Thursday, April 29, 2021
The Lives Behind the Lines...
by Lynn Johnston
First read in June 2012.
waiting room material
LibraryThing link
Labels: ForBetterofForWorse, LynnJohnston, WaitingRoomMaterial
Thursday, June 07, 2012
The Lives Behind the Lines...
by Lynn Johnston
For the 20th Anniversary of the comic strip For Better or For Worse, Lynn Johnston put together this 213 page book that looks at the world of her strip. Part of it is back story on the characters and the settings, part of it tells of the real life inspirations of the same. All of it is liberally illustrated with strips and artwork from the strip's first 20 years. It's a book only a true fan could appreciate.
Or you might like it if you're in the waiting room.
LibraryThing link
For the 20th Anniversary of the comic strip For Better or For Worse, Lynn Johnston put together this 213 page book that looks at the world of her strip. Part of it is back story on the characters and the settings, part of it tells of the real life inspirations of the same. All of it is liberally illustrated with strips and artwork from the strip's first 20 years. It's a book only a true fan could appreciate.
Or you might like it if you're in the waiting room.
LibraryThing link
Labels: ForBetterofForWorse, LynnJohnston, WaitingRoomMaterial
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Something Old, Something New
by Lynn Johnston
Yeah, I know, I said I gave up being a For Better or For Worse fan. I thought Lynn Johnston's idea of recycling and adding to her old strips was a bad idea. But since other family members borrowed this first collection of her new classics, I figured I might as well give it a read. The first thing I have to say is that Ms. Johnston hasn't totally lost it. While on the whole I didn't enjoy the new stuff as much as the originals, her new material did provide a laugh or two. Furthermore, there were also some classic strips that never made it into the collections I already own. I'm half tempted to pick up a copy of this book. Well, maybe only a third tempted. Either way, I'm glad I checked it out.
LibraryThing link
Yeah, I know, I said I gave up being a For Better or For Worse fan. I thought Lynn Johnston's idea of recycling and adding to her old strips was a bad idea. But since other family members borrowed this first collection of her new classics, I figured I might as well give it a read. The first thing I have to say is that Ms. Johnston hasn't totally lost it. While on the whole I didn't enjoy the new stuff as much as the originals, her new material did provide a laugh or two. Furthermore, there were also some classic strips that never made it into the collections I already own. I'm half tempted to pick up a copy of this book. Well, maybe only a third tempted. Either way, I'm glad I checked it out.
LibraryThing link
Labels: CheckItOut, ForBetterofForWorse, LynnJohnston
Saturday, March 28, 2009
Home Sweat Home
by Lynn Johnston
If you've been reading my reviews of the latter For Better or For Worse collections, you've probably caught my subtle hints that I've been increasingly disappointed with the quality of the strip. I pretty much read this, the most recent collection to date, merely so I could say that I've read them all. Oddly enough, this collection wasn't too bad. More jokes, less sermons. Or maybe I was just less cranky.
Oh, just check it out.
LibraryThing link
If you've been reading my reviews of the latter For Better or For Worse collections, you've probably caught my subtle hints that I've been increasingly disappointed with the quality of the strip. I pretty much read this, the most recent collection to date, merely so I could say that I've read them all. Oddly enough, this collection wasn't too bad. More jokes, less sermons. Or maybe I was just less cranky.
Oh, just check it out.
LibraryThing link
Labels: CheckItOut, ForBetterofForWorse, LynnJohnston
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Senior's Discount
by Lynn Johnston
The good things about this For Better or For Worse collection: April's band adjusts to their new line up, April spends a few weeks at her uncle's farm and the translation of "kaad-gnebig njnaamod". The bad things, well, pretty much everything else. The Patterson clan and friends have become pretty dull or depressing. sigh. The strip used to be so good.
It's waiting room material.
LibraryThing link
The good things about this For Better or For Worse collection: April's band adjusts to their new line up, April spends a few weeks at her uncle's farm and the translation of "kaad-gnebig njnaamod". The bad things, well, pretty much everything else. The Patterson clan and friends have become pretty dull or depressing. sigh. The strip used to be so good.
It's waiting room material.
LibraryThing link
Labels: ForBetterofForWorse, LynnJohnston, WaitingRoomMaterial
Sunday, February 08, 2009
Teaching Is a Learning Experience!
by Lynn Johnston
This is another "post-jump"* For Better or For Worse collection. The kids in Liz's class offer the humor that the Patterson kids used to provide in years past, and Michael's feud with his downstairs neighbors has its moments. April and Anthony, on the other hand, are way too whiney in this volume. I suspect that I'll let this book gather dust while revisiting some of the better collections in the series.
__________________
*You know, like "post-holocaust" refers to tales set after a nuclear war, these strips are set after the shark was jumped.
It's waiting room material, for when you don't need to wait long.
LibraryThing link
This is another "post-jump"* For Better or For Worse collection. The kids in Liz's class offer the humor that the Patterson kids used to provide in years past, and Michael's feud with his downstairs neighbors has its moments. April and Anthony, on the other hand, are way too whiney in this volume. I suspect that I'll let this book gather dust while revisiting some of the better collections in the series.
__________________
*You know, like "post-holocaust" refers to tales set after a nuclear war, these strips are set after the shark was jumped.
It's waiting room material, for when you don't need to wait long.
LibraryThing link
Labels: ForBetterofForWorse, LynnJohnston, WaitingRoomMaterial
Saturday, January 31, 2009
She's Turning Into One of Them!
by Lynn Johnston
Ah, now this is the collection where For Better or For Worse jumped the shark. It's the era when the moralizing started to started to overtake the jokes. Which is not to say that the book is totally lacking in the latter. It just makes me wonder if it's worth slogging through the sermonizing to enjoy a few chuckles. Maybe I could mark up the book so I could enjoy the strips about Weed's relationship problems, the Ned controversy and Grandpa Jim's new avocation while blipping over April's witchy friend, the Mtigwaki social study lessons and the marshmallow who has replaced Anthony.
'Tis only waiting room material.
LibraryThing link
Ah, now this is the collection where For Better or For Worse jumped the shark. It's the era when the moralizing started to started to overtake the jokes. Which is not to say that the book is totally lacking in the latter. It just makes me wonder if it's worth slogging through the sermonizing to enjoy a few chuckles. Maybe I could mark up the book so I could enjoy the strips about Weed's relationship problems, the Ned controversy and Grandpa Jim's new avocation while blipping over April's witchy friend, the Mtigwaki social study lessons and the marshmallow who has replaced Anthony.
'Tis only waiting room material.
LibraryThing link
Labels: ForBetterofForWorse, LynnJohnston, WaitingRoomMaterial
Friday, May 23, 2008
Never Wink at a Worried Woman
by Lynn Johnston
The 2005 For Better or For Worse collection leaves much to be desired. Grandpa Jim is going downhill, healthwise, and Elly is getting played by an unscrupulous employee. The ongoing soap opera of Elizabeth's love life takes a creepy turn when her ex-paramour, Anthony, gets married to another woman despite the fact that he still longs for Liz. The rest of the family is up to the usual antics, but they just don't seem to be as fun as they used to be. The closest this collection comes is the storyline that takes John and Elly on vacation to Mexico. But even that seems a bit tired. I don't know if it's because Ms. Johnston is trying to get too dramatic with the strip, or if it's just that the funniest part of the older strips is the antics of the kids, who are now getting into more adult and less interesting shenanigans.
It's only waiting room material? Alas!
LibraryThing link
The 2005 For Better or For Worse collection leaves much to be desired. Grandpa Jim is going downhill, healthwise, and Elly is getting played by an unscrupulous employee. The ongoing soap opera of Elizabeth's love life takes a creepy turn when her ex-paramour, Anthony, gets married to another woman despite the fact that he still longs for Liz. The rest of the family is up to the usual antics, but they just don't seem to be as fun as they used to be. The closest this collection comes is the storyline that takes John and Elly on vacation to Mexico. But even that seems a bit tired. I don't know if it's because Ms. Johnston is trying to get too dramatic with the strip, or if it's just that the funniest part of the older strips is the antics of the kids, who are now getting into more adult and less interesting shenanigans.
It's only waiting room material? Alas!
LibraryThing link
Labels: ForBetterofForWorse, LynnJohnston, WaitingRoomMaterial
Friday, May 16, 2008
Striking a Chord
by Lynn Johnston
This one's okay, I guess. It's pretty much the era where For Better or For Worse gets boring. I mean the rabbit dies, but not much else... um, let me rephrase that. Mr. B--April's pet bunny--croaks. That's the big plot development in the world of the Patterson clan. Oh, sure Michael and Deanna deal with their new baby and Elizabeth does college things and April does junior high things and Grandpa does old man things, but those are just so... mundane. I mean, Ms. Johnston has just made the strip too real.
Definitely waiting room material.
LibraryThing link
This one's okay, I guess. It's pretty much the era where For Better or For Worse gets boring. I mean the rabbit dies, but not much else... um, let me rephrase that. Mr. B--April's pet bunny--croaks. That's the big plot development in the world of the Patterson clan. Oh, sure Michael and Deanna deal with their new baby and Elizabeth does college things and April does junior high things and Grandpa does old man things, but those are just so... mundane. I mean, Ms. Johnston has just made the strip too real.
Definitely waiting room material.
LibraryThing link
Labels: ForBetterofForWorse, LynnJohnston, WaitingRoomMaterial
Sunday, May 11, 2008
Reality Check
by Lynn Johnston
In this For Better or For Worse collection Michael & Deanna face the reality of married life, Elly deals with a theft at her store, Elizabeth discovers the truth about her boyfriend Eric, and Grandpa Jim moves out. (Not because of Elizabeth's boyfriend, but because... oh, just read it yourself.) April and John pretty much hang in the background, playing the straight man or providing punchlines as needed. As far as strip development, the writing is okay--nothing spectacular or heinous. Michael's storyline seems a bit sparse. After years of being involved in his schooling and social life, we only get an occasional strip of him at work or out with his friends. Elizabeth picks up the slack somewhat, but I guess she comes across as a weaker character and her storyline is not as satisfying. Ah, well. The book is still worth a read.
Check it out.
LibraryThing link
In this For Better or For Worse collection Michael & Deanna face the reality of married life, Elly deals with a theft at her store, Elizabeth discovers the truth about her boyfriend Eric, and Grandpa Jim moves out. (Not because of Elizabeth's boyfriend, but because... oh, just read it yourself.) April and John pretty much hang in the background, playing the straight man or providing punchlines as needed. As far as strip development, the writing is okay--nothing spectacular or heinous. Michael's storyline seems a bit sparse. After years of being involved in his schooling and social life, we only get an occasional strip of him at work or out with his friends. Elizabeth picks up the slack somewhat, but I guess she comes across as a weaker character and her storyline is not as satisfying. Ah, well. The book is still worth a read.
Check it out.
LibraryThing link
Labels: CheckItOut, ForBetterofForWorse, LynnJohnston
Wednesday, May 07, 2008
With this Ring
by Lynn Johnston
Okay, I was wrong. For Better or For Worse hasn't jumped the shark with this collection, either. I had failed to recollect just how much humor Ms. Johnston was able to conjure up out of a wedding. Michael and Deanna are tying the knot and the mother-in-law to be has a great many ideas of how things should go. So we get to journey with the Patterson clan through the trials and joys of one of the most momentous events in a person's life. Of course, life goes on outside of the nuptial planning, hence there are also strips featuring April's summertime antics, a blossoming romance for Grandpa Jim, a souring romance for Elizabeth and John's Hallowe'en decor. Good stuff.
I'm keeping it on my shelf.
LibraryThing link
Okay, I was wrong. For Better or For Worse hasn't jumped the shark with this collection, either. I had failed to recollect just how much humor Ms. Johnston was able to conjure up out of a wedding. Michael and Deanna are tying the knot and the mother-in-law to be has a great many ideas of how things should go. So we get to journey with the Patterson clan through the trials and joys of one of the most momentous events in a person's life. Of course, life goes on outside of the nuptial planning, hence there are also strips featuring April's summertime antics, a blossoming romance for Grandpa Jim, a souring romance for Elizabeth and John's Hallowe'en decor. Good stuff.
I'm keeping it on my shelf.
LibraryThing link
Labels: ForBetterofForWorse, LynnJohnston, OnMyShelf
Saturday, May 03, 2008
Family Business
by Lynn Johnston
Okay, this was the For Better or for Worse collection where I thought the strip was supposed to start going downhill. Well, I guess I was a bit premature. April is starting to become a more interesting character, and while Michael the grown-up is less interesting than Michael the student, his relationship with Deanna is stil a bit interesting. (The twist it takes is something I still don't understand, but then, if all characters acted logically, we would be left with very few stories worth reading.) I found the biggest tale, Elly's unique solution to her employer's business woes, to be lacking. Ms. Johnston didn't manage to bring a lot of humor out of the concept. Ah, well. As I think about it, the collection itself is fine. The only reason I think of it as part of the decline, is that I now read the collected strips in light of the plot twists I know are coming. It seems like in the years to come, the Patterson clan become more like victims to various evils out there, and that trend seems to start here.
They're still worth checking out at least.
LibraryThing link
Okay, this was the For Better or for Worse collection where I thought the strip was supposed to start going downhill. Well, I guess I was a bit premature. April is starting to become a more interesting character, and while Michael the grown-up is less interesting than Michael the student, his relationship with Deanna is stil a bit interesting. (The twist it takes is something I still don't understand, but then, if all characters acted logically, we would be left with very few stories worth reading.) I found the biggest tale, Elly's unique solution to her employer's business woes, to be lacking. Ms. Johnston didn't manage to bring a lot of humor out of the concept. Ah, well. As I think about it, the collection itself is fine. The only reason I think of it as part of the decline, is that I now read the collected strips in light of the plot twists I know are coming. It seems like in the years to come, the Patterson clan become more like victims to various evils out there, and that trend seems to start here.
They're still worth checking out at least.
LibraryThing link
Labels: CheckItOut, ForBetterofForWorse, LynnJohnston
Saturday, April 26, 2008
Graduation: A Time for Change
by Lynn Johnston
Despite having an extensive collection of For Better or For Worse books, I don't know if I can really call myself a fan. In recent years I have been disappointed in the direction the strip has taken and no longer follow it faithfully. With this in mind, I've been keeping an eye out to see if I can discover just when For Better or For Worse headed into the "worse" category. I don't know if I'll get a simple answer to that, but this volume feels like the end of the "better" portion of the series. The big changes in this collection are Mike graduating from college, getting engaged and moving out of his apartment in Mrs. Dingle's house (That's it! Moving away from Mrs. Dingle was where it jumped the shark!), Elizabeth going off to university and Grandpa Jim moving in with John and Elly. No single storyline is that compelling, but they're still an entertaining read.
Worth checking out.
LibraryThing link
Despite having an extensive collection of For Better or For Worse books, I don't know if I can really call myself a fan. In recent years I have been disappointed in the direction the strip has taken and no longer follow it faithfully. With this in mind, I've been keeping an eye out to see if I can discover just when For Better or For Worse headed into the "worse" category. I don't know if I'll get a simple answer to that, but this volume feels like the end of the "better" portion of the series. The big changes in this collection are Mike graduating from college, getting engaged and moving out of his apartment in Mrs. Dingle's house (That's it! Moving away from Mrs. Dingle was where it jumped the shark!), Elizabeth going off to university and Grandpa Jim moving in with John and Elly. No single storyline is that compelling, but they're still an entertaining read.
Worth checking out.
LibraryThing link
Labels: CheckItOut, ForBetterofForWorse, LynnJohnston
Saturday, April 19, 2008
The Big 5-0
by Lynn Johnston
In yet another amusing For Better or For Worse collection, Michael and Weed make a business trip to Quebec, Elizabeth enjoys her last year before University, Elly gets some more hours at her bookstore job, Grandpa Jim gets a dog, April engages in miscellaneous shenanigans, and John celebrates his 50th birthday. (even though he said it was only a few weeks away two books ago)
It's on my shelf!
LibraryThing link
In yet another amusing For Better or For Worse collection, Michael and Weed make a business trip to Quebec, Elizabeth enjoys her last year before University, Elly gets some more hours at her bookstore job, Grandpa Jim gets a dog, April engages in miscellaneous shenanigans, and John celebrates his 50th birthday. (even though he said it was only a few weeks away two books ago)
It's on my shelf!
LibraryThing link
Labels: ForBetterofForWorse, LynnJohnston, OnMyShelf
Thursday, April 10, 2008
Sunshine and Shadow
by Lynn Johnston
The centerpiece of this For Better or For Worse collection is the death of Elly's mother. The tale runs the gamut from her illness and final trip to the hospital, through her death, her husband's adjustment and finally the gathering of the family for a large memorial service. Naturally, there are no strips in the storyline that are laugh-out-loud funny, but a few of them put the spotlight on the human foibles that surface even in our darkest moments, evoking a pleasant smile. Ms. Johnston does a great job of capturing another of those times of life that happen to every family. And, just as life goes on after the passing of a loved one, so does the collection contain strips that cover the other events in the lives of the Patterson clan, their friends and neighbors.
It's worth checking out.
LibraryThing link
The centerpiece of this For Better or For Worse collection is the death of Elly's mother. The tale runs the gamut from her illness and final trip to the hospital, through her death, her husband's adjustment and finally the gathering of the family for a large memorial service. Naturally, there are no strips in the storyline that are laugh-out-loud funny, but a few of them put the spotlight on the human foibles that surface even in our darkest moments, evoking a pleasant smile. Ms. Johnston does a great job of capturing another of those times of life that happen to every family. And, just as life goes on after the passing of a loved one, so does the collection contain strips that cover the other events in the lives of the Patterson clan, their friends and neighbors.
It's worth checking out.
LibraryThing link
Labels: CheckItOut, ForBetterofForWorse, LynnJohnston
Sunday, April 06, 2008
Middle Age Spread
by Lynn Johnston
The focus of this For Better or For Worse collection seems to be the forces that pull upon the middle-aged. More and more we're called upon to aid our aging parents while our kids continue to come up with new challenges to hone our parenting skills. In the case of Elly Patterson, her mother is in failing health back in British Columbia, while her daughter April is threatening to amass a menagerie, daughter Elizabeth is being a teen-ager and son Michael tries to figure out what to do with his life. It's still good comics, though there seems to be a slight change in the art. I don't know if this was when Ms. Johnston started using assistant artists or maybe started using some new techniques? Or maybe it's just my imagination.
Check it out for yourself!
LibraryThing link
The focus of this For Better or For Worse collection seems to be the forces that pull upon the middle-aged. More and more we're called upon to aid our aging parents while our kids continue to come up with new challenges to hone our parenting skills. In the case of Elly Patterson, her mother is in failing health back in British Columbia, while her daughter April is threatening to amass a menagerie, daughter Elizabeth is being a teen-ager and son Michael tries to figure out what to do with his life. It's still good comics, though there seems to be a slight change in the art. I don't know if this was when Ms. Johnston started using assistant artists or maybe started using some new techniques? Or maybe it's just my imagination.
Check it out for yourself!
LibraryThing link
Labels: CheckItOut, ForBetterofForWorse, LynnJohnston
Monday, March 31, 2008
Growing Like A Weed
by Lynn Johnston
In this collection, Elly and John go on a Mexican holiday, Michael starts another romance, Elizabeth spends a month on her uncle's farm, April starts Kindergarten and Gordon faces the woes of owning a business. (Yeah, I know Gordon's not an official Patterson, but can I help it that he has one of the more interesting storylines during this era of FBoFW?) Again, Ms. Johnston serves up a nice mix of humor and drama to brighten your day.
It's on my shelf!
LibraryThing link
In this collection, Elly and John go on a Mexican holiday, Michael starts another romance, Elizabeth spends a month on her uncle's farm, April starts Kindergarten and Gordon faces the woes of owning a business. (Yeah, I know Gordon's not an official Patterson, but can I help it that he has one of the more interesting storylines during this era of FBoFW?) Again, Ms. Johnston serves up a nice mix of humor and drama to brighten your day.
It's on my shelf!
LibraryThing link
Labels: ForBetterofForWorse, LynnJohnston, OnMyShelf
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Love Just Screws Everything Up
by Lynn Johnston
In this, the um, (let me count...) fifteenth collection of For Better or For Worse strips: Gordon goes into business and gets married; the Pattersons, sans Michael, take a vacation to visit the grandparents; April starts Pre-Kindergarten; Elizabeth starts high school; Michael stays in college, but switches housing and Elly gets a hair cut. Oh, and there's also romantic issues that come up, hence the title. ... Well, it's funnier when you actually read the strips.
I think I'll keep it on my shelf.
LibraryThing link
In this, the um, (let me count...) fifteenth collection of For Better or For Worse strips: Gordon goes into business and gets married; the Pattersons, sans Michael, take a vacation to visit the grandparents; April starts Pre-Kindergarten; Elizabeth starts high school; Michael stays in college, but switches housing and Elly gets a hair cut. Oh, and there's also romantic issues that come up, hence the title. ... Well, it's funnier when you actually read the strips.
I think I'll keep it on my shelf.
LibraryThing link
Labels: ForBetterofForWorse, LynnJohnston, OnMyShelf
Friday, March 21, 2008
Starting from Scratch
by Lynn Johnston
Another collection from the golden age of For Better or For Worse. In this volume, Elly changes jobs, Michael changes schools, Elizabeth changes hairstyles, and April goes swimming where she's not supposed to. And John, well, John just does a very good job of being a supporting character in this one. I hope he still got paid the same. Anyway, this one's a keeper for me.
It's on my shelf.
LibraryThing link
Another collection from the golden age of For Better or For Worse. In this volume, Elly changes jobs, Michael changes schools, Elizabeth changes hairstyles, and April goes swimming where she's not supposed to. And John, well, John just does a very good job of being a supporting character in this one. I hope he still got paid the same. Anyway, this one's a keeper for me.
It's on my shelf.
LibraryThing link
Labels: ForBetterofForWorse, LynnJohnston, OnMyShelf
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
It's the Thought That Counts...
by Lynn Johnston
The 15th Anniversary collection of For Better or For Worse is not quite the extravaganza they had for the tenth. You still get some color Sunday strips--of relatively contemporary vintage--but the prose is limited to an occasional paragraph explaining some of the inspiration for a particular Sunday strip and a three page essay regarding the storyline where Lawrence comes out as being gay. Add all that to the year's worth of reprints and you get a nice book to put on your shelf.
LibraryThing link
The 15th Anniversary collection of For Better or For Worse is not quite the extravaganza they had for the tenth. You still get some color Sunday strips--of relatively contemporary vintage--but the prose is limited to an occasional paragraph explaining some of the inspiration for a particular Sunday strip and a three page essay regarding the storyline where Lawrence comes out as being gay. Add all that to the year's worth of reprints and you get a nice book to put on your shelf.
LibraryThing link
Labels: ForBetterofForWorse, LynnJohnston, OnMyShelf
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