Status
Available
Call number
Publication
Feiwel & Friends (2018), 320 pages
Description
Fantasy. Fiction. Romance. HTML: *Winner of the 2018 Golden Globe Award for Best Director of a Motion Picture* *Winner of the 2018 Academy Awards for Best Picture and Best Director* Visionary storyteller Guillermo del Toro and celebrated author Daniel Kraus combine their estimable talent in this haunting, heartbreaking audiobook. The Shape of Water is set in Cold War-era Baltimore at the Occam Aerospace Research Center, which has recently received its most sensitive asset ever: an amphibious man captured in the Amazon. What unfolds is a stirring romance between the asset and one of the janitors on staff, a mute woman who uses sign language to communicate with the creature. Developed from the ground up as a bold two-tiered release�??one story interpreted by two artists in the independent mediums of literature and film�??The Shape of Water weaves together fantasy, horror, and romance to create a tale that is equally gripping on the big screen, and as an audio performance. Prepare for an experience unlike anything you've ever heard or seen. Praise for The Shape of Water audiobook: "This is a beautifully written tale filled with lush descriptions and poetic language, perfect for savoring on audio. Listeners new to the story will be enchanted, but even those who've seen the movie will be drawn into this first-rate adaptation of the poignant tale." �?? Booklist, starred review "Jenna Lamia's luminous narration of a love like no other is profoundly affecting and transformative." �?? AudioFile Magaz… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member DarthDeverell
In The Shape of Water, Guillermo del Toro and Daniel Kraus adapt the story of del Toro's 2017 film, but this is so much more than your typical novelization of a film. The book goes beyond the basic plot, to examine characters' backstories and some of the events alluded to in the movie. Del Toro and
They add to Elisa Esposito's background in an orphanage and her magical worldview and connection to water, building upon the movie's hints that her neck scars were never really scars, but always proto-gills. Exploring issues of class, del Toro and Kraus write from Elisa's perspective, "The Daisys [shoes] ill be the only insurgency she brings off tonight, and every night. Feet are what connect you to the ground, and when you are poor, none of that ground belongs to you" (pg. 9). As for Richard Strickland, del Toro and Kraus begin his story with his work to capture the Amphibian Man in the Amazon, recalling Heart of Darkness and letting the reader experience the madness that grips him even after he returns to life in the United States. When they turn to Giles Gunderson's perspective and his concerns over Elisa's naïveté, del Toro and Kraus write, "She's incapable of appreciating how deep run the fault lines of America's Red Scare. Undesirables of all sorts risk their lives and livelihoods on a daily basis, and a homosexual painter? Why, that's as undesirable as they come!" (pg. 162). Zelda Fuller's concerns about the Civil Rights movement are forefronted, with her new friendship with Giles at the end of the story serving to show hope in solidarity. Dr. Robert Hoffstetler, one of the most sympathetic characters of the film, is even more compelling in this retelling.
Most interestingly, del Toro and Kraus add a backstory for Elaine Strickland, showing the difficulty she experiences trying to live up to the early 1960s societal expectations for women and following her awakening to more possibilities, including a life of her own other than as Mrs. Strickland. Also fascinating, del Toro and Kraus give insight into the Amphibian Man's point of view. As he begins to recover, he thinks, "We begin to heal and it is beter water than the last water no water should bring pain water should not be flat water should not be smooth water should not be empty water should not have a shape there is no shape of water" (pg. 243).
The film is a heartbreaking adult fairytale and del Toro and Kraus's novelization will fill the reader with wonder and break their hearts all over again. This is a must-read companion to the movie.
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Kraus alternate between characters' points of view, letting the overlapping narratives add conflict and tension even for those who haven't seen the film. While some events occur differently, it does not fundamentally change the characters and reads like how del Toro intended the film if he had more time and an infinite budget.They add to Elisa Esposito's background in an orphanage and her magical worldview and connection to water, building upon the movie's hints that her neck scars were never really scars, but always proto-gills. Exploring issues of class, del Toro and Kraus write from Elisa's perspective, "The Daisys [shoes] ill be the only insurgency she brings off tonight, and every night. Feet are what connect you to the ground, and when you are poor, none of that ground belongs to you" (pg. 9). As for Richard Strickland, del Toro and Kraus begin his story with his work to capture the Amphibian Man in the Amazon, recalling Heart of Darkness and letting the reader experience the madness that grips him even after he returns to life in the United States. When they turn to Giles Gunderson's perspective and his concerns over Elisa's naïveté, del Toro and Kraus write, "She's incapable of appreciating how deep run the fault lines of America's Red Scare. Undesirables of all sorts risk their lives and livelihoods on a daily basis, and a homosexual painter? Why, that's as undesirable as they come!" (pg. 162). Zelda Fuller's concerns about the Civil Rights movement are forefronted, with her new friendship with Giles at the end of the story serving to show hope in solidarity. Dr. Robert Hoffstetler, one of the most sympathetic characters of the film, is even more compelling in this retelling.
Most interestingly, del Toro and Kraus add a backstory for Elaine Strickland, showing the difficulty she experiences trying to live up to the early 1960s societal expectations for women and following her awakening to more possibilities, including a life of her own other than as Mrs. Strickland. Also fascinating, del Toro and Kraus give insight into the Amphibian Man's point of view. As he begins to recover, he thinks, "We begin to heal and it is beter water than the last water no water should bring pain water should not be flat water should not be smooth water should not be empty water should not have a shape there is no shape of water" (pg. 243).
The film is a heartbreaking adult fairytale and del Toro and Kraus's novelization will fill the reader with wonder and break their hearts all over again. This is a must-read companion to the movie.
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LibraryThing member karenvg3
Not my favorite by any means but it was good enough for me to finish. It did take me forever to read it. I saw the movie while I was only half finished and I think that is what kept me going because I wanted to see the differences. I wasn’t a fan of the movie either. 3⭐️
LibraryThing member Birdo82
It's a noble effort by Daniel Kraus to turns this dark fantasy romance into a literary work, but the reader may find that what goes unsaid in the film actually enhances the story and that any effort to fill in gaps does it no justice.
LibraryThing member over.the.edge
The Shape of Water🍒🍒🍒🍒🍌
By Guillermo Del Toro and Daniel Kraus
2018
Feiwel and Friends Books
Elisa Esposito has been mute her entire life, and was orphaned as a child. She had a very lonely childhood, many not befriending her because she was different.
Elisas work as a janitor on the
P.163 "Creative Taxidermy. That's so much of life, Elisa. Things patched together, without meaning, from which we, in our needful minds, create myths to suit us. Does that make sense?"
As Elisa breaks free of her insular and lonely life, and the creature is broken free of its freakish existence, they form a love that is unusual, unique and inspiring....
Will true love last?
Fantastic....but parts are brutal and take an open mind.....Recommended.
By Guillermo Del Toro and Daniel Kraus
2018
Feiwel and Friends Books
Elisa Esposito has been mute her entire life, and was orphaned as a child. She had a very lonely childhood, many not befriending her because she was different.
Elisas work as a janitor on the
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graveyard shift at Baltimore Occam Aerospace Research Center is uninspiring until one night she sees something she is not meant to see....an amphibious man, captured in the Amazon and kept in a tank. As she begins communicating with this creature, using sign language, her loneliness begins to fade and soon he is her entire life. Elisa, her friend and Co worker, Zelda, and her neighbor Giles begin to formulate a plan to break the creature free, and break Elisa of her loneliness.P.163 "Creative Taxidermy. That's so much of life, Elisa. Things patched together, without meaning, from which we, in our needful minds, create myths to suit us. Does that make sense?"
As Elisa breaks free of her insular and lonely life, and the creature is broken free of its freakish existence, they form a love that is unusual, unique and inspiring....
Will true love last?
Fantastic....but parts are brutal and take an open mind.....Recommended.
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LibraryThing member brakketh
A lovely and very visual romance.
LibraryThing member Baochuan
The story plot is very simple, however, the journey of the charaters are intricate and interwind.
LibraryThing member schatzi
This book was pretty much everything that I wanted it to be. I loved the characters and the setting. I loved how the marginalized people (the mute woman, the African-American housekeeper, the closeted homosexual, the Russian spy ) work together to save something beautiful, something that the
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superpowers of the world only want to destroy. I love how the person who would be the "hero" in Cold War-era movies is actually the villain. I just...love this. Show Less
LibraryThing member stephanie_M
What a strange novel. I’m having a problem trying to make sense of it all, because the novel went so well for almost all of it, and then the ending happened, and I’m trying to suspend my belief and go with it.....but it’s not working.
It’s a great novel about what it means to be human,
Jenna Lamia is the narrator for the audiobook, and she is a gem. Her talents should be utilized more.
Idk, I guess I can try and put the ending aside and give the novel 4 stars, and recommend it to you all. If you don’t mind *one* sex scene that’s very tame, and not very detailed.
It’s a great novel about what it means to be human,
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though. Or maybe it’s asking us Who Really Are the Monsters? It has great characters, a fantastic storyline and plot, and a few twists that could be seen in advance, but that the reader could forgive. But then it had to do this dumb thing at the end that I won’t spoil for you all, and I’m guessing del Toro did this so the novel could end all HEA, and it seems wrong, somehow.....idk.Jenna Lamia is the narrator for the audiobook, and she is a gem. Her talents should be utilized more.
Idk, I guess I can try and put the ending aside and give the novel 4 stars, and recommend it to you all. If you don’t mind *one* sex scene that’s very tame, and not very detailed.
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LibraryThing member porte01
Wow. I really enjoyed this book and loved the ending so much. Fantastic blend of fantasy, adventure, drama and love story.
LibraryThing member clairefun
I.LOVED.THIS.BOOK.
LibraryThing member Daumari
A lovely co-adaptation, though now I feel like I need to rewatch the film. The novel is a little too neat in connecting side characters' crossed paths, but it takes us along Strickland's journey to the heart of his darkness in the Amazon seeking Deus Branquia.
Awards
Scribe Award (Winner — 2019)
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
2018-03-06
Physical description
320 p.; 8.98 inches
ISBN
1250302587 / 9781250302588
Other editions
The Shape of Water by Guillermo del Toro (Hardcover)