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Griffin & Sabine #1
Griffin & Sabine
Griffin: It's good to get in touch with you at last. Could I have one of your fish postcards? I think you were right—the wine glass has more impact than the cup. —Sabine
But Griffin had never met a woman named Sabine. How did she know him? How did she know his artwork? Who is she? Thus begins the strange and intriguing correspondence of Griffin and Sabine. And since each letter must be pulled from its own envelope, the reader has the delightful, forbidden sensation of reading someone else's mail. Griffin & Sabine is like no other illustrated novel: appealing to the poet and artist in everyone and sure to inspire a renaissance in the fine art of letter-writing, it tells an extraordinary story in an extraordinary way.
But Griffin had never met a woman named Sabine. How did she know him? How did she know his artwork? Who is she? Thus begins the strange and intriguing correspondence of Griffin and Sabine. And since each letter must be pulled from its own envelope, the reader has the delightful, forbidden sensation of reading someone else's mail. Griffin & Sabine is like no other illustrated novel: appealing to the poet and artist in everyone and sure to inspire a renaissance in the fine art of letter-writing, it tells an extraordinary story in an extraordinary way.
46 pages, Hardcover
First published September 1, 1991
158 people are currently reading
31681 people want to read
About the author
Nick Bantock
67 books761 followersNick was schooled in England and has a BA in Fine Art (painting). He has authored 25 books, 11 of which have appeared on the best seller lists, including 3 books on The New York Times top ten at one time. Griffin & Sabine stayed on that list for over two years. His works have been translated into 13 languages and over 5 million have been sold worldwide. Once named by the classic SF magazine Weird Tales as one of the best 85 storytellers of the century. He has written articles and stories for numerous international newspapers and magazines. His Wasnick blogs are much followed on Facebook and Twitter. His paintings, drawings, sculptures, collages and prints have been exhibited in shows in UK, France and North America. In 2010 Nick's major retrospective exhibition opened at the MOA in Denver. His works are in private collections throughout the world. Nick has a lifetime BAFTA (British Oscar) for the CD-ROM game Ceremony of Innocence, created with Peter Gabriel's Real World, featuring Isabella Rossolini and Ben Kingsley. He has two iPad apps, Sage and The Venetian and is working on a third. Three of his books have been optioned for film and his stage play based on the Griffin & Sabine double trilogy premiered in Vancouver in 2006.
Produced artwork for more than 300 book covers (including works by Roth and Updike), illustrated Viking Penguin's new translation of Chaucer's Canterbury Tales. He's designed theater posters for the London plays of Tom Stoppard and Alec Guinness.
For 20 years Bantock has spoken and read to audiences throughout North America, Europe and Australia. Given keynote and motivational speeches to corporations and teachers state conferences. He's given dramatic readings on the radio and the stage and has been interviewed (way too many times) for TV, radio and print.
Bantock has worked in a betting shop in the East End of London, trained as a psychotherapist, designed and built a house that combined an Indonesian temple and a Russian orthodox church with an English cricket pavilion and a New Orleans bordello. Between 2007 and 2010 was one of the twelve committee members responsible for selecting Canada's postage stamps.
Among the things Bantock can't do: Can't swim, never ridden a horse, his spelling is dreadful and his singing voice is flat as a pancake.
Source: Nick Bantock - profile
Produced artwork for more than 300 book covers (including works by Roth and Updike), illustrated Viking Penguin's new translation of Chaucer's Canterbury Tales. He's designed theater posters for the London plays of Tom Stoppard and Alec Guinness.
For 20 years Bantock has spoken and read to audiences throughout North America, Europe and Australia. Given keynote and motivational speeches to corporations and teachers state conferences. He's given dramatic readings on the radio and the stage and has been interviewed (way too many times) for TV, radio and print.
Bantock has worked in a betting shop in the East End of London, trained as a psychotherapist, designed and built a house that combined an Indonesian temple and a Russian orthodox church with an English cricket pavilion and a New Orleans bordello. Between 2007 and 2010 was one of the twelve committee members responsible for selecting Canada's postage stamps.
Among the things Bantock can't do: Can't swim, never ridden a horse, his spelling is dreadful and his singing voice is flat as a pancake.
Source: Nick Bantock - profile
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,748 reviews
July 28, 2017
This isn't a novel; in fact, it's a book that can probably be read by most people in less than an hour. It is more of an artistic expression of both love and desire in written form, as explored via a mysterious correspondence, in which the reader can participate.
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August 21, 2024
‘Pain and beauty, our constant bedfellows.’
I have a huge soft spot for art that incorporates the audience in the work, or where the act of viewing becomes part of the overall performance. Nick Bantock’s Griffin and Sabine is a stunning and provocative multimedia literary performance with an epistolary narrative enhanced through Bantock’s engaging artwork. Artist Giffin receives a postcard in the mail one day from a woman he has never met, telling him details of his art nobody should be able to know. Thus sets off ‘an extraordinary correspondence’ between him and Sabine, a mysterious woman who is able to witness in her mind's eye his artwork as he paints it thousands of miles away. The book itself is quite literally just the letters between the pair, sometimes the post cards upon which they write or envelopes the reader gets to open, unfold and read in their hands as the characters themselves would do. While this initial book is short, it is only the first chapter in an epic narrative between the two characters that unfolds with plenty of intrigue and mystery that the artistic elements are a welcome bonus and not a gimmick without which the story would fall flat. While the love story does pose a few problematic issues, this is a magical work and such a delight to flip through and enjoy.
Nick Bantock is a British artist who certainly has a gift for finding inventive uses for his art. Written into the narrative is that Griffin creates postcards and Sabine is an artist for postage stamps, which allows open opportunity to show his unique art in a way to visually adorn the story. He’s used two distinct artistic styles and the images are quickly identifiable to their corresponding character, Griffin often using a fairly surrealist technique such as mixing two different stamps to create a composite image or haunting, dreamlike paintings whereas Sabine’s has a bit of a flair similar to Peter Sís. As the book is framed as found documents, the tactile aspects of rummaging through envelopes and postcards leans into the voyeuristic nature that is also thematic to the story. It draws you in as both reader and participant, fully immersed in the magical world Bantock has created.
There have been other similar works--S., conceived by director J.J. Abrams and written by Doug Dorst immediately comes to mind--but what makes this work is the simplicity rather than the elaborate conceits of S. There is nothing outside what is written in the letters, which, especially as they turn from mysteriously rummaging around to learn about each other and blossom into love letters and emotional confessions, become more like poetry than anything else. Another clever aspect that keeps you drawn into the world is that Bantock uses a different handwriting for each (and often a typewriter for Griffin) and adds little flourishes such as misspellings, crossed out words and other minor flaws individually characteristic of each writer. It is the small details that really make this work and the book--and ultimately the full collection of books--amalgamates to be greater than the sum of its parts. Admittedly, taken individually or for each element it is just okay, but the overall performance is impressive.
Initially, Griffin takes their correspondence to be either a hoax or some threat, though he quickly eases up and believes in the magic professed by Sabine. He quickly opens up about intimate details in his life and is the first to--rather quickly--begin to write that he loves the other. There are strong themes of loneliness and yearning to be understood, which vibes well with them each being solitary artists, but also a theme of mental health. He constantly fears Sabine might just be his imagination and mental illness playing with his one heart, but then also fears the connection forming between them when he accepts that she may be real. As learned in the final responses before the end of this first act, we see Griffin as sad, tormented but also his longing for love not unlike a dog chasing a car where, were they to catch it, wouldn’t know what to do with it.
Which is, unfortunately, where there are some problematic issues to be addressed. The entirety of this story is a woman of color with magical abilities who’s entire role is to be a comfort and understanding to the white English male suffering from self-doubt and depression. While we do learn her past in brief, much of the work is centered on his struggles with his own past. While she is the first to initiate contact, she lacks much agency beyond being a figure caring for him. Being from a small island in the Pacific and he living in London it practically screams imperialism and evokes the long history of European colonialism in the region. Unfortunately this only gets stronger in the second act. While he is fickle with his love, she is open, warm and endlessly giving, and to be honest I’m sort of done with that cliche. That said, the book is still lovely and cute, and the actual performance aspects of it are what kept me reading the entire series but these issues were never too far from my mind.
I came to this series quite by accident, really. I work at a library and was pulling our Holds for the day when I grabbed the book directly next to these and noticed the spines. In keeping with the ‘found art’ aspect of the performance, it was like I’d just stumbled upon some hidden treasure. I grabbed the whole series and read them over a few short days. To be honest, I haven’t returned them and am on my third and final renewal, I just enjoy flipping through them so much. These are short--the pacing feels a bit rushed, to be honest--but rewarding and a great little piece of art on its own. It’s something fun to pull off your shelf and show other people for its uniqueness. The art is quite wonderful and embodies aesthetics of antiquated and found objects, travel, and mystery, a style I tend to enjoy as it is. If you are someone that ever owned a typewriter for aesthetic purposes instead of practical, this book is for you. In an era where many relationships begin online, this book seems extra relevant, with the magical touches only making it more adorable. A clever and charming little adventure, made all the better by being able to take part in the adventure yourself. It is a really unique and fun experience.
3.5/5
Follow along in the series.
Vol 2: Sabine's Notebook
and
Vol 3: The Golden Mean
I have a huge soft spot for art that incorporates the audience in the work, or where the act of viewing becomes part of the overall performance. Nick Bantock’s Griffin and Sabine is a stunning and provocative multimedia literary performance with an epistolary narrative enhanced through Bantock’s engaging artwork. Artist Giffin receives a postcard in the mail one day from a woman he has never met, telling him details of his art nobody should be able to know. Thus sets off ‘an extraordinary correspondence’ between him and Sabine, a mysterious woman who is able to witness in her mind's eye his artwork as he paints it thousands of miles away. The book itself is quite literally just the letters between the pair, sometimes the post cards upon which they write or envelopes the reader gets to open, unfold and read in their hands as the characters themselves would do. While this initial book is short, it is only the first chapter in an epic narrative between the two characters that unfolds with plenty of intrigue and mystery that the artistic elements are a welcome bonus and not a gimmick without which the story would fall flat. While the love story does pose a few problematic issues, this is a magical work and such a delight to flip through and enjoy.
Nick Bantock is a British artist who certainly has a gift for finding inventive uses for his art. Written into the narrative is that Griffin creates postcards and Sabine is an artist for postage stamps, which allows open opportunity to show his unique art in a way to visually adorn the story. He’s used two distinct artistic styles and the images are quickly identifiable to their corresponding character, Griffin often using a fairly surrealist technique such as mixing two different stamps to create a composite image or haunting, dreamlike paintings whereas Sabine’s has a bit of a flair similar to Peter Sís. As the book is framed as found documents, the tactile aspects of rummaging through envelopes and postcards leans into the voyeuristic nature that is also thematic to the story. It draws you in as both reader and participant, fully immersed in the magical world Bantock has created.
There have been other similar works--S., conceived by director J.J. Abrams and written by Doug Dorst immediately comes to mind--but what makes this work is the simplicity rather than the elaborate conceits of S. There is nothing outside what is written in the letters, which, especially as they turn from mysteriously rummaging around to learn about each other and blossom into love letters and emotional confessions, become more like poetry than anything else. Another clever aspect that keeps you drawn into the world is that Bantock uses a different handwriting for each (and often a typewriter for Griffin) and adds little flourishes such as misspellings, crossed out words and other minor flaws individually characteristic of each writer. It is the small details that really make this work and the book--and ultimately the full collection of books--amalgamates to be greater than the sum of its parts. Admittedly, taken individually or for each element it is just okay, but the overall performance is impressive.
Initially, Griffin takes their correspondence to be either a hoax or some threat, though he quickly eases up and believes in the magic professed by Sabine. He quickly opens up about intimate details in his life and is the first to--rather quickly--begin to write that he loves the other. There are strong themes of loneliness and yearning to be understood, which vibes well with them each being solitary artists, but also a theme of mental health. He constantly fears Sabine might just be his imagination and mental illness playing with his one heart, but then also fears the connection forming between them when he accepts that she may be real. As learned in the final responses before the end of this first act, we see Griffin as sad, tormented but also his longing for love not unlike a dog chasing a car where, were they to catch it, wouldn’t know what to do with it.
Which is, unfortunately, where there are some problematic issues to be addressed. The entirety of this story is a woman of color with magical abilities who’s entire role is to be a comfort and understanding to the white English male suffering from self-doubt and depression. While we do learn her past in brief, much of the work is centered on his struggles with his own past. While she is the first to initiate contact, she lacks much agency beyond being a figure caring for him. Being from a small island in the Pacific and he living in London it practically screams imperialism and evokes the long history of European colonialism in the region. Unfortunately this only gets stronger in the second act. While he is fickle with his love, she is open, warm and endlessly giving, and to be honest I’m sort of done with that cliche. That said, the book is still lovely and cute, and the actual performance aspects of it are what kept me reading the entire series but these issues were never too far from my mind.
I came to this series quite by accident, really. I work at a library and was pulling our Holds for the day when I grabbed the book directly next to these and noticed the spines. In keeping with the ‘found art’ aspect of the performance, it was like I’d just stumbled upon some hidden treasure. I grabbed the whole series and read them over a few short days. To be honest, I haven’t returned them and am on my third and final renewal, I just enjoy flipping through them so much. These are short--the pacing feels a bit rushed, to be honest--but rewarding and a great little piece of art on its own. It’s something fun to pull off your shelf and show other people for its uniqueness. The art is quite wonderful and embodies aesthetics of antiquated and found objects, travel, and mystery, a style I tend to enjoy as it is. If you are someone that ever owned a typewriter for aesthetic purposes instead of practical, this book is for you. In an era where many relationships begin online, this book seems extra relevant, with the magical touches only making it more adorable. A clever and charming little adventure, made all the better by being able to take part in the adventure yourself. It is a really unique and fun experience.
3.5/5
Follow along in the series.
Vol 2: Sabine's Notebook
and
Vol 3: The Golden Mean
September 5, 2016
I believe the illustrations alone are worth ten (10) stars. However, the story is a bit weird.
This is a story told through a series of correspondence. A young woman on an island in the South Pacific starts by sending a postcard to a young man in London. Based on the postcards and letters exchanged both are very talented artists. Sabine sometime gets visions or dreams of the illustrations by Griffin as he works on them. She writes him about things that no one should know except him. They develop some type of romance through their communications.
The book actually shows the postcards and letters (nineteen (19)). The book even actually has envelopes with the letters enclosed. The book is a great presentation. Very well done!!!
I really liked this book and plan to read the other books in this trilogy.
This is a story told through a series of correspondence. A young woman on an island in the South Pacific starts by sending a postcard to a young man in London. Based on the postcards and letters exchanged both are very talented artists. Sabine sometime gets visions or dreams of the illustrations by Griffin as he works on them. She writes him about things that no one should know except him. They develop some type of romance through their communications.
The book actually shows the postcards and letters (nineteen (19)). The book even actually has envelopes with the letters enclosed. The book is a great presentation. Very well done!!!
I really liked this book and plan to read the other books in this trilogy.
June 29, 2015
A little fictional bon bon for the discerning palate. Just 46 pages long. A small package of strange and delightful images, and a storyline with a mystery.
This was recommended to me by a friend who sends me flying letters - and the book is full of illustrated envelopes and postcards. I can see why she liked it on another level too - her art and the art in the book have the same lovely sense of playfulness. Bantock's work is inspiring, weird, charming......and sometimes a bit gruesome. I am not alone in admiring it - it was on the New York Times bestseller list for over two years.
This was recommended to me by a friend who sends me flying letters - and the book is full of illustrated envelopes and postcards. I can see why she liked it on another level too - her art and the art in the book have the same lovely sense of playfulness. Bantock's work is inspiring, weird, charming......and sometimes a bit gruesome. I am not alone in admiring it - it was on the New York Times bestseller list for over two years.
March 10, 2022
I have read this beautiful trilogy of books many times since it was first published in 1991. A friend in college had kindly gifted the set to me, perhaps knowing how much I would treasure them.
"Griffin and Sabine" is the story of an unusual love affair between two artists. If you haven't read this charming series, I won't spoil any details, but they fall in love while writing letters back and forth. Each page of the book is a treasure, with notes sometimes tucked in envelopes, and incredible artwork throughout.
I have always loved pretty postcards and writing letters to friends, and I think this book's appreciation of artful correspondence is partly why I have such a sizable collection of handsome stationary on hand, it certainly inspires one to want to share beautiful notecards with loved ones.
I reread this book recently when I was going through my packed bookshelves, looking for titles that could be passed on. Bantock's books have moved with me from college dorm room to apartment after apartment, and finally to the cozy living room shelf where they currently reside. I don't think I could ever part with them — they are perfect just where they are.
"Griffin and Sabine" is the story of an unusual love affair between two artists. If you haven't read this charming series, I won't spoil any details, but they fall in love while writing letters back and forth. Each page of the book is a treasure, with notes sometimes tucked in envelopes, and incredible artwork throughout.
I have always loved pretty postcards and writing letters to friends, and I think this book's appreciation of artful correspondence is partly why I have such a sizable collection of handsome stationary on hand, it certainly inspires one to want to share beautiful notecards with loved ones.
I reread this book recently when I was going through my packed bookshelves, looking for titles that could be passed on. Bantock's books have moved with me from college dorm room to apartment after apartment, and finally to the cozy living room shelf where they currently reside. I don't think I could ever part with them — they are perfect just where they are.
March 10, 2009
Equal parts Romantic (in the Byron on a windswept moor sense), Impressionist and Surrealist, Griffin and Sabine is a memorable experience. I finished this in the wee small hours of the morning, and immediately drifted off to sleep. I highly recommend that all readers choose the same time to move through this piece. I can't imagine a better time to have wrapped myself up in this charming, intriguing, simple yet incredibly layered piece of art.
There are many things that can be analyzed here- from the straight mystery of the identity or representative status of Sabine and the fate of Griffin (Is she real? Is she an overly dramatic justification for self-debasement, the Muse? Is she a symptom of a lonely, diseased mind? Does it matter?), the stylistic influences (Magritte, Monet's garden and light studies, fauvism, Romantic cult of death, deconstructionism), the questionable psychology of both characters (Griffin's doubtful sanity, the evolution of Sabine- whether it is in his mind or not, what each means to the other), or one can look at things through a postcolonial lens (the exotic dreams of the Other, the European dispora and their various reasons for escaping the Old World, Sabine's possibly mythical marginalized country in a colonized area that makes money (ostensibly) off of rich world stamp collectors- if real, one thing, if Griffin created it on his own, a fascinating other, etc...).
However what I really took away from it was a beautiful, sad statement on the capacity of people to dream a world, a love, a passion into their own reality, and some absolutely gorgeous, subtly created art that you could stare at and read into nearly endlessly. This book can be read in half an hour if you really desire to, but I don't know why you would desire that.
There are many things that can be analyzed here- from the straight mystery of the identity or representative status of Sabine and the fate of Griffin (Is she real? Is she an overly dramatic justification for self-debasement, the Muse? Is she a symptom of a lonely, diseased mind? Does it matter?), the stylistic influences (Magritte, Monet's garden and light studies, fauvism, Romantic cult of death, deconstructionism), the questionable psychology of both characters (Griffin's doubtful sanity, the evolution of Sabine- whether it is in his mind or not, what each means to the other), or one can look at things through a postcolonial lens (the exotic dreams of the Other, the European dispora and their various reasons for escaping the Old World, Sabine's possibly mythical marginalized country in a colonized area that makes money (ostensibly) off of rich world stamp collectors- if real, one thing, if Griffin created it on his own, a fascinating other, etc...).
However what I really took away from it was a beautiful, sad statement on the capacity of people to dream a world, a love, a passion into their own reality, and some absolutely gorgeous, subtly created art that you could stare at and read into nearly endlessly. This book can be read in half an hour if you really desire to, but I don't know why you would desire that.
September 8, 2020
4/5
I first read this book nearly 28 years ago. I was then teaching English to high school seniors, a challenging job but one I loved. So many eighteen year-olds are tough on the outside, getting ready to fly the nest and finally live what they called “real life,” meaning life where they no longer live with their parents, at least ten months of the year. But this book reminded me again and again that so many who seem on the outside so independent and ready to move on, are tender and fragile on the inside. I bought this book, and it’s been on the shelf for all these years. I might not have chosen to read it again, save that I read S. Penkevich’s insightful review today. Thanks for that, Sven.
The book is the first of a trilogy, and it is simply beautiful. Each page is a postal card or a letter, which is folded into its own envelope. The artwork is beautiful. The story is of a young woman, Sabine Strohem, who lives in the midst of the South Pacific Islands, and a young man, Griffin Moss, who lives in London. For the last thirteen years she has been “seeing” all his artwork as he creates it, even though the two have never been in the same place at the same time. Both are artists, he has his own postal card company and she paints the paintings for stamps for her small island nation. Both are alone in their own ways, and they exchange their stories. As the book goes on, their correspondence gets more and more intimate. The book comes to an abrupt end when Griffin writes a postcard, which we can see has not been addressed, stamped, or mailed. Sabine replies anyway and invites him to the South Pacific: major cliffhanger of an ending.
For the right readers, this book (and the two that follow, which I read but did not buy 28 years ago) opens the door to the deep feelings of isolated, young (they are 28) artists. The books are dreamy. And if you come across the book by surprise, as I did again today, it is a special treat indeed.
I first read this book nearly 28 years ago. I was then teaching English to high school seniors, a challenging job but one I loved. So many eighteen year-olds are tough on the outside, getting ready to fly the nest and finally live what they called “real life,” meaning life where they no longer live with their parents, at least ten months of the year. But this book reminded me again and again that so many who seem on the outside so independent and ready to move on, are tender and fragile on the inside. I bought this book, and it’s been on the shelf for all these years. I might not have chosen to read it again, save that I read S. Penkevich’s insightful review today. Thanks for that, Sven.
The book is the first of a trilogy, and it is simply beautiful. Each page is a postal card or a letter, which is folded into its own envelope. The artwork is beautiful. The story is of a young woman, Sabine Strohem, who lives in the midst of the South Pacific Islands, and a young man, Griffin Moss, who lives in London. For the last thirteen years she has been “seeing” all his artwork as he creates it, even though the two have never been in the same place at the same time. Both are artists, he has his own postal card company and she paints the paintings for stamps for her small island nation. Both are alone in their own ways, and they exchange their stories. As the book goes on, their correspondence gets more and more intimate. The book comes to an abrupt end when Griffin writes a postcard, which we can see has not been addressed, stamped, or mailed. Sabine replies anyway and invites him to the South Pacific: major cliffhanger of an ending.
For the right readers, this book (and the two that follow, which I read but did not buy 28 years ago) opens the door to the deep feelings of isolated, young (they are 28) artists. The books are dreamy. And if you come across the book by surprise, as I did again today, it is a special treat indeed.
June 15, 2008
I've read this and all the other books for this series. It's a unique read. Have you ever accidentally received someone else's mail and wondered what it might contain? Or come across a diary and been tempted to read what secrets it held?
This book is a voyeuristic view of a relationship between two people - or is it?
Opening the book you realize soon enough that you have stumbled upon someone's mail - and you can't help but read it. Each consecutive page brings more and more interest, as well as questions. Some letters are on post cards, others have envelopes that you have to open and pull the letter out, unfold it and you contribute to the story by being the recipient...
It's sort of like an adult pop-up book. Each page a new letter or post card and the relationship grows.
Each book in the series brings you closer to the hopes that these two people meet - and you wonder what might transpire...
It makes you want to go out and check your mailbox.
Enjoyed it...
This book is a voyeuristic view of a relationship between two people - or is it?
Opening the book you realize soon enough that you have stumbled upon someone's mail - and you can't help but read it. Each consecutive page brings more and more interest, as well as questions. Some letters are on post cards, others have envelopes that you have to open and pull the letter out, unfold it and you contribute to the story by being the recipient...
It's sort of like an adult pop-up book. Each page a new letter or post card and the relationship grows.
Each book in the series brings you closer to the hopes that these two people meet - and you wonder what might transpire...
It makes you want to go out and check your mailbox.
Enjoyed it...
June 14, 2023
One day this book magically appeared, and it was so gorgeous, that I told my husband that we should sit down and read it together. And that is exactly what we did.
It was such a delightful experience opening each page, because it truly is, "an extraordinary correspondence."
There are beautiful artful postcards on the pages, and then, envelopes you can open and peak in and take the letters out and read them.
It is truly a love story told in this beautiful unique way - through letters and postcards. Not that we have never seen this done before, but in this artsy way...is gorgeous.
We don't know exactly how the story will end (there are 2 more books). But that doesn't matter. At least, it didn't to this reader. Or to my husband. We just enjoyed the unraveling of each beautiful page.
It was such a delightful experience opening each page, because it truly is, "an extraordinary correspondence."
There are beautiful artful postcards on the pages, and then, envelopes you can open and peak in and take the letters out and read them.
It is truly a love story told in this beautiful unique way - through letters and postcards. Not that we have never seen this done before, but in this artsy way...is gorgeous.
We don't know exactly how the story will end (there are 2 more books). But that doesn't matter. At least, it didn't to this reader. Or to my husband. We just enjoyed the unraveling of each beautiful page.
May 19, 2016
Lovely little unusual book, takes about thirty minutes - give or take - to read. I don't know if I'll follow up on the sequels (or other parts of the trilogy,) but it was a nice short break from reading mysteries, thrillers and horror novels.
About the correspondence between two artists, one of whom can see what the other is drawing. There's a developing romance but it happens rather quickly and almost 'between the lines' of the letters and post cards they write to one another. I was not blown away, but found it a little 'delight,' like having an extra tea cake when I'm invited to a tea party.
I never get invited to tea parties.
About the correspondence between two artists, one of whom can see what the other is drawing. There's a developing romance but it happens rather quickly and almost 'between the lines' of the letters and post cards they write to one another. I was not blown away, but found it a little 'delight,' like having an extra tea cake when I'm invited to a tea party.
I never get invited to tea parties.
Read
July 2, 2024I read this book so many years ago that I can’t remember much! I will read it again if it ever comes to Kindle Unlimited 😊
‘Beloved by millions the world over, Griffin & Sabine redefines the art of the novel. With its combination of lush illustration, creative storytelling, and the guilty pleasure of reading other people's correspondence, Griffin & Sabine is part romance, part mystery, and completely a work of art. Each turn of the page contains a new card or letter to be unfolded from its envelope, and is vibrant with wildly imaginative creatures, landscapes, and intrigue. Destined to become a collector's volume, this limited, 25th anniversary edition contains new artwork, an original postcard, and specially created decorative stamps, making this a book that is as rewarding to enjoy all over again—or to discover for the very first time.’
‘Beloved by millions the world over, Griffin & Sabine redefines the art of the novel. With its combination of lush illustration, creative storytelling, and the guilty pleasure of reading other people's correspondence, Griffin & Sabine is part romance, part mystery, and completely a work of art. Each turn of the page contains a new card or letter to be unfolded from its envelope, and is vibrant with wildly imaginative creatures, landscapes, and intrigue. Destined to become a collector's volume, this limited, 25th anniversary edition contains new artwork, an original postcard, and specially created decorative stamps, making this a book that is as rewarding to enjoy all over again—or to discover for the very first time.’
October 26, 2024
Happened to see this one in the library book sale. It's an elaborately illustrated correspondence -- even including envelopes! -- between a London artist and a mysterious girl in the South Seas. She's an artist too, and can see the London artist's works, even as he works. Love blooms at a distance. To be continued....
Not my usual fare, but the illustrations are wonderful, and the conceit is fresh. Recommended for romantics.
Not my usual fare, but the illustrations are wonderful, and the conceit is fresh. Recommended for romantics.
June 8, 2015
I loved this book for the pure pleasure of reading it--you have to pick up a physical copy (check your local library! I'm not even sure there is an e-copy available). At first you're looking at a set of intriguing postcards recording the correspondence of Sabine, who lives on a far-off island but claims to know everything about her correspondent's art, and Griffin, a one-man postcard company. Then the correspondence shifts to letters and you get to open envelopes and pull out letters to read. Oh my goodness. The nerd in me just about died.
The correspondence itself is thought-provoking as well: how does Sabine know things about Griffin's art that only he should know? At what point should you question your judgement of reality? Is Sabine as harmless as she seems? How thin is the shell we wrap around true ourselves, our buried griefs and deep lonelinesses?
Definitely recommended.
The correspondence itself is thought-provoking as well: how does Sabine know things about Griffin's art that only he should know? At what point should you question your judgement of reality? Is Sabine as harmless as she seems? How thin is the shell we wrap around true ourselves, our buried griefs and deep lonelinesses?
Definitely recommended.
November 11, 2021
Remember to be gentle with yourself.
A postmodern, interactive, epistolary exploration of self.
3.5
A postmodern, interactive, epistolary exploration of self.
3.5
February 22, 2015
One of the cuter and more interesting picture books I've read lately, Griffin and Sabine imagines reading some one else's letters as exactly that. There are post cards that are photographed on both sides, but the letters are actually in envelopes that the reader has to pull out of envelopes and unfold. This kind of interactive text, thought I can see all the ways it could become a horrible gimmick, is done exactly right in this short book.
Griffin is a visual artist, Sabine the woman from a small, mysterious island nation that, while having never met him, sees flashes of his art and life. They start corresponding over this odd, supernatural connection and we find out Sabine designs stamps as well. Their mail art appears going both ways, and it's the kind of pen pal relationship that is quirky without being trite. There's also a creepy element too, since Sabine happens to know a lot of random portions of Griffin's life and they have definitely never met.
The only thing that I didn't care for was the pacing. The ending breaks off quickly and the desire to find out what happens next clouds the overall mood created by the previous parts of the book. I'm not sure if it's a cost in publishing thing or what, but I would have preferred to have the entire series in one book. On the other hand, it's not like it's hard to find these books and I'll have to get the next couple as soon as possible.
Griffin is a visual artist, Sabine the woman from a small, mysterious island nation that, while having never met him, sees flashes of his art and life. They start corresponding over this odd, supernatural connection and we find out Sabine designs stamps as well. Their mail art appears going both ways, and it's the kind of pen pal relationship that is quirky without being trite. There's also a creepy element too, since Sabine happens to know a lot of random portions of Griffin's life and they have definitely never met.
The only thing that I didn't care for was the pacing. The ending breaks off quickly and the desire to find out what happens next clouds the overall mood created by the previous parts of the book. I'm not sure if it's a cost in publishing thing or what, but I would have preferred to have the entire series in one book. On the other hand, it's not like it's hard to find these books and I'll have to get the next couple as soon as possible.
June 7, 2010
I've been acquainted with this fascinating trilogy for years, but never bothered to give it a perusal in its entirety until recently. Its allure is founded upon the exquisiteness of the design, the zen-like coyness of the plot and the slight sense of taboo involved in sifting through someone else's private correspondence. I think that author/illustrator Bantock is, in that regard, one of the leading purveyors of a formula that has proven quite successful in various pop cultural media over the past two decades. (The video game Myst and the television series Lost spring to mind.) Visually speaking, the design and illustration don't seem at all dated and haven't lost one bit of their elegant appeal over twenty years. On the contrary, I think the further advance of the Digital Age has merely driven up the stock of something as delightfully tactile as this series. Publisher Chronicle Books also cleverly offered a set of actual postcards based on those featured in the books, of which I have a few samples. (Wish I had a complete set!)
May 1, 2017
Click here to watch a video featuring this book on my channel, From Beginning to Bookend.
Nick Bantock entwines mystery and art in this subtly sensual correspondence between two intriguing characters.
Nick Bantock entwines mystery and art in this subtly sensual correspondence between two intriguing characters.
November 20, 2023
I had no idea what this was when I was cleaning out my street library. It was thrown on the children’s shelf (not a children’s book though), so I took it out to see what it was and which age range it belonged too. Man am I happy I did!! I was never planning on reading it, but when I flicked through and saw it was a series of postcards and letters that you could take out and read my little snail mail/penpal loving heart couldn’t wait to find out what it was all about.
”Pain and beauty, our constant bedfellows”.
Griffin gets a random postcard from a fellow artist named Sabine who lives on the other side of the world. She is a mysterious character and over time reveals she can see Griffin’s artwork in her dreams. As the correspondence continues more is revealed, but Sabine remains mysterious and even questionable. Griffin’s letters, artwork and demeanour start to darken as he sinks into a deep depression and has outbursts of anger. When Sabine asks why he just doesn’t come visit her, be prepared for the biggest twist of one of the shortest books you’ll ever read.
”The drawings…; they were of you.”
”Pain and beauty, our constant bedfellows”.
Griffin gets a random postcard from a fellow artist named Sabine who lives on the other side of the world. She is a mysterious character and over time reveals she can see Griffin’s artwork in her dreams. As the correspondence continues more is revealed, but Sabine remains mysterious and even questionable. Griffin’s letters, artwork and demeanour start to darken as he sinks into a deep depression and has outbursts of anger. When Sabine asks why he just doesn’t come visit her, be prepared for the biggest twist of one of the shortest books you’ll ever read.
”The drawings…; they were of you.”
September 9, 2015
Growing up I always loved the idea of writing letters to someone and learning something new whether it be their life story, the city they live in or what they might be thinking as I write these letters. What doesn't help is I've seen countless Hallmark films that showcase two lovers from two different centuries writing to each other, the Lake House movie, and Felicity's voice letters to her friend. Unfortunately I live in 21st century where most of my generation do not even know how to write a letter let alone mail it thanks to the invention of email.
I found this book to be marvelous in sense that you get to be someone who is intruding on other peoples mail. I could definitely see this book as a novel but I love that it is full of postcards and letters, with beautiful designs, and an intriguing story leaving me wanting more. I will definitely continue reading this series. We meet Griffin, a very lonely guy who is a post-card designer living in London who gets a post card one day from a woman named Sabine. She lives in the South Pacific islands known as Sicmon Islands and writes to him telling him that she loves his work particularly this one post card with a fish coming out of a broken wine glass.
Immediately Sabrine attracts Griffin attention and he becomes curious as to how she knows about that particular post-card because he has never shown it to anyone he knows. At first she doesn't want to scare him and avoid his question but then tells him that she has the power of telepathy and can always see him draw without seeing his face. She had spent countless years seeing his beautiful drawings and yet never could discover a clue about his name until she read about a self-designer who makes post cards and featured a few of his illustrations that she recognizes.
During the course of the story you get to see this interesting love story developing and at the same time we see a different behavior in Griffin. From being lonely and depressed, he starts to change and become angry and losing control of his emotions. The ending brings up a point of view that I hadn't thought before which blew my mind in epic proportions.
For such a short book it brought out a lot of questions for me when it comes to Sabine and I am really curious what will happen in the sequel. I found this to be such a creative way of using different forms of art to showcase a beautiful storytelling. While reading this I felt like I was the one receiving the letters and I believe when someone writes you a letter they are dedicating the time and thought towards what they should write and the emotion they imprint on the page follows on with their words. I fell in love with the story and the characters and I cannot get enough of this love story.
To see all my reviews you can check it out at http://dancinginth3dark.blogspot.com
I found this book to be marvelous in sense that you get to be someone who is intruding on other peoples mail. I could definitely see this book as a novel but I love that it is full of postcards and letters, with beautiful designs, and an intriguing story leaving me wanting more. I will definitely continue reading this series. We meet Griffin, a very lonely guy who is a post-card designer living in London who gets a post card one day from a woman named Sabine. She lives in the South Pacific islands known as Sicmon Islands and writes to him telling him that she loves his work particularly this one post card with a fish coming out of a broken wine glass.
Immediately Sabrine attracts Griffin attention and he becomes curious as to how she knows about that particular post-card because he has never shown it to anyone he knows. At first she doesn't want to scare him and avoid his question but then tells him that she has the power of telepathy and can always see him draw without seeing his face. She had spent countless years seeing his beautiful drawings and yet never could discover a clue about his name until she read about a self-designer who makes post cards and featured a few of his illustrations that she recognizes.
During the course of the story you get to see this interesting love story developing and at the same time we see a different behavior in Griffin. From being lonely and depressed, he starts to change and become angry and losing control of his emotions. The ending brings up a point of view that I hadn't thought before which blew my mind in epic proportions.
For such a short book it brought out a lot of questions for me when it comes to Sabine and I am really curious what will happen in the sequel. I found this to be such a creative way of using different forms of art to showcase a beautiful storytelling. While reading this I felt like I was the one receiving the letters and I believe when someone writes you a letter they are dedicating the time and thought towards what they should write and the emotion they imprint on the page follows on with their words. I fell in love with the story and the characters and I cannot get enough of this love story.
To see all my reviews you can check it out at http://dancinginth3dark.blogspot.com
January 25, 2017
First epistolary series I ever saw or read. I LOVED these books. They were magical. The envelopes actually have STAMPS on them!!!
September 21, 2020
The timeless story of a boy and girl meeting and falling in love is given a bit of a new twist with this rather remarkable series of novella's. Our lovebirds "meet" through letters and postcards (which the reader must physically remove from envelopes to read) and one of them may or may not be real.
I first read this series years ago and certainly admired Nick Bantock's literary cajones if nothing else. Older and slightly wiser me is appreciating them now on what I will obnoxiously call a slightly higher level.
Griffin is a lost and lonely artist with a sad little postcard drawing business who receives a postcard one day from the mysterious Sabine, a long time admirer of his work. It turns out that Sabine can "see" Griffin's art as he creates it as though she is looking through his eyes.
The book is stuffed with letters and Griffin and Sabine's hand drawn postcards. There's something truly charming and a little bit naughty about getting to take the letter out to read them. Like you're reading a real correspondence between illicit lovers.
I like the blend of idyllic, almost Shakespearean love at first sight (first read?) with a sort of darker thread of loneliness and perhaps even madness that weaves its way through the lovers' words of love. You want to believe what they have is real but you're also very aware that this just isn't how life or love works.
These books are a really delightful magical, romantic adventure that I very much recommend.
I first read this series years ago and certainly admired Nick Bantock's literary cajones if nothing else. Older and slightly wiser me is appreciating them now on what I will obnoxiously call a slightly higher level.
Griffin is a lost and lonely artist with a sad little postcard drawing business who receives a postcard one day from the mysterious Sabine, a long time admirer of his work. It turns out that Sabine can "see" Griffin's art as he creates it as though she is looking through his eyes.
The book is stuffed with letters and Griffin and Sabine's hand drawn postcards. There's something truly charming and a little bit naughty about getting to take the letter out to read them. Like you're reading a real correspondence between illicit lovers.
I like the blend of idyllic, almost Shakespearean love at first sight (first read?) with a sort of darker thread of loneliness and perhaps even madness that weaves its way through the lovers' words of love. You want to believe what they have is real but you're also very aware that this just isn't how life or love works.
These books are a really delightful magical, romantic adventure that I very much recommend.
November 18, 2022
I love to share this book with my high school creative writing students as a way to inspire them to think about form in writing.
Then, I encourage them to write their own postcards:
· Postcards to people from your past
o To a close friend
o To a favorite teacher
o To a former enemy
o Your choice
· Postcards to nature
o To a tree
o To winter
o To an animal
· Situational postcards
o Imagine you only had a short time to live. You are permitted to write one last postcard.
o You have been granted one wish but you must express it on a postcard.
o Imagine that whatever you write on the postcard will be enacted as law.
Then, I encourage them to write their own postcards:
· Postcards to people from your past
o To a close friend
o To a favorite teacher
o To a former enemy
o Your choice
· Postcards to nature
o To a tree
o To winter
o To an animal
· Situational postcards
o Imagine you only had a short time to live. You are permitted to write one last postcard.
o You have been granted one wish but you must express it on a postcard.
o Imagine that whatever you write on the postcard will be enacted as law.
August 19, 2025
REREAD UPDATE: Okay, now the Gods of Synchronicity are just messing with me. In 70+ years, I've never heard the name "Totnes" before (a small [?] town in southwest England); and now in just two days it's popped up in both this book and as a main locale in Mick Herron's couldn't-be-more-different Why We Die.
Reread this as I've recently read Bantock's equally delightful/bizarre The Museum at Purgatory, so wanted to see if this still lived up to my first impression — and it sure does. Also picked up a few more details/clues this time around (as I do with all second reads); in particular, I noticed that Griffin includes a title on the back of all his self-designed postcards — "Kangaroo With a Red Hat," that sort of thing — which Sabine does not…
Separately, I did enjoy Griffin's comment on his "modernist" art school education — "art for art's sake is best quarantined here in the old world" — as at the time that line was written (some 30 years ago; although it's hard for me to believe these books were written that long ago), I was working as a graphic designer in a company whose motto was "ars gratia pecuniae," or "art for money's sake."
Anyway…nice, trippy story that as I recall then disappoints in the second book; but I'm still looking for that third one somewhere to see how it all plays out.
ORIGINAL REVIEW: Suggested by a GR friend for my "Unconventional Style/Voice" list, and what a perfect addition it is. Such a short book, but so difficult to describe...
The books is an artist/graphic designer's dream — the whole story is told through an exchange of postcards and letters, all of which are included in their "original form," (the physical letters are enclosed in envelopes that must then be taken out, unfolded and read). The book ends on an unresolved note, but then continues in Bantock's two sequels (1992 and 1993) as well as a just-published additional book of "Lost Correspondence." To my horror, our local library has only the first and second books, but these are short enough that I can easily sneak through the final two books over a cup of coffee at Barnes & Noble one of these days.
Being so short, this book obviously tells a fairly simple story — but the creativity and production values made it a true pleasure, and I am really looking forward now to finding out what happens next.
Reread this as I've recently read Bantock's equally delightful/bizarre The Museum at Purgatory, so wanted to see if this still lived up to my first impression — and it sure does. Also picked up a few more details/clues this time around (as I do with all second reads); in particular, I noticed that Griffin includes a title on the back of all his self-designed postcards — "Kangaroo With a Red Hat," that sort of thing — which Sabine does not…
Separately, I did enjoy Griffin's comment on his "modernist" art school education — "art for art's sake is best quarantined here in the old world" — as at the time that line was written (some 30 years ago; although it's hard for me to believe these books were written that long ago), I was working as a graphic designer in a company whose motto was "ars gratia pecuniae," or "art for money's sake."
Anyway…nice, trippy story that as I recall then disappoints in the second book; but I'm still looking for that third one somewhere to see how it all plays out.
ORIGINAL REVIEW: Suggested by a GR friend for my "Unconventional Style/Voice" list, and what a perfect addition it is. Such a short book, but so difficult to describe...
The books is an artist/graphic designer's dream — the whole story is told through an exchange of postcards and letters, all of which are included in their "original form," (the physical letters are enclosed in envelopes that must then be taken out, unfolded and read). The book ends on an unresolved note, but then continues in Bantock's two sequels (1992 and 1993) as well as a just-published additional book of "Lost Correspondence." To my horror, our local library has only the first and second books, but these are short enough that I can easily sneak through the final two books over a cup of coffee at Barnes & Noble one of these days.
Being so short, this book obviously tells a fairly simple story — but the creativity and production values made it a true pleasure, and I am really looking forward now to finding out what happens next.
August 16, 2008
Griffin and Sabine is a very non-traditional book. An experiment in artificial "found" literature, the book follows the correspondence of two random people separated by miles and culture who are tied together by an inexplicable link. This book is a window into that connection and their discovery of one another.
Perhaps the most interesting aspect of the book is it's presentation. While it is a printed book, as much of the "correspondence" is maintained. The letters are contained within envelopes and have to be removed to be read. Each item is lovingly crafted and offers as much insight into the differences in the characters as the written word contained within.
While there isn't a definite end to the book, and more questions are asked than answered, it is definitely worth a read if you can find a copy of it.
Perhaps the most interesting aspect of the book is it's presentation. While it is a printed book, as much of the "correspondence" is maintained. The letters are contained within envelopes and have to be removed to be read. Each item is lovingly crafted and offers as much insight into the differences in the characters as the written word contained within.
While there isn't a definite end to the book, and more questions are asked than answered, it is definitely worth a read if you can find a copy of it.
September 9, 2024
I probably read this when it first came out in 1991, but I don't really remember. I know i didn't buy it.
However, this year my sister gave me a copy for my birthday. She informed me that she found it in a thrift store in Austin, Texas, and paid the outrageous sum (joke) of $2.00 dollars for it. I had to laugh.
I did finally sit down to read it and I enjoyed the artwork and the clever presentation of some of the letters as actual letters. The story is brief and intriguing, but it probably won't stick with me. I suspect my copy will someday find its way to a thrift shop near me.
I may track down the sequels, if I can remember to look for them that is...
However, this year my sister gave me a copy for my birthday. She informed me that she found it in a thrift store in Austin, Texas, and paid the outrageous sum (joke) of $2.00 dollars for it. I had to laugh.
I did finally sit down to read it and I enjoyed the artwork and the clever presentation of some of the letters as actual letters. The story is brief and intriguing, but it probably won't stick with me. I suspect my copy will someday find its way to a thrift shop near me.
I may track down the sequels, if I can remember to look for them that is...
February 9, 2016
I'm not sure I'm totally sold on the mysticism of is-she-or-isn't-she, but this is a beautiful little book. I love the art and I think Bantock does a good job differentiating between Griffin's style and Sabine's. I bought this on a whim--which is to say, I've read it before, but never owned it, and picked it up used for cheap. It's in wonderful condition, with all the letters intact, so I feel like I've won a prize.
August 29, 2016
Told through epistolary exchanges between Griffin (a solitary artist in London) and Sabine (a mysterious woman from a tropical island), each correspondence is full of art, creativity and inner sentiments. We get a glimpse into the persona that is Griffin and Sabine.
This was tad bit too short and definitely much too enigmatic not to pick the next one up. Now, I just need to start my search for a copy...
This was tad bit too short and definitely much too enigmatic not to pick the next one up. Now, I just need to start my search for a copy...
February 28, 2023
Griffin & Sabine. A postcard arrives. A reply is sent. Another postcard. And so a friendship is formed. Through letters.
I read this when it was first published (1991?) and now I've read it again. It struck me this as a delightfully novel story, and I find that to be true today.
I wonder if the sequels are at the library. I think I need to look for them.
I read this when it was first published (1991?) and now I've read it again. It struck me this as a delightfully novel story, and I find that to be true today.
I wonder if the sequels are at the library. I think I need to look for them.
March 6, 2014
wowser look at this for fun!
And I don't know who sent it - drop me a line if you are that angel!
dedication: For Kim Kasasian
ETA Overbylass was the gifting angel - thank you very much
:O)
And I don't know who sent it - drop me a line if you are that angel!
dedication: For Kim Kasasian
ETA Overbylass was the gifting angel - thank you very much
:O)
August 6, 2007
I know there are people who love this book but I finished it thinking that I needed my money back. In my opinion there was so much more that could have been done but it just lacked something.
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