This is a book of stories, although i'd say rhymes more so. It's an easy read, as there are many stories, the chapters are tiny. There are pictures with this and they match the story told.
We kind of get a glimpse into Tim's mind. Its dark. Its also a little sad. The Oyster boy story was very sad. I would happily read something like this again. Its weird to get a look into someone else's mind. Although with Tim, it shouldn't be so surprsing with the ideas held in there.
Go Get it From: Amazon UK | Book Depository | Waterstones | Wordery
This is one of my favourite books! So glad you liked it.
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