After 15 years of designing more than 1,500 book jackets at Knopf for such authors as Anne Rice and Michael Chrichton, Kidd has crafted an affe... read full description
reviews
Apr 03, 2007
Billy
rated it: 
I'm a little rattled at the moment. I just finished reading this not more than 5 minutes ago and the shift in mood that takes place near the end of the book took me by such horrified surprise that I still haven't completely recovered. The last forty pages belong to a much darker novel.
Previous to those gloomy pages I'd been enjoying myself considerably. As an art student myself, it was very easy to relate. Some of the most enjoyable moments are the various critiques, where the stude More...
Previous to those gloomy pages I'd been enjoying myself considerably. As an art student myself, it was very easy to relate. Some of the most enjoyable moments are the various critiques, where the stude More...
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Dec 17, 2009
Danielle
rated it: 
I read this years ago but I've still got my copy sitting proudly on my bookshelf as it is signed by Chip Kidd himself, whom I met at a reading he did in Dallas shortly after the book hit the shelves. Kidd is best known for his work as a graphic artist, specifically book cover art. His biggest client is John Updike, even though I'm pretty sure Updike says he hates Kidd's writing. Chip Kidd's best-known cover is probably for Michael Crichton's Jurassic Park, the logo of which ended up on the mo
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Jun 03, 2008
Michael
rated it:
I just glanced at some earlier reviews from readers to make sure I didn't miss something on this one, and the second review I saw (from Billy) perfectly described my reaction to this novel. It's about 270 pages, the first 220 or so of which are incredibly entertaining and among the few times I've enjoyed an author's attempt at rendering life in the college scene.
Then, as things are rolling beautifully along, the bottom falls out of this book, and the whole plot spirals out of contro More...
Then, as things are rolling beautifully along, the bottom falls out of this book, and the whole plot spirals out of contro More...
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Jul 29, 2008
Phill
rated it:
Next on my list out of the four books I spontaneously bought was Chip Kidd’s ‘The Cheese Monkeys’, subtitled ‘A Novel in Two Semesters’. For those not familiar with the author’s name, you’d probably be familiar with at least a few pieces of his work, given he’s basically designed every worthwhile book cover on the planet (or at least that’s the impression his wiki gives). It’s kind of obvious that this is a book telling of design, as the book itself has a few quirky features, the most startling
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May 24, 2007
Zan
rated it:
This is a quick read and mostly enjoyable. The cover and title pages have really great design work, as Kidd is known for, and the book is worth picking up for that reason alone.
I've heard a lot of critics say that it's extremely predictable and it sort of is in that "crazy teacher that students hate and then bond with" kind of way. What it has that movies and books of this tired genre lack are a few good twists, a lot of good dark humor and a teacher whose inspirational spe More...
I've heard a lot of critics say that it's extremely predictable and it sort of is in that "crazy teacher that students hate and then bond with" kind of way. What it has that movies and books of this tired genre lack are a few good twists, a lot of good dark humor and a teacher whose inspirational spe More...
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Sep 19, 2008
Sadie
rated it: 
Something on the book "jacket" mentioned that the author is actually a graphic designer and that this is his first attempt at actually writing. That fact is painfully apparent.
Every paragraph feels like a high school descriptive writing assignment. Kidd's overuse of metaphors, in particular, is so distracting that I frequently lose track of the novel's action (if you can even call it that).
The jacket design is engaging and unique, but the same cannot be said o
Every paragraph feels like a high school descriptive writing assignment. Kidd's overuse of metaphors, in particular, is so distracting that I frequently lose track of the novel's action (if you can even call it that).
The jacket design is engaging and unique, but the same cannot be said o
Jan 19, 2009
Emily
rated it: 
I did not like this book because it was witty. It was so witty that I was utterly confused the entire time because instead of saying what was actually happening, the author would say it “wittily”. I am a sharp person, but sometime extreme wit takes me days to process, and even then I can only process small doses. Several hundred pages of wit is overwhelming. Also, the plot was not hilarious, like so many of the reviews on here promised, unless you think rape and molesting is funny. However,
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Jan 20, 2011
Grace
rated it:
infuriating. hated every single page of it. way too pretentious for its own good, and not nearly as clever as it thinks it is. with every pop-referencing metaphor, heavy handed with over-the-top "get it? get it?" irony, you get the feeling that it would go so far as to wink at you if it weren't so busy patting itself on the fucking back. terrible, shrill, trite, egomaniacal characters worshipped by the pathetically insecure and earnest narrator. i didn't care much for these three
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Dec 29, 2008
christa
rated it:
"The Cheese Monkeys" is, for more than 250 pages, one of the most enjoyable books I've read in a long time. Our hero is a freshman at State, enrolled in art classes. He meets an older sassy wild card named Himillsy Dodd who is full of fun and big ideas. They spend time drinking, eating ice cream, drunk driving and talking about art. (Himillsy also has a very serious straight-laced, straight edge, non cluttered boyfriend who rarely interrupts the flow of their friendship). Second semest
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Jul 18, 2008
Katie
rated it:
WHAT the?... I just finished this, and as soon as I finish reviewing it, I'm going to go search out all the reviews with SPOILERS so I can hear someone talk about the ending.
This book is kind of like if you took Donna Tartt, Thomas Pynchon, David Sedaris, J.D. Salinger, and all those episodes of Six Feet Under where Claire goes to art school and whirred them up in a blender... Not a bad concoction in the end. And I don't mean to suggest Kidd is derivative. He actually has a pretty More...
This book is kind of like if you took Donna Tartt, Thomas Pynchon, David Sedaris, J.D. Salinger, and all those episodes of Six Feet Under where Claire goes to art school and whirred them up in a blender... Not a bad concoction in the end. And I don't mean to suggest Kidd is derivative. He actually has a pretty More...
Mar 22, 2008
Ulf
rated it:
Quickness: Three weeks ago I watched and listened to the author field questions from one jovial local designer friend of his who'd joined forces with a local chapter of a graphic designers union for the purpose of said Q&A. Kidd was suitably entertaining without catering too much to the assembled five dozen, mostly adoring fans. A week thereafter a dear designer friend of mine gifts me Kidd's two published novels for my birthday. The next week and a half go to reading-waste as a result of SX
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Jan 01, 2010
Nate
rated it:
A brief interlude between longer, more involved selections. Has the distinction of the widest margins-to-page-size of anything I have ever read. Maybe a jokey reference to college students trying to make their term papers look longer? It would hardly be outside of the book's scope or tone to do so.
***
Well, I like to be entertained, and I was entertained. So no complaints there. It was a strange novel, though. Briskly frivolous, then oddly didactic, then positively D More...
***
Well, I like to be entertained, and I was entertained. So no complaints there. It was a strange novel, though. Briskly frivolous, then oddly didactic, then positively D More...
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May 03, 2011
Bohemienne
rated it:
Most importantly, this book is incredibly readable. Little effort is needed to breeze through the carefully styled pages of Chip Kidd's first writing attempt. That being said, however, you get out of it what you put into it; 'The Cheese Monkeys' is not a destination to some great revelation but instead a fantastic, extravagant journey that ends on schedule without regard to recent developments.
One can feel empathy for the nameless narrator from the very beginning; his experiences entering the wo More...
One can feel empathy for the nameless narrator from the very beginning; his experiences entering the wo More...
Nov 03, 2011
trav
rated it:
This book is worth owning if just for the book design itself. The author, Chip Kidd, is a bookcover designer with Knopf. This is his first book. And the secind book he designed cover to cover (the first being Watching the Body Burn).
The story tracks a fictional version of Kidd as he makes his way through design school. You can imagine the types of characters her runs into. the story is pretty good. But the story, tied in with this book's design is even better. i.e. the font changes as the main c More...
The story tracks a fictional version of Kidd as he makes his way through design school. You can imagine the types of characters her runs into. the story is pretty good. But the story, tied in with this book's design is even better. i.e. the font changes as the main c More...
Mar 11, 2010
Corey
rated it:
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
To view it, click here
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Nov 25, 2011
Jenny
rated it:
Just another faux art school memoir. Seriously, how many of these are out there? I recently picked up Better Than Running at Night at the same used book store for the same price ($1). The issues are the same with both - not really very interesting, with characters that are manufactured to be deep but end up annoying, where the main character Learns about how Art is Life or some such nonsense.
I gave it one more star than the Frank book because there were a few stories that made m More...
I gave it one more star than the Frank book because there were a few stories that made m More...
Aug 03, 2009
Becky
rated it:
I picked up this book solely because I liked the cover, which makes sense because it was written by an artist (unfortunately goodreads doesn't have the cover of this book that I read).
I can't decide at all what I thought of it. It was the story of an art major's first year at college. Some parts I loved and some parts I hated. I really liked the projects that the graphic design professor had the students do and seeing what they all came up with. Quite clever. However, I agree More...
I can't decide at all what I thought of it. It was the story of an art major's first year at college. Some parts I loved and some parts I hated. I really liked the projects that the graphic design professor had the students do and seeing what they all came up with. Quite clever. However, I agree More...
Feb 16, 2011
AJ
rated it:
The fiction as memoir; fiction based on real life experiences; or fiction with a few things thrown in that maybe really happened in real life genre… Just enough to trip you up into thinking that this must be how it happened.
The Cheese Monkeys: A Novel in Two Semesters is a manic race through the narrator’s introduction to art classes in college. Parts felt very much like a memoir and it was clear that Kidd was drawing (no pun intended) on his college experiences. I related to the More...
The Cheese Monkeys: A Novel in Two Semesters is a manic race through the narrator’s introduction to art classes in college. Parts felt very much like a memoir and it was clear that Kidd was drawing (no pun intended) on his college experiences. I related to the More...
Jan 11, 2010
This is a random book I picked up secondhand in the Woodlands. I was won over by the cover design and what little I knew about the premise. This book also has a subtitle: A Novel in Two Semesters. Intriguing to me because the two semesters were largely focused on art classes.
I enjoyed this book more thinking it was actually a memoir. Having read more about the book, since I finished, I find it is by a book cover designer, but the contents are not necessarily autobiographical. Hm More...
I enjoyed this book more thinking it was actually a memoir. Having read more about the book, since I finished, I find it is by a book cover designer, but the contents are not necessarily autobiographical. Hm More...
Jan 03, 2010
Abigail
rated it:
I highly recommend this book for anyone in college or attended college, especially if you are a graphic arts major. It will bring back some interesting memories of the fun and stress in going to school. This is a story about a kid that is going to state college and majoring in Art. He has a teacher that is very tough, but also inspiring to the main character. The beginning of the story was very funny. It was interesting to see how each student in the graphic arts class completed their project as
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Dec 22, 2010
Sue
rated it: 
Well this book was one of the most refreshing books I've read in a long time! There aren't too many out there that will make me snort with laughter when I'm reading it and this one did on more than one occasion! Let me clarify too, that the reason I found it so hilarious was the complete quirkiness of the characters and the fact that they were art students (That combination often goes hand in hand - in case you don't know that many art students)and the sheer qenius of the writing. Oh if I cou
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Jul 01, 2010
Becca
rated it:
I think this book marks the first time that upon completion my reaction couldn’t be clearly placed on the love/hate spectrum. I didn’t clutch it lovingly to my chest as I would have Jane Eyre. I didn’t want the hours back that I’d spent reading it like I did when I finished The Little Town that Stood Still (I still contend that something was lost in translation with that one). It was not a feeling of pride for having finished as with Dickens. It wasn’t passing neutrality as with chick lit. I pau
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Mar 18, 2009
Caroline
rated it:
As far as literature goes, this book isn't anything extraordinary. There's nothing too complex about it to the average person, BUT if you're a graphic designer, this book magically takes on new meaning. For instance, only a designer would notice that the book begins in Garamond, but as the story progresses and the character evolves, the type is changed to the more elegant Bodoni. And the layout and design is unique and drool-worthy. Of course, this is because the brilliant book designer Chip Kid
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Mar 01, 2009
Randall
rated it:
My baby sister gave me this book over the Christmas Holidays. I adore Chip Kidd's work as a graphic designer. In fact, the cover to Soon I Will Be Invincible was designed by him. I was a little leery of Kidd as a fiction writer, but Nache loved the book, so I gave it a try.
Cheese Monkeys tells the story of Happy, who goes to college in the 1950's and through a set of circumstances, ends up in a graphic design class. It is not, by any stretch, what you would expect a tale of school life to More...
Cheese Monkeys tells the story of Happy, who goes to college in the 1950's and through a set of circumstances, ends up in a graphic design class. It is not, by any stretch, what you would expect a tale of school life to More...
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Aug 08, 2011
This was two very interesting books. And before you go correcting my grammar, let me explain...
The story begins with our protagonist arriving at State College, in the 1950s, for his first semester as an Art major. Through a series of quirky interactions, he pairs up with the rebel Himillsy, who flouts the departments rules and makes her own. It's a neat little coming-of-age type story, and has just enough that's 'different' to make it stand out.
Then they meet their More...
The story begins with our protagonist arriving at State College, in the 1950s, for his first semester as an Art major. Through a series of quirky interactions, he pairs up with the rebel Himillsy, who flouts the departments rules and makes her own. It's a neat little coming-of-age type story, and has just enough that's 'different' to make it stand out.
Then they meet their More...
Dec 23, 2008
Adrianna
rated it:
I enjoyed this book for the simple fact that it was a quick read. It reminded me of a bunch of books which is either saying that Kidd isn't very original or that I just read too much. I got exactly what I wanted from this book: quick, funny, college experience, and art jargon.
However I did have the "what the hell is going on" feeling a few times and the ending was a bit.. abrupt and Chuck Palahniuk-esque. I know there's a sequel but judging by amazon.com, it's not picking up fro More...
However I did have the "what the hell is going on" feeling a few times and the ending was a bit.. abrupt and Chuck Palahniuk-esque. I know there's a sequel but judging by amazon.com, it's not picking up fro More...
Jun 16, 2011
Mark
rated it:
For the most part, I enjoyed this fast-to-read novel about an undergrad student attending a state university in the 1950's. For various reasons, the protagonist ends up taking art courses and, in the process, learns to see the world through different eyes.
The novel is often very funny and full of sarcasm, but the last 40 pages or so fell apart. The tone took a turn that did not hold with the rest of the book. I almost wondered if the author had gotten bored with the book, had run out More...
The novel is often very funny and full of sarcasm, but the last 40 pages or so fell apart. The tone took a turn that did not hold with the rest of the book. I almost wondered if the author had gotten bored with the book, had run out More...
Sep 08, 2011
Haley
rated it:
I don't want to paint this book into the corner of, "If you're an art student, you'll get it." But...like, if you're an art student, I think you're going to be nodding your head through the whole thing. Even the end. Yes, it spirals into absolute absurdity in the last chapter, but considering the circumstances leading up to this--a hallucinatory finals week with absolutely no sleep, and the combination of ART!'s inherent drama (well, DESIGN!'s, I guess) and personal drama throwing ever
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Jun 06, 2011
Kristen
rated it:
It's quite a bit disorganized in parts, particularly in the second half of the book. I found myself laughing a lot, though, and I enjoyed the tone and found this book very unique from many others out there. Overall, I could definitely relate to the experience/frustrations of being an art & design student. The parts about the critiques rang loud and clear. For that, I would warmly recommend this to other people who have had that same experience. I'm not sure how well non-design students can under
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Jun 11, 2010
Hank
rated it:
The writing kept my attention closely: "I could tap him on the shoulder and say 'humanity' and Garrett'd spin and say 'solvable!'"
The order of events took a few left turns I didn't get, but that's why we read these cathartic retellings of fellow wierdos' time in school. I don't have to get everything, I can just let the characters be weird. This book was escapist for me, living in characters that are outlandish and admirable and flawed. My intelligent and self absorbed More...
The order of events took a few left turns I didn't get, but that's why we read these cathartic retellings of fellow wierdos' time in school. I don't have to get everything, I can just let the characters be weird. This book was escapist for me, living in characters that are outlandish and admirable and flawed. My intelligent and self absorbed More...
