What do you think?
Rate this book
Ghost Stories
Ghost Stories is a graphic novel collection offering three haunting explorations. Granted the chance to meet three of her dead idols in "Ghost," the author’s cartoon-self embarks on a journey to remote and unanticipated landscapes, in a story of self-discovery and healing. In "Wallpaper," a child tells the story of a household move, remodel, and loss through the lens of flashbulb memory. And in "Makers," two girls with an unorthodox friendship make a rocky transition into adulthood. Throughout each tale, ghosts exist as past selves and remnants of past relationships that are met with inquiry, resolution, and personal rebirth.
Whit Taylor is a cartoonist, writer, editor, and public health educator from New Jersey. She has a BA in cultural anthropology from Brown University and received an MPH in Social and Behavioral Sciences from Boston University School of Public Health. Her comics have been published by The Nib, The New Yorker, Rosarium Publishing, BOOM!, Sparkplug Books, Kus, Ninth Art Press, Illustrated PEN, and others.
Whit Taylor is a cartoonist, writer, editor, and public health educator from New Jersey. She has a BA in cultural anthropology from Brown University and received an MPH in Social and Behavioral Sciences from Boston University School of Public Health. Her comics have been published by The Nib, The New Yorker, Rosarium Publishing, BOOM!, Sparkplug Books, Kus, Ninth Art Press, Illustrated PEN, and others.
Kindle Edition
Published January 10, 2018
96 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 81 reviews
January 12, 2018
I received this copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Not what I expected
Whit Taylor takes a very different route to give her memoirs a whole different feel. She use three comics to portray three parts of her life that haunts her. Or at least that's what I've been told.
The thing is, the comics was really confusing. I had to read each one a few times to get what she was trying to say and I'm still not sure about the last one.
This one is definitely not for all - as I've seen some how obviously loved it; I'm just not one of them.
However I do like the idea of a memoir in the form of a comic!
Not what I expected
Whit Taylor takes a very different route to give her memoirs a whole different feel. She use three comics to portray three parts of her life that haunts her. Or at least that's what I've been told.
The thing is, the comics was really confusing. I had to read each one a few times to get what she was trying to say and I'm still not sure about the last one.
This one is definitely not for all - as I've seen some how obviously loved it; I'm just not one of them.
However I do like the idea of a memoir in the form of a comic!
November 7, 2017
This wasn't my cup of tea.
I liked the art style, however, I thought the stories would be creepy..
These are not actual ghost stories!
I was waiting for the ghost part, but there wasn't sadly.
But, I liked the message the collection gave overall.
My rating:
- Ghost: 2.5 stars.
- Wallpaper: 1 star.
- Markers: 3 stars.
*Thank you to NetGalley and Rosarium Publishing for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review*
I liked the art style, however, I thought the stories would be creepy..
These are not actual ghost stories!
I was waiting for the ghost part, but there wasn't sadly.
But, I liked the message the collection gave overall.
My rating:
- Ghost: 2.5 stars.
- Wallpaper: 1 star.
- Markers: 3 stars.
*Thank you to NetGalley and Rosarium Publishing for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review*
November 23, 2017
This comic opens up to a young girl who is granted the ability to spend a day with three of her idols. The author’s cartoon-self first meets Charles Darwin, who describes to her the process of evolution. He explains that the concept of ‘survival of the fittest’ is unfair, to which the protagonist agrees. Through this comic the author includes detailed explanation of scientific expressions, and throws in wikipedia page explanation of terms and people. I liked the way everything was explained, and how the story still flowed. We then meet Mary, a women I can connect with;
“Being alone had progressed from anguish, to loneliness, to a solitude she had not expected” (pg. 28)
This interlude scene quickly dissolves to the main character meeting her next idol; Joseph Campbell.
“Myths were exhilarating, mysteical, and often cruel but always had a greater message” (pg. 38)
This comic becomes, not the main characters adventures with these ghosts, but the impact of the idols and their wisdom on the young girls behaviour and sense of self.
‘Ghost’ follows a character who is forced to live with a past trauma affecting her everyday life. This perception and accurate depicting of attitudes towards mental and physical health are described to a reader in a truly unique fashion.
The next segment, ‘Wallpaper’, resembles less a comic, and more a collection of diary entries, separated by pieces of wallpaper. The child’s view of the world is simple, as he is slowly introduced to the intricate behaviour of adults. This piece was less description than the previous comic, so the reader has to force themselves to truly unravel what the author intended for this piece to be about.
The comic ends with ‘Makers’, the ghost in this story being a lost friendship. This was probably my favourite of all three; I connected with its portrayal of frustration, loss and letting go more than the rest. Just like the main character, I have also experienced the difficulties to trying to maintain friendships with childhood friends once moving on to further acaedemic studies, as well as moving to another city.
A lot of reviewers complained that this book didn’t include ghost stories, but forget that this comic deals with the past. The ghosts of one’s self and how they can haunt your future self if proper care is not received. There was only a very slight sense of incomplete-ness from these stories, otherwise they were a unique take on explaining the trivialities of life.
*Thank you to NetGalley and Rosarium Publishing for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review*
“Being alone had progressed from anguish, to loneliness, to a solitude she had not expected” (pg. 28)
This interlude scene quickly dissolves to the main character meeting her next idol; Joseph Campbell.
“Myths were exhilarating, mysteical, and often cruel but always had a greater message” (pg. 38)
This comic becomes, not the main characters adventures with these ghosts, but the impact of the idols and their wisdom on the young girls behaviour and sense of self.
‘Ghost’ follows a character who is forced to live with a past trauma affecting her everyday life. This perception and accurate depicting of attitudes towards mental and physical health are described to a reader in a truly unique fashion.
The next segment, ‘Wallpaper’, resembles less a comic, and more a collection of diary entries, separated by pieces of wallpaper. The child’s view of the world is simple, as he is slowly introduced to the intricate behaviour of adults. This piece was less description than the previous comic, so the reader has to force themselves to truly unravel what the author intended for this piece to be about.
The comic ends with ‘Makers’, the ghost in this story being a lost friendship. This was probably my favourite of all three; I connected with its portrayal of frustration, loss and letting go more than the rest. Just like the main character, I have also experienced the difficulties to trying to maintain friendships with childhood friends once moving on to further acaedemic studies, as well as moving to another city.
A lot of reviewers complained that this book didn’t include ghost stories, but forget that this comic deals with the past. The ghosts of one’s self and how they can haunt your future self if proper care is not received. There was only a very slight sense of incomplete-ness from these stories, otherwise they were a unique take on explaining the trivialities of life.
*Thank you to NetGalley and Rosarium Publishing for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review*
December 18, 2017
This was an okay graphic novel consisting of three shorter stories with common themes. The style of the art was quite engaging and the stories were quite snapshot in nature which made them a little disjointed but certainly didn't get dull. None of the stories had a very satisfying ending, but I guess that's a bit like life. Sometimes there isn't always an ending.
Like other readers, I thought this would be actual ghost stories, but I didn't mind when it turned out to be something different. The stories are more about self-discovery and I guess a bit about laying the ghost of the past to rest.
All in all I quite enjoyed this one.
Like other readers, I thought this would be actual ghost stories, but I didn't mind when it turned out to be something different. The stories are more about self-discovery and I guess a bit about laying the ghost of the past to rest.
All in all I quite enjoyed this one.
December 12, 2017
I loved the concept of this graphic novel.
Our main character called ghost meets three people, three people who represent her past, past experiences and things she lost which in turn make her reflect and challenge her life perceptions. These experiences were illustrated well and the messages strong through the art work but the stories felt incomplete and could of been expanded on slightly more. However, I don't regret the few hours spent on following ghost's reflections and it made a nice change to my usual books.
My thanks go to the author, publisher and Netgalley in providing me with this arc in return for an honest review.
Our main character called ghost meets three people, three people who represent her past, past experiences and things she lost which in turn make her reflect and challenge her life perceptions. These experiences were illustrated well and the messages strong through the art work but the stories felt incomplete and could of been expanded on slightly more. However, I don't regret the few hours spent on following ghost's reflections and it made a nice change to my usual books.
My thanks go to the author, publisher and Netgalley in providing me with this arc in return for an honest review.
Read
November 14, 2021My review was first posted on Northern Plunder, you can read more of my reviews there too.
On a train to visit my boyfriend that was very fully I realised I couldn’t pick my current read up out of my bag so I was browsing my backlog of NetGalley books and found this.I didn’t remember it was a graphic novel but the fact it was made me very happy as I was able to read it all then and there on the train.
This isn’t like ooooh spoooky ghost stories to tell at sleepovers, its very much an exploration of ghosts in other ways.
For example, the ghost of past famous figures, of someone you loved, of your previous self, of friendships.
It is incredibly well done and put together. It explores some heavier subject matter in a very accessable manner.
However reading this as an ecopy was really difficult – particularly on my phone. It wouldnt let me zoom in often so a lot of the time I was squinting and guessing what some of the text said.
So my overall enjoyment was definitely hindered a bit.
On a train to visit my boyfriend that was very fully I realised I couldn’t pick my current read up out of my bag so I was browsing my backlog of NetGalley books and found this.I didn’t remember it was a graphic novel but the fact it was made me very happy as I was able to read it all then and there on the train.
This isn’t like ooooh spoooky ghost stories to tell at sleepovers, its very much an exploration of ghosts in other ways.
For example, the ghost of past famous figures, of someone you loved, of your previous self, of friendships.
It is incredibly well done and put together. It explores some heavier subject matter in a very accessable manner.
However reading this as an ecopy was really difficult – particularly on my phone. It wouldnt let me zoom in often so a lot of the time I was squinting and guessing what some of the text said.
So my overall enjoyment was definitely hindered a bit.
January 23, 2018
*Disclaimer: I received this book for free on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.*
I went into this with high hopes and was thoroughly disappointed. The idea of a short story collection in graphic novel form sounded like something I would really enjoy but unfortunately this was not executed well at all in my opinion.
The illustration style itself wasn't the kind of art that I am particularly drawn to. It was the kind of drawing that I feel I could have done, which would have been fine if the story had stepped it up but it didn't. I found that some tough topics were introduced but never went anywhere and the writing itself was clunky in places.
I wouldn't recommend this at all to be honest and I'm sad that the art style didn't match the cover.
I went into this with high hopes and was thoroughly disappointed. The idea of a short story collection in graphic novel form sounded like something I would really enjoy but unfortunately this was not executed well at all in my opinion.
The illustration style itself wasn't the kind of art that I am particularly drawn to. It was the kind of drawing that I feel I could have done, which would have been fine if the story had stepped it up but it didn't. I found that some tough topics were introduced but never went anywhere and the writing itself was clunky in places.
I wouldn't recommend this at all to be honest and I'm sad that the art style didn't match the cover.
January 31, 2018
I received an E-ARC of this book via Netgalley for an honest review.
These graphic novel features 3 individuals stories. The first 2 stories I really didn't enjoy and I did contemplate just not finishing as I was growing bored. But I do think the 3rd story was engaging enough to catch my attention again.
The stories are not ghost stories as the name suggests but rather a small collection of stories focusing on different aspects of loss in my opinion.
I didn't particularly like the art style in this graphic novel either.
These graphic novel features 3 individuals stories. The first 2 stories I really didn't enjoy and I did contemplate just not finishing as I was growing bored. But I do think the 3rd story was engaging enough to catch my attention again.
The stories are not ghost stories as the name suggests but rather a small collection of stories focusing on different aspects of loss in my opinion.
I didn't particularly like the art style in this graphic novel either.
December 31, 2018
I liked these graphic novel short stories. I especially liked "Makers," about how two friends can grow close and then slowly grow apart. These stories didn't necessarily "go" anywhere; a couple of them felt like little glimpses, and I like little glimpses.
January 12, 2018
Actual rating: 2.5 stars
This book had a really cute art style and that cover is absolutely stunning, however if you are thinking about picking it up to satisfy your craving for something bone-chillingly scary this is not the book for you.
As opposed to nightmare inducing ghosts, the three stories that make up this book delve into more metaphorical ghosts; those of our past relationships and traumas as well as those pesky skeletons in the closet. The message of one story in particular, Ghost, is particularly poignant to me and was the one that I found to be the most touching and relatable to me personally.
It was a very quick read with a touching art style but I honestly didn’t like the how the stories just felt incomplete, which is the only reason for my “okay” rating.
Thank you to the publisher for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
This book had a really cute art style and that cover is absolutely stunning, however if you are thinking about picking it up to satisfy your craving for something bone-chillingly scary this is not the book for you.
As opposed to nightmare inducing ghosts, the three stories that make up this book delve into more metaphorical ghosts; those of our past relationships and traumas as well as those pesky skeletons in the closet. The message of one story in particular, Ghost, is particularly poignant to me and was the one that I found to be the most touching and relatable to me personally.
It was a very quick read with a touching art style but I honestly didn’t like the how the stories just felt incomplete, which is the only reason for my “okay” rating.
Thank you to the publisher for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
December 3, 2017
*thank you to Netgalley and Rosarium Publishing for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*
1.5 stars.
What was that?
This was kinda an odd book and I'm left without anything to say about it. It wasn't a bad book, just not for me. The drawings weren't very good which was a bit distracting. There were 3 seperate stories all up but, well, I don't have anything to say about them. A positive though, I do like the cover.
1.5 stars.
What was that?
This was kinda an odd book and I'm left without anything to say about it. It wasn't a bad book, just not for me. The drawings weren't very good which was a bit distracting. There were 3 seperate stories all up but, well, I don't have anything to say about them. A positive though, I do like the cover.
December 3, 2017
I received a copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Yikes. I am so unbelievably confused by what I just read! Moving past the title 'Ghost Stories' as being a bit misleading, I had so many issues with this book! Firstly the stories themselves. I'm so confused as to what they were about and what they actually mean. They felt more like a stream of consciousness than a well-structured, thought-out storyline. Especially in 'Wallpapers'. I didn't much like 'Ghost' because I felt that the character didn't really learn anything from anyone that she met, it was more like a lesson on what that person believed and taught and I could get that from reading their books, explained to me in a much better way too. 'Makers' was also disappointing as it dragged on, the dialogue felt stilted, and there was once again no point to the story. I wasn't totally on board with the religion bashing either.
Sad to say, what could have scored this book higher would be the art, but I really didn't like it. I found it very juvenile, some of it not coloured in properly and rough, and it was like looking at the work of a child most of the time. It was so disappointing! Especially as the cover for this book is gorgeous! Whatsmore, I became VERY agitated with the mistakes in spelling and language. 'Me and ' for example. Or the joke about lunacy, referring to the moon as a planet? How on earth did any of this get through editing? It gave me the vague notion that someone had approached with a hand-drawn notebook of ideas and it's immediately been put into print! Weird, nonsensical, and I spent the entire reading experience trying to find a way to make sense of it all...I failed.
Yikes. I am so unbelievably confused by what I just read! Moving past the title 'Ghost Stories' as being a bit misleading, I had so many issues with this book! Firstly the stories themselves. I'm so confused as to what they were about and what they actually mean. They felt more like a stream of consciousness than a well-structured, thought-out storyline. Especially in 'Wallpapers'. I didn't much like 'Ghost' because I felt that the character didn't really learn anything from anyone that she met, it was more like a lesson on what that person believed and taught and I could get that from reading their books, explained to me in a much better way too. 'Makers' was also disappointing as it dragged on, the dialogue felt stilted, and there was once again no point to the story. I wasn't totally on board with the religion bashing either.
Sad to say, what could have scored this book higher would be the art, but I really didn't like it. I found it very juvenile, some of it not coloured in properly and rough, and it was like looking at the work of a child most of the time. It was so disappointing! Especially as the cover for this book is gorgeous! Whatsmore, I became VERY agitated with the mistakes in spelling and language. 'Me and ' for example. Or the joke about lunacy, referring to the moon as a planet? How on earth did any of this get through editing? It gave me the vague notion that someone had approached with a hand-drawn notebook of ideas and it's immediately been put into print! Weird, nonsensical, and I spent the entire reading experience trying to find a way to make sense of it all...I failed.
February 5, 2018
Three different stories;
in the first one, the protagonist, a black woman, has the chance to talk with three ghosts. I really liked this story. We get some information about the ghosts, who they were and what their work was about. MC finds connections between her own story and the ghosts. The story has some very sweets moments but also there are discussions about sexual assault, PTSD, and recovery.
the second story is a poem. I didn't particularly like it, probably I didn't get it. And that's okay, poetry can be very personal and I wasn't a fan of this style.
the third story is about growing up, friendship and coming apart. it was a little bit heartbreaking but it wasn't too sad, the end is quite sweet actually. I did enjoy it, although not as much as I did the first story.
Ghost stories was an interesting collection of stories, the art is pretty simple but I really enjoyed it.
Recevied a copy through NetGalley in exchange an honest review.
in the first one, the protagonist, a black woman, has the chance to talk with three ghosts. I really liked this story. We get some information about the ghosts, who they were and what their work was about. MC finds connections between her own story and the ghosts. The story has some very sweets moments but also there are discussions about sexual assault, PTSD, and recovery.
the second story is a poem. I didn't particularly like it, probably I didn't get it. And that's okay, poetry can be very personal and I wasn't a fan of this style.
the third story is about growing up, friendship and coming apart. it was a little bit heartbreaking but it wasn't too sad, the end is quite sweet actually. I did enjoy it, although not as much as I did the first story.
Ghost stories was an interesting collection of stories, the art is pretty simple but I really enjoyed it.
Recevied a copy through NetGalley in exchange an honest review.
November 7, 2017
This wasn’t my kind of book. First of all this was marketed as a book about ghost stories , not just in the title but in the description. And that’s not why this is at all. In fact it was boring and I really did not enjoy this. Although the art style was beautiful I dealt did not enjoy this. 1.5/5 stars
Thank you to Netgalley for this EBook in exchange for an honest review !
Thank you to Netgalley for this EBook in exchange for an honest review !
November 1, 2017
I received a free copy of this ARC thanks to Netgalley and Rosarium Publishing. This in no way affected my review.
Publication Date: 10th January 2018
Review Date: 01st November 2017
Looking through Netgalley for some short reads I could use to up my review count and also up my reading challenge, I came across Ghost Stories in the comics, graphic novel read now section and my interest perked up. Although this was tagged as Woman’s Fiction, and that really isn’t one of my favourite genres, I decided to read it either way. It’s 120 pages, a short graphic novel, and it was about ghosts. Maybe it was going to be good.
So straight away, assuming this was about ghosts and horror was the genre was… a whole new level of mis-assumption. This is the story of a girl, meeting three people who have died, to have a conversation with them – but she’s not allowed to ask how they died.
There was a lot in this I wasn’t expecting. A lot of learning about sciences, and mythology, but looking at them in a new way that allows for the reader to put it to their own lives. I wasn’t really keen on all of the artwork through out this. It’s not a style I particularly like, and I would have skipped this had I known previously that this was the artwork style. However, I really liked the middle section of the book; Wallpapers. There was something about it that almost made me feel nostalgic. It was sweet to read and to see come to life on my screen, and I really did enjoy that section. However, the rest of the book, I didn’t really enjoy.
However, there are going to be people who enjoy this, so please don’t let my review put you off if you want to try it! Definitely give it a go, you won’t know from a review if you fully enjoy a book or now.
Publication Date: 10th January 2018
Review Date: 01st November 2017
Looking through Netgalley for some short reads I could use to up my review count and also up my reading challenge, I came across Ghost Stories in the comics, graphic novel read now section and my interest perked up. Although this was tagged as Woman’s Fiction, and that really isn’t one of my favourite genres, I decided to read it either way. It’s 120 pages, a short graphic novel, and it was about ghosts. Maybe it was going to be good.
So straight away, assuming this was about ghosts and horror was the genre was… a whole new level of mis-assumption. This is the story of a girl, meeting three people who have died, to have a conversation with them – but she’s not allowed to ask how they died.
There was a lot in this I wasn’t expecting. A lot of learning about sciences, and mythology, but looking at them in a new way that allows for the reader to put it to their own lives. I wasn’t really keen on all of the artwork through out this. It’s not a style I particularly like, and I would have skipped this had I known previously that this was the artwork style. However, I really liked the middle section of the book; Wallpapers. There was something about it that almost made me feel nostalgic. It was sweet to read and to see come to life on my screen, and I really did enjoy that section. However, the rest of the book, I didn’t really enjoy.
However, there are going to be people who enjoy this, so please don’t let my review put you off if you want to try it! Definitely give it a go, you won’t know from a review if you fully enjoy a book or now.
October 1, 2019
Meh. Three stories, all with good parts, but no real point. I can handle a story without resolution, but I felt like even the author was exactly sure where she was going with these. Not terrible, but not memorable.
January 31, 2018
What a lovely book. The first of the three stories here, "Ghost," is one of the best short-form autobio comics I've read in the last few years: a deeply personal tale involving a terrible trauma Taylor suffered, told quite creatively—and complete with guest appearances by Charles Darwin and Joseph Campbell(!). Without giving too much away, the story starts out in a very different fashion from where it ends up for a reason, with Taylor's ultimate reveal being poignant & moving. "Ghost" has a lot to say about how we process trauma and grief - we often don't deal with it until we have no other alternative. I've read it several times now and admire it a lot, packed as it is with ideas, without sacrificing any heart. The second comic, "Wallpaper," is a fine autobiographic meditation about the way physical surroundings shape memories and vice-versa. The final tale of the trio, "Makers," features a pair of somewhat misfit high school girls navigating their offbeat friendship through the succeeding years. Though a work of fiction, it still feels personal and works well with the other pieces, making for a totally solid, cohesive story cycle. The book cast a certain spell over me, it's a keeper.
PS & BTW to all the reviewers on here who expressed disappointment that these stories aren't flat-out spooky ghost stories--you're kidding, right? I mean, you know how to read the back cover of a book, read reviews, do a bit of research beforehand, yes? No? Well then, that's a real problem for you.
PS & BTW to all the reviewers on here who expressed disappointment that these stories aren't flat-out spooky ghost stories--you're kidding, right? I mean, you know how to read the back cover of a book, read reviews, do a bit of research beforehand, yes? No? Well then, that's a real problem for you.
August 17, 2020
Certainly not 'ghost stories' in the traditional sense, these three illustrated stories all look at how people and experiences can become ghosts to us in some way or another. The art isn't really my style, and I didn't enjoy the first story, which I found to be quite confusing. However I really enjoyed the other two stories and found them to be heartfelt and memorable.
Thank you to Netgalley and Rosarium Publishing for providing an eBook of this for review.
Thank you to Netgalley and Rosarium Publishing for providing an eBook of this for review.
February 15, 2021
** I received a free copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. **
Ghost Stories is a short anthology with two graphic novel stories and one prose story, themed around the idea of past selves.
"Ghost" follows a girl who is granted a wish to talk to three historical figures she admires who are deceased. This was an interesting idea, but it is used as a strange segue into an examination of the main character's trauma. I thought that aspect of the story had the most substance, and would have made for a stronger story. It fit in awkwardly with the conversations the character has with Darwin and Joseph Campbell. Additionally, I felt lost reading this story because it's peppered in-between with strange dream(?) sequences that don't seem to have much bearing on the rest of the story.
"Wallpaper" is the single prose story that describes the events a young girl goes through while her family is remodeling their kitchen. This read more like stream-of-consciousness writing or poetry – it was simplistic but captured strong impressions. I wasn't sure if this was meant to be autobiographical, or purely fictional. This short story showed to me the author has real talent to write, and the illustrations in this one were the most intriguing.
"Makers" chronicles two close friends, who take different paths after leaving for college. Of all three stories, "Makers" was the most developed. The girls meet as teens and become inseparable in high school, but when they graduate and go to two different universities, they gradually draw apart. I was drawn in by the melancholic tone, and I could relate to the feeling of losing touch with someone you always thought you'd be close to.
These stories had major positives and negatives for me. On their own, they all had things I liked and disliked. As a collection... they seem random. I can sort of see how they are all themed around change, and one's past-self, but in terms of tone and storytelling style, there wasn't a real cohesiveness.
A major criticism I have with this anthology is the artwork – and this may just be my personal preference. I admired the attention to detail shown in "Wallpaper", but in the two graphic novel stories – "Makers" and "Ghost" – the artwork felt unpolished. It felt more like I was reading someone's sketchbook than a finished graphic novel.
Overall, I think the author has a real potential to be a strong storyteller – I was not a fan of the art. I think they could benefit from an editor or someone to at least critique their work. "Makers" was my favorite of the three stories – the story was interesting, and the characters were given proper development. Throughout the anthology, the problems lie primarily with plot and character development, and having a concrete direction.
Ghost Stories is a short anthology with two graphic novel stories and one prose story, themed around the idea of past selves.
"Ghost" follows a girl who is granted a wish to talk to three historical figures she admires who are deceased. This was an interesting idea, but it is used as a strange segue into an examination of the main character's trauma. I thought that aspect of the story had the most substance, and would have made for a stronger story. It fit in awkwardly with the conversations the character has with Darwin and Joseph Campbell. Additionally, I felt lost reading this story because it's peppered in-between with strange dream(?) sequences that don't seem to have much bearing on the rest of the story.
"Wallpaper" is the single prose story that describes the events a young girl goes through while her family is remodeling their kitchen. This read more like stream-of-consciousness writing or poetry – it was simplistic but captured strong impressions. I wasn't sure if this was meant to be autobiographical, or purely fictional. This short story showed to me the author has real talent to write, and the illustrations in this one were the most intriguing.
"Makers" chronicles two close friends, who take different paths after leaving for college. Of all three stories, "Makers" was the most developed. The girls meet as teens and become inseparable in high school, but when they graduate and go to two different universities, they gradually draw apart. I was drawn in by the melancholic tone, and I could relate to the feeling of losing touch with someone you always thought you'd be close to.
These stories had major positives and negatives for me. On their own, they all had things I liked and disliked. As a collection... they seem random. I can sort of see how they are all themed around change, and one's past-self, but in terms of tone and storytelling style, there wasn't a real cohesiveness.
A major criticism I have with this anthology is the artwork – and this may just be my personal preference. I admired the attention to detail shown in "Wallpaper", but in the two graphic novel stories – "Makers" and "Ghost" – the artwork felt unpolished. It felt more like I was reading someone's sketchbook than a finished graphic novel.
Overall, I think the author has a real potential to be a strong storyteller – I was not a fan of the art. I think they could benefit from an editor or someone to at least critique their work. "Makers" was my favorite of the three stories – the story was interesting, and the characters were given proper development. Throughout the anthology, the problems lie primarily with plot and character development, and having a concrete direction.
November 18, 2017
I received an eArc of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion in anyway.
Synopsis: Ghost Stories is a graphic novel collection offering three haunting explorations. Granted the chance to meet three of her dead idols in "Ghost," the author’s cartoon-self embarks on a journey to remote and unanticipated landscapes, in a story of self-discovery and healing. In "Wallpaper," a child tells the story of a household move, remodel, and loss through the lens of flashbulb memory. And in "Makers," two girls with an unorthodox friendship make a rocky transition into adulthood. Throughout each tale, ghosts exist as past selves and remnants of past relationships that are met with inquiry, resolution, and personal rebirth.
- Synopsis from NetGalley
Review: This book was a lot longer than I expected. I believe the first story, Ghost, was the chunkiest one of the three, taking up just over half of the book. In my opinion, it was also the best one. I loved the ending when she met her third idol. Saying what made me love it would partly be a spoiler, so you'll just have to read it for yourself to find out.
The art style was incredibly unique and quirky. It was slightly messy but in a good way. I also really like the fact this book is all about her cartoon-self's journey through life. This book did unfortunately lack that special something for me to make it really stand out as a great book, but I did have a good time reading it. I also think I may not be the desired audience, and the ideal reader should somehow be a bit more clear. However, this did give the book bonus points for me, at least, as I wasn't the reader it was intended for but I still got something out of it.
Wallpaper was a cute story. I enjoyed it, although not as much as the first. It was a lot shorter though which made it a quicker read. Makers was my second favourite, with a story of friendship falling apart over the years. I'm sure that's something we can all relate to. Growing up, someone is going to leave you behind.
Rating:
Art ☆☆☆☆
Stories ☆☆☆
Overall ☆☆☆.5
I enjoyed this book but it wasn't really memorable to me. It was cute and quirky and I had fun while I read it.
Synopsis: Ghost Stories is a graphic novel collection offering three haunting explorations. Granted the chance to meet three of her dead idols in "Ghost," the author’s cartoon-self embarks on a journey to remote and unanticipated landscapes, in a story of self-discovery and healing. In "Wallpaper," a child tells the story of a household move, remodel, and loss through the lens of flashbulb memory. And in "Makers," two girls with an unorthodox friendship make a rocky transition into adulthood. Throughout each tale, ghosts exist as past selves and remnants of past relationships that are met with inquiry, resolution, and personal rebirth.
- Synopsis from NetGalley
Review: This book was a lot longer than I expected. I believe the first story, Ghost, was the chunkiest one of the three, taking up just over half of the book. In my opinion, it was also the best one. I loved the ending when she met her third idol. Saying what made me love it would partly be a spoiler, so you'll just have to read it for yourself to find out.
The art style was incredibly unique and quirky. It was slightly messy but in a good way. I also really like the fact this book is all about her cartoon-self's journey through life. This book did unfortunately lack that special something for me to make it really stand out as a great book, but I did have a good time reading it. I also think I may not be the desired audience, and the ideal reader should somehow be a bit more clear. However, this did give the book bonus points for me, at least, as I wasn't the reader it was intended for but I still got something out of it.
Wallpaper was a cute story. I enjoyed it, although not as much as the first. It was a lot shorter though which made it a quicker read. Makers was my second favourite, with a story of friendship falling apart over the years. I'm sure that's something we can all relate to. Growing up, someone is going to leave you behind.
Rating:
Art ☆☆☆☆
Stories ☆☆☆
Overall ☆☆☆.5
I enjoyed this book but it wasn't really memorable to me. It was cute and quirky and I had fun while I read it.
November 20, 2017
Whit Taylor’s Ghost Stories is a graphic novel collection which is interesting and poignant, but it suffers from disjointed and wandering plots.
The first piece “Ghost” follows the author’s cartoon-self as she is given the opportunity to meet three of her dead idols. I found the art to be simple but different and cute. This piece is moving, relatable and makes you think. It’s an interesting concept but it’s also very fragmented and meandering and, therefore, the story is difficult to follow. Some of the art panels also don’t seem to fit at all.
The second piece “Wallpaper” is different from the first as it includes separate pieces of art and writing. We see a home renovation through a child’s eyes, but it is deeply intertwined with the themes of loss, death, growing up and family. The storyline is touching, and the art is vibrant and beautiful. This is my favourite graphic novel in the collection because it’s extremely poignant and manages to convey so much in such a small amount of words. However, some of the reflections could have been reworked to be more applicable and meaningful as they seem to exist without serving any purpose.
In “Makers”, Taylor tells the story of the growth and death of a friendship between two girls, Tessa and Hope. The story is a familiar one to anyone who has had to deal with a selfish friend and who has seen the slow dissolution of a friendship over the years as people and their priorities change. I really like how realistic and relatable the story is. I also like Taylor’s skilful use of the dialogue and art to fully flesh out Tessa and Hope. However, this graphic novel is a little disjointed and I felt like the plot could have been tighter.
Ghost Stories is moving, sweet, and sad. The art style is different and cute. However, the storylines are difficult to follow and could have been edited much more for clarity and effectiveness. Although I wouldn’t read this book again, it’s a decent and really quick one-time read. It is a little different from what’s out there so if you’re looking for something new, I would suggest that you give it a try.
Thank you to NetGalley and Rosarium Publishing for this book in exchange for an honest review.
The first piece “Ghost” follows the author’s cartoon-self as she is given the opportunity to meet three of her dead idols. I found the art to be simple but different and cute. This piece is moving, relatable and makes you think. It’s an interesting concept but it’s also very fragmented and meandering and, therefore, the story is difficult to follow. Some of the art panels also don’t seem to fit at all.
The second piece “Wallpaper” is different from the first as it includes separate pieces of art and writing. We see a home renovation through a child’s eyes, but it is deeply intertwined with the themes of loss, death, growing up and family. The storyline is touching, and the art is vibrant and beautiful. This is my favourite graphic novel in the collection because it’s extremely poignant and manages to convey so much in such a small amount of words. However, some of the reflections could have been reworked to be more applicable and meaningful as they seem to exist without serving any purpose.
In “Makers”, Taylor tells the story of the growth and death of a friendship between two girls, Tessa and Hope. The story is a familiar one to anyone who has had to deal with a selfish friend and who has seen the slow dissolution of a friendship over the years as people and their priorities change. I really like how realistic and relatable the story is. I also like Taylor’s skilful use of the dialogue and art to fully flesh out Tessa and Hope. However, this graphic novel is a little disjointed and I felt like the plot could have been tighter.
Ghost Stories is moving, sweet, and sad. The art style is different and cute. However, the storylines are difficult to follow and could have been edited much more for clarity and effectiveness. Although I wouldn’t read this book again, it’s a decent and really quick one-time read. It is a little different from what’s out there so if you’re looking for something new, I would suggest that you give it a try.
Thank you to NetGalley and Rosarium Publishing for this book in exchange for an honest review.
December 29, 2017
3/5 stars
If you are looking for a spooky story to scare the socks off of your's and everyone else's feet, put down this book, get some tissues and cookies, and then sit yourself back down and reopen this book as this is not a book of scary ghost stories. Instead, this is a book full of stories that tell of the ghosts that are part of one person's life.
As I wrote before, this was not the book I was expecting as I thought it was going to be literal ghost stories; however, I was wrong. I was so wrong. Instead, this book has three different stories written by Whit Taylor, discussing different points of her life in three different stories. The three different stories each have simple and beautiful illustrations that tell of a deeper story that what seems to be told. There is one that actually does show some ghosts that have influenced Taylor's life, one that tells a little bit about her childhood and her time with depression and anxiety, and one that has to deal with childhood friendships that never survive. I found them to be somewhat entertaining and somewhat enlightening. Some parts of the stories spoke to me and others did not. I also found that these stories are done in a very creative and a new way since this story is told through multiple drawings.
Although I may have enjoyed some aspects of this autobiography told through several drawings, which remind me of my days spent in Kindergarten, I found them to "ghost" or never fully develop. (I tried to make a ghosting pun. Get off my back!) They were there one minute and not there the next. I want to know what happens when Taylor meets Charles Darwin when she speaks of evolution or what happens after she breaks off her relationship with her best friend.
Lastly, I have enjoyed reading this book; however, some parts were not for me. Even though I could have lived without reading this book, I am glad I did as it opened me up to some new reading experiences and reading new things.
If you are looking for a spooky story to scare the socks off of your's and everyone else's feet, put down this book, get some tissues and cookies, and then sit yourself back down and reopen this book as this is not a book of scary ghost stories. Instead, this is a book full of stories that tell of the ghosts that are part of one person's life.
As I wrote before, this was not the book I was expecting as I thought it was going to be literal ghost stories; however, I was wrong. I was so wrong. Instead, this book has three different stories written by Whit Taylor, discussing different points of her life in three different stories. The three different stories each have simple and beautiful illustrations that tell of a deeper story that what seems to be told. There is one that actually does show some ghosts that have influenced Taylor's life, one that tells a little bit about her childhood and her time with depression and anxiety, and one that has to deal with childhood friendships that never survive. I found them to be somewhat entertaining and somewhat enlightening. Some parts of the stories spoke to me and others did not. I also found that these stories are done in a very creative and a new way since this story is told through multiple drawings.
Although I may have enjoyed some aspects of this autobiography told through several drawings, which remind me of my days spent in Kindergarten, I found them to "ghost" or never fully develop. (I tried to make a ghosting pun. Get off my back!) They were there one minute and not there the next. I want to know what happens when Taylor meets Charles Darwin when she speaks of evolution or what happens after she breaks off her relationship with her best friend.
Lastly, I have enjoyed reading this book; however, some parts were not for me. Even though I could have lived without reading this book, I am glad I did as it opened me up to some new reading experiences and reading new things.
August 10, 2018
Ghost Stories is a graphic short collection. The first story, Ghost, didn't really grab me. The transitions were jerky and, though I liked the science bits, there wasn't much I didn't know before. The second story, Wallpaper, was very enjoyable. Alternating pages of fantastic(ly gaudy) wallpaper designs with snippets from a family's life from the point of view of the daughter were spot on. The last story, Makers, was also great. Two friends who bond over their love for making artful things like costumes and puppets and murals grow apart as one goes to college for art and the other to state school. The latter two stories capture the complexities of family, growing up, adulthood, aging, religion, dating really well in concise snapshots.
All three stories have some sort of tangential relation to ghosts, but not always in the traditional sense. The first story is framed around the main character who is given the chance to spend time with the ghosts of three people she'd like to hang out with and ask questions (except how they died!) The second story is framed around the family moving into a new house, which tickles the imagination of the two kids, who like to think of the house as the site of gruesome deaths in the past and are convinced the house is haunted. And the third story is about how one woman seems to disappear from other people's lives as she goes away for college and meets a whole different group of friends (told from the point of view of an old, left-behind friend).
Recommended for those who like puppets, hiking, Darwin, house renovations, and paint jobs.
All three stories have some sort of tangential relation to ghosts, but not always in the traditional sense. The first story is framed around the main character who is given the chance to spend time with the ghosts of three people she'd like to hang out with and ask questions (except how they died!) The second story is framed around the family moving into a new house, which tickles the imagination of the two kids, who like to think of the house as the site of gruesome deaths in the past and are convinced the house is haunted. And the third story is about how one woman seems to disappear from other people's lives as she goes away for college and meets a whole different group of friends (told from the point of view of an old, left-behind friend).
Recommended for those who like puppets, hiking, Darwin, house renovations, and paint jobs.
November 12, 2017
Whit Taylor self-publishes some of her stuff, but this was published by up-and-coming company Rosarium who is dedicated to publishing multicultural stories. This comics looks self-published - it doesn’t have all the fanciness of professional publishing you might be used to, but the comic was entirely fascinating.
I’m going to pre-order it on Amazon just for the first story. And the first story is why I’m giving it 5 stars.
What if the history of life parallels our life history.
Mind. Blown.
I had to stop for a minute and think about that. It brings evolution into focus, and almost makes it more understandable.
But the first story in this anthology, Ghosts, was deep. The kind of deep that makes you want to pour yourself some coffee, sit on the porch in the morning before everyone wakes up, and contemplate life. It worked out well that I was reading this in the morning before anyone else was awake.
Wallpaper was great for the art.
Makers wasn’t quite as engaging as the rest, but it was interesting. And a bit sad.
Thanks to NetGalley and and Rosarium Publishing for a copy in return for an honest review.
I’m going to pre-order it on Amazon just for the first story. And the first story is why I’m giving it 5 stars.
What if the history of life parallels our life history.
Mind. Blown.
I had to stop for a minute and think about that. It brings evolution into focus, and almost makes it more understandable.
But the first story in this anthology, Ghosts, was deep. The kind of deep that makes you want to pour yourself some coffee, sit on the porch in the morning before everyone wakes up, and contemplate life. It worked out well that I was reading this in the morning before anyone else was awake.
Wallpaper was great for the art.
Makers wasn’t quite as engaging as the rest, but it was interesting. And a bit sad.
Thanks to NetGalley and and Rosarium Publishing for a copy in return for an honest review.
December 13, 2017
An interesting piece of work, with lots of appeal, I really enjoyed this graphic novel. which is made up of a collection of three stories about hauntings of various kinds. In the first story we travel great distances in time and space and learn about healing, there is a clever little twist in this tale that made it particularly enjoyable. However the second story, Wallpaper was probably my favourite and featured some beautiful illustrations of patterns, from the obvious wallpaper of the title , to the more surprising pizza. The final story is probably the saddest, dealing with the gradual disintegration of a friendship due to time, distance and simply growing up. Each story adds something unique to the collection. Overall I found it an enjoyable and interesting book, and it felt like I was reading something that was personal to the author, but would have resonance with many readers. While the artwork was not always to my taste, the illustrations in Wallpaper truly were outstanding, in their use of colour, and the way they made the mundane special and interesting.
I read a review copy courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher.
I read a review copy courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher.
March 18, 2019
Told with a relatable and accessible art-style and various narratives, Ghost Stories offers three stories as to what a ghost can be and how it affects us. In the first tale, three figures impart their wisdom to the main character. In the second, the main character contemplates housing through a series of diary-style entries and wallpaper. In the third, the main character tells the story of a best friendship that ultimately falls apart through distance. All three tales are haunting in unexpected ways, and all discuss hardships and difficulties.
I've seen some reviews of this book that criticized it for not having any actual ghosts or "ghost stories" in it and therefore being misleading, some for the artwork, some for the narrative. And honestly? Y'all be haters. To me, this is a book about truth, and as a piece of both literature and art, I find it compelling, honest, and real. And the fact that Taylor makes it all work only enhances the quality of these stories. Definitely an important graphic novel in the realm of women's narratives.
Review cross-listed here!
I've seen some reviews of this book that criticized it for not having any actual ghosts or "ghost stories" in it and therefore being misleading, some for the artwork, some for the narrative. And honestly? Y'all be haters. To me, this is a book about truth, and as a piece of both literature and art, I find it compelling, honest, and real. And the fact that Taylor makes it all work only enhances the quality of these stories. Definitely an important graphic novel in the realm of women's narratives.
Review cross-listed here!
March 1, 2020
'Ghost Stories' by Whit Taylor is a series of 3 illustrated stories all dealing ghosts of a kind.
In the first story, the narrator is given the chance to meet three people who have died, including Charles Darwin and Thomas Campbell. In the second story, a young child relates a tragic story interspersed with different patterns of wallpaper. The third story is about a friendship of two girls who are makers and how that friendship drifts over time.
The stories are interesting. The art varies. Overall the three stories are well written and even have the feel of being personal.
I received a review copy of this graphic novel from Rosarium Publishing and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this graphic novel.
In the first story, the narrator is given the chance to meet three people who have died, including Charles Darwin and Thomas Campbell. In the second story, a young child relates a tragic story interspersed with different patterns of wallpaper. The third story is about a friendship of two girls who are makers and how that friendship drifts over time.
The stories are interesting. The art varies. Overall the three stories are well written and even have the feel of being personal.
I received a review copy of this graphic novel from Rosarium Publishing and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this graphic novel.
November 3, 2017
I'm not sure what I expected from this, but this wasn't it. The title story was OK – a young woman gets a chance to meet three spectral mentors, and finds the unexpected in a majorly decent and welcome twist, which is then countered by the muddle that is revealed as a result. The second story is illustrated prose as opposed to strict graphic novel, and shows a girl very keyed into interior décor while adult s**t happens. The final story is the reality of the peripatetic, artistic life of teenagers, and how friendships never last the expected length of time. It's all reasonably well done, but nothing outstanding – enjoyable without lasting in the memory.
December 8, 2017
When I asked for this book in Netgalley I was expecting something totally different. I was expecting creepy, mysterious, dark stories, but no. Don't get me wrong, it talks about anxiety, sadness, the pain of letting someone go... but, wrong title, I guess.
The first story, "Ghosts" I think is my favourite of all the three that are here, and the second one, "Wallpapers" was just all over the place. It didn't make me think, cry,... feel absolutely anything. And the third one had potential, but... meh.
But, BUT, the drawing... no, just... NO. I didn't like it at all. Paradoxically, I loved some on the Wallpapers from the story "Wallpapers".
The first story, "Ghosts" I think is my favourite of all the three that are here, and the second one, "Wallpapers" was just all over the place. It didn't make me think, cry,... feel absolutely anything. And the third one had potential, but... meh.
But, BUT, the drawing... no, just... NO. I didn't like it at all. Paradoxically, I loved some on the Wallpapers from the story "Wallpapers".
November 28, 2017
Quick read.
This was a pretty little book that I initially thought was going to be creepy; however once I started it I soon realized it wasn't going to be creepy in the normal sense but in some of the topics it would try and talk about e.g. death, growing apart from someone who was close to you, etc.
The art style is not my favourite but it was nice to look at, quite sketchy.
*Thank you to NetGalley and Rosarium Publishing for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review*
This was a pretty little book that I initially thought was going to be creepy; however once I started it I soon realized it wasn't going to be creepy in the normal sense but in some of the topics it would try and talk about e.g. death, growing apart from someone who was close to you, etc.
The art style is not my favourite but it was nice to look at, quite sketchy.
*Thank you to NetGalley and Rosarium Publishing for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review*
Displaying 1 - 30 of 81 reviews