What do you think?
Rate this book
House of Clay
For a girl whose family used to be wealthy, starting work in a sweat shop turns out to be a life-altering experience. Very soon, hard work is the least of her problems - she finds herself in the middle of a love tangle with no confidantes but a rude old card-reading lady with an eerily similar romantic past and a mute girl.
148 pages, Paperback
First published November 1, 2007
2 people are currently reading
23 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
April 9, 2015
Beautiful artwork. It kept getting weirder as the story progressed. Very fanciful. Sometimes a bit confusing, but always beautiful. It helped that the main character was a red-head!
As for the story, it was okay. A little confusing at times and it ended without really wrapping up a lot of things. I still had questions about what happened prior to the story. I think that may have been the intent. Perhaps Naomi Novak just gave us a window into a few months of a young woman's life and we need to fill in the blanks.
It definitely had a dark side to it.
As for the story, it was okay. A little confusing at times and it ended without really wrapping up a lot of things. I still had questions about what happened prior to the story. I think that may have been the intent. Perhaps Naomi Novak just gave us a window into a few months of a young woman's life and we need to fill in the blanks.
It definitely had a dark side to it.
June 12, 2008
Naomi Novak weaves a dreamlike narrative with clear mythological influences in this gorgeously illustrated graphic novel. The story, loosely linear and highly symbolic in a manner reminiscent of a Catherynne M. Valente novel, follows Josephine, a hemophobic woman who takes a job in a factory to save money for nursing school, as she confronts a shadowy past conflict with a member of her distanced family.
Nowak arranges panels with wild artfulness, combining manga-influenced layout with the distinctly European flavor of the story. The dusty, muted colors and sprawling tangles of hair and amorphous plant life depict a sensual mix between imagination, reality and subconscious reverie. Stunning full-page dream sequences drive the plot and motivate Josephine’s actions. While the plot could stand more complexity, Novak makes up for it with stunning artwork. House of Clay’s delicious visual and allegorical appeal will stimulate any reader’s imagination.
Nowak arranges panels with wild artfulness, combining manga-influenced layout with the distinctly European flavor of the story. The dusty, muted colors and sprawling tangles of hair and amorphous plant life depict a sensual mix between imagination, reality and subconscious reverie. Stunning full-page dream sequences drive the plot and motivate Josephine’s actions. While the plot could stand more complexity, Novak makes up for it with stunning artwork. House of Clay’s delicious visual and allegorical appeal will stimulate any reader’s imagination.
February 3, 2015
3.5*
---------------------
The art attracted me to this. The story was all over the place, but did keep my interest pretty well. I definitely would *NOT* recommend this based on the story, which is about a woman that is scared of blood who wants to be a nurse, who is presently working in a shirt factory. But, I just might recommend it based on the interesting artwork.
Another thing, I think the old lady was related to Posey/Josephine. I got that idea from the photograph that showed her with siblings---one of which had the same name as Josephine's mother.
---------------------
The art attracted me to this. The story was all over the place, but did keep my interest pretty well. I definitely would *NOT* recommend this based on the story, which is about a woman that is scared of blood who wants to be a nurse, who is presently working in a shirt factory. But, I just might recommend it based on the interesting artwork.
Another thing, I think the old lady was related to Posey/Josephine. I got that idea from the photograph that showed her with siblings---one of which had the same name as Josephine's mother.
November 26, 2007
This graphic novel is a quick read, but I thought the story was interesting (if not a little confusing--there are a few loose ends that don't really get tied up, and some elements were a tad too vague), and the illustrations are beautiful. Naomi Nowak's artistic style is very unique and the illustrations were definitely the best part of the book. I could tell that Nowak is influenced by Japanese manga in her drawing style, but she incorporated some of those elements and created her own unique look. I'd definitely read more of her work, and I would even like to see a sequel to this!
March 3, 2008
The illustration style was quite different from any I've previously encountered; it was a flower-child's water colors drowning in a nightmare-scape.
The storyline was poorly connected, it took about half the book for me to realize what was happening and the author didn't provide a good reason to care for the main character until near the end.
The storyline was poorly connected, it took about half the book for me to realize what was happening and the author didn't provide a good reason to care for the main character until near the end.
April 8, 2010
There are alot of complaints for Nowak's storytelling but I feel her work is meant to be experienced rather than analyzed or followed coherently. The art and story were both beautiful and ethereal and ending it was like waking from a dream. I'm looking forward to her next graphic novel.
July 6, 2008
Reading this book was like having a dream under water. The images are ethereal and weird. Sometimes I didn’t understand what was going on. However, I didn’t dislike the experience.
March 28, 2018
It sucks when a book is as beautifully drawn as this one is, yet it still comes up short. And the story has some intriguing moments, an overall arc that sounds great, but the details in getting there fall short.
Posey goes away to earn money for nursing school, and perhaps to get away from her domineering mother. Befriending mute Edith and the local fortune-telling crank woman, Posey begins to work through her issues before eventually deciding to take off and find her own destiny, rather than the destiny expected of her.
Unfortunately, the characters - particularly the incidental characters, like the snotty girl where Posey works, and Posey's boss/Edith's abusive boyfriends - are painfully thin. Posey's revelations seem half-ass and more story convenience that honest character growth.
Still, the art is all pastelly and attractive, with interesting design choices made on nearly every page. It's nice to page through, but not recommended for actual reading.
Posey goes away to earn money for nursing school, and perhaps to get away from her domineering mother. Befriending mute Edith and the local fortune-telling crank woman, Posey begins to work through her issues before eventually deciding to take off and find her own destiny, rather than the destiny expected of her.
Unfortunately, the characters - particularly the incidental characters, like the snotty girl where Posey works, and Posey's boss/Edith's abusive boyfriends - are painfully thin. Posey's revelations seem half-ass and more story convenience that honest character growth.
Still, the art is all pastelly and attractive, with interesting design choices made on nearly every page. It's nice to page through, but not recommended for actual reading.
March 30, 2021
What love triangle?
She needed help telling this story in many ways.
1. Teh aert iz djust plane sloopy with serious panel issues
->Her lines are drunk- even if it's supposed to look shaky.
2. The flow of the story is VERY disjointed.
->It's a pothole plot.
3. The characters are flat and thin
->(figuratively speaking).
4. So much made so little sense.
But it was a good idea that could have worked very well. Has full-blown first bookitis even though it wasn't.
She needed help telling this story in many ways.
1. Teh aert iz djust plane sloopy with serious panel issues
->Her lines are drunk- even if it's supposed to look shaky.
2. The flow of the story is VERY disjointed.
->It's a pothole plot.
3. The characters are flat and thin
->(figuratively speaking).
4. So much made so little sense.
But it was a good idea that could have worked very well. Has full-blown first bookitis even though it wasn't.
July 15, 2022
1.5?
This graphic novel tries to be way too artsy, and it came across to me as just plain pretentious.
I'm not sure that I enjoyed the elaborated/schematic art that much (yes, it really is both at the same time), and the plot was so conceptual that it ends up being almost pointless.
Obviously, I'm not impressed, but at least it was a short read.
This graphic novel tries to be way too artsy, and it came across to me as just plain pretentious.
I'm not sure that I enjoyed the elaborated/schematic art that much (yes, it really is both at the same time), and the plot was so conceptual that it ends up being almost pointless.
Obviously, I'm not impressed, but at least it was a short read.
August 21, 2024
wouldnt call this "good", but it is pretty if you enjoy this hyperspecific style which to me is both othering and nostalgic. i remember reading comics like this when i was around ten and the style was popular, and never really understanding it. still dont
December 28, 2019
This feels like the start of a series but isn't. Engaging illustrations with complex and interesting characters.
October 31, 2025
It's good none of you get it
April 28, 2008
The graphics in this book are fantastic, but the plot is seriously lacking. I guess I don't find female characters who base their life choices on other people's expectations all that interesting. Sure, she "breaks free" by running away from her family and her job at the end, but it still seems like a weak move to cut off all ties, especially without a structured plan. If the protagonist was actually a teen, I might be more forgiving. She just comes off as a tragically immature and incapable woman bound for a wandering life of sorrow.
April 27, 2009
This slight, and frankly weird-but-not-in-a-good-way graphic novel, is too big for its britches. I don't know or care where it was supposed to be set. I don't even care how (spoiler alert!!!!!) what's-her-name lost her tongue, although I guess that guy cut it out. Whatever! What is the heroine's relationship with her parents? Strained? I don't care anymore. Is the dog a familiar? Why would a dead person want a picture with them? Why would that mean girl who gives the heroine the show-around at the beginning not tell her that her cousin doesn't (spoiler alert!!) have a tongue. I give up.
May 31, 2009
The art was gorgeous and if her work was presented to me only as prints, I would adore it. Unfortunately, she tried to weave a story that just fell apart. At first it was hard to follow because it is a different style, but I stuck with it since the art is beautiful. However, there was no feeling in it, the characters were hard to identify with, and the plot was hurried and left with so many loose ends. Nothing was refreshing and nothing captivated me.
Bottom line: I was very disappointed.
Bottom line: I was very disappointed.
December 29, 2007
My second graphic novel (Maus was the only one before). The characters' moods and thoughts are fluid on the page. A great sense of realism is acheived through the many fractured drawings--like things are really happening and not just crafted by the author. Some very clever use of layering--text on text (as well as drawings on drawings).
January 5, 2012
The story could have been interesting but to me it just wasn't. I didn't really care about any of the characters and the loose ends felt annoying.
The only reason I'm giving this book 2 stars is because the artwork was beautiful and I really liked the way Nowak used the panels in a different way that went with the artwork.
The only reason I'm giving this book 2 stars is because the artwork was beautiful and I really liked the way Nowak used the panels in a different way that went with the artwork.
June 9, 2008
The illustrations were the highlight, the story was so sad yet not fully realized. I would have liked a little more development to the characters. It was a very quick read and worth at least checking out.
September 24, 2010
A beautifully illustrated, but ultimately forgettable story about a young woman with an aversion to blood yet wants to become a nurse. As a graphic novel, I think it is a fine piece of art to looks at, but as a story I just felt that it was lacking--and, to be honest, boring.
February 7, 2017
2.5
The art style was absolutely beautiful but I found the layout and story confusing.
When I say story I say it very loosely because there was barely scraps of a story. The only redeeming factor was the artwork.
The art style was absolutely beautiful but I found the layout and story confusing.
When I say story I say it very loosely because there was barely scraps of a story. The only redeeming factor was the artwork.
April 9, 2008
The illustrations were amazing. The story, meh.
Read
July 28, 2011The art is pretty, but I had a hard time understanding what was going on. I gave up halfway though because it just did not hold my interest.
January 24, 2017
The artwork was very beautiful but I feel the story would have been better if it was stretched out into a longer comic.
July 27, 2012
this was so gorgeous, so different - the story was weird and lovely. sigh. love love love.
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews