I enjoy sharing my love for reading but I do realize that a 300 page-long book can be daunting for people who do not read often. So this is how I ended up looking into graphic novels as an alternative form of storytelling. I usually recommend Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi (Islamic revolution, Iran), Maus by Art Spiegelman (Holocaust), and They called us enemy by George Takei (Internment of Japanese Americans). I am super excited to read The Legend of Auntie Po (Chinese Exclusion Act) that was published earlier this year. The Banned Book Club (1980s student protests, South Korea) has been on my neverending list for a while and now In. has been added to that list too :) Thanks for the video and recommendation!
Hello Eric, this Graphic Novel sounds very interesting. Thank you for your profoundly recommendation! If you like the art work of Shaun Tan, my beloved GN is "The Arrival". Another one is ,,FRIDA" illustrated by Benjamin Lacombe. Not new ones, but they stay with me. Wish you a great and healthy christmas season! Greetings from Germany! Gamze
From southern California, USA: Thanks for the recommendation. I will read IN. Bumbedlina recommended Maus by Art Spiegelman. I second that. Also, Sapiens A Graphic History, Volume 1: The Birth of Humankind by Yuval Noah Harari. I just finished it, loved it, and am giving copies to friends & family members. Fun Home by Alison Bechdel is amazing. Very popular memoir that was made into a musical You probably already read it but it's worth mentioning again. Thanks for your reviews. I really enjoy them.
I love graphic novels. I read lots of comics but a graphic memoir I really loved was the Fire Never Goes Out by Noelle Stevenson, it is about them working as an artist and creator and also realizing that they are never going to be dating a man again. A slow coming out and the the exhuastion of pushing and pushing yourself to do more. The Low Low Woods is by Carmen Maria Machado and is about two queer girls growing up in Pennsylvania in the 90s. She cleverly uses horror tropes to depict and illustrate sexual trauma. It made me think of Women's Talking how it discussed the communal and difference responses rather than ever depicting scenes that would be triggering. One of the examples is there is a local witch in town that no one really knows who she is and she ends up being an eight year old girl and she's stuck not aging, not dying in this age of trauma. Which corresponds to a lot of people who have experienced sexual trauma it can be a mental, but also sometimes it stalls puberty or rapidly accelerates it. And if you want a lighter something Heartstopper is about two English boys falling in love by Alice Oseman.
I was looking for more information about this graphic novel and your review helped me a lot! Your video was very helpful, thank you very much! Greetings from Brazil :)
Glad it worked out for you! Always nice when you take a chance and it is rewarding. I haven’t heard of this one, so I’m glad. Will see if my library has it. I liked Sabrina by Nick Drnaso quite a bit, won some prizes a year or two ago. The second volume of Moonshot, a compilation of indigenous people was incredible. The first and third weren’t as good though, to me.
I'm looking forward to reading "IN." I read a lot of graphic novels, especially middle grade. One of my favorites is When Stars Are Scattered, by Victoria Jamieson and Omar Mohamed. It deals with Mohamed's experiences growing up in a refugee camp in Kenya.
Ahhh, this sounds so good, and that artwork is gorgeous! I love that kind of ironic glance at existential angst. Thanks for the recommendation! I’m relatively new to them too, but I echo the comments praising Sabrina, Maus and Persepolis. Bechdel’s ‘Fun Home’ is one of my absolute favourites too!
Thanks for the recommendation- I just requested this from my library. I haven’t read many graphic novels, it’s a new genre for me, I loved the Heartstopper graphic novels by Alice Oseman. There are three now with a fourth coming out in January. I just stared another graphic novel series called Saga, I’ve only read a bit of the first one so far but I’m enjoying it!
Hi Eric, I’m not normally one to comment on things, but I would like to share this. I really enjoy your videos, they always give me that bit of inspiration to read more. I decided to try out In. after seeing your recommendation. I lost my mum to cancer in 2009, and it still affects me deeply to this day. Because of this, I really connected with this novel and its storyline. I thought it was brilliant, truly brilliant - humorous, witty, interesting, deeply moving, and I’ve come away feeling something I can’t quite put my finger on but definitely wanting to dive back in again. I’ve been struggling lately and this has in a way, picked me up. The magic of books, right? I read on my kindle, but I instantly ordered a hard copy afterwards. Thank you so much. Have a happy Christmas of reading. Chris.
Just reserved these at the library, thanks for sharing. I've read 10 graphic novels this year. I try to look for women authors/designers/artists because I feel they can be unrepresented but I've only really been reading them for 2 years so still catching up on some significant graphic novels. This year I read Watchmen and Before Watchmen, The Umbrella Academy (Vol 1-3), Heathen by Natasha Alterici (Vol 1-3), Harleen and two Aussie ones - The Grot: The Story of the Swamp City Grifters by Pat Grant and probably my favourite (but it sneaks up on you) "When One Person Dies The Whole World Is Over" by Mandy Ord.
In. sounds like essential reading, which completes my tbr list until the end of 2022. I agree that graphic novels can convey experience more powerfully, as well as effortlessly providing a lot of social commentary. I haven't read many - Posy Simmonds, Chris Ware, Alison Bechdel, and I have Maus by Art Spiegelman on my tbr shelf.I have graphic versions of The Heart of Darkness and Tristram Shandy, but they are more like companion pieces.
im just going to list off really good standalone grapahic novels "Daytripper" "God Country" "The Underwater Welder" "Watchmen" "Superman: A Man For All Seasons" "Ducks: Two Years In The Oil Sands" "A Frog In The Falls"
Here by Richard McGuire is fantastic. Almost wordless, but the way it plays with time, deep time and the more ephemeral as well, lingers in my head almost a year after reading it.
"Maus" by Art Spiegelman is highly recommended and is the only Pullitzer winning graphic novel to date -namely because the committee struck graphic novels from further contention after it's win... which is a sad testimony to elitism since it's robbed the opportunity for writers like Neil Gaimen being recognized by the committee for his literary contributions. That said, Neil Gaiman's "Death and the High Cost of Living" and his "Sandman" series are iconic graphic novels that, with Maus, gave this industry the foothold to be what it is today, so please give them a peek and let us know what you think. ~Cheers
My favourite graphic novel of 2021 is Days of sand by Aimee De Jongh, about the Dust Bowl in 1930's US. Based on actual photos of that era, she constructs a tale of a young photographer sent to capture the daily life of those suffering from the endless sand storms.
Seek You: A Journey Through American Lonliness was a great graphic novel. It’s been like this every generation, when the car and telephone was invented that caused more loneliness for people in their respective generations just like the internet for us 😇 Our brain goes into fight or flight mode when lonely, it really normalized Lonliness not giving any false hope. You’re not alone everyone is lonely lol
I have been trying to read some graphic novels this year as I usually disregard the genre. As it happens I read In and it was a huge success for me because of the complete integration of the pictures and text. In contrast I read Red Rosa and found that really unbalanced. My favourite graphic memoirs so far are by Marjane Satrapi. They are not that recent mind you. I'll pop back to the comments on this to pick up more recommendations.
I enjoy sharing my love for reading but I do realize that a 300 page-long book can be daunting for people who do not read often. So this is how I ended up looking into graphic novels as an alternative form of storytelling. I usually recommend Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi (Islamic revolution, Iran), Maus by Art Spiegelman (Holocaust), and They called us enemy by George Takei (Internment of Japanese Americans). I am super excited to read The Legend of Auntie Po (Chinese Exclusion Act) that was published earlier this year. The Banned Book Club (1980s student protests, South Korea) has been on my neverending list for a while and now In. has been added to that list too :) Thanks for the video and recommendation!
Some good ones there!
I read Auntie Po a few weeks ago. It's terrific. Enjoy!
Hello Eric, this Graphic Novel sounds very interesting. Thank you for your profoundly recommendation!
If you like the art work of Shaun Tan, my beloved GN is "The Arrival".
Another one is ,,FRIDA" illustrated by Benjamin Lacombe. Not new ones, but they stay with me.
Wish you a great and healthy christmas season!
Greetings from Germany! Gamze
I love Shaun Tan too, he designed some pins for the Australian book council this year and couldn't help myself I had to get them :D
you should read The Arrival, it's a wordless graphic novel but exceptionally well done and very moving.
I second this recommendation! It was so beautifully illustrated and among the most whimsical, surreal, and moving story-telling I’ve encountered
Thanks so much for the suggestion! I'll look it up.
Another recommendation for The Arrival
From southern California, USA: Thanks for the recommendation. I will read IN. Bumbedlina recommended Maus by Art Spiegelman. I second that. Also, Sapiens A Graphic History, Volume 1: The Birth of Humankind by Yuval Noah Harari. I just finished it, loved it, and am giving copies to friends & family members. Fun Home by Alison Bechdel is amazing. Very popular memoir that was made into a musical You probably already read it but it's worth mentioning again. Thanks for your reviews. I really enjoy them.
Love the video! Where did u get the shirt :))
I love graphic novels. I read lots of comics but a graphic memoir I really loved was the Fire Never Goes Out by Noelle Stevenson, it is about them working as an artist and creator and also realizing that they are never going to be dating a man again. A slow coming out and the the exhuastion of pushing and pushing yourself to do more.
The Low Low Woods is by Carmen Maria Machado and is about two queer girls growing up in Pennsylvania in the 90s. She cleverly uses horror tropes to depict and illustrate sexual trauma. It made me think of Women's Talking how it discussed the communal and difference responses rather than ever depicting scenes that would be triggering. One of the examples is there is a local witch in town that no one really knows who she is and she ends up being an eight year old girl and she's stuck not aging, not dying in this age of trauma. Which corresponds to a lot of people who have experienced sexual trauma it can be a mental, but also sometimes it stalls puberty or rapidly accelerates it.
And if you want a lighter something Heartstopper is about two English boys falling in love by Alice Oseman.
I really don’t read graphic novels at all, but this video has made me want to try IN so thank you very much!
Fab, I hope you enjoy it!
I was looking for more information about this graphic novel and your review helped me a lot! Your video was very helpful, thank you very much! Greetings from Brazil :)
Glad to hear that! All the best to you!
Steve Donoghue also spoke about IN. It’s piqued my interest ever since. Thank you for sharing.
Hi Shelly!
Ps how is it going 5 months ago. Mwhaha
Glad it worked out for you! Always nice when you take a chance and it is rewarding. I haven’t heard of this one, so I’m glad. Will see if my library has it.
I liked Sabrina by Nick Drnaso quite a bit, won some prizes a year or two ago. The second volume of Moonshot, a compilation of indigenous people was incredible. The first and third weren’t as good though, to me.
Hope your library has it. I liked Sabrina a lot as well. I've not heard of Moonshot but will look it up.
Hi Fraser!!
@@Shellyish hey hey hey hi Shelly!
I'm looking forward to reading "IN." I read a lot of graphic novels, especially middle grade. One of my favorites is When Stars Are Scattered, by Victoria Jamieson and Omar Mohamed. It deals with Mohamed's experiences growing up in a refugee camp in Kenya.
Ahhh, this sounds so good, and that artwork is gorgeous! I love that kind of ironic glance at existential angst. Thanks for the recommendation!
I’m relatively new to them too, but I echo the comments praising Sabrina, Maus and Persepolis. Bechdel’s ‘Fun Home’ is one of my absolute favourites too!
Thanks, I’ve meant to read Maus for years. I’ve seen the stage adaptation of Fun Home and the film of Persepolis but not read the books yet.
Thanks for the recommendation- I just requested this from my library. I haven’t read many graphic novels, it’s a new genre for me, I loved the Heartstopper graphic novels by Alice Oseman. There are three now with a fourth coming out in January. I just stared another graphic novel series called Saga, I’ve only read a bit of the first one so far but I’m enjoying it!
Definitely want to check this one out, thank you for your recommendation ✨
Fab, hope you enjoy it!
Hi Eric,
I’m not normally one to comment on things, but I would like to share this. I really enjoy your videos, they always give me that bit of inspiration to read more. I decided to try out In. after seeing your recommendation. I lost my mum to cancer in 2009, and it still affects me deeply to this day. Because of this, I really connected with this novel and its storyline. I thought it was brilliant, truly brilliant - humorous, witty, interesting, deeply moving, and I’ve come away feeling something I can’t quite put my finger on but definitely wanting to dive back in again. I’ve been struggling lately and this has in a way, picked me up. The magic of books, right?
I read on my kindle, but I instantly ordered a hard copy afterwards.
Thank you so much. Have a happy Christmas of reading.
Chris.
Thanks so much for commenting, Chris. I'm glad you connected with it so strongly. Happy Christmas!
Just reserved these at the library, thanks for sharing. I've read 10 graphic novels this year. I try to look for women authors/designers/artists because I feel they can be unrepresented but I've only really been reading them for 2 years so still catching up on some significant graphic novels. This year I read Watchmen and Before Watchmen, The Umbrella Academy (Vol 1-3), Heathen by Natasha Alterici (Vol 1-3), Harleen and two Aussie ones - The Grot: The Story of the Swamp City Grifters by Pat Grant and probably my favourite (but it sneaks up on you) "When One Person Dies The Whole World Is Over" by Mandy Ord.
Great, I'll look up Mandy Ord's book.
Great video! I find graphic novels very powerful in their combination of text and image and this one looks quite interesting
In. sounds like essential reading, which completes my tbr list until the end of 2022. I agree that graphic novels can convey experience more powerfully, as well as effortlessly providing a lot of social commentary. I haven't read many - Posy Simmonds, Chris Ware, Alison Bechdel, and I have Maus by Art Spiegelman on my tbr shelf.I have graphic versions of The Heart of Darkness and Tristram Shandy, but they are more like companion pieces.
Great, I hope you enjoy it. Chris Ware is excellent.
I haven’t really read graphic novels but will be trying my first one before the end of the year. IN sounds and looks very interesting. 😊💙
Fab, let me know what you end up reading.
im just going to list off really good standalone grapahic novels
"Daytripper"
"God Country"
"The Underwater Welder"
"Watchmen"
"Superman: A Man For All Seasons"
"Ducks: Two Years In The Oil Sands"
"A Frog In The Falls"
Never really opens the book
You must read “Umas Table” by YEON-SIK
HONG
I'll look out for that - thanks!
Here by Richard McGuire is fantastic. Almost wordless, but the way it plays with time, deep time and the more ephemeral as well, lingers in my head almost a year after reading it.
Thank you! Sounds like I'd love it.
"Maus" by Art Spiegelman is highly recommended and is the only Pullitzer winning graphic novel to date -namely because the committee struck graphic novels from further contention after it's win... which is a sad testimony to elitism since it's robbed the opportunity for writers like Neil Gaimen being recognized by the committee for his literary contributions. That said, Neil Gaiman's "Death and the High Cost of Living" and his "Sandman" series are iconic graphic novels that, with Maus, gave this industry the foothold to be what it is today, so please give them a peek and let us know what you think. ~Cheers
My favourite graphic novel of 2021 is Days of sand by Aimee De Jongh, about the Dust Bowl in 1930's US. Based on actual photos of that era, she constructs a tale of a young photographer sent to capture the daily life of those suffering from the endless sand storms.
That sounds fascinating - I'll look it up. Thank you!
Seek You: A Journey Through American Lonliness was a great graphic novel. It’s been like this every generation, when the car and telephone was invented that caused more loneliness for people in their respective generations just like the internet for us 😇
Our brain goes into fight or flight mode when lonely, it really normalized Lonliness not giving any false hope.
You’re not alone everyone is lonely lol
I have been trying to read some graphic novels this year as I usually disregard the genre. As it happens I read In and it was a huge success for me because of the complete integration of the pictures and text. In contrast I read Red Rosa and found that really unbalanced. My favourite graphic memoirs so far are by Marjane Satrapi. They are not that recent mind you. I'll pop back to the comments on this to pick up more recommendations.