Graphic Novels.

Those of you with kids might already be familiar with David Small, an author and illustrator of many books for children (for a great example of his work, check out the delightful Imogen's Antlers).  But behind those cheery and brightly colored images lies a much darker artist, as is evident in his new graphic novel, Stitches: a memoir.  Spanning the author's life from ages six to fifteen, Small recounts how a supposedly minor operation left him literally speechless for many years after one of his vocal cords was removed.  It was only after the operation that Small found out, by accident, that he had had cancer and was not expected to survive.

Filled with stark black and gray images, this graphic novel explores not only his traumatic illness, but the deeply dysfunctional home from which Small came.  Emotionally distant parents and a mentally unstable grandmother caused him much grief throughout childhood, and his dreams from those times are haunting and unsettling.  There are few moments of kindness depicted here; the only scraps of love seem to come from his step-grandfather, someone Small rarely saw.

Despite the rather dark cast of this book, it is a compelling and fascinating exploration of a bright and talented young man desperate to break away from his past and start a new life as an artist.  This is a great choice for memoir and graphic novel fans alike.

Who is the Master of the Horror Genre? Edgar Allan Poe. Nearly 165 years after he wrote his final tale, he is still loved--in fact, he is more popular than when he was alive. Nobody does tales of darkness, mystery, and the macabre like Poe. Nobody.

Edgar Allan Poe's Tales Of Death And Dementia is a graphic novel illustrated by Gris Grimly. It is the second Poe collection Grimly has done: the first, Edgar Allan Poe's Tales Of Mystery And Murder, is also awesome. I am looking forward to his third, and I hope more. His illustrations are just as creepy and understated as Poe's tone which adds a beautiful unique dimension to the tales. The tales have been slightly "nipped and tucked" from their original text, but nothing is lost. The tales are just as wonderfully creepy as they were when written.

"The Tell-Tale Heart" has to be one of the creepiest tales ever written. Written from the perspective of a deranged, cold-blooded killer, it will creep you out. As a child, this tale absolutely terrified me; as an adult, it still gets me, even though I have read it many, many times. The rest of the collection includes the scary yet humorous "The System Of Dr. Tarr And Professor Fether," the tragic "The Oblong Box,", and the weird and disgusting "The Facts In The Case Of M. Valdemar."

A wonderful set of classic tales to revisit next the fireplace on a cold night or maybe all alone in your room on a windy night. The wonderful illustrations make this collection of Poe's dark tales even darker. A book that anyone young or young at heart will enjoy...tick tock, tick tock....

For many years, each fall - The King County Library System has offered a Book Group Gathering and invited members of book groups to get together and learn about the resources the library system can offer to help organize, support, and energize book groups. 

On Saturday, September 26, over 130 people gathered, (mostly women) at the KCLS Service Center for this year's program. With Nancy Pearl offering wonderful ideas for organizing, sustaining and controlling book groups, refreshments and prizes donated by the North Bend, Snoqualmie and Fall City Friends of the Library, and a busy morning of programs, it was huge success.

One of the most interesting items not on the agenda was an opportunity for spontaneous book sharing when one of the speakers had an emergency and couldn't make it. People raised their hand, stood up and gave a title their book group had read, and a very brief book talk.

 

The most wonderful part of this experience was the passion that surged through the room, as someone suggested a title, if others had read it, there was an audible sigh, nods and once in a while, even a shake of the head. The point wasn't to convince others that this was THE book their group should read, but to offer suggestions, endorsements and above all, to share a love of books, stories and literature.

 

We agreed to compile the list of suggestions and post it to our blog.

 

The Color of Lightning - Jiles, Paulette

Fieldwork - Berlinski, Mischa

Little Bee - Cleave, Chris

Mountains Beyond Mountains - Kidder, Tracy

A Far Cry from Kensington - Spark, Muriel

The Poisonwood Bible - Kingsolver, Barbara

 

Goong by SoHee Park

Imagine a modern Korea where the traditional monarchy still rules. This is the basis of SoHee Park's manwha (Korean graphic novel), Goong, The Royal Palace. This royal family (like so many others), has seen its share of turmoil. In fact, the current king only ascended the throne because his elder brother died prematurely. His father died not long after. This small fact will change the life of Che-Kyung, a commoner girl who has no idea what's in store for her. Che-Kyung's grandfather knew the current king's father. Their friendship was so strong that, unbeknownst to Che-Kyung, a promise was made. She was betrothed to the Crown Prince. Now, Che-Kyung actually knows the Crown Prince. They go to the same school. But she's never really interacted with him. He's completely out of her sphere, rude, arrogant and maybe even cruel. An illness in the Royal family changes that. Suddenly, the betrothal is revealed and Che-Kyung is expected to marry Prince Shin. She's going to refuse, of course! There's just one tiny problem; her parents are broke, the debt collectors are at the door and she could save them. She just has to marry Shin and become the Crown Princess of Korea.

This series is great fun. Che-Kyung and Shin start out hating each other, but its easy to see that there is some attraction between them. Shin needs a goofy girl like Che-Kyung to lighten him up and she needs someone more serious to straighten her own. Classic romance, right? More like the perfect set-up for the classic love triangle (which I usually hate, but this one works). Before Shin and Che-Kyung even have a chance to see what's between them, Shin's long lost cousin, Prince Yul (who would have been Crown Prince and Che-Kyung's fiancee if his father hadn't died) comes on the scene and messes everything up. To make matters worse, Shin has an old girlfriend who's just not ready to let him go (although she doesn't want to marry him and commit to being Crown Princess).

Yes, this is a soap opera to beat all soap operas. But its entertaining, gorgeously drawn, and full of intriguing politics and history. Their families are a big part of the story too. Shin's grandmother is a highlight of the series. Its still ongoing in Korea and currently only the first 5 volumes are available in the US. More volumes are due this fall, but you can also check out the equally charming live-action TV show, Palace. No guarantees that that the endings will be the same!

Do you ever discover a new author and want to read everything they've written? Well, that's how I feel about Guy Delisle. He not only writes, but also is a comic artist, and his graphic novels fill a special niche in the travelogue genre.

Guy Delisle finds himself living in one of the world's most guarded and secretive cultures in Pyongyang, North Korea's capitol. Unbeknownst to me, North Korea is an animation haven, many of its artists work on developing frames in conjunction with French and Italian film studios. While working on animation projects, Delisle chronicles his observations of daily life and the state of the country. North Korea has the appearance of perfection, a noble goal in a communist society. The people are educated, and the infrastructure is stable. Not only do its citizens adhere to their government's rules and standards, but everyone seems to idolize their leaders, Kim Il-Sung and Kim Jong-Il. Through Delisle's illustrated memoir, he gives a scrutinizing account of a closed society.

Another of his memoirs, The Burma Chronicles, follows a similar pattern of   inquisitive observation. Delisle tends to end up in remote regions. His wife receives an assignment in Myanmar (formerly Burma), through Doctors without Borders. While his wife is working on village medicine, Delisle looks after their infant son, works on his comic memoir and explores local culture. He gives interesting perspective about living under a dictatorship in a country where Buddhism thrives, and human rights are under attack.

Two recent wars give inspiration for two very disparate graphic novels - Waltz with Bashir and the Pride of Baghdad. The visual interpretation of these historical events is a powerful medium. Frank and succinct writing in both novels guide the reader through beautifully crafted and moving works. While the subject matter is gritty, they can be read briskly, leaving plenty of time for contemplation and reflection. These are best intended for mature audiences.

Waltz With Bashir by Ari Folman.

I stumbled across this gem while searching for the DVD of the award-winning documentary of the same name. Ari Folman was a member of the Israeli army in the early 1980's. His patrol was involved in the massacre of hundreds or thousands of Palestinians, yet Folman was unable to remember his personal whereabouts during the slaughter. Although his memory is faulty, he attempts to recreate his time spent in the war. Interviews with his fellow soldiers help him to fill in the gaps, as he realizes his memory may not be as solid as he once believed. The horrors of war resonate with Folman's conscious as he pieces together his past and comes to terms with his personal involvement.

Pride of Baghdad by Brian Vaughn.

When the United States bombed Iraq in 2003, civilians weren't the only casualty. This graphic novel is based on the true story of four lions that escaped captivity from the Baghdad zoo, and were loose on the streets of Baghdad. For the first time, these domesticated animals must find their own food and defend themselves against predators. The illustrations showcase the harsh, violent realities of a city caught in the mist of war. This book is not intended for weak stomachs. War is violence, and this book emphasizes how it affects all members of a society, including the animal world.

Have you ever read a book that you thought was absolutely fantastic and wanted to share it with everyone, but the minute you tried to explain it words totally failed you?  That's what happened to me when I read cartoonist Lynda Barry's latest book, What It Is.  It's gorgeous, inspiring and surprising.  It also defies any attempt at classification.  You could say this is a memoir and writer's guide, but that would be far too simple.  It is both of those things, but it is also an examination of art and human nature, the "formless thing" that drives us to create and shapes that which we make and share with the world. 

Visually, this book is complex and intricate and it can take a very long time to read each page simply because there is so much to look at.  Barry's illustrations are whimsical and chock-full of hidden delights and tiny treasures, but they are not without a darker side.  Tiny ghost-like creatures hover around the margins and many of the drawings and collages are unsettling and often quite haunting.  Like much of Barry's work, What It Is is layered and messy, punctuated by bright spots of clarity and humor - sort of like life itself.

Don't worry about what it is.  Just read it and enjoy it.

Strip malls, track housing, and white picket fences jump into my mind when I think of suburbia. Everything's the same, people are happy and stability and routine are the norm.

Shaun Tan has thrown this stereotypical image in the garbage. This quirky collection of 15 concise graphic stories has uprooted every notion I held about suburban life.

Magical surrealism surrounds the story Eric, when an unexpected exchange student gives his host family an unworldly symbol of gratitude for their hospitality.

Grandpa's Story describes how two young lovers were sent away before their wedding "past the factories and landfills" and "beyond all the signs and roads." Their epic journey forces them to leave the safety of the neighborhood and they encounter disturbing creatures and imagined universes, embellished by Tan's glorious illustrations.

Two siblings embark on a scavenger hunt to find where their map ends in Our Expedition, and each household is given its own inter-continental ballistic missile in alert but not alarmed.

These modern fairy tales blew me away with their stunning drawings, quirky characters and a mysticism that left my imagination wanting more. Tales from Outer Suburbia are ideal stories for anyone wanting to escape the normalcy of suburban life.  

If you haven't heard of Shaun Tan before, he is a very talented illustrator from Western Australia. His book The Arrival was a New York Times bestseller and he has received high praise and numerous awards for his work. You can learn more about Shaun and view his art at www.shauntan.net.

Have you ever seen a picture of yourself and really didn't like what you were seeing?  Maybe you suddenly realize it's time for a wardrobe update or some new glasses.  Maybe those jeans aren't looking so good any more.  Maybe you (like me) just saw the picture on your new driver's license and realized you've moved up to the next age bracket.  When cartoonist Carol Lay saw a picture of herself at the age of 50, she realized she was fat.  She also realized she had to do something about it, otherwise she was going to stay fat for the rest of her life.  And so began the first of many changes that totally transformed the way Lay thought about how and what she ate.

The Big Skinny: How I Changed My Fattitude is a funny and very honest graphic novel that chronicles Lay's life-long battle with being overweight, the changes she made to lose the weight, and her success in keeping those 30 pounds off for good.  Told in short chapters, Lay alternates her story with straightforward and practical information on diet, exercise, and nutrition.  What she also includes is some fascinating information on food and human behavior.  And, while it may seem like there are so many obstacles to overcome in order to lose weight (genetics!  hidden calories! sabotaging co-workers!), Lay explains things in a way that makes weight loss a realistic and attainable goal.  

We've been hearing it for years, but what really resonates here is the simplicity of Lay's philosophy:  Think before you eat.  Pay attention to calories and nutrition labels. Eat real food.  Exercise.  It sounds easy, but it can be so difficult!  Lay teaches you, in very simple ways, how to do all these things without disrupting normal life or feeling like you are totally deprived.  Yes, you will have to make some fundamental lifestyle changes, but the rewards are worth the effort.  And when you've made those changes, nothing can sway you. Not even George Clooney with an egg and sausage biscuit.

Tinker, Bandit, and Pirate were once household pets much loved by their families, as the "Missing" posters certainly testify.  Stolen by the military for use in a top secret experiment, these harmless animals are transformed into brutally efficient killing machines.  They are given armor, weaponry, even rudimentary speech as scientists attempt to create the ultimate soldier.  When the "subjects" are slated for extermination at the end of the experiment, their sympathetic trainer sets them loose rather than see them destroyed.  Once free, the animals are driven by instinct and memory to return to their families but are under constant attack by soldiers, both human and animal.  In their effort to develop an unbeatable weapon, it seems the military has finally created something even they can't stop.

We3 is a groundbreaking graphic novel, both visually and conceptually.  Artist Frank Quitely uses unusual panel shapes and layouts to heighten the effects of certain scenes, and his portrayals of the three animals are as subtle and beautiful as they are violent.  This is one of my favorite titles by Grant Morrison, and it's not difficult to see why his work is so well regarded.  Tinker, Bandit and Pirate have more depth and complexity than some of the human characters I've seen in other graphic novels. In lesser hands, the emotional content of this story might come across as sappy and corny.  Here, Morrison uses few words to convey a depth of expression that is not often seen in this format, and it is poignant and heartbreaking.  This collaboration of two immensely talented artists is not to be missed.