2011 Graphic Novels Challenge

Vasilly is the new host for the 2011 Graphic Novels Challenge, hosted on a dedicated blog.

The challenge runs from January to December 2011. I'm going for the intermediate level, which means 3-10 books.

I always want to include more graphic novels in my reading and a challenge is the perfect way to plan it in!

Completed: 0/3-10 as of January 1, 2011

Preludes and Nocturnes (The Sandman, #1) by Neil Gaiman
Fables 3: Storybook Love by Bill Willingham
Blankets by Craig Thompson
Maus by Art Spiegelman
Buffy Omnnibus, vol. 2 by Joss Whedon et. al.
Fun Home by Alison Bechdel

Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney

Ha ha, very funny book, a lovely way to spend a relaxed Saturday afternoon.

Diary of a Wimpy Kid tells of the adventures of Greg and his best friend(s) as they try to survive middle school. Greg is a great character and I can imagine that he's convinced many young boys to read his diary, writing which, as Greg will tell you on the first pages, was definitely not his idea!

This a graphic novel with a difference. Really fun, genuine and endearing, I'm looking forward to reading the next one in the series.

And I'm happy to be discovering books that my son will be interested in when he's older - much older, as he's 6 months today, but still. I always imagined I'd have a daughter and I had tons of stuff in mind for her to read when the time came. I thought I'd be at a loss with a boy and so discovering great books like this one makes me extra happy!

Challenges: 2010 Countdown Challenge, Graphic Novels Challenge

Fables, volume 2: Animal Farm by Bill Willingham

Since Nymeth convinced me that graphic novels were worth reading, I've discovered so many great stories. The Fables series is one of these great finds, a series of comics about the fable community in New York. You see, all the fairy tale characters had to move there when their lands were taken by an unnamed enemy. Good stuff.

I read the first volume last year and was hooked. This collection focuses more on the farm nearby New York City, where the fables that cannot pass as human live. There has been some unrest in their community, some of the fables feel trapped and like second-class citizens because they can't live out in the open.

Great story, beautiful artwork. I'm really learning to appreciate this genre more and more. :-)

Challenges: Graphic Novels Challenge, 2010 Countdown Challenge

Chicken with Plums

Oh my, I read this so long ago now that I can't remember that much about it! I know I loved it when I read it as it's marked as a favorite on my list. And I know that it's written by Marjane Satrapi, who also wrote the fantastic Persepolis. Chicken with Plums was just as good in terms of the genius of coupling serious subject matter with the graphic medium and complicated issues with the simple drawings.

I got this book from the lovely Melody, my secret santa. Thanks Melody, I really enjoyed it!

If you're not into comics but would like to try them, Marjane Satrapi is a good place to start and Chicken with Plums is a good one of hers to start with, as it's short but endearing.

Anyway, enough vague comments! I hope that all of you are well. I'm fine, back at work now and trying to find a balance between that and family life and my own stuff. It's hard but I'm having a great time!

Challenges: Graphic Novels Challenge, 2010 Countdown Challenge

Two graphic novels

I've been missing in action again, dealing with personal stuff and another period of pregnancy exhaustion. I've also developed pregnancy related carpel tunnel syndrome, just to add to my list of woes, so sitting at the computer is not my favorite thing to do... I apologise, as I know I've been a terrible blogger and haven't visited anyone in ages. I shudder to think how many unread posts my reader has! I promise to catch up a bit in the next few days though.

I have been reading some, although not as much as I'd have liked to. Graphic novels have been somewhat easier to manage and I have now added an extra two to my list.

The first, The Plain Janes by Cecil Castellucci and Jim Rugg, was about a girl named Jane, whose family moves from a big city to suburbia following a terrorist attack. Jane misses the city though and finds it hard to adjust to her new life, with its limitations imposed by her terrified and paranoid mother. She makes some friends at school and as a group they start using art to pass on express themselves - which is seen as beautiful by some and as defacing public property by others. I liked the art and the message of The Plain Janes and can certainly recommend it.

Challenges: 2010 Countdown Challenge

The second graphic novel I recently read was American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang. Now this one I absolutely loved. It consists of three seemingly separate stories that come together nicely in the end and is about Chinese young people growing up in the US and trying to fit into the American way of life. It's about identity and roots and how hard it is to come to terms with some of the labels that define you. A beautifully illustrated book with a very smart message, this will end up on my list of favorites for the year, I think.

Challenges: A-Z Challenge, 2010 Countdown Challenge, Graphic Novels Challenge

Buffy the Vampire Slayer Omnibus, volume 1

What can I say, besides 'Buffy rules!'? :-) After watching the show a million times, I have now discovered the associated comics - not only the new Season 8 ones, but also these, older, ones.

Volume 1 of the Omnibus gathers together several comics with stories that happen before Season 1 of Buffy starts. One is about Spike and Drusilla, one is more about Dawn and the others are about Buffy's beginnings as the slayer. I loved every minute of every one. And I'm amazed at the art work - just wow.

There's nothing more I can add, except that I love Buffy on so many levels. As most of you know because I keep going on about it. If you haven't seen the show, watch it. And if you have and you want more, this series is perfect for you.

Challenges: 2010 Countdown Challenge, Graphic Novels Challenge, My Year of Reading Dangerously, R.I.P. IV

Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Wolves at the Gate

What can I say about volume 3 of these Buffy Season 8 comics, except that they're fabulous? I think this was my favorite installment so far - maybe I'm getting used to the comic format? I did find I was naturally reading the dialogue in order rather than reading it like I would a normal book!

I really can't say anything about the plot or the characters without giving some of it away, so I won't. Anyway, you'll probably never read these unless you're a Buffy fan already and if you are a Buffy fan already then I don't need to go on and on about what a genius Joss Whedon is.

Challenges: Graphic Novels Challenge, Countdown Challenge, 999 Challenge, My Year of Reading Dangerously

The Complete Persepolis

Wow. It's really original of Marjane Satrapi to choose to write her memoir as a graphic novel. It really worked. I'm glad I liked it so much, because it's my first 'real' graphic novel. I read the first Buffy Season 8 ones earlier this year, but that was an easy way to get started since I'm such a huge Buffy fan. I consider Persepolis the real deal.

So, Persepolis is Marjane Satrapi's memoir about growing up in revolutionary Iran - war, revolution, repression, persecution... what can these do to a willful teenager? I thought it was fascinating on so many levels. The coming-of-age storyline is one I usually like. I didn't know anything (and I mean anything) about Iran and learned so much. I want to read more about this interesting country.

I didn't know details of the fundamentalist repression either. I just can't imagine it, to be living like a 'normal' teenager and for everything to be taken away. All her dreams - of being free, of going to university, of going to the US - everything was taken away. I suppose that's when we find out what we're really made of but still.

It was strange to read about all the horrors in comic strip format. I somehow thought it would be lighter, even though that doesn't really make sense since I knew it would be about Iran. We're so used to graphic descriptions in books and we're so used to violent films and even cartoons, but we know that they're not real. It's strange when you look at the pictures, in the same format as Superman, and know that they are real. Does that make any sense? The simplicity reinforces the message, I know, but it was still weird to me.

I thought her story was beautiful and inspirational. To survive so much and to tell the world about it in such a meaningful way is amazing. I could empathise with her when she moved to Vienna - I know what it's like to be on your own when you're too young to be on your own, to be foreign, to miss that understanding from others of the same background.

And I loved the art. I loved that it wad black and white and simple. The emotions kind of jumped out at you. The hopeless romantic in me loved the page about how she and Reza are total opposites but they complete each other. Still makes me smile when I think about it.

This is certainly going to be on my list of favorites this year. If you haven't yet, you should definitely get this one.

Challenges: A-Z, 999, Countdown, Graphic Novels, In Their Shoes, Lost in Translation, My Year of Reading Dangerously, New Authors, Well-Seasoned Reader, World Citizen, Dewey Decimal

My first graphic novels!

I finished my first graphic novels this weekend - Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Long Way Home by Joss Whedon and No Future for You by Brian K. Vaughn and Joss Whedon. They're Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 8, only in comic format.

I am a HUGE fan of Buffy and of Joss Whedon. I've seen the series numerous times - in fact we're re-watching it again and are on season 4. When the season 8 comics stared to come out I was excited, but somehow I put off getting them until some later unspecified date. As some of you know, I didn't really consider comics and graphic novels as something I'd like - and certainly not as something like a book!

Thanks to Nymeth I'm overcoming the stereotypical information that lives in my head. :-)

I LOVED these two books. I loved the storylines, I loved the artwork, I loved the experience of adding something visual to my reading. I won't go into the story because of spoilers, but if you like Buffy then it's definitely worth getting this. I have my Season 6 of Angel one lined up too and I can't wait!

Having said that, it did take me a while to get used to the comic format - I had trouble telling some of the characters apart and I didn't know what order to read the dialogue in. I got used to it though and I think I have it now. I hope, at least!

The only negative thing I have to say is that they went by too fast! I can't wait for the next installments!

Challenges: Graphic Novels, My Year of Reading Dangerously, 1st in a series, Countdown Challenge