(In A Sense) Lost And Found

I love Roman's style of art. I can just look at an illustration and feel inspired. That's why when I found out he had a book, well, the rest was history. I haven't had the time to sit down and reread it properly for all the special hints and clues yet, but when I do, I suppose I'll write about how I was mystified by it in my journal somewhere. This isn't exactly a book you read once and BANG! you're done, no, there's a much greater something beneath it...or not. We're all different readers and we see different things. Something simple can actually be quite complex and vice-versa. Interpret it as you will, but for me, I predict this book will be on my shelf of fascinating objects for a very long time.

I went on Goodreads while I was reading this book so I could add it to my Currently Reading "shelf". While I was there, I stopped to look at other people's reviews. Someone said something like, "The problem wight his book is that it went completely over my head" or something like that. The person then went on to give this book two stars.Really? Are we punishing books (and their authors) for not understanding them now?Now that I have that weight lifted from my shoulders - lets get on with my review.This book was art. Seriously - it's a beautiful book, both in its imagery and story. The illustration was dark and dream like - giving the story more of a magical realism feel. The story focuses on F. Premise and the fact that she's lost her innocence after a night of trouble sleep. Her father refuses to look at her due to not having her innocence and even people on the street seem to glare at her until she pulls on a pair of pants - then it's as if she ceases to exist.Maybe I'm wrong about everything here - but I believe that in this story, "innocence" is open to interpretation. Is it the girl's virginity we're talking about here? Or innocence in it's true meaning - and knowledge being it's ... corruptor? Like I said - interpretation.The heroine of this story is fantastic. She's smart and independent. The ending is what got me to really like her - but I'm not into spoilers.

This book is very interesting and odd. I won't give my interpretation of the story, except that it starts with "innocence." This is a story that can have a completely different meaning to many readers. I will probably read it again and again and have different realizations each time.Really enjoyed the way it gets me to think differently.Worth having on your self!

I am at a total loss here. This book has some sort of meaning that is beyond me. A young woman wakes up one morning and can't find her innocence. She has written that as the first sentence of her story. Never again is the lost item ever mentioned by name. However everyone knows what she has lost. They can tell by looking at her. She is told to stay in her room till she finds it. Leaving by her window, she is haunted by the stares. For some reason her skirt gives her away. She hides out in a bookstore, enters a strange underground place, perhaps an apothecary's, finds where her missing "thing" has been sold/sent/given to and tries to get it back. This is a haunting world. The art is dark, has some very strange Picasso moments, Seussian buildings, very surreal, metaphysical. I have absolutely no idea what is really happening here, what is going on or what it means but the story, combined with the art, made me feel very glad the woman made the choice she did in the end. Strange!

Yes, it's hard to understand the story of this book -- but that is part of its charm. I've read it twice now, and picked up different things each time, and still don't think I have it all. The artwork is beautiful, expressive and fantastical, and you can spend time on each panel enjoying the pleasing lines and colours, or spotting the clever visual puns and occasional references to other artists (I won't spoil the surprises by revealing any here!) The sparse text is just enough to indicate what's going on, and is well spiced with joyful wordplay.I will be coming back to re-read this. I call that good value for money!Highly recommended.

Beautiful book. perfect condition. Thank you!