Graphic Novel Guide?

16 years ago

In another thread, Liz sent me to the graphic novel shelves at the library post-haste. But, she was right, totally overwhelming. Do I start with Neil Gaiman (love his fiction)? Or go for David Small's National Book Award finalist Stitches (looks depressing). What should I read that will make me want to read further into the genre? (Don't want to get stuck with a lame one and lose interest before I've started.)

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Comments (11)

sheriz6
16 years ago
Phaedosia, I haven't read much in the graphic novel genre, but I did really like Gaiman's two "Death" books, part of his Sandman series, I believe. And if you like fairy tales, I also read Castle Waiting, an odd riff on Sleeping Beauty's castle, which I found oddly compelling. Beyond that, I'm a total novice and I'd love to have some recommendations, too.

Here is a link that might be useful: Death: The Time of Your Life
martin_z
16 years ago
Well, I've read very few graphic novels.

But I did enjoy Ethel and Ernest which is not really a novel - it's Raymond Briggs' biography of his parents. It's really touching.

On the other hand, I read Watchmen - which is truly the most pretentious load of garbage I have ever read in my life.

And can you please explain to me why it is, if Watchmen is anything to go by, that the most graphic violence can be shown in full close-up gore - but in anything vaguely sexy (or anywhere else, for that matter) the drawings are carefully done to avoid the sight of a female nipple? Why is a depiction of violence more acceptable than a depiction of sex?
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lemonhead101
16 years ago
Graphic novels that I have read with varying levels of interest:

Regifter - can't remember author/artist
Goodbye Chunky Rice - Craig Thompson
The Plain Janes - Cecil Castelluci
Road Strips - ed. Pete Freidrich
Persepolis I and II - Mary Ann Sodrape
Maus - can't remember author but famous
Carnet de Voyage - Craig Thompson (has quite a few GNs out)
The Jungle - Joe Sacco
Palestine - Joe Sacco
To Afganistan and Back - Ted Rall
Pride of Baghdad - Brian Vaughn and Niko Henrichon (very sad)
The Arrival - Shawn Tan

As I mentioned, I have had mixed results with these. There is also a graphic novel of the 9/11 Report which was well done.

Quite a few of the NF GNs tend to be sad/angry/confused memoirs, but interesting mostly. But it seems to be very hit/miss with this genre....

I'll see if I can find my GN friend who reads a lot of these. Perhaps he can give us a list...
merryworld
16 years ago
Maus is by Art Spiegleman and is the story of his father's experience in the holocaust. It's brilliant but very heavy. It won a pulitzer.

Neil Gaiman's Sandman series is fantasy/horror and great for its genre, closer to the comic book end of the spectrum.

Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi is about her growing up in Iran and her life in the West. It's been made into a movie. Her drawings are charmingly simple and the story is well told, a good balance between illustration and narrative.

Here's a site that has quite a few reviews.

Here is a link that might be useful: Comics Worth Reading
lemonhead101
16 years ago
Another one or two:

Cancer Vixen - Marisa Acocella Mechetto
Cancer Make me a Shallower Person - Miriam Engelberg (lots of dark humor apparently)
Mom's Cancer - Brian Fies

Here is a link that might be useful: Other GNs for perusal courtesty of Time.com
phaedosia
Original Author
16 years ago
Thanks everyone. I'm printing this out and am off to the graphic novel shelves at my library.
lemonhead101
16 years ago
Just found another I ILL'd:

Stitches: A Memoir by David Small.

About a dysfunctional family and how it reacts to the youngest son's (the author) illness... I hope he's had therapy by now (or perhaps the book was cathartic).

Interesting but heart rending...
rosefolly
16 years ago
I just checked a couple from the library, one of the Sandman books and another I haven't looked at yet. Not really excited about them, but I want to give this genre a fair try.
rosefolly
16 years ago
I just finished reading two graphic novels, Castle Waiting by Linda Medley and The Sandman: Preludes and Nocturnes by Neil Gaiman. My conclusion? I can see that something clever and interesting is being done, but I don't think it is for me. I find myself just reading the text and barely glancing at the illustration, so I'm missing an awful lot. I'm probably just too verbally oriented for this medium to work well. I may pick one up again at some future date, but I don't think I'll be seeking out examples of this genre.

It was well worth trying, though. I'm glad I did.

Rosefolly
pam3
16 years ago
Does anyone have an opinion about this?

Here is a link that might be useful: Graphic Textbooks
lemonhead101
16 years ago
I think it's quite interesting, although as I read on through the piece, it got a bit dry, but then management theory can be, can't it??

Also interested to see that one of the authors is part of the faculty here at TTU (although I have never heard of him, and his book is not promoted in the 'faculty-author' section of the book store.)

I think GNs can be helpful when trying to convey something thought to be difficult using pictures and words. "It's a comic so that topic can't be that bad" sort of thinking. I have always been curious about the series of GNs that teach the reader about the different philosophers out there, but haven't been interested enough to seek them out at the library.

Perhaps this type of text book works well with the Nintendo/XBox generation? I'd be curious to see some stats.

Thanks for the link -

Graphic Novel Guide?

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