Customer Reviews

Windflower: A Novel

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

 

 

I'm a fan of anything Nick Bantock and had looked forward to this one for quite a while. I even ordered it early, to get it as soon as it was released. The story starts off being readable and interesting, with quite a few sensual moments, but the ending is a huge let-down. It also does not have the usual images I've come to expect from a Bantock book. Some of them felt recycled from previous works and none of them had much to do with the story. They just sort of made the pages pretty, if you can even claim that. I'd much rather read The Venetian's Wife for the fifth time, than read this one (again).

This is a departure from Nick Bantock's previous published work, in that the incredible images are drawn with words with only an intimation of artwork here. All the mystery and attention to detail is still present though, and the story has a different kind of depth and complexity, one that draws the reader in and evokes its pictures in the consciousness of the reader as the words unfold. This is a very lush, haunting, gorgeous story, a kind of hero's (heroine's) journey, beautifully written and quite inspiring. I do love Nick Bantock's artwork, and I also love his storytelling. This book shifts the balance toward the storytelling aspect and does so beautifully.

Having been a great fan of Bantock's previous works such as The Griffin and Sabine series, and more recently, The Venetian's Wife, I pounced on this book when I found it at my local library. Unfortunately, it was far from what I expected. This is purely a novel with nicely illustrated pages, but the illustrations do little to tell the story, they are merely there as embellishments. Here, it is the words that tell you the story, unlike his previous works where the illustrations 'speak' to you. None of that here. The cover is most appealing, portraying a beautiful woman & the story is about a woman's quest for self-discovery. Ana belongs to a nomadic tribe, the Capolan, and is promised in marriage to a man she doesn't love. This leads her to take the drastic step of leaving, to seek answers to the questions she has. The story itself is well-told, but seriously, as a long-time Bantock fan, I'd rather he stick to his tried-and-true medium of reaching out to readers than efforts like this. His gift is in giving voice to his illustrations, and this just isn't that.

From the description of Windflower, I expected the same lush illustrations that we have come to expect from Nick Bantock. It said that there were 200 illustrations--what a misrepresentation. Anyone expecting to see Bantock's beautiful artwork will be hugely disappointed.The artwork is nothing of interest, and a lot of repeats. Instead we have a convoluted story, which I did not enjoy. I wanted much more art, many, many less words!! The cover is the best part of this book.

Well, this is a beautifully written and beautifully produced work (Chronicle Books, 2006, ISBN 0811843521). A lovely story, nicely presented. I did enjoy it, but it seems to be striving for deep spiritual meaning but doesn't seem to deliver. Perhaps I'm not getting it, or perhaps I'm misreading the purpose. Besides, I found the 'clues' to be far too obvious early on, spoiling the surprise in the denouement. I guess I'd say if 'feels' deeper than it really is.

So, from my experience, I'd say just enjoy a beautiful, warm, well written story and don't search for some deep inner truth as you read. In this manner, both the story and the presentation (with Bantock's mysterious but often unrelated illustrations/decorations on every page) are a delight.

Some authors do beautifully with short stories, others with novels. Unfortunately, this is the novel from Bantock, an often-great writer of short stories.

This draws on Capolan, a nomadic nation-within-a-nation. Although Capolan has appeared in Bantock's work before, my hazy recollection doesn't come up with many points of intersection other than the name itself - crossover fans, stand down. It does feature the lovely and loving sensualist in its core role, a lady that has served Bantock well before, albeit by different names. It also features a confluence of supernatural forces acting on our plucky and receptive young woman. And this time, the stakes are even higher - not just her personbal advancement stands at stake, but that of her whole people (including the wise and beloved grandfather). Then, the finale said all that the ending required.

I regret that the big part in the middle drooped a fair bit, sort of like those sad little sparks trying to impel Buck Roger's tubby spaceships from the 1930s serials. The supernatural theme seemed moribund until it suddenly sprang in from every direction in just a few pages. Ana's quest seemed weak and frustrating - a little fervor sustained the story, but not nearly enough to explain the dramatic finish. You kind of knew from early on how it had to end and the ending was glorious enough, but the story's tempo went from zilch to wow at just the last moment.

And, as a fan of illustrated fiction, Bantock's vague vignettes just didn't sustain me. I look for layered images built from diverse elements in Bantock's work. One small brush drawing per page, or one cutout from a nineteenth century engraving hardly do justice to the complexity and subltety of Bantock's early work. The text carries the story in this book rather than the picture, but only just barely. This story offers a fair bit to like, just not quite enough.

-- wiredweird

I am a Bantock fan from way back and have everything he's ever written. Given how much he has influenced the graphic 'look' of the past decade and how much the mixed-media altered book style that he started pervades the book world these days, it is often easy to lose sight of how revolutionary his work has been. That being said, I'm afraid I found this book rather disappointing. The illustrations (better described as decorations) were rather token and to me felt almost diluted, with none of the richness or raw energy of previous work. I don't know whether there was more photoshopping than usual, but they felt a bit slick and souless, and the story rather laboured and obvious. Both lacked the intuitive grace, ingenuity and subtlety of previous novels such as The Forgetting Room (my favourite) or The Venetian's Wife. Still, a nice bit of escapism and a good gift book. But if you are looking for something magical from the author of Griffin and Sabine, start with his other books first. They are still among the best of their kind.

I am a huge fan of Nick Bantock and his trilogies, and was looking forward to his latest novel. This story was not intriguing as his past movels, and the "artwork" was almost non-existent. I was so disappointed, and suggest that if you want to read it, check it out of the library and don't waste your money. I'm going to re-read Griffin & Sabine again, just for the thrill of it.

If you like Nick Bantock,you will like this book. This is a beautiful book - the story and even the paper it is printed on!

I was very happy with the service and I would be happy to buy again.
Thank you,
Simon