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Common Knowledge

Gender: male
Nationality: USA (birth)
Canada
Places of residence: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Education: Ontario College of Art
Occupations: artist
children's book illustrator
Relationships: Fan, Terry (brother)
Agent: Kirsten Hall

Members

Reviews

The Barnabus Project by Terry Fan

I love feeling inspired and included in a story, and this story does just that. You feel like you are part of the projects, and you feel like you are along for the ride. The feeling of being labeled is so very selective, and to find your purpose, beyond a label, is how you find your perfect life.

Flagged

jakek1816 | 15 other reviews | Oct 29, 2024 |

Night Lunch by Eric Fan

What the heck is the point? Maybe that we can overcome our instincts and share meals with people who have traditionally been our enemies? If so, make the foods served be vegan, as the eggs and sausage just don't fit.

Flagged

Cheryl_in_CC_NV | 25 other reviews | Oct 18, 2024 |

It Fell from the Sky by Terry Fan

I don't understand the hype about the Fan brothers' books. Mostly grey, no humor, message ambiguous, no adventure... do children like them? Young me certainly would not have, any more than either I or my inner child do. I guess there's a good message about profit & exploitation, but I don't think it succeeds.

Flagged

Cheryl_in_CC_NV | 15 other reviews | Oct 18, 2024 |

Ocean Meets Sky by Terry Fan

(Read for group; would not have chosen because I've already been disappointed by the Fan brothers.)

I think that my expectations, based on GR friends' comments, were too high. Nothing wrong with concept, story, or art, but I've seen it done before. Maybe I read too much (or have been reading for too long) and am jaded. I think I would have liked it better if it didn't reground to reality, but stayed surreal... I like the Sense of Wonder of [a:David Wiesner|16461|David Wiesner|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1204659134p2/16461.jpg] because the reader is left with the open ending.

Another master of the real vs. the surreal that I like even better is [a:Anthony Browne|35335|Anthony Browne|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1272902188p2/35335.jpg]. Books like the Fans' are more like those of [a:Robert Ingpen|4055248|Robert Ingpen|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/m_50x66-82093808bca726cb3249a493fbd3bd0f.png] in that the story is secondary, a vehicle for pretty pictures, a way for an artist to earn a living... imo.… (more)

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Cheryl_in_CC_NV | 21 other reviews | Oct 18, 2024 |

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