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StoryPeople, Collected Stories & Drawings of Brian Andreas #5
Hearing Voices: Collected Stories & Drawings
This is the fifth book of the series that began with "Mostly True Collected Stories & Drawings". Brian has continued the journey, weaving humor and poignance in his stories and drawings including 'No Regret' ("I sometimes wake in the early morning & listen to the soft breathing of my children & I think to myself, this is one thing I'll never regret & I carry that quiet with me all day long").
74 pages, Paperback
First published July 1, 1998
4 people are currently reading
145 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
March 18, 2013
I always love reading Brian Andreas's books. They always make me smile. This man is able to include so many emotions, as well as remarks and stories that just about anyone would be able to relate to, in his work. Along with the words, I love his illustrations. After reading the story, I look at the picture and see how he put the story into art. I go to Iowa every year to the town where one of his studios is. I always go and get a book after I observe the work spaces and creativeness of the studio. I think that seeing all of that makes the books even more interesting. I would recommend this book to anyone that is able to read. These stories are meaningful and so simplistic as the same time.
August 4, 2010
Andreas is really able to capture those small moments in life and I’m sure you’ll be able to relate to much more than one page in his books.
I’ve discovered all of Andreas’ books will leave a smile on your face.
I’ve discovered all of Andreas’ books will leave a smile on your face.
January 8, 2012
This guy is really awesome. His art is like a little child’s and his poetry is a bit like that too. He does an amazing job of getting inside the psyche of the fragile human mind and pulling out something a little strange, quirky, and always enjoyable. His work is special.
February 5, 2017
Favorites:
"I used to hear voices a lot, but then I read up on it & found out they don't exist so I now I don't listen to a word they say."
"everything changed the day he figured out there was exactly enough time for the important things in his life."
"fond of dressing like a bird at every opportunity & then sneaking around at dusk scaring the bejeezus out of cats."
"I used to hear voices a lot, but then I read up on it & found out they don't exist so I now I don't listen to a word they say."
"everything changed the day he figured out there was exactly enough time for the important things in his life."
"fond of dressing like a bird at every opportunity & then sneaking around at dusk scaring the bejeezus out of cats."
September 11, 2014
Excellent collection of thoughts and ideas that make you think deeply and not too deeply all at the same time. I am leaving it on my desk to refer to over and over again, or maybe when I just need a reset for my brain.
May 24, 2008
You'll never go wrong with this one on your bookshelf--it truly is amazing stuff.
June 14, 2012
Love the stories, and the artwork. My absolute favorite story, "Kindred Spirits" is in this one. I absolutely adore Brian Andreas.
October 14, 2015
beautiful
January 6, 2017
This was a cute little book filled with interesting thoughts and drawings.
November 20, 2017
I thought this book was a beautiful collection of words and drawings. It’s a real work of art. I loved that his voice felt like him. He wasn’t trying too hard to sound a certain way or be a certain way. He just spoke about his family and his life, things he knows. The drawings really brought this book to a whole other level. They were beautiful and at times abstract. I really loved them. There were pages I wanted to take out and frame on my wall. I think my favorite page was the last one. I can already picture it painted across a bedroom wall in soft loopy handwriting.
I did find this collection to be very short. Considering some pages the writing was so large. Keeping you from getting a lot of substance. It’s not necessarily a bad thing I just found myself wanting more. Oh and I wanted to mention that this book definitely is more adult in the sense of he talks a lot about his kids. So if you’re young and find that completely unenjoyable or not relatable an anyway maybe this isn’t the book for you.
I’m interested in reading more from this author. And will be keeping my eyes open for more of his writing in the future :)
I did find this collection to be very short. Considering some pages the writing was so large. Keeping you from getting a lot of substance. It’s not necessarily a bad thing I just found myself wanting more. Oh and I wanted to mention that this book definitely is more adult in the sense of he talks a lot about his kids. So if you’re young and find that completely unenjoyable or not relatable an anyway maybe this isn’t the book for you.
I’m interested in reading more from this author. And will be keeping my eyes open for more of his writing in the future :)
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April 19, 2023Give me liberty or give me Brian Andreas’s collected stories and drawings, and I would fully choose Brian Andreas’s work (most) every time.
“… I learned to just listen, & unexpectedly, they taught me the secret of life. Be a lover. That is it: be a lover. When you love, whether a child, or your work, or the feel of the wind, licking your skin, you are in a state of grace. You aren’t asking your love to be anything more than what it is. The paradox is that what it is, is beyond imagining. It is real & true & very rarely what you expect.”
“It is a powerful act of love to simply listen, well & fully.”
“Our stories make the dead dance & the living soar. They turn water into wine & rocks into gold. They give us power beyond your wildest dreams. Perhaps our stories do something even greater than that, something we haven’t even considered in our small vision. Something like helping us all to listen. Reminding us to pay attention to the soft voices.”
“… I learned to just listen, & unexpectedly, they taught me the secret of life. Be a lover. That is it: be a lover. When you love, whether a child, or your work, or the feel of the wind, licking your skin, you are in a state of grace. You aren’t asking your love to be anything more than what it is. The paradox is that what it is, is beyond imagining. It is real & true & very rarely what you expect.”
“It is a powerful act of love to simply listen, well & fully.”
“Our stories make the dead dance & the living soar. They turn water into wine & rocks into gold. They give us power beyond your wildest dreams. Perhaps our stories do something even greater than that, something we haven’t even considered in our small vision. Something like helping us all to listen. Reminding us to pay attention to the soft voices.”
August 26, 2022
Don't we all know someone like this:
(the following is from 'Good Excuse')
"I'm too lazy to
get enlightened,
he told me once
& I don't like restaurants
too much.
What does that have to do
with anything?
I'm not sure, he said,
but any excuse is good
when change is involved."
As usual, Brian offers up some nonsensical (is it though?) wisdom that pushes new perspectives on the reader and demands a smile, even if you've had the worst day. Innocent fragmented but, completely relatable thoughts infused with subtle dark humor and playful, messy drawings is a fun recipe that makes this author's books absolutely unforgettable.
"I wouldn't mind
being grown up,
she told me, if I
didn't have to
get up & be
GRUMPY
right away every
morning."
-from 'Morning Person'
(the following is from 'Good Excuse')
"I'm too lazy to
get enlightened,
he told me once
& I don't like restaurants
too much.
What does that have to do
with anything?
I'm not sure, he said,
but any excuse is good
when change is involved."
As usual, Brian offers up some nonsensical (is it though?) wisdom that pushes new perspectives on the reader and demands a smile, even if you've had the worst day. Innocent fragmented but, completely relatable thoughts infused with subtle dark humor and playful, messy drawings is a fun recipe that makes this author's books absolutely unforgettable.
"I wouldn't mind
being grown up,
she told me, if I
didn't have to
get up & be
GRUMPY
right away every
morning."
-from 'Morning Person'
January 11, 2023
Another collection of whimsical musings about life with more quirky artwork.
Favorite Passages:
“I always wanted to invent something that would move around & make funny noises & change the world as we know it & 8 forgot all about that until we had kids & now I see I came pretty close”
“We sat in the car & the night dropped down until the only sounds were the crickets & the dance of our voices & for a moment the world became small enough to roll back & forth between us”
“Wish for your deepest desires, she said, & when I asked if they’d come true, she said they always do (bed of nails that you might get used to after a while) so you might as well get them out in the open while you’re still young enough to correct any serious mistakes”
Favorite Passages:
“I always wanted to invent something that would move around & make funny noises & change the world as we know it & 8 forgot all about that until we had kids & now I see I came pretty close”
“We sat in the car & the night dropped down until the only sounds were the crickets & the dance of our voices & for a moment the world became small enough to roll back & forth between us”
“Wish for your deepest desires, she said, & when I asked if they’d come true, she said they always do (bed of nails that you might get used to after a while) so you might as well get them out in the open while you’re still young enough to correct any serious mistakes”
June 7, 2019
I always enjoy Brian Andreas funny drawings and randomly expressed thoughts on relationships, like, holidays, the mind, etc. He covers it all. There are always a few pages that stand out or that I want to put on a poster and hang in my house!
January 24, 2024
“in the end, i think i will like that we were sitting on the bed, talking & wondering where the time had gone.”
“i would say i love you so much if you could teach me a better way, i said & she said that’d do fine for now.”
“i would say i love you so much if you could teach me a better way, i said & she said that’d do fine for now.”
January 14, 2020
We sat in the car
& the night dropped
down until the
only sounds were
the crickets &
the dance of our voices
& for a moment
the world became
small enough to
roll back & forth
between us
& the night dropped
down until the
only sounds were
the crickets &
the dance of our voices
& for a moment
the world became
small enough to
roll back & forth
between us
June 17, 2015
Rick Lovelady posted something on Facebook about this book and about this writer so I ordered it and read it. Meh.
January 10, 2022
this was quirky in the perfect way and still threw some life truths in there that kinda slapped me in the face and idk i loved it a lot i really wanna read more from him. real easy to read too
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews