The success of Erin Hunter's Warriors series no doubt paved the way for the publication of Vasco: Leader of the Tribe, which is more of a poor man's Watership Down than a compelling animal drama. Vasco, a wharf rat, is one of the few survivors of a calculated campaign by Man to exterminate all rats from human habitats. Vasco finds himself the unexpected, but not really unwilling, leader of a rapidly expanding tribe of rats, also on the run from extermination. As he leads them from their homes, through a perilous sea journey to an unknown land, and eventually to settlement in a foreign jungle, Vasco's skills as a diplomat and rat of change are constantly called into use.
As an advocate for rats, I had great hopes for this book. But it was dire. There is none of the mythic purpose that grounds the Warrior books, where well organized clans of feral cats coexist. There's not even the genuine force of evil that propels the struggle in the Ga'hoole series. The rats of "Vasco" are all at odds with each other seemingly because they are fueled by constant panic and a diet of garbage. Vasco is a visionary in his wish to establish a stable life, rather than simply survive, but his is the lone voice of reason or optimism. And at 300+ pages, shifting from one rat fight to another is exhausting and tiresome.
As with any book that has been translated (in this case from French to English) there is always in my mind the thought that perhaps something has been lost in the process. But it's hard not to believe that the nihilistic tone of the book is thoroughly Continental. There are plenty of vicious battles in the Warriors books, but we also see the cats at play, exhilarated by their sense of purpose, and encouraged by their belief in the spirits. The rats in "Vasco" only exist to breed and eat. When I think of Ratatouille, where an ambitious rat also wanted to do more than just survive, I wish that "Vasco" provided more bright spots and less cruelty.
Viewing: Blog Posts Tagged with: cartoon self-portrait, Most Recent at Top [Help]
Results 1 - 7 of 7
Blog: Not Just for Kids (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: rats, what I'm reading, animal fantasy, translated works, Add a tag
Blog: Monday Artday (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: Samuli S, cartoon self-portrait, Add a tag
I'm late, I know - but here's me as a heavily idealised cartoon character. I'm trying out a brush pen for the first time and it seems this one could replace the traditional version on less critical work. This was a half-hour quickie without looking in the mirror. That explains why I forgot I have glasses... I've only had them for 22 years!
Blog: Monday Artday (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: cartoon self-portrait, Add a tag
This is one that was up here recently, when the challenge was "free."
This one's a non-coloured copy of a poster that hangs in my classroom.
An old one, when I lived up North and played a lot of poker, and was often called "Squanting Frog."
Blog: Monday Artday (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: cartoon self-portrait, Add a tag
Blog: Monday Artday (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: cartoon self-portrait, Add a tag
Hi Everybody - It's me and my morning coffee! =)
Blog: Monday Artday (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: livia coloji, cartoon self-portrait, Add a tag
Because I'm busy this week I'm cheating a little bit and use
a self-portrait I did a couple of months ago.
Hope (at least some of) you haven't seen it already
:)
Livia
Blog: Monday Artday (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: josh pincus, weekly challenge, cartoon self-portrait, Add a tag
I have been drawing me for years. This is just another in a long line of self portraits.
I only wish I had that much hair.
Nice to meet you! You look like a nice person! :-D
Cool piece!
sam, it's AWESOME. great brush pen lines! i think my glasses are...um,on top of the...car, couch, ....fish tank?
Nice illo. Great brush work. Thanks for sharing. Be sure to come back often.
geez only half an hour? This is SO goooood! I love smooth line work!