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. (amazon)

Travelling by registered air mail,
with ApoloniaY and some other stuff....
H*a*p*p*y B*i*r*t*h*d*a*y

Another one I didn't journal...I'm very embarrassed, but I need to do this nonetheless. This was a brilliant birthday gift, ApoloniaX, I was ecstatic when I saw this in the lovely birthday package you sent me last year. Needless to say, I didn't take much time in reading it. Tim Burton's just incredible and this book's a treasure I will not let go easily! I'm super-possessive about it. (that's a bad thing right? I should probably send this off to the next person who's wishing for it)
A very undeserving birthday buddy says sorry and thank you many times over in the same breath.

Lent to a friend last year, but since then she has left the city and I don't have much hope of retrieving it from her. Will try to, as this was quite a gem of a book. :/