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Showing posts with label Graphic Novel. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Graphic Novel. Show all posts
First Second | April 2013 | 176 pgs
Source: Library
I've enjoyed Lucy Knisley's Kid Gloves a while back and thought I'd try another of her older release; this time around with a food theme.
Since young, Lucy isn't a stranger when it comes to food and their sources. After all, she's the daughter of a chef and a gourmet. She followed her mother to markets and farms and every time she visited them, she came home with more information about the various ingredients she's come across. But that's not all, this vibrant, food-themed memoir not only shows us the magic of ingredients (of course there's some recipes included - either Lucy's family dishes or her own inventions) but it also chronicles Lucy's different stage of life through the food she ate at that time and the lessons she'd learned along the way. To top it off, Lucy even dug through her family photos for reference, in which she added a few of them and captions at the end of this book.
This graphic memoir is a relish itself and all the more you should read it if you're a foodie. Below are some illustrations which I thought would make a good introduction of this book.
© 2020 Melody's Reading Corner (https://mel-reading-corner.blogspot.sg/), All Rights Reserved. If you are reading this post from other site(s), please take note that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.
First Second | February 2019 | 256 pgs
Source: Library
I don't think I've seen many graphic novels about women's health, pregnancy and motherhood. Although guidebooks of the same are always informative and useful, what makes this graphic novel stand out is it not only follows Lucy Knisley's personal transition into motherhood but also illustrates the history and science of reproductive health.
Lucy first shares with the reader a little history about herself as a young adult upon receiving pieces of advice relating to contraception, reproduction and sexual health from various sources. While some are misconceptions and myths, Lucy went on to do some researching as she realised there were more to learn about the intertwined history and science of taking care of a woman's body.
After her marriage, Lucy decided it was time to get pregnant but conceiving turned out to be harder than anything she'd ever attempted. Thereafter, fertility problems were followed by miscarriages and sent her in a bout of depression. Through the support by families, friends and the readers online, she eventually walked out from the gloom and try to get pregnant again. Lucy then continues to chronicle her pregnancy journey till the difficulties she met upon delivery. I find the part from Lucy's husband's perspective regarding her surgery and hospitalisation especially moving and heartwarming although seeing what Lucy had gone through had me worrying for her at one point.
As informative and moving it is, Lucy also incorporates some humour into her story so it also made a light-hearted read. She has done her research well and I think any reader will benefit from reading this book. This is my first Lucy Knisley graphic novel and I'll definitely check out the rest of her works.
© 2019 Melody's Reading Corner (https://mel-reading-corner.blogspot.sg/), All Rights Reserved. If you are reading this post from other site(s), please take note that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.
Scholastic Inc., | September 2016 | 256 pgs
Source: Purchased
Catrina and her family are leaving their home in Northern California to a laid back old town in Bahia de la Luna (this place was inspired by the foggy coastal Northern California where the artist grew up.) The reason for the move is that Cat's younger sister, Maya, is suffering from cystic fibrosis (a genetic disease that causes thick, sticky mucus to build up in the lungs, making breathing difficult and leading to frequent infections. There's no cure for this and at times patients need breathing tube to administer more oxygen and that extra nutrition have to be delivered through a port in their bellies while they sleep) and that they think Maya will benefit from the cool, salty air blows in from the sea.
Cat isn't pleased about the move at first; after all she misses her friends, the convenience and the familiarity of her home town but she tells herself she will get used to it for the sake of Maya. They got to know their neighbour and their son, Carlos, who seems to know a lot of things about ghosts and finding the places of seeing them. While Maya is thrilled and is determined to meet one, Cat wants nothing to do with them. As Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) comes where the ghosts reunite with their loved ones, Cat tells herself she will go, for everything as well as for Maya since her condition doesn't allow her to.
What turns out eventually is not only Cat conquers her fear but also getting to know more about the deceased who roam about in Bahia de la Luna (they aren't scary at all and are such friendly and enthusiastic ghouls). Raina Telgemeier wonderfully captures the (windy and foggy) atmospheric setting and Cat's emotions and her reminiscences of her late grandmother. And finally I have to share this note from Raina: "Making peace with your ghosts is as profound as the idea of life itself. And at the end of the day, love transcends life and death."
© 2016 Melody's Reading Corner (https://mel-reading-corner.blogspot.sg/), All Rights Reserved. If you are reading this post from other site(s), please take note that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.
Scholastic Inc | August 2015 | 224 pgs
Source: Purchased
The year is 1976, Pennsylvania. 10-year-old Sunny Lewin is supposed to spend her summer vacation with her family at a beach house, but there's some issue at home and she ended up flying down to Florida herself to live with her grandfather for the summer. She is disappointed at first, but thought Florida might be a fun place to visit, after all she could visit Disney World. But her grandfather's place is no fun for a 10-year-old girl; it is a place called "Pine Palms" and is a retirement community for people over 55. Fortunately for her, she met a boy her age there. Buzz's father works as a groundskeeper at Pine Palms and Buzz knows all the fun things to do there (facing off against alligators when they go golf balls picking, rescuing runaway cats and reading all the superheroes comic books they could find).
Sunny Side Up is very much of a reminiscent kind of story and about the simplicity of life living in the late 70s. What I liked about the story:
Finally, the message behind this story over the issue involving substance abuse (drug or alcohol abuse problem), in which Sunny's elder brother is facing and that young readers who are facing these same problems today should reach out to family members and teachers/school counsellors and seek help should they find themselves or anyone having this issue instead of feeling ashamed and scared; and most of all thinking that it is something that has to be kept as secrets. Overall it is a heartwarming story and is suitable to middle grade children without the heavy undertone of the issue mentioned.
Sunny Side Up is very much of a reminiscent kind of story and about the simplicity of life living in the late 70s. What I liked about the story:
- the simple introductions of a few superheroes and their qualities
- Grandpa's witty remarks and his positivity outlook on life
- Pine Palms is very much of a low-end resort with golf course and pools (but no swimming as there are alligators. Hmph!)
- the tight-knit community where everybody knows everybody and looking out for one another
Finally, the message behind this story over the issue involving substance abuse (drug or alcohol abuse problem), in which Sunny's elder brother is facing and that young readers who are facing these same problems today should reach out to family members and teachers/school counsellors and seek help should they find themselves or anyone having this issue instead of feeling ashamed and scared; and most of all thinking that it is something that has to be kept as secrets. Overall it is a heartwarming story and is suitable to middle grade children without the heavy undertone of the issue mentioned.
© 2016 Melody's Reading Corner (https://mel-reading-corner.blogspot.sg/), All Rights Reserved. If you are reading this post from other site(s), please take note that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.
ISBN-13: 9780545870986
Publisher: Scholastic, Inc.
Publication Date: August 2015
Format: Paperback, 214 pgs
Source: Purchased
My eldest daughter, who is twelve, got me into reading this graphic memoir by Raina Telgemeier. She told me it has a great storyline and that it would make me smile towards the end, just like the title. And she is right.
Raina is your normal sixth grader girl who enjoys being with her friends and having some teenage insecurities the way many teenagers have at this age. But one night has changed her perspective in life when she fell and lost her two front teeth. What follows thereafter is a series of frustrating trips to the dentist, the orthodontist, the periodontist... (as Raina mentioned, I didn't know there are this many kinds of "dontists") until she feels like a freak. And that is not all, she and her family have survived an earthquake; she has a crush on a boy who didn't take notice of her and then there are some of her friends who don't feel like her friends at times.
Through the artwork, Raina shares with her readers her pains and her frustrations visiting the dental clinics, her journey from middle school to high school, and finally how she discovers her artistic voice and what true friendship really means.
An inspiring coming-of-age story, I found myself being transported back to my teenage years reading Raina's story (well, minus her dental woes, though) and some of the things she had gone through. Her dental experiences made me think back of my fear of being called to the school dental clinic and how small and helpless I felt lying on that patient chair (and even now at adulthood). Despite all the unhappy experiences Raina had had, I was happy to note that they have made her a stronger person and that they had inspired her to tell her tales through writing/drawing Smile.
Thank you, Raina, for making me smile reading this book.
Note: Smile won a Will Eisner Award for Best Publication for Teens, received a Boston Globe-Horn Book Honor, and has appeared on many state reading lists. Raina Telgemeier is the recipient of a Stonewall Book Award Honor, and one of YALSA's Top Ten Great Graphic Novels for Teens.
ISBN-13: 9781891830433Publisher: Top Shelf Productions
Published: July 2003
592 pgs
Source: Personal Library
After reading several glowing reviews on Blankets from fellow bookbloggers, I decided I should wait no more. I picked up this chunky novel last Tuesday, and began devouring it the moment I got home. I would have read it in one sitting if not of time constraint and family commitment. This is one of those books that you could not stop reading until you have read the last page.
Blankets is actually a graphic memoir of Craig Thompson's life. It is basically a record of his experience growing up, and involve themes like family, love, religious beliefs, child sexual abuse and freedom. Right from the first page, Craig shows us his love/hate relationship with his younger brother, Phil, and I have to admit it made me nostalgic as it reminds me of my relationship with my younger sister when we were younger. Both of us would say or do some mean things to each other, but at the end of the day we would forgive and forget and this would be a cycle as it goes on again and again.
Craig then proceeds to share with his readers about his strict fundamentalist Christian parents and the sexual abuse he and Phil have to endure though he did not elaborate further. His life in school is not that great either, as he has to face those bullies and disapprovals from his teachers. He took everything in without any grunt or complain, and this made my heart ache for him. He turn to drawing because it is his passion and an escapism.
He then met his first love, Raina, when he attends a winter church camp. She is like a beacon to him, and Craig has never felt so happy in his life. Raina too comes from a strict religious family, and on top of that she has to deal with the separation of her parents, as well as taking care of her mentally ill siblings. The love between Craig and Raina is simply pure and beautiful, but alas Raina felt it is simply too much to commit to a long distance relationship while dealing with her family, so sadly they have to go on separate ways.
What is most beautiful about Blankets is not only the outstanding illustrations but the emotions it evoked in me while reading this (Craig really captured all the emotions perfectly in this book.) There are some heartwarming, tender moments, but there are also some not-so-good moments that made you think and question about life, faith and freedom. It also made me teary-eyed just viewing the blanket Raina had made for Craig, because that reminds me of the blanket my grandmother used to make for me when I was a little girl.
Craig with his little brother, Phil
Craig and RainaSeriously, I could go on and on, but I would rather you read it for yourself. I could now understand why this graphic novel has been receiving so many good reviews, and I can tell you I am so glad I did not wait much longer in reading it. Now it's your turn!
For more reviews on Blankets, please visit Book Blogs Search Engine.
ISBN-13: 9780312384487Publisher: Square Fish
Published: December 2008
240 pgs
Source: A gift from Joanna (Book Blogger Holiday Swap)
First of all, I want to thank Joanna again for sending American Born Chinese to me. I have been coveting this graphic novel for a while after reading so many glowing reviews on the blogosphere and after reading it for myself, I can now understand why this book deserves a shout out.
The first tale is about a Monkey King (also known as Sun Wukong in the original, classical Chinese novel, Journey to the West, but please do not confuse that with this graphic novel) who vows to be recognized as a deity after his embarrassment from admitting to the Heavenly Dinner Party because he is a monkey and does not wear shoes. He begins to master the various arts of kung-fu and in no time, he is all set to prove to the other deities that he could share the same ranks as them. Alas, he is being tested after his encounter with Tze-Yo-Tzuh, his creator, and the latter buries him in a mountain of rubbles for five hundred years.
The second tale is about an American Chinese boy named Jin Wang, whose purpose is to fit in after his family moved to a new neighbourhood. He met a fellow student, Wei Chen, who came from Taiwan and they became good friends after their exchange over a Transformers toy. Jin Wang also begins to fall in love with an American girl, Amelia but he is intimidated and feels he is not good enough for her and it does not help much when another classmate feels it is best of him to leave her alone.
Finally, the last tale is about the relationship between an American boy, Danny, and his Chinese cousin, Chin-Kee. You may wonder at this point why they are related in the first place, and that I would have to leave it to you to find out yourself because it is part of a plot setup and it involves major spoilers.
What I loved most about American Born Chinese is aside from the colourful illustrations and the great characterization, these three little (interlinked) stories convey the same message about finding one's identity and to love and to accept who you are. I think the good part of these stories is they are told in a light, humourous way without losing the topic. There are indications of racial stereotypes of the Chinese people but I think in a way it helps to create awareness of racism/stereotypes no matter what races we are. I absolutely loved the twist ending and thought how brilliant that is. I would recommend this to anyone who love a good story (and a good laugh).
Other reviews:
An Adventure in Reading
Bermudaonion's Weblog
Book Addiction
Book Nut
Books of Mee
Epiphany
Everyday Reads
Frenetic Reader
nothing of importance
Regular Rumminations
Stephanie's Confessions of a Book-a-holic
Stuff as Dreams are Made On
The Hidden Side of a Leaf
The Written World
The Book Zombie
Things Mean A Lot
Tripping Towards Lucidity
Worducopia
(Let me know if I missed yours.)
ISBN-13: 9780375714757Publisher: Pantheon Books
Published: 2006
83 pgs
I remember I was first introduced to Marjane Satrapi's graphic novels after reading a review of Persepolis over at Nymeth's blog, and subsequently I have heard so many good things of this author's works from other bookbloggers that I decided it is time for me to check out Marjane's books.
So I visited the bookstore during my lunch break yesterday, hoping to find a copy of Persepolis but to my great disappointment, I could not find any except a copy of Chicken with Plums. Given the thought that I want to read a Marjane Satrapi's book badly, I left the bookstore happily with that book though I did tell myself I will have to get Persepolis from The Book Depository (they offer free shipping, what more could I ask?).
Anyway, I devoured the book on the same day since it is less than a 100 pages and I have to thank Nymeth and the rest of the bookbloggers for introducing this author/artist to me. Set in the year of 1958 in Tehran, Chicken with Plums is about Marjane's great-uncle, Nasser Ali Khan, a renowned Iranian musician who plays tar and is very passionate over his instrument. He fell into deep depression after his beloved instrument was destroyed by his wife and though he made an effort to find another tar, he knew none of those would ever replace his beloved tar. He began to isolate himself until the idea of death flashes through his mind.
The story then shift backwards eight days before his death where readers get a glimpse of his childhood till the man he is at present. Through these fragment of memories we came to know more of his relationship with his family (in particular to his wife) and why he has a passion for tar and so forth. He also wonders if his family even care about him, but I think one often misinterpret each other's feelings with a wrong move of body language or simply a lack of affections and this is such the case with Nasser Ali and his wife.
Though I do not like Nasser Ali's pessimism but I think he makes an interesting character in this story. I loved reading the exchanges between himself and his children (his favourite child is Farzaneh, the youngest daughter among his four children and he thinks Mozaffar, the youngest son is nothing but a chore). I think he is prejudiced against Mozaffar and there is a scene about what Mozaffar did for his father has moved me deeply. The ending caught me completely off-guard as his real reason to let go of his life has never crossed my mind (and don't you love it when this happens with the book you are reading?).
I loved how the bold black and white drawings make a great visual on top of the wonderful plot; and the only downside is I feel this story is too short. Oh, how I wish I have Persepolis with me now so I could view more of Marjane Satrapi's lovely illustrations!
Other reviews:
A Life in Books
Jenny's BooksOther reviews:
A Life in Books
Out of the Blue
State of Denmark
The Inside Cover
The Written World
(Let me know if I missed yours.)
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