Tiger! Tiger! Tiger!
Stories and Pictures by Scott Morse
Lowdown: Liked it. This is a beautifully painted glimpse into Morse’s thoughts on his life and family. The prose gets a little abstract at times. Its subtitle accurately describes the book: “a collection of scattered thoughts and moments that somehow equal a whole”. This was a pleasure to read. The art should be absorbed and studied instead of just casually enjoyed.
I’ve been a fan of Scott Morse ever since I discovered Soulwind. When I first heard about Tiger! Tiger! Tiger!, I didn’t know what it was about. Original story? Paintings? It breaks down informally into three acts. In Act I, Morse expounds on life and how he views himself in it. Here, he transforms himself into the tiger of the title, using it as an avatar to better handle the world around him.
Act II focuses on Morse while on jury duty. Excused for most of the day, he spends his time sketching people in the courthouse and others he sees while wandering around downtown Oakland, California.
The last act follows Morse as he spends time with his two-year old son.
Morse’s paintings are beautiful, and the abstract, stream of consciousness narration suits it perfectly. Although the story doesn’t provide any new or profound insights into life, they are moving and poignant. Morse’s reflections on life and trying to find meaning in it certainly get your mind churning.
