Twenty-three illustrated gothic tales from the dark corridors of the imagination of Tim Burton. Burton - the creative genius behind Batman, Edward Scissorhands, Mars Attacks! and Nightmare Before Chistmas, among others - now gives birth to a cast of gruesomely sympathetic children: misunderstood outcasts who struggle to find love and belonging in their cruel, cruel worlds. His lovingly lurid illustrations evoke both the sweetness and tragedy of these hopeful, yet hapless beings.
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Amazon Review
Occupying a similarly sinister and macabre world to the American artist Edward Gorey Tim Burton's work is similarly difficult to place. This is a beautifully produced book filled with fine line drawings--many in colour--illustrating 23 small verse stories which all centre on a surreal deformity--the eponymous Oyster Boy, Stain Boy, The Boy with Nails in his Eyes, Junk Girl, The Pin Cushion Queen...The tales are all quietly disturbing. As with Burton's cinematic work (Edward Scissorhands, Nightmare Before Christmas and Mars Attacks) the book seems aimed at children but the subtexts feel too disquieting. This however is where Burton's genius lies. Children are outcasts in the adult world and their own notion of what is important, grave, frightening and odd is different to ours. We each remember the child inside of us and so are each compelled to recognise the otherness within ourselves: the outcasts that Burton paints are somehow strangely well known to us. As dark and disturbing as the best fairy tales Burton shares a space with the Brothers Grimm--a place that all children know exists when the lights go out and the adults leave the room. --Mark Thwaite
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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'Burton's creepy stories conjure up the fantastical, even the slightly demented.' -- Entertainment Weekly
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
18 of 18 people found the following review helpful
By S J Hamilton
Format:Hardcover
This collection of poems are essentially short stories about misunderstood children, outcast from society and mentally tortured by their abnormalities. Such characters include “The Boy with Nails in His Eyes”, “The Pin Cushion Queen” and “Jimmy, the Hideous Penguin Boy”. Each short story portrays the loneliness and sadness, which consume these characters as they struggle to find compassion, love and acceptance in their lives.
Each story is simply, yet beautifully illustrated by Burton who designs the sets, costumes and mise-en-scene for his films in the same intricate manner. The illustrations are almost childish but provoke a feeling of deep sorrow in the reader. Each illustration is roughly coloured with faint watercolours enhancing the fragility and innocence of youth in these individuals. . In contrast to the saddening drawings, the poems are surprisingly funny in a twisted, typically Burton-esque way. The stories are a complex combination of humour and tragedy, disguising deep and serious subtexts with a light hearted mask.
Although this book has the appearance of an illustrated storybook for children, the macabre subjects of the stories and satirical humour can only be fully appreciated by adults. But it is the childlike and innocent nature of the book which makes it such an unusually enchanting and cherished read.
Each story is simply, yet beautifully illustrated by Burton who designs the sets, costumes and mise-en-scene for his films in the same intricate manner. The illustrations are almost childish but provoke a feeling of deep sorrow in the reader. Each illustration is roughly coloured with faint watercolours enhancing the fragility and innocence of youth in these individuals. . In contrast to the saddening drawings, the poems are surprisingly funny in a twisted, typically Burton-esque way. The stories are a complex combination of humour and tragedy, disguising deep and serious subtexts with a light hearted mask.
Although this book has the appearance of an illustrated storybook for children, the macabre subjects of the stories and satirical humour can only be fully appreciated by adults. But it is the childlike and innocent nature of the book which makes it such an unusually enchanting and cherished read.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
By Craobh Rua
VINE™ VOICE
Format:Paperback
"The Melancholy Death of Oyster Boy and Other Stories" is a collection of 23 poems written and superbly illustrated by Tim Burton - the director of, amongst other things - "Sleepy Hollow", "Beetlejuice" and "The Corpse Bride". It features a number of characters such as Oyster Boy (obviously, I guess), The Girl With Many Eyes, Stain Boy and Anchor Baby. For the most part, the poems are very short - many are only a few lines long, while "The Melancholy Death of Oyster Boy" is pretty much the longest in the collection. There are a few others - like "Robot Boy", "Anchor Baby" and (my favourite) "Mummy Boy" - that make it past a couple of pages.
There's a pretty gruesome thread running though the book, plenty of strangeness and a smattering of sad and / or lonely characters. While I wouldn't describe it as scary, I wouldn't neceaasrily recommend reading it while eating cheese just before going to bed ! Fans of Burtom's films - especially "The Nightmare Before Christmas" - should enjoy this.
There's a pretty gruesome thread running though the book, plenty of strangeness and a smattering of sad and / or lonely characters. While I wouldn't describe it as scary, I wouldn't neceaasrily recommend reading it while eating cheese just before going to bed ! Fans of Burtom's films - especially "The Nightmare Before Christmas" - should enjoy this.
7 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
If you're like me and have a morbid sense of humour then 'The Melancholy Death of Oyster Boy' is something you really should have bought already. If not, and you don't share my passion for the wierd and darkly comic then you should still buy it!
Tim Burton is one of my favourite directors and this book shows a side that just concludes the theory of what a creative genius he is. The drawings are delicate and beautifully grusome and the stories/poems are funny and touching. It's just something you really cannot put into words. You have to see it for yourself.
I love this book enormously. It's like a little piece of treasure to me! If you are a fan of 'The Nightmare Before Christmas' then you will love this book and you will be able to see some likenesses between the characters in this book and that film. I love it also because you feel like you're getting a look into the imagination of Tim Burton himself and how the hell he comes up with his ideas!
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4.6 out of 5 stars
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
funny
if you like poetry its a good read light and funny (made me laugh) and tim burtons name to it works even better.
Published 1 day ago by Lilli Burley
5.0 out of 5 stars
I love this
I did buy this as a present, but *shamefully* i'm keeping it for myself! read most of it straight away. i just love Tim Burtons 'strangeness' !
Published 21 days ago by Abby
5.0 out of 5 stars
So funny
This is a great book with very funny poems in and brilliant drawings by the very talented Tim Burton. Read more
Published 1 month ago by karen brewin
5.0 out of 5 stars
Very pleased!
The book is made out of very high quality paper, which feels great when reading the book. The drawings and artwork is amazing, if you are a Tm Burton fan and understand his dark... Read more
Published 2 months ago by JoelTheReader
5.0 out of 5 stars
Darker than Dahl
always found Tim Burton a bit hit and miss as a director- the brilliance of 'Edward Scissorhands' vs. Read more
Published 3 months ago by jimidimi
5.0 out of 5 stars
Typical Burton
This is a lovely book of Tim Burton's quirky little rhymes. Anyone who's a fan of the man should have this book. It doesn't take long to read but they're enjoyable and funny. Read more
Published 3 months ago by KME
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Must Have!
A collection of fun stories by Tim Burton. You will read them all in one day, but it's a great book to have in your collection.
Published 5 months ago by teo30
3.0 out of 5 stars
Quick short read
It is hard to really review such a wee short book like this. It is basically tiny short stories that are really poems about weird and wonderful characters. Read more
Published 11 months ago by Lainy
5.0 out of 5 stars
great poems
i like this book because of its intimate character; it shows a way how Tim Burton plays with little fantasy-ideas and thoughts that might serve for bigger projects such as his... Read more
Published 11 months ago by Steinberg
5.0 out of 5 stars
A must for any Tim Burton fan!
This is a great poetry book for any Tim Burton fan and features some brilliant artwork typical of Mr Burton.
Published 11 months ago by FotoAdventures
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