Всегда рядом

by Tohby Riddle, Тоби Риддл, Yuri Machkasov (Translator)

Никто не знает, откуда они приходят
Но они здесь.
Невероятные птицы в небесной высоте бесконечной ночи...

Графическая новелла Тоби Риддла – история о свете и темноте, сомнениях и надежде, сострадании и дружбе - короткая и бесконечная. Магия книги в поглощающей силе чувств, которыми мечтаешь поделиться с теми, кого любишь.

Genres: Graphic Novels, Picture Books, Poetry, Fantasy, Art, Young Adult, Childrens

128 pages, Hardcover

First published September 1, 2012

About the author

Tohby Riddle is an Australian cartoonist and picture-book creator. In 2005 he became editor of The School Magazine, in which his illustrations, non-fiction pieces and poems appear regularly. In 2009 he won the Patricia Wrightson Prize in the New South Wales Premier's Literary Awards with Ursula Dubosarsky for their book The Word Spy.

Reviews

[Brenda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Whimsical, sweet and timeless, Unforgotten is a quick but magical read about the angels who live amongst us. With views from the Empire State Building; sunrise over Wollongong plus space by NASA’s Hubble Heritage team, the inclusion of images from the author’s father’s crossing of the Sahara Desert in 1955 make the graphic images vivid and ephemeral; beautiful and thought-provoking. A delightful book by Aussie author Tohby Riddle. Recommended for those who enjoy graphic novels – and even those who haven’t ventured there yet!

[Andrew · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a rather a unique book which I am sure I will need to re-read at some point to appreicate more and more - so do not be surprised to see if my rating changes (I have been known to do that in the past).

The story is effectively a visual accompaniment to a people. So with that in mind the books is really a series of visuals which are a mixture of collages using a mixture of historic photographs and customer drawn art.

The result is (at least to me) a rather startling story line - which borders on the disturbing while containing so many familiar elements.

So in short a very simple but impactful story which have a lot of familiar elements but at the same time does not let you just skim over the pages without stopping and taking a much closer look

[Tiffany · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was...hum...something. I guess basically it is a poem stretched out to make an artsy graphic novel type of situation. I liked the idea but, I don't know, maybe I just didn't get it. Well, no, I got it but my lack of appreciation is apparent. Kind of cool but kind of don't care.

[eden˙⋆✮ · Rating 1 out of 5]

i didn't really "get it", well i do get it but it's just not for me. the art was really cool though!

(i feel bad for giving it 1 star but i just didn't enjoy it, and just kept going because the images were kinda cool but i mostly wanted it to be over heh).

[Shannon Lemon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Unforgotten is an interesting and evocative graphic novel that brings an other-worldly presence to the reader. The mixed media art combined with simple but moving poetry can either leave one questioning the point, or provide the right reader with a thought-provoking mood that lingers long after the end. The poetry is drawn out over many pages of historical photographs and drawings that when viewed in a single sitting is not frustrating but more something that you pass by quickly to get through. Afterward you are more likely to go back and pour over each page of images while pondering the poem, or put it back on the shelf as if it was an interesting quick distraction. I enjoyed this book very much but I wouldn't go so far as to say it is ground breaking. Still I believe it to be a lovely novel that's worth the time of people who enjoy mixed media art and contemplation. 8/10

[Dave Riley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Delightful. A persuasive universe with its own mood. Wonderful use of montage elements and suggestive words. Think Raymond Briggs.'Tis apity my kids have grown and flown as I can only enjoy this on my ownsome.

[Marj Osborne · Rating 4 out of 5]

A beautifully rendered evocative picture book for the older reader. There's a mystical, poetic, almost spiritual aura to this book that's very comforting to the reader. A masterpiece.

[Shannon · Rating 2 out of 5]

Concept 'graphic' novel. Mixed media poetry? Interesting idea and highly moody. I prefer something with character development, so this isn't really something that I can effectively review.

[Erin · Rating 5 out of 5]

My mom bought me this years ago as a gift for some Christmas or another. I remember she said she was drawn to it but she didn’t know why. I promptly… put it aside and forgot about it. Talk about ironic.

Years later I still have this kicking around my tbr shelf and I decide to finally read the darn thing! I’m so happy I did. Riddle creates this almost dystopian feeling in his art, his collage technique with statues for people heads feels like the surrealist art that Terry Gilliam makes. Unsettling but familiar. The poem that accompanies the art is a beautiful circle. Sad with hope attached.

This book is a work of art and needs to be appreciated!

[E J · Rating 2 out of 5]

The illustrations were pretty cool but this dragged out a really minimal (kinda interesting) concept out for way longer than it could really support.
This was in the YA section at my library but I think it’s really a children’s book.

[Emily Mcleod · Rating 4 out of 5]

enjoyable and full of little surprises. I liked the collage effect and I enjoyed seeing the statues from history and trying to place them as the story wove past them without stopping. The poetry was lovely and the grief and despair was well captured in the illustrations.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5. An interesting poem illustrated with mixed media collage. Parts of it are very touching. The note on image sources at the end was a helpful insight into the artist's thoughts and processes, and I think added a great deal without any necessary explanation.

[Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

The artwork is amazing.

[Jamie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful and amazing graphic novel.

[Jay · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such interesting illustrative style - the use of statue / sculpture photographs as heads for humans was really interesting

[Jamie Gogocha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just beautiful.

[LP · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very intriguing art style for this book. It took me a few pages to catch on to the complex simplicity of the images. A delightful little tale to go with the art.

[Alyssa]

Interesting take on a graphic novel. It’s a series of pictures that goes a long with a story. Well, short story or poem. However you take it. It’s not bad. Different.

[tng · Rating 3 out of 5]

lovely concept and poem

[ツツ]

The juxtaposition of archival photographs and statues was so much fun!

[Anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Unforgotten was a beautiful illustration book telling a poem of the angels in our world. This book is unique and the illustrations/graphic’s were beautiful.

[Isis Molina · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5/5

I loved this book! It is beautiful and soft and there's an incredible poem woven with the artwork. I love angels, and I'm currently doing research on angels to learn as much about them as possible. This is a great book, and I'm so glad I found it.

I just wish it was longer!

[Fromwordstoworlds · Rating 4 out of 5]

Unforgotten is a surrealistic poem, a book where images replace words. At first sight it might seem strange, even shocking but it is a tender, symbolical testament about love, friendship, life, death and modern society. The dark images force the readers to dig in their subconscious and reveal meanings.
As I said, the text is a simple, lovely poem but it is the images that seem to defy logic and slow the reader. There are so many elements and symbols on each page that the reader is easily sent into a fantasy world governed by abstract ideas. The book is about guardian angels.
Unseen angels looking like children come on Earth to watch over, warm and mend, it is said in the first part of the book. But their healing work is sometimes overwhelming so in the second part we see a falling angel projected on the red fiery sky. Weakened it falls on the ground and looks for a place to rest, risking becoming stony. It is only when staying still like a statue, almost dead that people notice the angel. There is still hope and in the last part of the poem the fallen angel is rescued by a symbolic group including children, a donkey, a dog and a clown. It is the angel’s turn to be watched over, warmed and mended. The last pages illustrate a smiling angel flying ascendingly, a movement that translates a symbolic definition of life and hope.

See the full review on the blog:
https://fromwordstoworlds.wordpress.c...

[Jade · Rating 5 out of 5]

Exquisite--I can't think of a better word for this book. I came across it in the library yesterday and read it this morning in what felt like an instant. It's almost a long poem broken down among beautiful, multi-media artwork. The art takes photos from many sources, including a series of photos taken by the author's father on a trip in the fifties and mixes them together in a divine melange of statuary, photos, drawings and poetry. It tells the story of what appear to be guardian angels and one in particular who is drawn down to earth by the weight of suffering and starts to become a statue. It's an incredibly moving and beautiful little book. I will definitely be seeking out more of Mr. Riddle's books.

[Courtney · Rating 4 out of 5]

This lovely graphic novel depicts angels watching over the affairs on earth. Eventually, the strain becomes too much of one of them and the angel sinks to earth. Immobilized by the overwhelming struggle, the angel is mistaken as a statue. Eventually, a rag-tag group of beings start to rehabilitate the angel.
There's minimal dialogue; the story is mostly told through pictures. The artwork is absolutely gorgeous. It's mixed media and it's beautiful. This is a very fast read, but the story and art will stick with readers long after the cover is closed.

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

An enchanting story about Angela with beautiful drawings & photography & unique storyline. It enchanted me from the very first page and was a really quick read. The photos/ pictures is what really captured my attention. It covers things in life that we take for granted. We always being guarded from harm by something we can't see & when will know to give back? It's a must read. Though might I add that what really made me catch sight of this book was the authors name Tohby Riddle which I thought sounded a lot like Tom Riddle Y'know from Harry Potter aka Voldermort

[Jess · Rating 4 out of 5]

A haunting beautiful story! Children’s author-illustrator offers this graphic novel geared towards adults but accessible for children as well. In it child-like angels “come to watch over and to warm and to mend,” but in our troubled times sometimes it takes a toll on them. This is a lovely mix of hand drawing and collage creating a poignant story. Fans of the strange and wonderful, like Shaun Tan and Dave McKean, should check this out.

[Angie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Unforgotten is an illustrated poem. It shows angels looking over us until one of them falls to earth. The angel becomes frozen until someone notices it and brings it back to life. I found the illustrations really interesting as all the people are either photographs or works of art. The angels are simple black and white line drawings that really stand out against the colorful backgrounds. This is a different kind of book, but one that was worth the read.

[Sarah Mayor Cox · Rating 5 out of 5]

Have always loved Tohby Riddle's work. Unforgotten takes his work to new heights though (pardon the pun). Hear my review of it and interview with him and Ann Jones on ABC Central Vic local radio 91.1FM here:

http://blogs.abc.net.au/victoria/2012...