The Golden Mean - Nick Bantock

The Golden Mean
Nick Bantock
Chronicle Books
Copyright: 1993
978-0811802987

The Golden Mean is the sequel to Sabine's Notebook and Griffin and Sabine, the two previous books comprising this set of stories by Nick Bantock. As with the previous two, the story is told through the use of unique art postcards and decorated, removable letters. That's the incredible thing about the Griffin and Sabine series, the artwork.

The story itself is short, short enough to read easily in one sitting, but eerie. The books seem like you're part of the personal correspondence. There's no page numbers or anything else normally book-like aside from the fact it's bound and in pages.

The first two books were somewhat odd. This one gets downright creepy. Not to mention confusing. I've been trying to figure out the ending for the last two days, ever since I finished reading it. Does anyone else have any thoughts? I don't want to include any spoilers for anyone who wants to read the book, but I'd love to hear some opinions.

I liked the first two books in the set better, they seemed to leave less unresolved. Believe me! There's plenty of unanswered questions here. Maybe they'll be resolved in the next three books. Regardless of my thoughts on the story, I have to say that the art is spectacular, and worth going back for a second (and third) look.

Sabine's Notebook - Nick Bantock

Sabine's Notebook
Nick Bantock
Chronicle Books
1992
978-0811801805

The Amazon.com blurb (Publisher's Weekly):

Devotees of Bantock's enigmatic bestseller, Griffin & Sabine , won't be disappointed by this equally intriguing and perplexing--and equally gorgeous--sequel. London artist Griffin Moss and islander Sabine Strohem, who have never met face-to-face or spoken via phone, exchange hand-illustrated, handwritten letters and postcards--ostensibly reproduced here, tucked into envelopes and removable for reading. As this installment opens, Griffin, frightened by his psychic connection to his otherworldly correspondent, flees England on a night sea journey from Italy to Japan and Australia. He leaves a letter for Sabine, urging her to stay in his abandoned studio. Winter turns to summer and Griffin's courage overcomes his trepidation; still, Sabine warns him to "be . . . cautious; the eye of the storm is a deceptive place." Griffin's initial distress and progressively optimistic outlook shine through his paintings. Sabine's cryptic visual messages seem tinged with mysticism and, possibly, malevolence. Perhaps because it has been established in the previous book, the couple's supernatural bond is less of a focus here, and at times, his art and hers are a touch too similar. Nevertheless, Bantock's distinctive premise continues to puzzle and delight, the wonderful stationery has an authentic look and, not surprisingly, the finale leaves room for another chapter. Author tour.
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.

The sequel to Griffin And Sabine, this is another extravaganza of art postcards and removable letters. As I said of the last book, it reminds me a lot of Barbara Hodgson's The Tattooed Map. Again, there's no resolution, and the story ends with yet another mystery. Is Sabine real? Who is she (and for that matter, who's Griffin?)?

Short in story, but long in art. That's the best way I can think of to sum up this book. It's easy to read in one sitting, but you'll spend time simply examining the art, and trying to see what relationship it has to the story, not to mention what the art says about it's creators.

Sabine's Notebook is definitely a book I enjoyed reading, although, I admit, given it's length, there's not much I can say about it without giving things away.

Griffin And Sabine - Nick Bantock

Griffin And Sabine
Nick Bantock
Chronicle Books
1991
1895714192

Back jacket blurb:

It all started with a mysterious and seemingly innocent postcard, but from that point nothing was to remain the same in the life of Griffin Moss, a quiet, solitary artist living in London. His logical, methodical world was suddenly turned upside down by a strangely exotic woman living on a tropical island thousands of miles away. Who is Sabine? How can she "see" what Griffin is painting when they have never met? Is she a long lost twin? A clairvoyant? Or a malevolent angel? Are we witnessing the flowering of a magical relationship or a descent into madness? This stunning visual novel unfolds in a series of postcards and letters, all brilliantly illustrated with whimsical designs, bizarre creatures and darkly imagined landscapes. Inside the book, Griffin and Sabine's letters are to be found nestling in their envelopes, permitting the reader to examine the intimate correspondance of these inexplicably linked strangers. This truly innovative novel combines a strangely fascinating story with lush artowrk in an altogether original format.

I'm actually not sure how to describe this book. Strange is one word that comes to mind. Compelling is another. However, I don't want to give the story away.

I was raving about The Tattooed Map by Barbara Hodgson a while ago, and someone told me that if I liked her book, I'd really like the books by Nick Bantock. Well, I never really followed up on that, until I was travelling in September. It turned out that one of the people I was visiting had Griffin and Sabine along with the two follow-ups at their house. I was able to get a look at this book and fell in love. I got the chance to pick up all six of the books the other day, and have alread read the first two.

They are definitely short books, making for quick reads, but the real meat of the book is the artwork. The sheer level of details there are. Different types of writing for the two characters: his seems to be a ball-point or other normal pen (except when typed). Sabine on the other hand writes with a dip pen of some sort, I'd guess with a squared off tip. Bantock has 'reproduced' the variations in ink tone such a pen produces.

When typed, Griffin's letters include various typos, either not caught, or corrected in pen. Those letters are kept folded in envelopes attached to the page, but not actually printed on the page. They're entirely separate pieces of paper.

Some of the postcards are downright surreal, for example the one labeled "The Blind Leading the Blind". Just creepy. However, all of the art is spectacularly detailed.

I will note that the story, though short is fascinating, and the book ends on an absolute cliff-hanger. I highly recommend this whole series.