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Sensitive Creatures
These uplifting vignettes of modern inner-city life come from one of Australia's most exciting comic artists. Full of life, honest, heartfelt and funny, they will work their way into your heart. "'Honest, perceptive and captivating.' Shaun Tan "
- GenresComicsGraphic Novels
304 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 1, 2011
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
July 5, 2019
A pleasant read. The stories based in Melbourne are non-taxing and the author is a talented graphic artist but the one eyed character gimmick didn't appeal to me.
I really wanted to like it more and support a talented Australian author. Hope to find more of her work.
I really wanted to like it more and support a talented Australian author. Hope to find more of her work.
January 23, 2024
I enjoyed it, I do like Mandy’s personality but this is just not my style of graphic.
August 14, 2018
This book grew on me as I read it. At first, I wasn't too into the drawing style, but I developed a real affection for the author.
April 17, 2015
I had the pleasure of meeting Mandy Ord at the Melbourne Writers Festival last year. So glad I finally got the chance to read this.
May 25, 2024
The short insights into everyday, mundane life through an episodic narrative has been done well. The subtle messages shine through as the audience is positioned to empathise with the urban, cityscape context and the various interactions they have all shared, but not thought of again.
I found that I couldn’t truly immerse myself in the characterisation of Ord, but I can definitely see how she would relate to a her readers.
I found that I couldn’t truly immerse myself in the characterisation of Ord, but I can definitely see how she would relate to a her readers.
March 20, 2018
Collection of little slice of life vignettes that happened to the artist. Curiously she draws herself as a one eyed, huge nose cyclops kind of person while the rest of the characters look perfectly normal. Very heavy, thick line art, lots of black and messy look.
June 30, 2016
I really appreciated this collection because it was probably the only work of literature (paull kelly lyrics collections aside) that I have read that captures a feeling of Melbourne, and Aussie cities so rarely are captured in that way (Ghost of Neville Shute haunts: Does On The Beach mean nothing!??). As to what that feeling is, I would say that Melbourne has plenty of unexpected but nothing unfamiliar. Even our diaspora induced cuisine is still just 'a Melbourne restaurant' in a comforting way. The other part is being able to get to the 'country' without leaving the city, the dogs, or your car. I think that is a pretend but nice hangover of the Australia as on the frontier idea. I think that the depiction of the city might be a reason why this collection was supported by 'our taxpayer money' and I for one am glad it was used as such!
As for the stories and characters I think the view is slightly askance, as typified by the one eyed girl, but not so askance tht the narrator is isolated from her subjects, in fact I love how connected she is, or tries to be, when the story involves disconnection. There are quite a few funny moments, but the stories aren't generally played for laughs (which I like) but are more like walking through an interesting op-shop, where you pick up 25 things and say 'isn't that interesting'- they don't have to be anything more or less than that.
As for the stories and characters I think the view is slightly askance, as typified by the one eyed girl, but not so askance tht the narrator is isolated from her subjects, in fact I love how connected she is, or tries to be, when the story involves disconnection. There are quite a few funny moments, but the stories aren't generally played for laughs (which I like) but are more like walking through an interesting op-shop, where you pick up 25 things and say 'isn't that interesting'- they don't have to be anything more or less than that.
August 27, 2015
It’s nice when a randomly selected book turns out to be a pleasant read. I grabbed this one off the shelf as I left work today and spent quite the pleasant afternoon flicking through it on the lounge.
Australian artist, Mandy Ord, uses her quirky artistic style to paint a portrait of the everyday. With no over-arching plot, Sensitive Creatures is a collection of comics that celebrate life’s daily minutia – walking the dog, people who drive too fast, weird smells. Peppered throughout, however, is a sense of anxiety and the ways in which it can permeate a life. While far from the key theme of the collection, it was true and honest and, for me, was what made the novel.
I found Ord’s art interestingly unlike any other graphic novel I’ve ever read. I’m not sure if it’s actually lino-print or just highly reminiscent of them, but it added a strange grittiness that added to the everyday feel of the collection. It was a quick read, but an enjoyable one and I’d recommend it for anyone who’d like a gentle meander through some relatable moments. 5/5
Australian artist, Mandy Ord, uses her quirky artistic style to paint a portrait of the everyday. With no over-arching plot, Sensitive Creatures is a collection of comics that celebrate life’s daily minutia – walking the dog, people who drive too fast, weird smells. Peppered throughout, however, is a sense of anxiety and the ways in which it can permeate a life. While far from the key theme of the collection, it was true and honest and, for me, was what made the novel.
I found Ord’s art interestingly unlike any other graphic novel I’ve ever read. I’m not sure if it’s actually lino-print or just highly reminiscent of them, but it added a strange grittiness that added to the everyday feel of the collection. It was a quick read, but an enjoyable one and I’d recommend it for anyone who’d like a gentle meander through some relatable moments. 5/5
January 1, 2016
Sensitive Creatures is a collection of autobiographical stories told in comic form, by Melbourne artist Mandy Ord.
The stories are funny, anecdotal and occasionally beautifully profound. My favorite was a bizarre tale where the roles of reader and book were reversed, where a walking book comes into a shop and chooses which tiny, little writer to buy. It’s very weird, although it makes more sense than my description of it. Most of the stories reminded me what I’ve read of Harvey Pekar’s American Splendor.
I’m guessing Ord drew her picture with ink and a pen, but I can imagine these pictures are lino cuts, because the lines are so deep and dark. It’s a good style, suiting the claustrophobic tone of the book.
It’s also nice to read stories set in the city where I live. Makes things seem more real. Thanks to television I can accept almost any absurdity occurring in London or the United States, but tell a tale in Melbourne and suddenly things get relatable for me.
If you get the opportunity, go check Sensitive Creatures out. This is great material.
The stories are funny, anecdotal and occasionally beautifully profound. My favorite was a bizarre tale where the roles of reader and book were reversed, where a walking book comes into a shop and chooses which tiny, little writer to buy. It’s very weird, although it makes more sense than my description of it. Most of the stories reminded me what I’ve read of Harvey Pekar’s American Splendor.
I’m guessing Ord drew her picture with ink and a pen, but I can imagine these pictures are lino cuts, because the lines are so deep and dark. It’s a good style, suiting the claustrophobic tone of the book.
It’s also nice to read stories set in the city where I live. Makes things seem more real. Thanks to television I can accept almost any absurdity occurring in London or the United States, but tell a tale in Melbourne and suddenly things get relatable for me.
If you get the opportunity, go check Sensitive Creatures out. This is great material.
May 30, 2017
This was brilliant! I'm sure it appealed to me more since I am based in Melbourne (and there were quite a few references to the city that maybe others wouldn't understand) but regardless I loved the illustrations and the personal nature of the stories.
Don't go in expecting something overly fantastical or even a proper narrative arc because that isn't what it's about (and it doesn't pretend to be). Snippets of the everyday are juxtaposed together to create an insight into Mandy's life. Her encounters with various friends and strangers are wonderfully honest and kooky, told in a completely ordinary yet somehow poetic way.
I'm very happy to see my regular haunt Sticky feature in one of the chapters!
Don't go in expecting something overly fantastical or even a proper narrative arc because that isn't what it's about (and it doesn't pretend to be). Snippets of the everyday are juxtaposed together to create an insight into Mandy's life. Her encounters with various friends and strangers are wonderfully honest and kooky, told in a completely ordinary yet somehow poetic way.
I'm very happy to see my regular haunt Sticky feature in one of the chapters!
May 29, 2016
3.5 stars
Overall, I enjoyed this graphic novel. There were parts that I didn't quite get and parts that were just eh, but there were also many parts that were truly funny, heart-warming, touching, and brilliant.
A side note, there was a smattering of Aussie slang or cultural references that would leave a reader who has never lived in or visited Australia a bit lost.
Overall, I enjoyed this graphic novel. There were parts that I didn't quite get and parts that were just eh, but there were also many parts that were truly funny, heart-warming, touching, and brilliant.
A side note, there was a smattering of Aussie slang or cultural references that would leave a reader who has never lived in or visited Australia a bit lost.
March 31, 2013
Yuck! I tried to like it, but the overly crude drawings and inane "stories" we're just too bad...
February 6, 2014
I'm over mundane storytelling of everyday life events and the artwork wasn't really too my liking. Sad because it's an Australian artist, which I would love to support.
February 13, 2014
3.5 stars.
November 6, 2014
Enjoyable snapshots on life. I enjoyed her comic teacher comics especially. Overall, good writing and enjoyable stories.
February 12, 2016
A likeable collection, initially somewhat lightweight and twee but interesting to see her mature and improve..
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews