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Ghost Tree #1-4
Ghost Tree
Travel to Japan with Brandt in this touching graphic novel about love, loss, and how the past never truly stays dead.
Seeking refuge from an unhappy life, Brandt returns to his ancestral home in Japan to find a haunted tree and the departed souls that are drawn to it, including his Grandfather. Getting more involved with the tree's inhabitants he attempts to heal some of history's wounds but will he be able to find any measure of peace for himself when someone special from his past returns?
Ghost Tree is a quiet story full of reflection and how one deals with the emotions of life, the past, and family. It deftly weaves elements of the supernatural into the narrative but ultimately this is a story about people and relationships, how the past informs the present, and how one cannot run away from one's problems.
Seeking refuge from an unhappy life, Brandt returns to his ancestral home in Japan to find a haunted tree and the departed souls that are drawn to it, including his Grandfather. Getting more involved with the tree's inhabitants he attempts to heal some of history's wounds but will he be able to find any measure of peace for himself when someone special from his past returns?
Ghost Tree is a quiet story full of reflection and how one deals with the emotions of life, the past, and family. It deftly weaves elements of the supernatural into the narrative but ultimately this is a story about people and relationships, how the past informs the present, and how one cannot run away from one's problems.
104 pages, Paperback
First published December 10, 2019
6 people are currently reading
1213 people want to read
About the author
Bobby Curnow
228 books10 followersWriter, Group Editor at IDW, all around stand up citizen. He/him.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 159 reviews
May 26, 2023
Is there more? I hope there's more.
I would most definitely read more.
An unhappy young man goes back to his hometown in Japan to try and find himself.
What he actually finds is that one person per generation in his family has the ability to see the ghosts that gather around a tree on his family's home. You guessed it.
This generation, it's him.
If it sounds like a horror story, it isn't. It's a story about how there is a time and season for everything. Most of the time you only get one chance to get it right. You can waste your chance worrying that you aren't good enough, or sometimes simply by not being emotionally ready to take that chance.
Life is sweet and bitter and fast.
Take advantage of it while you can.
I've never heard of Bobby Curnow before this but I'll be on the lookout for his stuff now for sure.
Highly Recommended.
I would most definitely read more.
An unhappy young man goes back to his hometown in Japan to try and find himself.
What he actually finds is that one person per generation in his family has the ability to see the ghosts that gather around a tree on his family's home. You guessed it.
This generation, it's him.
If it sounds like a horror story, it isn't. It's a story about how there is a time and season for everything. Most of the time you only get one chance to get it right. You can waste your chance worrying that you aren't good enough, or sometimes simply by not being emotionally ready to take that chance.
Life is sweet and bitter and fast.
Take advantage of it while you can.
I've never heard of Bobby Curnow before this but I'll be on the lookout for his stuff now for sure.
Highly Recommended.
July 19, 2020
Eager to escape his rocky marriage, Brandt flies home to Japan and encounters his grandfather's ghost at the Ghost Tree, a willow tree in the forest behind his grandmother's house.
I'd never heard of Ghost Tree before it was up for an Eisner award but I decided to give it a shot. Totally worth it.
Rooted in Japanese ghost lore, Ghost Tree is the story of men running from their problems. Brandt, like his deceased grandfather, can see ghosts and talk to them at the Ghost Tree.
It doesn't sound that great from my description but Ghost Tree is one of those sensitive little tales, like one of those one issue Sandman stories back in the day. It's about dangers of dwelling in the past and of hiding from hiding from your fears instead of confronting them. The ghost of Brandt's lost love shows him the way and sends him on his merry way.
The art reminds me both of Moebius and Stan Sakai. It feels minimalist most of the time but also manages to be intricate. Zero has such a striking design and all the individual ghosts are bursting with character. The writing, specifically the character, drive the story along at a good clip. As I breezed through the pages, dreading reaching the end, both not wanting the story to end and not wanting to see what befell Brandt.
Ghost Tree is the best standalone graphic novel I've read in years. Five out of five giant centipedes.
I'd never heard of Ghost Tree before it was up for an Eisner award but I decided to give it a shot. Totally worth it.
Rooted in Japanese ghost lore, Ghost Tree is the story of men running from their problems. Brandt, like his deceased grandfather, can see ghosts and talk to them at the Ghost Tree.
It doesn't sound that great from my description but Ghost Tree is one of those sensitive little tales, like one of those one issue Sandman stories back in the day. It's about dangers of dwelling in the past and of hiding from hiding from your fears instead of confronting them. The ghost of Brandt's lost love shows him the way and sends him on his merry way.
The art reminds me both of Moebius and Stan Sakai. It feels minimalist most of the time but also manages to be intricate. Zero has such a striking design and all the individual ghosts are bursting with character. The writing, specifically the character, drive the story along at a good clip. As I breezed through the pages, dreading reaching the end, both not wanting the story to end and not wanting to see what befell Brandt.
Ghost Tree is the best standalone graphic novel I've read in years. Five out of five giant centipedes.
January 21, 2020
4.5 stars
This review will contain spoilers, however, since the book is only about 100 pages long I will not also be writing a separate spoiler free review. It's okay, a good story is still a good story even if you know what's going to happen.
Ghost Tree is a short graphic novel about loss, grief, living in the past, and dealing with cultural differences when you claim more than one home. It is also about what happens when you are too busy finding yourself to nurture those around you.
Brandt is a young man who was born in Japan. When he was a child his Grandfather told him to return to a specific spot in the woods next to their family home exactly 10 years after his death.
Brandt makes the return journey to keep that promise and discovers his Grandfather's ghost is waiting for him by the same tree. He discovers he can not only talk to his Grandfather's ghost but to all ghosts at this tree as well. Apparently it is a family trait that he was previously unaware of.
He is enjoying spending quality time with his Grandfather as well as attempting to help the many other lost souls he can now form relationships with.
We also find out that back home in America he is having relationship troubles with his wife and he may be using his new ghost whispering talent as an excuse to escape said troubles.
Brandt recognizes one of the ghosts. It is an ex-girlfriend of his from well before he was married. He had no idea that when she disappeared from his life it was because she had passed.
They spend some time reminiscing and longing for a different life. Then the monster arrives.
A monster has been terrorizing the ghosts and a mysterious figure in a mask has been trying to keep him at bay but is becoming too weak.
Brandt's ex-girlfriend attempts to wear the mask and scare him off but Brandt sees the monster's true self and acknowledges his need to be heard.
The monster is able to unburden itself to Brandt's open ears and returns to its original form, an elderly man, before disappearing. Presumably to the afterlife instead of this purgatory.
Brandt helps his Grandfather unburden his soul by telling his still living Grandmother everything he wished he could have said while he was alive. He is also then able to cross over. It's quite touching.
Brandt takes his newfound clarity with him back to his wife and declares that we will try harder and do better for their relationship.
But it's too late. She says he fled the country right when she most needed him to stay. She needed him to try then, not now, and now she's ready to move past their relationship.
The book ends with Brandt solemnly smoking a cigarette alone on his porch.
I absolutely love this bummer ending and I hope there is not a sequel to tell us what happens next. Sometimes stories just don't have the happy ending. Not all relationships work out. Sometimes you focus on the wrong path and you lose what you were actually after.
That's life.
This book does a very good job of taking the reader with Brandt on the wrong story. We're so focused on ghosts and monsters we completely missed the real conflict. We're too busy fixing everyone else's problems we miss how to fix our own.
My only complaint is that the book feels rushed. I think the emotions could have hit harder if I knew the characters better.
I definitely recommend this one, it's a really quick and somber read that anyone is certain to find at least a part of relatable.
for more reviews and content please visit my blog amanjareads.com
This review will contain spoilers, however, since the book is only about 100 pages long I will not also be writing a separate spoiler free review. It's okay, a good story is still a good story even if you know what's going to happen.
Ghost Tree is a short graphic novel about loss, grief, living in the past, and dealing with cultural differences when you claim more than one home. It is also about what happens when you are too busy finding yourself to nurture those around you.
Brandt is a young man who was born in Japan. When he was a child his Grandfather told him to return to a specific spot in the woods next to their family home exactly 10 years after his death.
Brandt makes the return journey to keep that promise and discovers his Grandfather's ghost is waiting for him by the same tree. He discovers he can not only talk to his Grandfather's ghost but to all ghosts at this tree as well. Apparently it is a family trait that he was previously unaware of.
He is enjoying spending quality time with his Grandfather as well as attempting to help the many other lost souls he can now form relationships with.
We also find out that back home in America he is having relationship troubles with his wife and he may be using his new ghost whispering talent as an excuse to escape said troubles.
Brandt recognizes one of the ghosts. It is an ex-girlfriend of his from well before he was married. He had no idea that when she disappeared from his life it was because she had passed.
They spend some time reminiscing and longing for a different life. Then the monster arrives.
A monster has been terrorizing the ghosts and a mysterious figure in a mask has been trying to keep him at bay but is becoming too weak.
Brandt's ex-girlfriend attempts to wear the mask and scare him off but Brandt sees the monster's true self and acknowledges his need to be heard.
The monster is able to unburden itself to Brandt's open ears and returns to its original form, an elderly man, before disappearing. Presumably to the afterlife instead of this purgatory.
Brandt helps his Grandfather unburden his soul by telling his still living Grandmother everything he wished he could have said while he was alive. He is also then able to cross over. It's quite touching.
Brandt takes his newfound clarity with him back to his wife and declares that we will try harder and do better for their relationship.
But it's too late. She says he fled the country right when she most needed him to stay. She needed him to try then, not now, and now she's ready to move past their relationship.
The book ends with Brandt solemnly smoking a cigarette alone on his porch.
I absolutely love this bummer ending and I hope there is not a sequel to tell us what happens next. Sometimes stories just don't have the happy ending. Not all relationships work out. Sometimes you focus on the wrong path and you lose what you were actually after.
That's life.
This book does a very good job of taking the reader with Brandt on the wrong story. We're so focused on ghosts and monsters we completely missed the real conflict. We're too busy fixing everyone else's problems we miss how to fix our own.
My only complaint is that the book feels rushed. I think the emotions could have hit harder if I knew the characters better.
I definitely recommend this one, it's a really quick and somber read that anyone is certain to find at least a part of relatable.
for more reviews and content please visit my blog amanjareads.com
December 16, 2021
Wow! That really packed a punch.
Brandt flees his failing marriage, returning to his Grandmother's home in Japan. As a boy, he promised his Grandfather he'd return 10 years after his Grandfather's death. See, there's a ghost tree in the woods by the house where ghosts congregate, including his Grandfather. Brandt, like his Grandfather, is the one family member of his generation who can see and talk to ghosts.
The story is packed with love, loss and things left unsaid. I loved everything about it, from the fantastic, simple storytelling to the melancholy art.
Brandt flees his failing marriage, returning to his Grandmother's home in Japan. As a boy, he promised his Grandfather he'd return 10 years after his Grandfather's death. See, there's a ghost tree in the woods by the house where ghosts congregate, including his Grandfather. Brandt, like his Grandfather, is the one family member of his generation who can see and talk to ghosts.
The story is packed with love, loss and things left unsaid. I loved everything about it, from the fantastic, simple storytelling to the melancholy art.
June 30, 2020
A young man, Brandt, returns to his family’s home in Japan, partially to honour his dead grandfather’s wish, and partly to run from dealing with his crumbling marriage.
He quickly finds he has the ability to see and converse with ghosts, one being his grandfather; he sets some at ease with their past concerns. A former girlfriend is also one of the ghosts he encounters, as well as a demonic creature, and their interactions actually allow him to find some peace with himself.
The story’s ending is a bit of a downer, but in many ways that actually makes the whole journey Brandt goes on as more realistic and sad. The artwork I has a limited palette of colours, reinforcing Brandt’s mental state for much of this story, and the imagery is stunning. This is a lovely, quiet, melancholic story about missed opportunities and missed chances, and is well worth reading.
He quickly finds he has the ability to see and converse with ghosts, one being his grandfather; he sets some at ease with their past concerns. A former girlfriend is also one of the ghosts he encounters, as well as a demonic creature, and their interactions actually allow him to find some peace with himself.
The story’s ending is a bit of a downer, but in many ways that actually makes the whole journey Brandt goes on as more realistic and sad. The artwork I has a limited palette of colours, reinforcing Brandt’s mental state for much of this story, and the imagery is stunning. This is a lovely, quiet, melancholic story about missed opportunities and missed chances, and is well worth reading.
April 12, 2023
A gentle, moving story about accepting life and death, about fighting for the life you want and not hiding from life, and about not always getting what you want. Dusted with a light (and not always convincing) sprinkling of the supernatural.
I thought the ending regarding a certain evil was a bit rote, and felt underwritten. The actual emotional ending I thought was beautiful, and really moved me (which is not an easy task to achieve).
I'm a fan of Simon Gane's art, and he does not disappoint.
(Read as four single issues.)
I thought the ending regarding a certain evil was a bit rote, and felt underwritten. The actual emotional ending I thought was beautiful, and really moved me (which is not an easy task to achieve).
I'm a fan of Simon Gane's art, and he does not disappoint.
(Read as four single issues.)
September 27, 2019
Ξεκίνησε πολύ creepy, και ήταν πολύ ατμοσφαιρικό! Όμορφη ιστορία που μιλούσε για την απώλεια, αυτούς που πεθαίνουν και αυτούς που μένουν πίσω, το παρελθόν και τη δύναμη που έχει πάνω στο παρόν μας, ενώ για κάποιο λόγο μου θύμιζε και λίγο τον Ωκεανό στο τέλος του δρόμου. Θα ήθελα όμως να ήταν λίγο μεγαλύτερο!
April 16, 2020
"A life full of ghosts is no life at all."
May 3, 2020
This was pretty enjoyable!
This is a story of Brandt returning back to his home in Japan to visit family. When he was younger he promised his Grandpa he'd come to visit again once he passed away. See Brandt has the ability to talk to the dead under a tree near his home in Japan. So he does just that but he's dealing with a lot of pressure back home in America too. So between that and now visiting his past through these ghost, Brandt must figure out what he wants in life.
I really dug a lot of this. Well crafted, interesting, sad, and beautiful as well. I think what worked best was how honest this was. People are always stuck in the past. So this is the main focus as well as moving on. The ending is sad, but well done.
This is something nice to read inbetween all the action comics. A 4 out of 5.
This is a story of Brandt returning back to his home in Japan to visit family. When he was younger he promised his Grandpa he'd come to visit again once he passed away. See Brandt has the ability to talk to the dead under a tree near his home in Japan. So he does just that but he's dealing with a lot of pressure back home in America too. So between that and now visiting his past through these ghost, Brandt must figure out what he wants in life.
I really dug a lot of this. Well crafted, interesting, sad, and beautiful as well. I think what worked best was how honest this was. People are always stuck in the past. So this is the main focus as well as moving on. The ending is sad, but well done.
This is something nice to read inbetween all the action comics. A 4 out of 5.
June 6, 2020
The story follows Brandt into the realm of the dead and he revisits his ancestral home and discovers his intergenerational ability to see the dead.
Writer Bobby Curnow illustrates the urge of human beings to dwell in the past and to fear their present problems while also exploring the themes of love, loss, and death, in this refreshing tale dipped in Japanese folklore.
Yours truly,
Lashaan | Blogger and Book Reviewer
Official blog: https://bookidote.com/
Writer Bobby Curnow illustrates the urge of human beings to dwell in the past and to fear their present problems while also exploring the themes of love, loss, and death, in this refreshing tale dipped in Japanese folklore.
Yours truly,
Lashaan | Blogger and Book Reviewer
Official blog: https://bookidote.com/
March 28, 2021
Класна історія, малюнок, кольори і деталі! Задумує і занурює емоційно. Хочу ще таку!
July 20, 2020
I loved the art work and colouring in this story. It is a story of loss, nostalgia, avoiding life and making peace with our past. I took a star off because the ending was not very satisfying and sudden.
July 24, 2019
What an absolute force, what a pleasant surprise, what a freaking book.
Lushly illustrated with green hues all over, Ghost Tree is set, for the most part, in a Japanese forest where ghosts gather to voice their unrest and cling on to life, whatever it may be.
It's tough to explain the magnificence of this mini-series without piling on quotes from it (the first pages of issue 4 are some of the most simplistically poignant writing and they spoke to me) or just endlessly praising the thick atmosphere Curnow and his partner in crime Simon Gane create.
Both liberating and suffocating, the journey through this tale may be short but it talks about freedom and grief and love and the sum of all our moments, the way life ends and the way it carries on endlessly. It seems strange to see something so profound in a comic that's so light-hearted, closely resembling a Studio Ghibli offering or a Ray Bradbury short story. And yet it's all there, it's not a fluke, because for 4 issues Curno and Gane set the stage and follow through with heavy hitters about loves lost and moments missed. It's a punch in the gut and then some, especially as the ending sneaks up on you and devastates in a way that you don't even see coming.
Lushly illustrated with green hues all over, Ghost Tree is set, for the most part, in a Japanese forest where ghosts gather to voice their unrest and cling on to life, whatever it may be.
It's tough to explain the magnificence of this mini-series without piling on quotes from it (the first pages of issue 4 are some of the most simplistically poignant writing and they spoke to me) or just endlessly praising the thick atmosphere Curnow and his partner in crime Simon Gane create.
Both liberating and suffocating, the journey through this tale may be short but it talks about freedom and grief and love and the sum of all our moments, the way life ends and the way it carries on endlessly. It seems strange to see something so profound in a comic that's so light-hearted, closely resembling a Studio Ghibli offering or a Ray Bradbury short story. And yet it's all there, it's not a fluke, because for 4 issues Curno and Gane set the stage and follow through with heavy hitters about loves lost and moments missed. It's a punch in the gut and then some, especially as the ending sneaks up on you and devastates in a way that you don't even see coming.
December 6, 2019
Beautiful, melancholic and sad story that will touch your heart, with little pinch of supernatural. Art is little rough, but nice. Very pleasant short read
August 2, 2021
Сьогодні розкажу вам про мальопис, який номінувався на премію Айзнера в категорії «Найкраща лімітована серія» у 2020 році. Це історія «Дерево привидів» («Ghost Tree») Боббі Карнова та Саймона Ґейна, що публікувався у видавництві IDW Publishing.
Боббі Карнов уже встиг створити кілька власних історій, «Ніч 1000 вовків» («Night of 1000 Wolves»), «Долина Уорда» («Ward’s Valley»), «Бойові звірі» («Battle Beasts»). І також писав сценарії для таких відомих тайтлів, як «Мій маленький поні» («My Little Pony»), «Ґодзіла» («Godzilla») та «Підлітки мутанти черепашки ніндзя» («Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles»), які в більшості публікувалися у видавництві IDW Publishing, де він також працює редактором. А ось Саймон Ґейн встиг попрацювати для різних видавництв (IDW, Vertigo, Image Comics та інші). Як виявилося, я вже зустрічав роботи цього художника — «Вони не такі, як ми» («They’re Not Like Us») та «Північани» («Northlanders») —, просто не мав змоги ознайомитися із самими коміксами.
Щодо самої історії, то вона виявилася не простою та змусила мене зупинится на хвильку й задуматися про багато цінностей, якими ми часто нехтуємо. Історія описує нам хлопчика на ім’я Брандт, який провів своє дитинство зі своїм дідусем та бабусею в спокійному та затишному селищі у Японії. Онук багато часу проводив за розмовами та іграми зі своїм дідусем і під час одного з таких моментів, дідусь встав і без попередження пішов у глибину лісу, до одного високого дерева. Там він попросив Брандта повернутися на це місце, поруч із їхнім сімейним будинком, рівно через 10 років після його смерті.
Після цього ми переносимося в час, коли хлопчик став чоловіком і якраз повертається назад, щоби виконати свою обіцянку. Бранд виявляє, що привид його діда чекає на нього біля того самого дерева. А ще, що він може розмовляти із ним та з усіма духами на цьому дереві. Хлопець із задовленням проводить час із рідною душею, а також намагається допомогти багатьом іншим загубленим душам, розмовляючи з ними.
На перший погляд можна сприйняти цю історію в більш містичному розрізі, адже навіть привид на обкладинці мальопису натякає нам: «Тут буде історія про привидів». Але це тільки засіб для того, щоби створити незвичний сюжет, використовуючи дерево духів — один із духовних японських фольклорних елементів —, для того, щоби додати до історії частинку міфології та сформувати потрібну атмосферу. А сама історія розповідає про привидів минулого, пошук власного я й сенсу життя, про цінність кохання, підтримки й турботи. І найголовніше про те, як ми проживаємо життя, і тільки в кінці розуміємо, як ми його змарнували, бо все потрібне було поряд. Просто ми його не помічали.
Ретроспектива цінності життя відбувається на фоні подій із Брандтом та стосунків у його сім’ї. Після того, як він повернувся у японське село, ми бачимо, як йому добре тут. Тепла лапша, душевні розмови, горнятко запашного чаю та запалена цигарка на ґанку, і дорослий чоловік поринає в спогади дитинства, яке було десь так далеко й дуже давно. Але чи можна знайти спокій тут і забути всі проблеми, які він залишив у великому місті. Адже там чекає його дружина, а їхні стосунки тільки погіршуються, як порцеляна, що обростається тріщинами. І він, наче, знаходить цю гармонію біля дерева привидів, але не розуміє, що реальний світ поряд і там усе справжнє. А тут тільки ілюзія спокою та розуміння.
Щодо малюнку, то тут панелі працюють відмінно. Хоча спершу передувало враження, наче все перебуває в такому собі стані спокою. Але чим далі читаєш, тим більше твій погляд затримується на якомусь кадрі й ти помічаєш багато дрібних та важливих деталей. І найголовніше глибину історії, яку доносить художник через малюнок. Кожне обличчя чітко відображає емоційний стан героїв у певний момент. Спершу ти пропускаєш усі ці тонкощі, але коли вже вхопив манеру оповіді Боббі Карнова, то вони навспак підсилюють емоційний ефект від сприйняття історії. Здебільшого тло пофарбовано в пастельні зелені та блакитні кольори із різноманітними їхніми відтінками. І тільки, коли потрібно наголосити на певних деталях чи коли навколо вирує небезпека, спектр кольорів кардинально змінюється на основний червоний чи жовтий. Вважаю, що Саймон Ґейн на відмінно справився із художньою частиною.
Закінчення історії можливо не таке, яке б ми хотіли. Але це життя, воно бурхливе та несправедливе. І в ньому ти постійно намагаєшся втриматися на хвилях цього неспокою, врівноважуючи й себе, так само, як і близьких для тебе людей. Підсумовуючи, скажу, що я знайшов щось близьке і важливе особисто для себе. Та це не означає, що вона віднайде у вас тільки все позитивне. Ба більше, цей мальопис також може відкрити душевні рани, які давно гноїлися і про які ви вже забули.
Я без сумніву рекомендую вам мальопис «Дерево привидів» до прочитання, якщо любите покопатися в собі та поринути у філософські роздуми про сенс життя.
На останок ще про видання. Комікс вийшов у м’якій обкладинці стандартного американського формату для таких видань та складається із чотирьох випусків, які є завершеною історією.
Боббі Карнов уже встиг створити кілька власних історій, «Ніч 1000 вовків» («Night of 1000 Wolves»), «Долина Уорда» («Ward’s Valley»), «Бойові звірі» («Battle Beasts»). І також писав сценарії для таких відомих тайтлів, як «Мій маленький поні» («My Little Pony»), «Ґодзіла» («Godzilla») та «Підлітки мутанти черепашки ніндзя» («Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles»), які в більшості публікувалися у видавництві IDW Publishing, де він також працює редактором. А ось Саймон Ґейн встиг попрацювати для різних видавництв (IDW, Vertigo, Image Comics та інші). Як виявилося, я вже зустрічав роботи цього художника — «Вони не такі, як ми» («They’re Not Like Us») та «Північани» («Northlanders») —, просто не мав змоги ознайомитися із самими коміксами.
Щодо самої історії, то вона виявилася не простою та змусила мене зупинится на хвильку й задуматися про багато цінностей, якими ми часто нехтуємо. Історія описує нам хлопчика на ім’я Брандт, який провів своє дитинство зі своїм дідусем та бабусею в спокійному та затишному селищі у Японії. Онук багато часу проводив за розмовами та іграми зі своїм дідусем і під час одного з таких моментів, дідусь встав і без попередження пішов у глибину лісу, до одного високого дерева. Там він попросив Брандта повернутися на це місце, поруч із їхнім сімейним будинком, рівно через 10 років після його смерті.
Після цього ми переносимося в час, коли хлопчик став чоловіком і якраз повертається назад, щоби виконати свою обіцянку. Бранд виявляє, що привид його діда чекає на нього біля того самого дерева. А ще, що він може розмовляти із ним та з усіма духами на цьому дереві. Хлопець із задовленням проводить час із рідною душею, а також намагається допомогти багатьом іншим загубленим душам, розмовляючи з ними.
На перший погляд можна сприйняти цю історію в більш містичному розрізі, адже навіть привид на обкладинці мальопису натякає нам: «Тут буде історія про привидів». Але це тільки засіб для того, щоби створити незвичний сюжет, використовуючи дерево духів — один із духовних японських фольклорних елементів —, для того, щоби додати до історії частинку міфології та сформувати потрібну атмосферу. А сама історія розповідає про привидів минулого, пошук власного я й сенсу життя, про цінність кохання, підтримки й турботи. І найголовніше про те, як ми проживаємо життя, і тільки в кінці розуміємо, як ми його змарнували, бо все потрібне було поряд. Просто ми його не помічали.
Ретроспектива цінності життя відбувається на фоні подій із Брандтом та стосунків у його сім’ї. Після того, як він повернувся у японське село, ми бачимо, як йому добре тут. Тепла лапша, душевні розмови, горнятко запашного чаю та запалена цигарка на ґанку, і дорослий чоловік поринає в спогади дитинства, яке було десь так далеко й дуже давно. Але чи можна знайти спокій тут і забути всі проблеми, які він залишив у великому місті. Адже там чекає його дружина, а їхні стосунки тільки погіршуються, як порцеляна, що обростається тріщинами. І він, наче, знаходить цю гармонію біля дерева привидів, але не розуміє, що реальний світ поряд і там усе справжнє. А тут тільки ілюзія спокою та розуміння.
Щодо малюнку, то тут панелі працюють відмінно. Хоча спершу передувало враження, наче все перебуває в такому собі стані спокою. Але чим далі читаєш, тим більше твій погляд затримується на якомусь кадрі й ти помічаєш багато дрібних та важливих деталей. І найголовніше глибину історії, яку доносить художник через малюнок. Кожне обличчя чітко відображає емоційний стан героїв у певний момент. Спершу ти пропускаєш усі ці тонкощі, але коли вже вхопив манеру оповіді Боббі Карнова, то вони навспак підсилюють емоційний ефект від сприйняття історії. Здебільшого тло пофарбовано в пастельні зелені та блакитні кольори із різноманітними їхніми відтінками. І тільки, коли потрібно наголосити на певних деталях чи коли навколо вирує небезпека, спектр кольорів кардинально змінюється на основний червоний чи жовтий. Вважаю, що Саймон Ґейн на відмінно справився із художньою частиною.
Закінчення історії можливо не таке, яке б ми хотіли. Але це життя, воно бурхливе та несправедливе. І в ньому ти постійно намагаєшся втриматися на хвилях цього неспокою, врівноважуючи й себе, так само, як і близьких для тебе людей. Підсумовуючи, скажу, що я знайшов щось близьке і важливе особисто для себе. Та це не означає, що вона віднайде у вас тільки все позитивне. Ба більше, цей мальопис також може відкрити душевні рани, які давно гноїлися і про які ви вже забули.
Я без сумніву рекомендую вам мальопис «Дерево привидів» до прочитання, якщо любите покопатися в собі та поринути у філософські роздуми про сенс життя.
На останок ще про видання. Комікс вийшов у м’якій обкладинці стандартного американського формату для таких видань та складається із чотирьох випусків, які є завершеною історією.
May 7, 2023
A bittersweet story; not so much about accepting death but recognizing one’s mistakes and moving forward instead of staying in the obvious comfort zone of the past.
Slow and quiet, a bit hopeful, a bit sad too. Touching, anyways.
Nice european-styled art and pastel colors.
Slow and quiet, a bit hopeful, a bit sad too. Touching, anyways.
Nice european-styled art and pastel colors.
December 30, 2021
So, this did not go the way I thought. It falls very flat with its ending, the history of the Ghost Tree & its relation to this family is overdone & cliche. I did appreciate the main character's (Brandt's) interaction with his family and disliked his interaction with his dead ex-girlfriend's ghost. I can also appreciate the stark reality that rarely do things end happily or fairly for the majority. The art was as equally stark & sharp, at times brutal. Fast read.
January 9, 2020
Ghost Tree je kratka, jednoducha, melancholicka zalezitost, ktera neurazi a v pripade, ze mate radi urcitej typ koncu, tak i nadchne (ctvrtou hvezdu davam vylozene za nej!).
Pribeh je opravdu kratkej a je to spis takova pocitovka o lasce, zivote, smrti a hlavne o tom, ze clovek, kterej se prilis upina k minulosti, casto zapomina na pritomnost.
Pokud mate chut na neco, co vas, podobne treba jako Daytripper, dovede k zamysleni, tak dejte sanci Ghost Tree.
Pribeh je opravdu kratkej a je to spis takova pocitovka o lasce, zivote, smrti a hlavne o tom, ze clovek, kterej se prilis upina k minulosti, casto zapomina na pritomnost.
Pokud mate chut na neco, co vas, podobne treba jako Daytripper, dovede k zamysleni, tak dejte sanci Ghost Tree.
June 16, 2020
Krátká, melancholická komiksová povídka s trochou toho nadpřirozena a napětí, aby se čtenář moc neponořil do klidu.
I tak si to zvládlo urvat nominaci na Eisnera a je to takový příjemný rozdíl proti dosavadním věcem, které jsem z té nabídky načítal.
S klidem můžu doporučit každému bookstagramerovi, protože tohle se bude hezky vyjímat na fotce vedle šálku čaje a pak si ho k tomu můžete i vypít a udělat si příjemné nedělní odpoledne.
I tak si to zvládlo urvat nominaci na Eisnera a je to takový příjemný rozdíl proti dosavadním věcem, které jsem z té nabídky načítal.
S klidem můžu doporučit každému bookstagramerovi, protože tohle se bude hezky vyjímat na fotce vedle šálku čaje a pak si ho k tomu můžete i vypít a udělat si příjemné nedělní odpoledne.
December 13, 2020
Looking at the current score this book is sitting on here on Goodreads, I am always surprised by how generous people seem to be. Or maybe they are just not as critical and curmudgeonly as I am. This was poorly executed. The premise was a nice simple story about a man escaping a marriage on the rocks, fleeing back to his former homeland of Japan and to his parents ancestral home on the edge of a forest. I won't spoil anything, although the title gives away the presence of a ghost tree. The story is essentially a memoire on love and loss and what might have been. What should have been a very simple, emotional tale instead comes across feeling a bit bland and stale, and the several emotional arcs of the story never quite landing as they could have. The fantastical elements of the story come across as a little corny. The extended cast and 'evil' protagonist the book sets up was underdeveloped and really, not necessary to tell a bittersweet tale about childhood loss. it either needed to be better fleshed out with more interesting and convincing lore and characterisation, or left out all together, focusing on the family and the two otherworldly figures, whom are essentially driving the story. I really wanted to like this, as who can't help but be captivated by an emotional journey into our childhoods. Ruminating on what might have been and enjoying all the emotions that come with it. But the inconsistency with the narrative kept me from fully immersing myself in the story. There is a little twist at the end that left me wondering what I felt about it, but in the end, the whole story was underwhelming. Worth a look, although the lower your expectations are, the better you will likely come out of it in the end. 2.5/5
OmniBen.
OmniBen.
February 26, 2020
*read for YA reading challenge 2020*
This is a fantastic book that looks at a small family and their ghosts, while dealing with much larger questions of personal identity and self-worth.
Brandt revisits his grandparent's ancestral home in Japan from America where his marriage is falling apart. The story is only about 100 pages, but Curnow seems to get a lot of heart and sorrow in that space. It's a well constructed story and the art is really complimentary. It's a softer/muted color pallet and there is a nice flow to the art. This read really quickly for me in the best way as I was genuinely invested and couldn't put it down.
Good non-superhero book about life, love and what happens as we grow older and change as individuals.
This is a fantastic book that looks at a small family and their ghosts, while dealing with much larger questions of personal identity and self-worth.
Brandt revisits his grandparent's ancestral home in Japan from America where his marriage is falling apart. The story is only about 100 pages, but Curnow seems to get a lot of heart and sorrow in that space. It's a well constructed story and the art is really complimentary. It's a softer/muted color pallet and there is a nice flow to the art. This read really quickly for me in the best way as I was genuinely invested and couldn't put it down.
Good non-superhero book about life, love and what happens as we grow older and change as individuals.
December 17, 2020
Ghost Tree offers a quiet, moderately fantastical look at death, memory, and love. It wears its life lessons on its sleeve - until the very end, when Curnow subverts the whole dang message. I liked that, though. This is a good, if not particularly memorable read, but I think that ending will help it linger in my mind.
The artwork is chunky and handsome with excellent coloring. The pacing is deliberate, nearly perfect for a four-issue short story. Curnow could have stretched further, creating a whole series devoted to the ghosts inhabiting the ghost tree, but I appreciate that he kept this one short and sweet.
The artwork is chunky and handsome with excellent coloring. The pacing is deliberate, nearly perfect for a four-issue short story. Curnow could have stretched further, creating a whole series devoted to the ghosts inhabiting the ghost tree, but I appreciate that he kept this one short and sweet.
March 22, 2024
Brandt runs away from his failing marriage to his old family home, and finds a tree that acts as a beacon for ghosts. There, Brandt finds comfort in helping the ghosts pass on and ignoring his own problem. It's a mature drama with some fantasy elements that remind me of some Miyazaki films. It's rooted in some elements of Japanese folklore and the childish notion of men trying to run from their problems instead of confronting them. It's sweet, it's sad, it's surprising, and it's one of the best books of 2019 (and one of the best stand-alone mini-series I've read in years).
October 20, 2019
Bittersweet story about the loss of love and family, with an unexpected ending that stole the show. Tbh, I expected the cheesy happily-ever-after ending and the comic earns a lot of credit for exactly not doing that. Finally, we need to start having slice-of-life comic books that are...realistic. Other than that, it doesn't stand out of hundrend of new-age SoL BDs with the same themes.
Art is sweet, not my cup-of-tea though.
Art is sweet, not my cup-of-tea though.
July 18, 2020
Beautifully colored, and drawn in an style that sometimes reminds me of a pleasantly cartoonish version of Japanese brush painting. I enjoyed its reflections on the allure of memories and the importance of not living in them, and the sweet story of family heritage too. There’s also a nice balance of magical realism and real-world emotional consequence.
April 28, 2020
I loved this. This has Lemire style all over it. The stories about family, growing up and life itself. Beautiful artwork and amazing story.
April 26, 2021
Гарна маленька історія з японським антуражем, щоб трохи поміркувати про всіх тих привидів, яких ми носимо з собою.
"Life full of ghosts is no life at all."
June 17, 2020
Občas zbytečně prvoplánový, ale vlastně hrozně hezký. ♡
August 11, 2020
At this point we are around 4.5 months into sheltering from the pandemic. As many recent opEds & advice columns have noted, sheltering-in-place has also been very useful for testing cohabitation, isolation, sense of self, and revisiting memories of happier times.
Ghost Tree, then, seems oddly timely. On a surface level the book tells the tragic story of an unexpressed love in the late stages of a marriage, cut short by death. Brandt, our protagonist, is able to witness this tragedy when he learns, like one man in every generation of his family, that he can see ghosts and talks to his grandfather. Brandt must then tear himself away from the diverting stories and problems of the ghosts and focus on his own marriage and life back in the US, vanquishing a demon along the way.
Whilst at face-value this is a simplistic spooky story, it quickly becomes clear that its true themes explore nostalgia and the difficulties of growing up.
My interpretations of elements of the story:
Ghost Tree is beautifully drawn and illustrated with a muted green and brown color palette that brings the attention to the shadows & textures of the forest as well as the wooden house of Brandt's grandparents.
The story builds gradually, with small pieces of information about Brandt & his grandfather's relationships gradually revealed along with the mythology of the forest.
Brandt, it seems, was raised in Japan till some time in his late teens when he moved abroad. This also lends the story a displaced cultural element that I personally identified with.
I say more in the spoilers tab above but the ending is also stellar. What a fantastic book. I'll have to get the hardcopy of this for a reread :)
Ghost Tree, then, seems oddly timely. On a surface level the book tells the tragic story of an unexpressed love in the late stages of a marriage, cut short by death. Brandt, our protagonist, is able to witness this tragedy when he learns, like one man in every generation of his family, that he can see ghosts and talks to his grandfather. Brandt must then tear himself away from the diverting stories and problems of the ghosts and focus on his own marriage and life back in the US, vanquishing a demon along the way.
Whilst at face-value this is a simplistic spooky story, it quickly becomes clear that its true themes explore nostalgia and the difficulties of growing up.
My interpretations of elements of the story:
Ghost Tree is beautifully drawn and illustrated with a muted green and brown color palette that brings the attention to the shadows & textures of the forest as well as the wooden house of Brandt's grandparents.
The story builds gradually, with small pieces of information about Brandt & his grandfather's relationships gradually revealed along with the mythology of the forest.
Brandt, it seems, was raised in Japan till some time in his late teens when he moved abroad. This also lends the story a displaced cultural element that I personally identified with.
I say more in the spoilers tab above but the ending is also stellar. What a fantastic book. I'll have to get the hardcopy of this for a reread :)
April 13, 2020
(3,8 of 5 for this nice looking supernatural comics about a completely natural topic)
For a start, I like that art. Subtle and neat colours with thick ink lines work well for me. Japan setting got some points from me too, although I lacked at least a bit of "japan aesthetics" in the art. But it looks great, kind of reminds me of the B.P.R.D. style with Guy Davis vibe.
The story - I liked it, it is kind of melancholic, going back home and exploring your roots thing. It's little bleak (in a good way) and bland (in not so good way). But the story kept me interested even if I felt there wasn't too much to it. I appreciate that not all good ends must be necessarily completely happy ones. I enjoyed ghost tree, maybe more art than a story, which is kind of good but insipidly executed.
For a start, I like that art. Subtle and neat colours with thick ink lines work well for me. Japan setting got some points from me too, although I lacked at least a bit of "japan aesthetics" in the art. But it looks great, kind of reminds me of the B.P.R.D. style with Guy Davis vibe.
The story - I liked it, it is kind of melancholic, going back home and exploring your roots thing. It's little bleak (in a good way) and bland (in not so good way). But the story kept me interested even if I felt there wasn't too much to it. I appreciate that not all good ends must be necessarily completely happy ones. I enjoyed ghost tree, maybe more art than a story, which is kind of good but insipidly executed.
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