Eigentlich ist es ja immer andersrum: Ein Autor schreibt ein Buch, und irgendwann später kommt ein Illustrator und macht sich ans Bebildern. So hat...
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Jul 15, 2010
Saskia Marijke
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How to explain why Mr. Moers is a genius? One must read his books in order to see why I feel so strongly about it, but his genius does not stop there! No, Alas! Walter Moers illustrates his own books, and not only are his words out of this world, his etchings leave nothing to be desired. Each time I encounter one of them, I spend a lengthy time exploring it, drooling a little, for they are a sight to see. As an illustrator myself, I can only hope to learn from him and perhaps come up with a semi
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Sep 27, 2010
Ed
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I recently realized that I had missed two of Walter Moers's books that had been translated to English; this is the first of the two. And it made me very, very happy. I'm probably going to put off the last of the English ones, just because I don't want to not have one to look forward to.
The novel is a departure from everything else I've read from his catalogue, in that it's more a creative writing exercise than anything else. Essentially, Moers took a series of Gustave Dore woodcuts f More...
The novel is a departure from everything else I've read from his catalogue, in that it's more a creative writing exercise than anything else. Essentially, Moers took a series of Gustave Dore woodcuts f More...
Sep 20, 2010
Forest
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This is Moers' tribute to the French illustrator Gustave Dore, and while it can't really be separated from that context, it does stand on its own as well. Dore illustrated Don Quixote, Baron Munchausen, Poe, Coleridge, Orlando Furioso, among many others, and bits of those stories find their way into this one as Moers borrows the illustrations from those works to illustrate his own story (which involves the young Gustave Dore and his adventures in a dreamworld) and then changes his own story to f
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Oct 02, 2010
D'face
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A wild ride through the night is the only book of Walter Moers I have read and I found it somewhat disjointed. The book is based on a series of old etchings by Gustave Dore which he has woven a story around. A boy drowned at sea makes a deal with Death that if he completes a series of challenges he will be able to live. These fantastic challenges form the story and provide the support for the etchings which are quite beautiful in a gothic sort of way. I almost put this book aside, but I persiste
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Apr 14, 2011
Amber
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It makes me happy that someone like Walter Moers is out there doing what he does. He's so witty and creative and talented, and I'm really glad that his books are getting published in English. This one was a little different because he created around the woodcuts of Gustave Dore, a prolific illustrator from the 1800s. I, too, have made up my own story using various illustrations that I've come across, so seeing someone like Moers make it into a book is awesome. His humor makes it a wild ride inde
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Oct 10, 2008
Overlook
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In the wake of the phenomenal successes of Walter Moers's City of Dreaming Books, The 13 ½ Lives of Captain Bluebear, and Rumo & His Miraculous Adventures, Overlook is pleased to offer Moers's fourth book, the tumultuous tale of a little boy who needs to defeat Death through a series of six impossible tasks. Moers bases his utterly delightful story twenty-one woodcuts by the inimitable Gustave Dore, the most successful illustrator of the nineteenth century.
In a world between le More...
Sep 16, 2011
Thalia
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Eine tolle Idee. Fantastische Zeichnungen von Gustave Doré illustrieren eine Fantasygeschichte von Moers. Oder andersrum, Moers erzählt eine Geschichte rund um die Zeichnungen von Doré.[return]So oder so, es ist ein Märchen, das eher für Erwachsene als für Kinder ist. Durch die ganze Geschichte hindurch werden wir vom Tod verfolgt und rennen mit Gustave dem Leben hinterher.[return]Es handelt sich um ein kurzes aber intensives Buch, dessen Philosophie leichtfüssig daher kommt.
Jan 20, 2012
Shauna
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Strange little book of fantasy based on actual drawings by the artist Gustave Dore. The drawings serve as illustrations for this story, but some are quite dark and gory and excessive (I wondered what age this book is meant for since I found it in the juvenile section). Still, it is an interesting way to expose children to art, and it was a creative idea, even if it was a bit far-fetched and disjointed.
May 13, 2010
Anjanette
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What I found most engaging about Walter Moers' "Wild Ride" was not the story itself, but rather the use of Gustave Dore's illustrations from works ranging from Edgar Allan Poe's "The Raven" to Lodovico Ariosto's "Orlando Furioso" and the creative manner in which these are woven into the story. This book would pose an interesting counterpoint to Lewis Carroll's Wonderland adventures.
Jan 28, 2009
Megan
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This was a very quick read that reminded me of reading Aristophanes. It was nice that it was quick, It was fun that it was based on Gustave Dore's Drawings and Woodcuts... but the story read like it was for a child and the ending was so predictable that I thought it wasn't going to happen, simply because it was too simple.
Nov 11, 2011
"German author Moers has constructed a surreal adventure story...Moers infuses his tale with humor and life lessons." - Publishers Weekly
Listen to A Wild Ride through the Night on your smartphone.
Listen to A Wild Ride through the Night on your smartphone.
Aug 30, 2010
Esther
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More like an imaginative experiment than a novel. I enjoy W.M.'s writing, "The City of Dreaming Books" was a riot. My favorite part of this one was the scene with The Last Jellyfish - very amusing. If this book had been any longer I wouldn't have liked it, but it was just long enough to keep my interest.
Apr 02, 2009
Lisa
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After reading The City Of Dreaming Books, I was eager to read another book by Walter Moers. This was the next one I found. It's a good book but not as captivating as The City Of Dreaming Books. The illustrations are great!
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Aug 02, 2011
Tanja
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A beautifully illustrated book about a young boy who receives six quests to conquer Death. Rather than die immediately that is. As witty as all Moers book, eloquent, thoughtful. The plot leaves no open ends.
Dec 12, 2011
Bellis
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Ich kann mich der allgemeinen Begeisterung nicht ganz anschließen. Nicht dass ich das Buch schlecht fand, es gab schon ein paar wirklich klasse Szenen, schöne Beschreibungen, lustige Stellen. Und Dorés Bilder sind natürlich eh toll. Aber irgendwie wollte der Funke trotzdem nicht so ganz überspringen.
Ich habe zwischendurch auch überlegt, ob mir das Hörbuch in diesem Fall nicht besser gefallen hätte, gerade weil die Bilder da nicht dabei sind. Denn ich hatte zumindest zum Teil Schwierig More...
Ich habe zwischendurch auch überlegt, ob mir das Hörbuch in diesem Fall nicht besser gefallen hätte, gerade weil die Bilder da nicht dabei sind. Denn ich hatte zumindest zum Teil Schwierig More...
Dec 15, 2008
Lindsey
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Moers took 21 drawings from the work of 19th Century illustrator Gustave Dore and weaves them together with the tale of 12 year old Gustave and his attempt to beat death. The adventures Gustave encounters are at times outlandish but entertaining and the illustrations add an element of fun to the book. Overall the book was interesting but nothing exceptional.
Aug 04, 2011
Mathew
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Very fun read in the vein of Swift, Carroll, and Cervantes. The illustrations by Gustave Dore are amazing.
Jan 22, 2012
Quinn
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This is a fantastic book. Seriously, if you value imagination and wonder and adventure, read it.
Sep 24, 2011
Sven
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from the little I know about the concept behind the book, there's probably more to it than it seems. nevertheless, the story-telling and imagination isn't comparable to other books of Walter Moers.
Sep 17, 2008
Justin
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Moers continues his trend of writing children's books for adults, this time inspired by the illustrations of 19th Century artist Gustave Dore--whcih happens to be the 12-year old's namesake.
The pictures plucked from Dore's many works become the fodder for Moer's imaginary tale of death and dreaming--two of Moer's most relied upon subjects.
Unlike previous Moers books, which are overflowing with hundred upon hundreds of pages, A Wild Ride Through the Night is a very quick More...
The pictures plucked from Dore's many works become the fodder for Moer's imaginary tale of death and dreaming--two of Moer's most relied upon subjects.
Unlike previous Moers books, which are overflowing with hundred upon hundreds of pages, A Wild Ride Through the Night is a very quick More...
Jan 15, 2011
Sarah
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good book, nice easy read. written around painting by gustave dore (who is also the main character)
Jun 15, 2008
Aaron
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Interesting book. The author takes the works of a 19th century illustrator as a jumping off point for inventing a story about said illustrator's inspiration for the illustrations (I could not have made that more complicated). A quick read (I started and finished it today), it's an enjoyable read, with a lot of subtle humor and musings on life. Also, I loved the fantastical illustrations (the illustrations that served as inspiration for the story).
Feb 05, 2008
Ines
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Meine erste Begegnung mit Walter Moers als Märchenerzähler. (Käpt'n Blaubär und Konsorten hab ich erst später gelesen.) Mich hat begeistert, wie Walter Moers es geschafft hat, traditionelle Märchensprache und modernes Erzählen so zu verbinden, dass es nicht merkwürdig klingt. Die Zeichnungen von Doré sind wunderschön, und es macht Spaß, die Geschichte in den Bildern zu suchen. Ein Stern Abzug, weil ich das Ende zu banal fand.
Oct 23, 2008
Adam
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What a nice break from the GRE Lit Test books I have been reading for the last four months. The book itself is a very cool concept; Moers took 21 of Gustave Dore's illustrations and used them to craft his own plot.
While the other books I've read by Moers really could be described as "children's books for grown-ups," this was a children's book for children. I'll enjoy passing this book on to my kid...about ten years from now.
While the other books I've read by Moers really could be described as "children's books for grown-ups," this was a children's book for children. I'll enjoy passing this book on to my kid...about ten years from now.
May 16, 2008
Will
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This book is really a lot of fun. Take semi-random pictures from a famous artist, lay them out flat, and think of the best story that will make sense following these pictures.
For added spice, choose an artist who leans more to the grotesque.
Learn how to outwit giants, how to cheat death, read about the most horrific monster around.
Just pure enjoyment...
For added spice, choose an artist who leans more to the grotesque.
Learn how to outwit giants, how to cheat death, read about the most horrific monster around.
Just pure enjoyment...
Apr 17, 2007
the mad hatter
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A fun dot-to-dot journey through the drawings of Gustave Dore that will take you from image to image by means of a tender excuse; the imaginary travels of a 12 year-old boy. Fun and imaginative. This book has reminded me of my dreams.
The protagonist's chats with Anxiety and Death are not to be missed.
The protagonist's chats with Anxiety and Death are not to be missed.
Oct 05, 2009
Noria
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A bit different than his Zamonien books, I really liked it nonetheless and think that Walter Moers has done a very fine job creating a story, even a world, with inspiration from the outside and I enjoyed to see how he interpreted some of the pictures by Gustave Doré.
