The Sopratos: A Pearls Before Swine Collection [Paperback]

Stephan Pastis (Author)

Book Description

Series: Pearls Before Swine Collection | Publication Date: September 1, 2007

Made in America, Pearls Before Swine stars Rat, the boss of this outfit—arrogant, self-centered, and quick-tempered. Pig is the conscience. Zebra is a survivor (with Crocodile next-door-neighbors), and Goat is the brains. Duck is Pig's loyal but violent and unstable guard duck. The dark, twisted adventures of this bunch of goodfellas have made Pearls the fastest-growing comic strip of the decade.Join the family and get in on the action. It's whacked.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Stephan Pastis is a former attorney who turned his law school doodles into the witty characters that make up Pearls Before Swine, which now appears in more than 400 newspapers. Twice nominated for Best Comic Strip of the Year by the National Cartoonists Society, the strip won the award in 2004. Stephan lives with his family in northern California.

Product Details

• Paperback: 128 pages
• Publisher: Andrews McMeel Publishing (September 1, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0740768476
• ISBN-13: 978-0740768477
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 8.6 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #426,280 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Stephan Pastis was once a "love me tender" lawyer who created Pearls Before Swine to relieve boredom. He lives in his own Graceland in northern California with his wife, two children, and his blue suede shoes.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars No Exit, September 21, 2007

By 

tvtv3 "tvtv3" (Sorento, IL United States) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: The Sopratos: A Pearls Before Swine Collection (Paperback)

Creator of the highly original and popular comic strip "Pearls Before Swine", Stephan Pastis, opens the sixth collection of the comic with an introduction the various types of email he receives about the strip. He talks about the encouraging emails, the strange emails, and the complaint emails. Hardly any mention is given to the encouraging ones. The strange ones take up five or six paragraphs. However, it is the complaint emails that make up the bulk of the introduction. "Pearls Before Swine" has become my favorite comic strip currently running and I frankly think that some of the people who have complaints about it need to get over it (as I continue laughing at their complaints). The title of this collection is THE SOPRATOS and both the name and cover are parodies of the famed HBO drama, THE SOPRANOS. I've never seen that show, but the cover made me realize just how many characters have died in the comic strip over the past few years: everyone from Orca to little Newt Gingrich to a bunch of dumb crocodiles. Then there's all the other violence and debauchery: decapitated ginger bread men, broken hearts, assassin anemones, a war-mongering guard duck. I guess when you put it that way it does seem rather violent, but it's all just so darn funny.

I'm not for sure what the exact dates when the comics that appeared but they appear to be from 2005-2006. Included storylines include some Seals moving in the neighborhood next to an Orca, the first job that one of the Crocs are able to get, the appearance of Pig's arch nemesis--the sea anemone, the explosion of Rat's ego, the beginning of Rat's job as a barista, Pigs purchase of a Newt Gingrich, the appearance of Rat's long-time love Farina, Rat babysitting the kids from the "Baby Blues" comic strip, the ongoing quest of the Crocs to kill Zebra, and many more.

Great book for fans of "Pearls Before Swine" or anyone who just likes reading wonderful humorous comics.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Pearls & Pastis score big again!, October 4, 2007

By 

JD Willis III (Sherman Oaks, CA USA) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: The Sopratos: A Pearls Before Swine Collection (Paperback)

This collection of Pearls Before Swine gives proof to why it is one of the top comic strips running today. It shows that creator Stephan Pasits is only getting better at writing some of the funniest characters in the world of comics.

The title is a tip-of-the-hat to HBO's iconic series "The Sopranos", which has also seen its share of characters come and go like the ones in Pearls Before Swine...can you say "swimming with the fishes"?

The saga of the Rat & Pig showcases the strip's emphasis on its characters' looney relationships, while the ongoing battle between the Crocs and Zebra keep the laughs coming at a rapid pace. Goat continues to be the voice of reason, while the Guard Duck's insanity relentlessly brings hilarious havoc. Pastis' world is one wonderful spin!

All hail "The Sopratos"!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fun fun fun, November 11, 2007

By 

Nanci "Book Dragon" (Tri-Cities, WA USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Sopratos: A Pearls Before Swine Collection (Paperback)

I really love Pearls Before Swine. This book just extends the enjoyment. I'm not sure where Pastis got the theme for the title (I know, Sopranos--but Why?) but it doesn't matter. Pig and Rat and Goat and the rest are all there, being their lovable selves.