The Raging Tide: Or, the Black Doll's Imbroglio

by Edward Gorey

A parody of self-plotted stories describes the interactions of hooded Skrump, shaggy Naeelah, shadowy Figbash, and limping Hooglyboo

Genres: Childrens, Fiction, Art, Horror, Picture Books, Literature, Humor

32 pages, Hardcover

First published October 1, 1987

About the author

Born in Chicago, Gorey came from a colourful family; his parents, Helen Dunham Garvey and Edward Lee Gorey, divorced in 1936 when he was 11, then remarried in 1952 when he was 27. One of his step-mothers was Corinna Mura, a cabaret singer who had a brief role in the classic film Casablanca. His father was briefly a journalist. Gorey's maternal great-grandmother, Helen St. John Garvey, was a popular 19th century greeting card writer/artist, from whom he claimed to have inherited his talents. He attended a variety of local grade schools and then the Francis W. Parker School. He spent 1944–1946 in the Army at Dugway Proving Ground in Utah, and then attended Harvard University from 1946 to 1950, where he studied French and roomed with future poet Frank O'Hara.

Although he would frequently state that his formal art training was "negligible", Gorey studied art for one semester at The School of The Art Institute of Chicago in 1943, eventually becoming a professional illustrator. From 1953 to 1960, he lived in New York City and worked for the Art Department of Doubleday Anchor, illustrating book covers and in some cases adding illustrations to the text. He has illustrated works as diverse as Dracula by Bram Stoker, The War of the Worlds by H. G. Wells, and Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats by T. S. Eliot. In later years he illustrated many children's books by John Bellairs, as well as books in several series begun by Bellairs and continued by other authors after his death.

Reviews

[Dream.M · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Raging Tide: or, The Black Doll's Imbroglio 
یک کتاب #کودک باحال و متفاوت دیگه از #ادوارد_گوری 😍😍😍
این یکی از کتاب های اینتراکتیو ادوارد گوری هستش. درواقع یکی از عجیب‌ترین و مریض‌ترین کتاب‌های گوری بود که خوندم، با داستان گیج کننده و پیچیده خیلی خاصش و اون نقاشی های سیاه و تاریک که بازیگوشی شیطانی محشری داره.
شخصیت‌های این داستان چهارتا عروسک خیییلی مرموز و خاص به اسم‌های "فیگباش، هوگلیبو، اسکرامپ و نائله" هستن. شکل عروسکها خیلی باحاله (عروسک های خیلی ساده نمدی بدون چهره) و باحاله بدونید که گوری بعد از این کتاب، یسری عروسک به اسم فیگباش ساخت و فروخت و حسابی پول به جیب زد :)
حالا داستان چجوریه؟ گوری توی هر صفحه از کتابش از خواننده میخواد به یک سوال چند گزینه ای جواب بده. و بر اساس پاسخی که میده، دستور داده می‌شه که به صفحه خاصی مراجعه کنه و داستانو ادامه بده. به این ترتیب کتاب چندین داستانو با استفاده از شخصیت‌های مشابه روایت می‌کنه. این چهار کاراکتر براساس انتخاب خواننده باهم رفتار می‌کنن  ولی خب اساسا فرقی توی نحوه رفتارشون نداره چون اونا دائماً مثل بچه‌های تخس باهم دعوا می‌کنن و میجنگن.
نقاشی‌های این کتاب با اون شست‌های غول‌پیکری که از زمین یا فرش بیرون اومدن از سورئال‌ترین تصویرگری‌های ادوارد گوری هستن که سبک خاص اونو کاملا نشون میدن.
متاسفانه این کتاب هم یک اشکال بزرگ داره و اون فونت خیلی سخت‌خوانه که رسما باید چشم‌ت رو فدا کنی تا کتابو اونجوری که ازت میخواد بخونی. شاید اگه می‌شد راحت‌تر خوندش، بیشتر می‌خندیدیم 🥲

[Calista · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is only one picture. We see turbulent waves in the sea with a black doll being dropped/thrown into the melee. It’s simple and I don’t know that there is too much going on.

The waves look vicious and there is wallpaper in the background. He probably could spend hours on the details. I thought it was simply one panel, but that is only the cover. It’s a longer ‘story’ by Edward. There are 30 pages with 4 odd characters named Figbash, Naeelah, skrump and Hooglyboo. Each page they are doing something like popping out of a valise and the bottom of the page tells you, “if you aren’t taken aback by this, turn to 14. If you are, turn to 12.” It’s like some odd choose your own adventure, but there isn’t really a story.

This is all oddness and strangeness. I can’t say I really enjoyed it. His artwork is still fabulous, but the story didn’t seem humorous or quirky. It was simply odd.

I don’t get this one.

[Sara · Rating 3 out of 5]

یه سری کتابای اینتراکتیو گوری رو ادد نکرده بودم چون بارهای اولی که خونده بودم فقط چندتا حالتش رو‌ پیش برده بودم ودحس می‌کرده خوانده نشده. این سری نشستم همه رو خوندم.
مغز این آدم واقعا مدل خوشگلی مریضه.
۱۴۰۳

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love a book with a word right in it's title that I can't read! Imbroglio means a confused mass apparently. Thats really the best way to describe Gorey's books, a confused mass! But they are hilarious and silly and if I were you I wouldn't get caught up in the confusion of such a small thing like the plotline and rather just enjoy the ride. This book is Gorey mixed with a strange choose your own adventure style, which makes for a particularly funny imbroglio!

"A book that challenges even the most accomplished page-turner."
-inside flap of the book

[Regan Flieg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Both endings are such a hoot that I couldn't not give it 5 stars

[Fawn · Rating 5 out of 5]

an edward gorey choose-your-own-adventure book! no, it really doesn't get any better than that.

[Greg · Rating 4 out of 5]

Choose-your-own-adventure, Edward Gorey style. A lot of fun, albeit brief. Completely nonsensical. I laughed out loud.

[Drew Canole · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gorey does a choose your own adventure story. But I'm not sure how different the story would be if you follow the directions! Each page is some variation of a HooglyBoo doing something to Naeelah with some object later a lanky shadowy figure Figbash appears and the hairy Skrump. The setting is a landscape with giants fingers poking out of the ground.

Beautiful artwork and a wacky premise.

[JenniferAustin]

I had no idea Edward Gorey had written a choose-your-own-adventure book. He has a riduculous amount of fun with that convention. For example:
"If you loathe prunes more than you do turnips, turn to 22.
If it is the other way around, turn to 21."

This book is a worthwhile read for Edward Gorey fans, but not the book I'd give someone who has never read Gorey. It's a book I'd especially appreciate finding on a table at the dentist's office, or left behind by someone at the airport.

[Lauren · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Edward Gorey. And it only takes about 5 minutes to read.

[Desiree · Rating 4 out of 5]

A brilliantly, darkly, ridiculous story where you choose what happens from a number of nonsensical scenes.

[Ted · Rating 4 out of 5]

A truly fascinating choose your own adventure tale by Edward Gorey. Take time to follow suggestions and skip to page numbers provided in the text. No truer words may be found than those found on the inside of the book jacket cover: “A book that challenges even the most accomplished page turner”.

[hamatesus · Rating 4 out of 5]

Me and the gang <3

[Hamed Manoochehri · Rating 4 out of 5]

[ریویوی واقعی]

[دانلود]

اکیداً این کتابو به دوستانی که کودک خردسال دارن، یا دمِ دستشون هست و شک دارن که بچه به تسخیر یه
روح شیطانی در اومده یا نه، توصیه میکنم. اگه از کتاب خوشش نیومد که هیچ، اگه خوشش اومد سریعاً یه کشیش خبر کنید .
و فراموش نکنید:
IF YOU WANT TO BENEFIT SPIRITUALLY, TURN TO PAGE 15

[Rick Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rereading Edward Gorey 2023. The Raging Tide is a romp of an absurdist-pick-your-own-adventure, as each page helpfully directs you onward in all sorts of random ways. And the thumbs have taken the stage!

Favorite quote:
If you find this not unamusing, turn to 17.
If you want to benefit spiritually, turn to 13.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

A bizzare Choose Your Own Adventure as only Edward Gorey could do it.