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Ghost World | 
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| Author: Daniel Clowes
Publisher: Fantagraphics Books
Category: Book
List Price: $11.95
Buy New: $9.56
You Save: $2.39 (20%)
New (41) Used (41) Collectible (2) from $4.44
Rating:  65 reviews
Sales Rank: 18797
Media: Paperback
Edition: 4
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 80
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.4
Dimensions (in): 10 x 6.5 x 0.3
ISBN: 1560974273
Dewey Decimal Number: 741.5973
EAN: 9781560974277
ASIN: 1560974273
Publication Date: April 1, 2001
Shipping: Eligible for Super Saver Shipping
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
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Amazon.com Review
Dan Clowes described the story in Ghost World as the examination of "the lives of two recent high school graduates from the advantaged perch of a constant and (mostly) undetectable eavesdropper, with the shaky detachment of a scientist who has grown fond of the prize microbes in his petri dish." From this perch comes a revelation about adolescence that is both subtle and coolly beautiful. Critics have pointed out Clowes's cynicism and vicious social commentary, but if you concentrate on those aspects, you'll miss the exquisite whole that Clowes has captured. Each chapter ends with melancholia that builds towards the amazing, detached, ghostlike ending.
Product Description
One of the best-selling and critically-acclaimed graphic novels of all-time telling the story of two supremely ironic, above-it-all teenagers facing the thrilling uncertainty of life after high school. As they attempt to carry their life-long friendship into a new era, the careful dynamics of their inseparable bond are jolted, and what seemed like a future of endless possibilities looks more like an encroaching reality of strip malls, low-paying service jobs and fading memories. Already one of the most heavily-publicized graphic novels in history, this new edition (featuring new covers by Clowes) should make the book more popular than ever. With lengthy write-ups in Time, Newsweek, Publisher's Weekly, Details, Vogue, Jane, and many others, press interest in the book and film promises to be higher than ever this spring.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 60 more reviews...
 A time capsule on paper December 15, 2008
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
I didn't read this when it was first released in the early 1990s, and I only picked it up after hearing raves about the film version.
I'm an avid comic book reader, and while I normally prefer my books to have the words "Bat" and/or "Man" in the title, I enjoy less fantastic fare as well. I particuarly like the compendium of non-action comics that Chris Ware compiled for McSweeny's 13.
Ghost World seems to me more of an artifact of the 1990s than a lasting contribution to illustrated literature. The book lacks any real punch to me know, in 2008. Perhaps it is because the issues of this book have been so exhaustively covered in other literature and media, or perhaps it is because the issues of older teenagers have little relevance on my life as an adult, but this book just seemed to be primarily concerned with navel gazing. The characters talk about how much they hate their lives, do little or nothing, and then repeat the next day.
The only element that still rings true is how cruel and self-centered teenagers can be, even those who would like to think themselves better than their peers.
The art was the highlight of the book for me, with Clowes uncluttered compositions and attention to detail brining a lot of life into his black and white panels. Even the most mundane scenes are rendered visually interesting by Clowes. It is a shame his writing is not on the same level.
 Ghost World - special edition hardcover (2008) October 31, 2008
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
Great fun
Annotations to the comic (front and back covers included!), the out of print screenplay for the Ghost World film
Artwork for the cd soundtrack, and for the Enid doll. Also, some Enid cartoons and all that a fan of the comic (originally printed in Eightball) and film could want
Published October 2008
 Please enter a title for your review December 13, 2007
At first I found the dialogue relatably irreverent, then the constant ridicule of everything got repetitive and I would have liked to see a bit of positivity, then the ending reveals the main character's sense of humour as a defensive front.
So I guess the writing starts out like a more clued-in Kevin Smith, then pushes into nihilism, and ends up conservatively pop-psychological. There's a strong sense of creativity in there and an unusually informed outside perspective on counter-culture but the serious side of the writing seems to undermine it.
 Relentless Narcissism June 15, 2007
1 out of 2 found this review helpful
This is the affectedly vulgar tale of two young women who need some discipline. Those who feel they have the credentials to declare other human beings "ugly" will probably see themselves in the main characters and find them hilarious. For those who have grown up, the shtick will wear thin quickly. The art is beautiful and the writing definitely has its moments, but I guess I just can remember actually being a stupid jerk when I was younger and don't look back on those days with much fondness.
disappointing May 14, 2007
2 out of 5 found this review helpful
I found "Ghost World" mentioned in an article listing
"top 10 books" for various people. Being no stranger to
graphic art books (aka "comics" :), I thought I'd try it.
I regret that the person recommending it apparently hadn't
read many books. The story failed to capture my interest, and the art didn't redeem it. I'd recommend anything by Will Eisner instead (e.g., A Contract With God).
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