I hate this story. So let's read it (and yes, I said my first review of 2022 would be 'Dot and the Bunny', but plans change)! :D
And, yes, I stole this pose from my sketch of Miss Ice Cream---I just wanted this art to be done and didn't feel like being creative! :P
Anyway, let's have a quick look at the featured pencil.
The featured pencil is the 'Titanic' by Linton. ...I know, I know: I should have featured a 'Unique' pencil by Venus (considering the subject) ...and I did pull a 'Unique' out, but featuring the 'Titanic' here makes it less likely I'll draw a character from Tentacoolio (which I was saving it for, but have since lost interest in)!
Returning to today's subject...
I went to the second-hand shop the other day and found this little book with a supplementary vinyl recording (of its story) inside: https://sta.sh/01kwar08il5k
The illustration looked cute, so I purchased it (never judge a book by its cover).
The book is titled 'The Glink'. The story is based on a song by Jacqueline Reinach and John Lamport. The book was illustrated by David Gantz.
I wanted to mail the book and its record to my friend Groovy (whom y'all may remember from my Raindrop review), but I thought first to Google my find to be sure I hadn't found anything valuable...
And as of writing, this book cannot be found on eBay, Amazon, or anywhere (even the song it's based on was very elusive). To be sure I hadn't missed anything, I had a friend search behind me,
FRIEND: "Very strange, I cannot find it on youtube, and they have all sorts of reads"
So I guess this book has some degree of rarity ...of course. had this book been just a bit rarer, perhaps I'd not have found this copy and made the subsequent mistake of reading it! D:
But I did ...and because nothing is private or sacred these days, I'm compelled to share it online with y'all ...which entails reading it again (I'm a martyr for my watchers---you're all welcome)! D: ...:3
LEGITIMATE TRIGGER WARNING!!! D:
If anyone has issue with death of innocent animals, please stop here (not kidding).
Here goes...
To keep this review short, I've decided to read the story outright.
(you don't need to watch my video to read this review)
"Did you ever hear of a GLINK? If you haven't, there's a very good reason why. The GLINK was a very singular animal. That means there was only one of him, and a very peculiar one indeed. He had the unique ability to turn himself into any kind of animal he wanted to be. All he had to do was think GLINK"
...And that's all we need to know of the titular character: he's a cryptid who can morph into any animal species.
"But there came a time when his talent didn't help him---not one single bit. It all happened on the day Noah was loading the ark"
I'm sure everyone reading this can fill in the rest---really, it's not a spoiler to give the ending away here. Basically, the Glink will not be boarding the ark, and will be washed away by the proceeding flood.
But why will the Glink be left behind? Was it justice?
Maybe because the Glink didn't believe the Lord would send rain? Perhaps the Glink intended to go, but decided to play around instead and missed his boarding? Or could it be the Glink was gathering treasures to take with him, only to be left behind?
Contrariwise, perhaps the Glink was altruistic: maybe being the last of his species, he gave his place on the ark to someone else? Maybe the Glink died in the process of helping others get on board?
Any such end could result in a satisfying, heartwarming or bittersweet story, depending on execution ...but let's see what we really get! D:
The Glink believes the storm is coming and wants to get on board the ark. But this particular Noah is without compassion (despite that which God had extended to he and his family): Noah will not let the Glink on board because only pairs of animals will be allowed (and, as we know, there is only one Glink).
NOAH (to the Glink): "You've got to go [away]. We need an even number, or we're going to sink!"
I don't buy this excuse---sorry, Noah, but you cannot rightly project your OCD onto the ark! D: Even if what Noah says is so, well... Let's do some math and apply some reasoning:
Noah and his wife were aboard, as were Noah's three sons and their wives, which would equal eight. If *God is with them: nine. Add the Glink (as a pet, perhaps), and you have ten. Ten is an even number! D:
*"For where two or three gather in my name, there am I [God] with them" -Matt. 18:20
No dice?
Ah-ha, but the Glink can transform into any animal he chooses! Maybe this power will help?
Now, it could follow that the Glink may try to impersonate some other animal in order to get on board (and may even score a wife in the process ...for better or for worse!). This would make the Glink a sorta-kinda villain who would deserve whatever consequence would arise.
Does this happen? Let's see how the Glink tries to get on board,
"At the head of the line, waiting to get on the ark, [the Glink] saw two giraffes. Quick as a wink, he began to think GLINK---and turned himself into a giraffe, too, 'Can I come along with you?' he asked the two giraffes"
So, the Glink didn't try to take the place of a real giraffe---he asked BOTH if he could join them. The Glink is not dishonest.
The Glink met other animals, and each time he asked if they would accept him. The answer was always no. :(
Now, to be fair to the story, I'm sure there were more than two (say) giraffes in the world who would like to be on the ark, but none of them could come on board once the quota of 'two' was met, yes? It would follow that even if the Glink were a real giraffe (or any other animal on the passenger list), he'd be met with a no-vacancy ...right
Nope! Not in this story! D:
"Next in line the GLINK spied four armadillos. 'Can I come with you?' he asked. 'No, sireee!' the armadillos replied. 'We're an even four. With you along, we'd be five---and that's odd'
Then find a fifth armadillo so the Glink could make six? Granted, that would be cheating ...which is a sin---the point of the flood was to wash away sinners). This sorta falls apart, though, when the Glink says outright that he in a Glink: maybe he secretly wants to cheat, but he betrays this via his honesty.
One idea I had was the Glink could serve as a surrogate for any animal who may die on the trip, so that animal's species could continue ...but I'm thinking as a sinful furry and not as someone who'd (be trying to) write a clean story for children. ^^
So, what's the ending line of the story?
"Poor Noah, 'twas time to go. The ark was really filled up to the brink. All set for leavin', all even-steven---and that is why you've never seen a GLINK. He's extinct!"
'Poor Noah' my tail! D: D: D:
This story has what must be the most unappealing, dissatisfying ending to any book I've ever read---Richard Adams's 'Plague Dogs' had a happier ending than this! D:
The Glink wasn't evil, or tardy, or greedy, or anything other than 'unique'. What is even worse is those who did make it aboard were all jerks; the Glink was ay least polite! D: D: D:
No justice. No moral. No hope for the Glink---just 'Sucks to be you; you die now'! D:
I hate this book and (even though I haven't played it) its record! D:
...But none of that will stop me from (eventually) selling it on eBay. ;3
EDIT: My mother had an interpretation: sometimes one is so different that society casts them aside; there's no place for that person. It's a story intended to develop empathy.
I was expecting nothing, and I was still let down.
I mean, I had to laugh at that last page, I really did. THAT was the resolution? THAT? It's like one of those joke kid's books. 'You're different and that's bad'. Seriously? No wonder this book is rare; no kid in their right mind is gonna treasure it. I mean seriously, the book goes 'boy this thing is odd' specifically pointing that out so we know exactly why he was rejected. He was odd and all alone. At the end the animals aren't even nice about it. 'Don't try and make us odd!'
I mean you can even object to it biblically. God gave instructions for multiple pairs, but I don't think that extended to worms or bears.
I have a theory that this was meant to teach odd and even numbers, that it's core purpose is to go 'Two is EVEN, three is ODD' but what a twisted story to write around a math lesson.
Also, this glink sketch should have had a pool floater or water wings. He looks like he's floating.
I was expecting nothing, and I was still let down. I mean, I had to laugh at that last page, I real
It's discrimination against odd numbers---haven't 11 and 13 suffered enough? D:
Tobias had this idea that the Glink could turn into a fish to survive the flood. That was such an obvious solution that it never occurred to me! XD Had the book ended with the Glink arriving at that conclusion, it would've at least given the character a glimmer of hope. As it is, we don't even get that (in fact, it's reduced by the fact the last words of the story are 'He's extinct' ...as if the writers thought of the fish scenario and decided to negate that possibility).
I can't recall how long ago it was, but I kinda began favoring this type of pose over those that showed the subject standing. I dunno, I just kinda prefer it. :3
It's discrimination against odd numbers---haven't 11 and 13 suffered enough? D: Tobias had this ide
It's a rapture pose, all your ACEOs are ascending to the heavens.
There's no glimmer of hope in this story, it seems clear the glink him(it\they\her\)self didn't think of it. But then this seems to be a universe of unintelligent design.
It's a rapture pose, all your ACEOs are ascending to the heavens. There's no glimmer of hope in thi
Wouldn't it have been interesting if at least a portion of the animals had been Glinks? I don't know how to continue that line of thought but It's just some weird little thing that popped into my damaged imagination. Anyway ya not a good story. Cute drawing though.
The pencil looks like it's been left as natural wood without a painted covering. If so I approve as I have a thing for unpainted brushes and pencils.
Wouldn't it have been interesting if at least a portion of the animals had been Glinks? I don't know
Having watched the video, I agree with the theory this is intended as a math lesson. Especially with the obvious progression: 2, 4, 6, 8.
One thing that did bug me with this story was it saying "Poor Noah". Poor Noah?! What about poor Glink?!?! Noah didnt seem too inconvenienced by all this, but for the Glink its literally life and death! Its like when you have a problem and instead of helping someone makes it about them. Poor them for having to deal with you. Also it kind of rubs in the loneliness when everyone has a mate but you. Of course the last line is salt in the wound. Even after the Glink has been completely abandoned its still "poor Noah, having to leave the Glink behind". Yeah thats what this is about. How sad Noah is. (He didn't seem that troubled about it to me).
Having watched the video, I agree with the theory this is intended as a math lesson. Especially with
