Customer Reviews

Messy Thrilling Life: The Art of Figuring Out How to Live

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I feel really bad writing this, because Sabrina has been one of the biggest inspirations to me, and my copies of her previous works are dog-earred and completely pre-loved.

And I was utterly unbearably excited about this one. So I sat down with a nice rich hot chocolate and a spare hour..

The truth is though, I truly don't think this work is as good. Not to say I regret buying it or I wouldn't recommend it, but I suggest that people do not expect another 'Spilling Open.'

I feel like a lot of pages are wasted. There is a huge amount of photography, and some are truly beautiful works, but others are completely uninspiring and seem like page-fillers. What seems like endless pages of out-of-focus buildings and blocks of colours. This is particularly so with the first half of the book, though the second half does improve as she moves from New York.

Additionally, the other works contained a discernible story, or a gradual coming-of-age or at least, the progress of her life could be followed. This stops as quickly as it begins. The pages do not progress from each other and you get absolutely no sense of her and her common tribulations, which was what made the other books so divine. When she does write, the words are so close together and fumbled that it makes reading sentences somewhat difficult.

Sabrina seems to want to move into books of straight art rather than journals, and I am not suggesting that she revert to something that no longer appeals to her. Perhaps though, it should be remembered what was so appealing and original about the first books. If I wanted a book of photography, I could have found a million of those. If she wants to make an art or photography book, I just feel she shouldn't hide behind the guise of a journal, which this is really not.

It just seems very detached, far less intimate and colder than her previous works. Far less fumbling, but far far less appealing.

Was Sabrina depressed during the process of creating her third book? She was living in New York when 9/11 happened, which would dull anyone's creativity for a while, but add to that her insecurities in the city and the breakup with a seemingly kindred soul boyfriend and you get one sad book.

It also seems like she's holding back, like she just had to fulfill a book contract, so she only wrote the bare minimum about her life. At the same time there are passages of vulnerable honesty, and parts where her true "spilling" nature seeps out.

Much of the art stands on its own and I would enjoy looking at it in a gallery. As far as the photographs go, I was dissapointed with the duplicates in the same book and the fact that she included photos from her previous books. If every precious page should be a burst of fresh art, she seemed to be doing some recycling -- such as the three redundant photos of Laurie (the same Laurie Wagner who wrote the excellent forward, I presume? I'd love to read a journal by her!)

One thing about publishing your private thoughts is you have to accept that people will comment on your life. Sabrina, many of us fell in love with "Spilling Open" because you took us on a journey into your inner world, written without censor. Years have passed, things have changed, and your fans still want to go on that journey with you -- we want every Messy, Thrilling detail of your Life -- and sadly, this book did not achieve that.

I never made it all the way through the other book of Ward's that I ran across, but with this one I've finally learned how to "read" them. While I admire her art and her collage style, her writing is more self-absorbed than can hold my interest for a book-length project. But that's a problem I have with a lot of visual artists whose work I love - writing is not their strong suit, and when they start "explaining" what they're doing in a picture, it becomes terribly clichéd. Ward avoids this by not obviously linking her images and her words, but as I gave myself permission to enjoy the luscious artistry without having to read all of the painted text, I took much more pleasure in the book. Now I'm looking forward to going back to her previous books with this same approach.

I bought this book during a time when my life was beyond messy. When I got home, I filled up the tub with a hot water and bubbles and stepped in with my new book and a waterbottle. As I flipped each page, reading...getting an inside look at Sabrina's pain, joy, trials and adventures, I cried, I put myself in her pages...I was inspired to be true to my own feelings in my art..and was assured that having a messy time in my life was something that would cause me to GROW..to discover truths about myself. I knew I wasn't alone. I love this book.

Remember this--- Sabrina isn't 22 and wide-eyed anymore, so it only makes sense that her views change, she's not so excited to "know who she is". she's just living. I wanted more text, less art, but otherwise, she shows her evolution well.

This is one of my favorite books ever!!! I received it as a gift, and then I bought one for all of my friends! Sabrina has a way with words. The artwork is just perfect. I love taking this book to the beach and getting lost in it for hours. Simply reading her words helps me to relax. Her outlook is fantastic, and it really rubs off on the reader. Wonderfully whimsical. Highly recommended!

Sabrina has done it again--choreography with art, photography and pros. In her third visual treat in book form she once again delights the heart and tickles the spirit with memories and images that explode off of every page. This time out, there are not as many of Sabrina's insightful pros, but her unique style of scrawling words as an integral part of her art makes the reading adventure an act of diligent discovery. Some will find it challenging. I love it and I'm not a young man. I applaud Sabrina for following her own muse throughout the creative and publishing process. (As an author, I know that's not always an easy experience.) With fewer words, though, there is room for a greater number of her brilliant and evocative photos that invite us to crawl inside and wonder around. From her love of colorful shoes to her many beautiful lady friends, her talented father, and old books on the street, she takes us on a magical journey through the marvelous messiness of life. Her drawings continue to dazzle and inspire this life-long sketcher. Get this--or any of Sabrina's three books-- and crawl in and join the dance!

I have all of Sabrina Ward Harrison's books and every time I look at any of them - which is a lot - I always find something new. I appreciate her willingness to let everything pour out of her and fall wherever it falls. Brave and honest!

1.0 out of 5 stars Deja vu, October 2, 2008
By Cristina - See all my reviews
I bought "Spilling Open" because it was quite different from all the things out there at the time.
"Brave on the Rock" had interesting pictures.
"Messy Thrilling life" has only the introduction to recommend it,that's why i bought it.Whatever i thought to find in this book,it wasn't there.
It seem all the books of Ward Harrison could be in one volume,they are repetitive and show us that she has not grown as an artist.In my view,she never had potential as a writer,most of her book are quotes from other people,and i don't find inspiration in someone that seem to be dealing with the same issues over and over.
Whether you are interested in art journals or looking for inspiration for your own creative journals, there better books out there.
I doubt I will buy another of her books.

I love SARK and I started to like Sabrina! She is cute and honest and sparkling. This is a messy books, with pictures, photos, and words. The words are typed, written, scrapped, painted in all possible way, reminding me of the art class in campus.

Yet, somehow you will =feel= Sabrina. In the darkness, you can always feel the beauty of pure emotions.

This is somehow a bit =darker= than =Spilling Open=, showing some sort of maturity of Sabrina.

I love these sort of Messy Meaningless Meaningful Garbage Talk, the beautifully Ugly handwritings that evoke youe soul, somehow it will connect you with your own heart.

Good for gift for women of all ages (some men will find it meaningless, but some will also like it, i do).