Discover a fable about the friendship and destiny of two timeless characters: Eva, a creative vampire who likes people, and Dries, a traveling spider who disdains web-spinning. “Relations that Suck” is a piece of art in book form that bridges the worlds of fine art, fashion, and writing. It portrays the tragedies of denial and guilt in thirty-five dramatic photographs accompanied by a poetically heartbreaking narrative.
Preview of Chapters 1 and 2
Praise
“San Francisco is proud to have an artist like Marilyn Yu who epitomizes the creativity and community that San Francisco is known for. Her book is a visually-stunning, experimental collaboration that showcases the best of San Francisco.” – David Chiu, San Francisco Supervisor, State Representative, City Attorney.
“I loved the book. It’s beautiful.” – Midori is the author of bestselling books “The Seductive Art of Japanese Bondage”, “Master Han’s Daughter” and “Wild Side Sex: The Book of Kink”. A regular advice columnist for Men’s Health, Midori has appeared on HBO and BBC, and has been featured in Vogue, Playboy, Der Spiegel, Cosmo and more. Multifaceted, she is a skilled photographer, artist in Japanese rope, presenting to art institutions such as Tanzquartier, Vienna and Das Arts in Amsterdam.
“A kind of picture book for grownups,… A strikingly visual, thoroughly engaging, and quite original, “Relations That Suck” is enthusiastically recommended to fans of the vampire genre, as well as anyone with an interest in the not-so-simple art of visual storytelling.” – James A. Cox, “Reviewer’s Choice” in California Bookwatch: April 2009
“Dark and strangely entrancing …. It’s just… wow. I am most definitely a fan of Marilyn Yu and her designs now, and I recommend “Relations that Suck” to vampire and fashion fans.” – Neha N. Kashmiri (age 14) from Reader Views March 2009 – Book Reviews for teens by teens.
“This fashionably dressed vampire with a penchant for creativity, Catholic guilt and human sympathy – who meets a dark handsome arachnid – is the creation of Marilyn Yu…. a fine weave, with fashion, fine art and publishing in a gorgeously dark picture book with beautiful theatrical clothing.” – April Elkjer, “‘Relations that Suck’ – A Picture Book for Fashionistas”, Nichi Bei Times, April 2-8, 2009 Entertainment+Art
“Every day, I am still stoked that Viv & Ingrid jewelry is in a book about vampires… love it! Marilyn Yu’s ‘Relations That Suck, the story of Eva and Dries’.” Vivandingrid, twitter, April 2009.
“More than just a spellbinding, emotional story but also a visionary delicacy for your senses…. The author weaves a story that makes you yearn to know more…. The pictures are so inviting that you find yourself inside each page. The details of the symbols, the clothing and even the doilies are so exquisite that one can stare at each page and wonder what profound meaning each holds…. definitely a book to be collected and enjoyed.” – Review by Bertena Varney, Examiner.com Review, 3 January 2010
“Her designs are certainly at the forefront of this fairy tale. Lushly photographed by Norma Cordova and Angela DeCenzo…. A story whose connotations touch on the dangers (and perhaps pleasures) of guilt, the balance of power in friendships, and whether or not a spider is ever really a proper roommate. Overall, however, the strength of the book is visual: vampires in pretty clothing. And, really, how far can you go wrong with that as your premise?”- Review by Haute Macabre, 28 August 2009