World Famous Comics: Jakob Wywialowski and the Angels
Jakob Wywialowski and the Angels
By: Audrey Niffenegger Publisher: Amazon.com Average Rating: Binding: Digital Label: Amazon.com Number of Pages: 7 Publication Date: June 21, 2005 Release Date: June 21, 2005
Product Description: "Jakob Wywialowski and the Angels" is a charming short story about a man who is experiencing a celestial infestation of sorts; he is having trouble keeping his attic angel-free. It may amuse you if you are the kind of person who finds this sort of thing amusing.
Cute, but not a feel-good story Very nicely crafted short. Places the reader in the story nicely. Cute, but does not have a feel-good ending. Certainly worth getting.
A fun and easy read It's not the greatest story ever written, but it is fun and has a sense of humor. If you have 10 minutes and 49 cents, go for it. (But don't expect a masterpiece on the order of The Time Traveler's Wife!)
Every great idea begins with a spark... ...though I'll second some of the thoughts of author Niffenegger's previous reviewers and merely say that perhaps Audrey could have let this one play out a little longer?
I mean, my thinking here is that it's the start of something much more substantial, perhaps even more literary? As in, this isn't the last time we're all going to hear about the likes of Mr. Jakob Wywialowski (I, for one, would love to know who you've modelled this character after, Dear Author)?
Jakob, by the way, seems like the consummate old man cutie -- the grandfather we all want to have.
However, seven pages *is* a bit on the scant side, oui oui? Though I'm the first one to admit one doesn't need to write like Tolstoy to make a literary point, it's a bit on the lower end of the spectrum. Not "bad" lower end but more like "you've left me wanting a whole lot more" lower end. With the foreknowledge that this were to expand into a graphic novel, I mightn't be as indisposed to it, but...
...back to my original point.
Surprisingly, folks, ANGELS is a tight little read. Like its length or niente, you're going to feel something.
Sentences flow cleverly and well. Ms. Niffenegger's vocabulary choice falls into the "nice and easy" spectrum.
ANGELS is, for the most part, a "feelgood" piece, and I think this author is at all times aware of the direction things are headed in the marketplace: people are demanding shorter, more inspirational, reads; ones they can polish off within a short subway/bus ride into work (or leaving work, as the case may be).
Once the technology for this sort of thing becomes widely available, previous readers who've expressed skepticism with the shortness of Niffenegger's tale here may be more accepting of stories of ANGELS' curt length more readily.
Well, perhaps that's just one person's opinion...
In summary: in a world oftentimes gone to the squirrels, sometimes it's just nice to read about something on a groovy upbeat tip.
-- ADM in Prague
Not worth your 49 cents I love the Time Traveler's Wife, but sadly enough "Jakob Wywialowski and the Angels" does not live up to the standard Niffenegger set when with her debut novel. I hardly found the story cute or funny, instead it felt like it was trying to be. But all writing has merit and even if this story is just an exercise, I am sure it was a valuable one for her. And if this story had been made freely available, (on a blog perhaps) I probably would be less criticial. But for half the price of an iTunes music download, I was expecting something a bit more substantial.
Very funny, very good short story I just finished the Time Traveler's Wife and was looking around amazon and found this short.
I usually don't pay good money for 1.5 thousand digital words, but I loved Audrey's book, so I thought I'd risk the $[very low price deleted by moderator] since it was a low price. And, it was worth every penny.
This is a funny short story, and I didn't find Time Traveler's Wife funny. But, I think that if you liked the book, you'll love this.
Anything Goes Trivia
Trevor
Megaton Man
