Posts tagged with graphic novel
Asterios Polyp by David Mazzucchelli

Every memory is a re-creation, not a playback.

This wonderful graphic novel -- David Mazzucchelli's first -- is the story of a self-centered, pompous architect/professor named Asterios Polyp. It's a fascinating story of how changing the way you look at and live your life can alter your whole perspective.

Mazzucchelli's use of color, white space, the panels, and different design styles and type for each character also makes the novel very intriguing. This panel, for instance:

Illustration by David Mazzucchelli

A pretty good story with amazing graphics and design. Well worth the extra reads, too.

I'm reading 52 books in 52 weeks this year. A book a week.
See more books from this endeavor here.

They felt no need to question the logic of it, and simply accepted its presence gratefully.

Every now and then you find a book that appears interesting, pick it up off of the shelf, read a page or two, become intrigued, take it home, and, upon finishing the book, realize you've been given a wonderful gift.

That's what reading Shaun Tan's graphic novel Tales from Outer Suburbia is like. We've all experienced pragmatic variations on the tales themselves, which makes them all the more poignant. And each story is lovingly wrapped around Tan's beautiful illustrations.

From the tale "Stick Figures":

© Shaun Tan

Are they here for a reason? It's impossible to know, but if you stop and stare at them for a long time, you can imagine that they too might be searching for answers, for some kind of meaning. It's as if they take all our questions and offer them straight back: Who are you? Why are you here? What do you want?

I'm reading 52 books in 52 weeks this year. A book a week.
See more books from this endeavor here.
52-03
Epileptic by David B.

Epileptic is a graphic novel by comic book artist and writer David B.

The story is autobiographical and focuses on the life of David's family as they struggle to deal with the effects of his big brother's epilepsy. It's a marvelous and insightful book.

The thing that really got me was how David B. used his gift as an illustrator to depict the trials he, his parents, and especially his brother, were going through.

For instance, throughout the novel his brother's epilepsy is depicted as a dragon-like creature that haunts the family. The dragon constantly suffocates David's brother as it envelops his mind and body, especially during a seizure.

Epileptic
© David B.

It's intense imagery.

I'm reading 52 books in 52 weeks this year. A book a week.
See more books from this endeavor here.