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Building Stories [Hardcover]

Chris Ware
4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
RRP: £30.00
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Book Description

4 Oct 2012

In Chris Ware's own words, 'Building Stories follows the inhabitants of a three-flat Chicago apartment house: a thirty-year-old woman who has yet to find someone with whom to spend the rest of her life; a couple who wonder if they can bear each other's company for another minute; and finally an elderly woman who never married and is the building's landlady...'

The scope, the ambition, the artistry and emotional heft of this project are beyond anything even Chris Ware has achieved before.


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Building Stories + Jimmy Corrigan: The Smartest Kid on Earth + New York Drawings
Price For All Three: £44.21

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Product details

  • Hardcover: 246 pages
  • Publisher: Jonathan Cape (4 Oct 2012)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0224078127
  • ISBN-13: 978-0224078122
  • Product Dimensions: 29.7 x 5 x 42.5 cm
  • Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 2,745 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Review

"There's nobody else doing anything in this medium that remotely approaches Ware for originality, plangency, complexity and exactitude. Astonishment is an entirely appropriate response." (Sam Leith Guardian )

"A major moment in British cultural history." (Christopher Frayling Radio 4 )

"Breathtaking... Staggeringly good." (Shortlist )

"Just occasionally, a writer or artist - or both in one - emerges who is so astoundingly original that everything else suddenly seems like a facsimile of what has come before. Chris Ware, the 45-year-old American comics artist, is one of these. Widely hailed as one of the foremost practitioners working in the medium today, his new book, if one can call it that without being reductionist, is a work of such startling genius that it is difficult to know where to begin." (Jake Wallis Simons Daily Telegraph )

"This is the first book which I have finished and immediately started again, wanting to experience each of the stories with full knowledge of what happens in the rest... The number of narrative techniques Ware uses in the novel is giddying... Building Stories is a stunning piece of work, proving yet again why Ware is so frequently included in lists of the greatest living cartoonists." (Alex Hern New Statesman )

Book Description

Twelve years after he changed the history of comics with Jimmy Corrigan, a new graphic novel masterpiece by Chris Ware.

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Customer Reviews

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
11 of 12 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Read on...... 18 Oct 2012
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
So Its been 2 years since the Acme novelty library 20 (Lint) and 4 years since Acme novelty 19, so it would be no surprise that a release from Chris Ware was pending.

This review mentions no part of the actual storyline and is therefore not going to spoil details of content to the reader of the review.

It should be noted that a small part from acme novelty 16 is reproduced in bigger scale within this set along with a bigger format hardback edition of acme novelty 18. Reprinting them bigger has done no harm and has allowed readers of Ware to access older material & avoid silly prices for older bindings. So in summary 2 enlarged editions of previously book published material and 12 new items. I also believe some of the contents of the 12 new items have been published in dribs and drabs over a the last decade in the American press and other places. However, never before has all this work been bought together.

Unlike the more recent and previous small hard back book format, we have been presented here with a huge box containing a pile of painstakingly detailed material. Each item within presents a fragment of a fuller body of work. Each fragment is presented in its own right in the form of anything from a simple small double sided paper strip, to a huge broadsheet style newspaper. One standout item for me is the hard book with gold spine & cardboard outer pages (bindings reminiscent of build to last robust kids books).

The outer box has a presence of beauty and attention to detail, when held upright the front cover is a feast for the eyes, a flow of ideas fold themselves around the lettering, the bottom of the box has foundation bricks lined up to support the 'structure' that you are holding and the top panel shows clouds 'above' the box. In true C.Ware style there are 3 small cartoon panels on the inner sides of the box. The back of the box shows a detailed cutaway diagram of the top floor of the building, next to this each item contained in the box is shown (by a connecting line) to have a current position on that floor diagram. (Eg One item is on a book shelf the bee newspaper is chucked on the hallway dressing table). It is as if the contents of the box you now proudly own are actual items that exist within the space they depict. Don't be overwhelmed at its volume or scope. Its contents will slowly and beautifully create & join up the dots for us, giving more depth to the current characters occupying the building as well as the long dead and gone. There is no right order to read the items in, just take out any 1 of the items and read them 1 at a time in any order. Relish in the dedication of an eye watering decade of work by a master of his craft, its a very rare experience indeed.

If you own none of Chris Ware's work then do not hesitate to start here with this set. It not only has an out of print book inside but is collectively the largest body of work aside from the separate and extraordinary Jimmy Corrigan. I would assume that if you were to enjoy this then you will want to join up more of the details by reading 16, 17, 18, 19 & 20.

If like me you have followed the works as they have been published then this is a huge addition to the ongoing body of work & manages to tie up some loose ends create a few and increase depth to characters and circumstances & history.
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16 of 18 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent, but . . . . 14 Oct 2012
By monica
Format:Hardcover
For me, it's actually 3 1/2 stars, but that might be simply because I was expecting the outstanding. Chris Ware is I think my favourite American comics writer and I heartily recommend this book, but I don't think it's Ware at his very best.

If you've read (the exceedingly good) Acme Novelty Libary no. 18, Building Stories will ring a bell: Except for tales of a temporary resident the story is of the tenants of an apartment building, focussing upon the main character of the previous book. (If you own ANL no. 18 be prepared to own another copy of it--rather disappointingly it's one of the books enclosed and though it's slightly larger than the original I noticed no other changes.) Ware dips in and out of the lives of an old woman, a couple with a strained relationship, and, most of all, a lonely young woman. There's little drama in those lives and most of what we learn of these people we learn from their thoughts, but the book is credible and most of it is thoroughly absorbing, The art is of course terrific.

But a couple of the booklets barely held my interest. While the 'The Daily Bee', a mock newspaper, was very nice a booklet about the bee character, which actually has the most attractive artwork in the book, grows almost tedious. Another over-long booklet seems to have no point other than to show us that a mother loves her child. Indeed, I wondered whether Ware had written some of Building Stories shortly after becoming a parent; although he never quite slides into sentimentality he comes close to it. (The child's words and actions do seem true to life, though.)

And the lonely woman, the child's mother, sometimes verges on being a rather annoying bore. I've little doubt that my tolerance for self-absorbed socially awkward characters has been lowered because so many American graphic novelists--Clowes of course springs to mind--have done them almost to death, but her preoccupation with herself (pre-child, anyway), with her appearance, whether she'll find a partner, slights she suffered years ago, wears thin. Occasionally as well her social cluelessness would be in real life downright scary: She interprets disinterested glances as signs of sexual attraction to her and, when a virtual stranger gives her a lift and upon reaching the destination takes hold of her hand, her response is to say disappointedly 'I know . . . you only want to be "friends".' And onn the whole I'm not sure this person is interesting enough to merit so many pages of the book; I'd rather have read more about the man downstairs, who seems to have a more complex personality than the other characters.

Because I've a fair few books in odd formats, including a couple of others in boxes, I wasn't quite so ravished by the format of this one as others have been: it's a good idea but not a new one. Moreover, whilst the papers, pamphlets, and books are bundled together within the box, there's nothing to prevent that bundle sliding about during shipping and I presume that's why several of the items in my copy were bent at the edges and why the foil covering the spine of one book has begun to peel. (For some interesting remarks on the book's design, see mrclam's review on American amazon.)

One last thing: If you've never read Chris Ware--and certainly if you've never read comics--this mightn't be the best place to start. Instead, for a full-length novel, try Jimmy Corrigan; for Ware at his most distinctive, have a look at Acme Novelty Library (unnumbered) or perhaps Quimby Mouse.
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic 12 Feb 2013
Format:Hardcover
As a big fan of graphic novels - particularly the growing autobiographical genre, I loved this "book". I know it isn't autobiographical (or is it!?) but it rang out as authentic storytelling. Yes, she's irritating, mundane, self absorbed and neurotic but she's all the more interesting for it. It reminded me in feel to some of Harvey Pekar's work but without the supposed nobility of the blue collar struggle.
I was moved by the story a great deal and despite the fact the protoganist is a woman, I saw so many aspects to my own life, as I'm sure is Ware's intention. Perhaps, as a male, I am not equipped to say this but I was in awe of his ability to capture a woman's life.

The art work is beautiful - stark, clean - almost like Hopper at some points. Many of his frames are high shots, emphasising the isolation and frustration and they have a cinematic quality to them.

The box with all its bits and pieces is wonderful. I felt like a child at Christmas taking out all the sections. I liked the random nature you can approach the story too...

This is one of the best pieces of story telling I've read in a while!
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars Remarkable book with non-linear narrative
Chris Ware has always created remarkable stories that move, inspire, and depress, and I have watched (and collected) the majority of his work over the last twelve years. Read more
Published 14 days ago by Ricky Tart
5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful magic box
I always loved dolls houses and this is one of a kind. I love Chris Ware's way to describe our tiny and fragile world.
Published 1 month ago by M. Russo
5.0 out of 5 stars Masterpiece
Chris Ware's collection of stories which are all connected to each other and which are presented in a wide variety of different forms (hardcover- and softcover books is a true... Read more
Published 1 month ago by Mortimer2Comic
4.0 out of 5 stars successful gift
i bought this for my husband as he's a fan of chris ware's other works. it's a good hefty box set featuring different books each in a different format, which is a lovely touch and... Read more
Published 2 months ago by neongirl
4.0 out of 5 stars Cool present
Bought for the man who has everything, he seemed very surprised, intrigued by it. Don't know if he actually will do anything with it!
Published 3 months ago by kay
5.0 out of 5 stars Awesome
It is not just a book, it is an experience! Will fill out a weekend and you will miss it when you are done.
Published 3 months ago by A N
5.0 out of 5 stars house of cards that won't let you down
I'm not usually big on graphic novels but I have been around architects for a couple of decades, even working with them recently (and a while back) and so I was interested in this... Read more
Published 3 months ago by Jon A. Crowcroft
5.0 out of 5 stars FAB!
This is much bigger than you think it's going to be! It contains lots of booklets of graphic loveliness - you can start reading anywhere. A real treat!
Published 3 months ago by Bunty Brains
5.0 out of 5 stars best graphic novel ever?
i had to wait for a long time before it arrived but it is all worthwhile waiting for this "book"
Published 4 months ago by fries bourgeois
5.0 out of 5 stars When you think you know Chris Ware ....
He's THE best and stays. You think à comic is à book, no says Chris Ware. I need more than one book. I need à box. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Marcel te Brake
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Does this include the story from Acme Vol. 18? 2 19 Oct 2012
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