Nylon Road

Nylon Road: A Graphic Memoir of Coming of Age in Iran
Written and illustrated by Parsua Bashi
ISBN: 9780312532864
St. Martin's Griffin

Quick Note: Many other reviews have compared this to Persepolis, a graphic novel that I have not read. As I haven't read it, I can't compare the two of them.

To Sum: The simple summary is that it is a writer/artist reflecting on what she's been through. However, there's a lot to this, and maybe more so because it's not a topic we hear a lot about in the West. Or worse, we stereotype and characterize the people from that region as all the same.

But, the interesting thing to me at least, was how universal her discoveries are. For example - at one point, she makes the connection that although the Europeans are very ignorant of Iran and the Middle East, she was just as ignorant of Europe and its people when she was in Iran.

And one of those truths? "I learned that not knowing is not a sin. Not knowing and yet being prejudice is where the problem starts."(Pg. 79)

What to Watch out for: This book covers a lot of topics, and few things are shown. However, it does talk about things from a mature standpoint of someone looking back at their life, and who they were at different points. The laws in Iran are very different from ours, and she shows this. There is some depictions of modern late teens in skimpy outfits as well as frank talk about stereotypes and the idea of freedom of speech. There are some very cartoony sunbathers that are topless (probably more common over there) and once or twice she has a swear word. Nothing major.

For the few negatives, however, I can not say how moved I was with this book. And to know that she is not alone in having suffered through that life. An important book if for no other reason than it gives us an honest look at what life was like for her under Shiite government, as well as the philosophical points she brings up.

Where to shelve: Given what I talked about in the previous section, I think it's important enough to just have in the library. Adults for sure. Older teens would probably appreciate it. If you have a high school library, I can see it for that.

The first chapter is available as a PDF:

http://us.macmillan.com/CMS400/uploadedFiles/Nylon_Road_-_chapter1.pdf

Other Reviews:
http://www.comicsbulletin.com/reviews/125920921561484.htm
http://www.bookpage.com/books-10012517-Nylon+Road
http://us.macmillan.com/nylonroad
http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,,2306171,00.html
http://www.wired.com/geekdad/2009/11/the-geekly-reader-nylon-road/
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/product-description/0312532865/ref=dp_proddesc_0?ie=UTF8&n=283155&s=books

The Unwritten: Tommy Taylor and the Bogus Identity

The Unwritten Vol. 1: Tommy Taylor and the Bogus Identity
By Mike Carey
ISBN: 978-1401225650
Published by Vertigo

An interesting concept, and a good beginning. I really want to see where this goes.

To Sum: Tom Taylor thought the fictional character, Tommy Taylor, that his dad wrote was just based on him. However, things come up that make Tom start to question his identity. And we find a shadowy group that wants to control the outcome of the telling of the tales. Add into that mix the fact that his father mysteriously disappeared, and things are happening that he can't explain.

An interesting story that mentions other literary figures and calls to mind other literary works. I really did like the "back story" on Kipling. It shows a lot about the organization, but it does a good job of making Kipling interesting, as well as tying the organization to other writers in history. Might actually make teens interested in older authors.

What to Watch Out For: Well, there's some interesting things that happen at the Horror writer's retreat, and the language can be a bit coarse in some areas. I didn't notice the For Mature Audiences on the back until I was done with it. There's killing and death, but I don't recall anything overly sexual in it.

Where to Shelve: Well, it's Vertigo and it has a For Mature Audiences label on it. However, what might also push it into the adult section is that the author has done other works - Lucifer, John Constantine : Hellblazer - that are in adult sections. (Or at least they are in mine.) Vertigo started off being where DC published it's line of comics "for mature readers", meaning adults.

Other Reviews:

grovel.com
mloknitting.com
the-trades.com
beatrice.com (Skip the first few lines if you haven't read the Lucifer books...)
Long Island Press
Fyreflybooks.com
Comicvine.com

X-Men: Magneto Testament

X-Men: Magneto Testament
By Greg Pak
Illustrated by Carmine Di Giandomenico
ISBN (HC): 978-0785138235
ISBN (TPB): 978-0785126409

To Sum: This is an amazing piece of work that can be read without ever knowing of the X-Men or who Magneto is. (Although, you maybe confused by the title.) Disregarding anything that comes later on and the whole mythos of the X-Men, this book does an amazing job of showing what it was like before and during the Holocaust. There is even several pages of notes at the back, describing where an image came from, or why something is in there. This book is a work of love, of dedication, and it shows.

To do what this section says, this book is about a family focusing in on the youngest of them, and what life was like before and during the Holocaust.

What to watch out for: Nothing really. Yes, it deals with the Holocaust, so there is death, but much of it is handled off-screen. The reader is made aware of what is going on, so it's not a sanitized version of the Holocaust.

Where to shelve: They've done a good job making this accessible for the early teens, but not too much that what happened is dumbed down. There's a guide in the back for teachers to use, but this could easily go into both adult and YA. The amount of research done is chronicled in the footnotes, which may interest some adults, and there is a list of additional websites where YA patrons might go to find out more.
It should be noted that Diamond publishers list this title as being 16+. It's also Marvel Knights publication, which is intended 15+, and there is also a Parental Advisory on the back (it's small and on the bottom right). However, there's also a teacher's guide in there intended for use for grades 7-10.

How I heard of this: Well, truth be told I ordered it in based off of Amazon, I believe. However, one of the guys that regularly checks stuff out of my section told me I had to read, and read it now - he had just returned it.

Other Reviews:

http://www.gregpak.com/magneto/ (The author's website, however it does show just how many awards this book has won.)
http://comicsplusblog.com/?p=765 (the person disagrees with me, but I'm cool with that)
http://acomicbookblog.com/comic-book-blog/4-graphic-novels-to-read-in-2010-claire/
http://ichliebecomics.blogspot.com/2009/02/magneto-testament.html
http://www.fistfullofcomics.com/v2/2009/10/16/off-the-rack-x-men-magneto-testament/
http://www.diamondbookshelf.com/public/default.asp?t=1&m=1&c=20&s=422&ai=85212

Deogratis

Deogratias: A Tale of Rwanda
Stassen
978-1596431034

To sum: Takes place after the Rwanda genocide, with flashbacks to what life was like before and during the genocide, and the effect the genocide had on Deogratias, who was a young teenage boy when the genocide happened. Personally, I remember being aware of what was going on, but this book does a good job of explaining how it came to be that way. The translator wrote an introduction explaining the history of the region, which added a lot to the story.

What to watch out for: Well, it deals with genocide, and there's a lot of how the "inferiour" class of Tutsi were treated. During the genocide of the Tutsi in the town where Deogratias lives, the Tutsi women are raped, killed, and the bodies just thrown into piles where the dogs roam free. Deogratias exacts revenge on those he feels killed the girl he liked.

Where to shelve: I have it in the adult collection, however could also see it in a high school library as well. I would say it's more appropriate for 16+, but could also see this being used in school to teach about an almost forgotten part of history.

If they liked: MAUS, recommend this to them. Also, it's a good tie in for Hotel Rwanda

Interesting to note:

http://maslifblog.wordpress.com/2009/08/06/book-challenge-formal/

Other reviews:

http://www.powells.com/biblio/1-9781596431034-3
http://www.firstsecondbooks.com/deogratias.html
http://www.curledup.com/deograti.htm
http://us.macmillan.com/deogratiasataleofrwanda
http://www.grovel.org.uk/reviews/deogratias-01/deogratias-01.htm
http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/yalsa/booklistsawards/greatgraphicnovelsforteens/07ggnt.cfm
http://yzocaet.blogspot.com/2007/02/deogratias-tale-of-rwanda.html

Also found in The Reader's Advisory to Great Graphic Novels, pg 64

In The Flesh - complete review

I already started a post about In The Flesh, however, that was before I read it. Here's the full write-up.




In The Flesh
Koren Shadmi
ISBN: 978-0345508713

To Sum: A collection of short stories that deals with relationships, love, lust, and passion and the different sides of those things. A very trippy collection. Some of the stories are much more "normal" with a twist - a boy loves a girl and it's slowly killing him because she's radioactive - while others are creepy - a Grandfather with a camera (old fashion film Minolta) for a head. Some of these stories have stayed with me for several days as I work through them - like how the Grandpa Minolta one puts a twist on real life situations.

What to Watch Out For: Well, it deals with love, lust, passion, and does it with pictures. Some have called it erotica, but I don't think it ever goes THAT far. However, it does show states of disrobe, it talks about sexual situations, and it does show people is those situations. It will show everything leading up to, but not the actual event. Just flipping through this book, I was worried that I had ordered something that violated library policy. Taken out of context, yes, those scenes are shocking. However, when read with the story, it works. These are not for children, nor teens. This is something for adults who have had to deal with relationships that don't work, one night stands and more.

Where to shelve: Without question, this is an adult graphic novel. The intended audience is adults, the situations are things most adults can relate to, and the content is adult. That being said, I do think it's a good addition to a library as it does explore some themes, and it does have a lot of thought into it.

How I heard of it: This one came highly recommended through a spotlight on graphic novels issue of a catalog/journal.

Other reviews:

http://www.bigshinyrobot.com/reviews/archives/3707
http://www.anthemmagazine.com/story/1318
http://www.randomhouse.com/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9780345508713
http://pageandstage.blogspot.com/2009/04/koren-shadmis-in-flesh.html
http://www.brooklynpaper.com/stories/32/5/32_5_zf_graphic_artist.html
http://www.powells.com/biblio/9780345508713?&PID=32442
http://fantasybookcritic.blogspot.com/2009/02/spotlight-graphic-novels-of-february.html

Dead, She Said

And I'm back...



Dead, She Said
Steve Niles, Bernie Wrightson
978-1600105746

To Sum: Detective Coogan doesn't remember what happened last night. Which is understandable, as he died. Now, he's a walking corpse and is tracking down who killed him and why. Collects #1-3 of the comic, with extra sketches and a black and white short story in the back. It was a quick, fun read. We don't get a lot of short but fun graphic novels like this in the adult section.

Things to Watch Out For: Well, there's a bit of gore. Guts hanging out, the scene at the morgue. The idea of being embalmed while a member of the living dead is ... and interesting idea. Overall, it's a noir story with horror/scifi twists. Not much in the way of sexual content, except comments about grabbing a women's tush. (Okay, they used the harsher word.) And the final scene wasn't horrid, but not what I would want to wake up to in the morning. The extra bits were interesting, but not something someone's going to have to worry about.

Where to Shelve: It is a visual horror, but if the kids have seen and horror flicks, they've seen worse. (Okay, and slasher flicks.) School Journal rated it for grade 10+, which isn't bad. I would say most high schoolers would be fine reading it, but we have it shelved in the adult section. Why? Because I ordered it. Actually, depending on your library, I could see it in both, but would err on the side of Adult. Not because the kids can't handle it, but probably because their parents wouldn't be able to. ;)

How I heard about it: It was in a journal or catalog. Was well reviewed, and it sounded humourous.

Other Reviews:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/product-description/1600105742/ref=dp_proddesc_0?ie=UTF8&n=283155&s=books
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/2765374/graphic_novel_review_dead_she_said.html

http://blog.oregonlive.com/steveduin/2008/12/graphic_novel_review_dead_she.html

http://www.mania.com/comic-review-dead-she-said-1_article_58585.html

Challenged books

While this isn't my section, it does seem that many books that are challenged or banned come from the YA section. That section is near and dear to my heart. Was when I was a kid and a teen, and still is as an adult.

I don't like the idea of someone not liking parts of a book and therefore wanting to deprive EVERYONE of that book. Just because your school has an anti-alcohol group, doesn't mean that there shouldn't be any books where characters are depicted as drinking. We all learn different things from reading. And if all you read is the page where the character has sex for the first time, and not the next chapter depicting her worries about the consequences, you may want to ban something that's actually reinforcing your message.

And what prompted this?

http://www.fdlreporter.com/article/20100517/FON0101/5170327/1985/FONent

Now, this worries me, as it seems like there have been more of these in the news as of late. So, what does that have to do with me? A librarian who orders graphic novels for adults, which we have defined as 16+?

Well, a lot.

If more and more challenges are appearing, how much longer will it be before someone takes a hard look at a YA graphic novel section and is shocked and appalled by what they find?

Which bring me to part of the reason for this blog. Not all graphic novels are appropriate for teens.

There. I've said it.

And I want to repeat it. Having a graphic novel section for adults is important. It allows you to put "edgier" titles in the library, but in a clear demarcation that tells parents that it might not be suitable for younger children, even if it is a graphic novel (comic book). It also allows those of us that are older a section where we can get books that have mature themes.

I'm not for taking a tally of how many swear words are said or posting a break down of the different incidences of sexual situations that are in the book, nor am I for showing a tally of how many times drugs or alcohol are mentioned.

What I am here for is to let you know what is in the graphic novel. I find it disturbing how little there is for graphic novels, for adults. I also find it disturbing how many graphic novels that are "adult" are on the YALSA list. I can't seem many kids checking out "The Photographer". As cool as the concept of the book is to me, as an adult, it's not really one I see the kids flipping through.

And while I'm rambling, as I have a tendency to do, the end decision lies with the individual librarians, who know their community.

As I have often said, my section is 16+. Why 16+? Because our YA section is grades 7-12, but since we have some Rebecca Caudill's in the YA, we get 4th graders on up in the YA section. We felt is was more appropriate to put the older teen stuff in the adult section. The kids know where it is, and do check out some of the books from there.

Do I think a 16 year old can handle The Watchmen? Sure. It maybe something where they don't get all of it, but they should be able to handle the story and the adult content. Do I think a 12 year old can handle it? I would say no to that.

And while it does depend on the individual child, those are the guidelines with which we work.

Is it perfect? Not be a long shot. But it's working for now.

Alan Moore's The Courtyard

Alan Moore's The Courtyard
Alan Moore
978-1592910601

To Sum: A series of murders where the mutilations are very similar as are the dissections, seem to be done by three people with nothing in common. A Fed with a specialty in Anomaly Theory has been sent undercover to find out what's going on. The Fed thinks the murders are tied into a drug called Alko. It's a Lovecraftian tale done in the nearish future.

What to Watch Out For: Well, this deals with H. P. Lovecraft and the mythos he came up with. There's some disturbing imagery, drug use, and talk about mutilated bodies, with some small pictures of parts of the bodies. (Think crime scene photos.)

Also, if you have the same version I have, the language on the intro may offend some. However, it sound like how some people might speak. Not everyone is genteel in their language, and there are people that use language that make sailors sound like schoolboys.

Where to Shelve: It's Alan Moore. Adult. 'Nuff Said. Truth be told, this is probably one of the milder Moore graphic novels I've read. It's not bad in the least bit, but it lacks the depth of say, Watchmen or V for Vendetta. However, it's a trippy, light read.

How I learned of it: Amazon, I think. I was reading up on another graphic novel, and saw this one. Alan Moore is a popular author, so I picked it up.

Other Reviews:

http://www.sfsite.com/01b/tc168.htm
http://fantasybookcritic.blogspot.com/2009/01/spotlight-graphic-novels-of-january.html
http://www.comicsbulletin.com/reviews/104565211541595.htm
http://www.avatarpress.com/thecourtyard/
http://www.mania.com/alan-moores-courtyard_article_36485.html

Perry Bible Fellowship: The Trial of Colonel Sweeto

Place holder for next week



Perry Bible Fellowship: The Trial of Colonel Sweeto

To Sum: Dark and twisted humor, front and center. Strips from an on-line comic strip (web comic) are collected. Despite the candy colored cover and insides, really, heed the warning on the cover page of "For Mature Audiences".

What to watch out for: It's hilarious, and offensive, in the best possible way. There are lots of sexually cartoony images and innuendos (I liked the Hammer Man coming home to find a screw in his wife - who is a board in a bikini. The next scene is Hammer Man fighting with his neighbor Screwdriver Man.) There's plenty of wrongness here, but it's done in a way that one of the pages at work said "I'm so offended, but I can't stop reading." Which pretty much sums it up. It's offensive, but you want to know what's on the next page.

Where To Shelve: Adult. No hesitation with this one. It says right inside the front cover "For Mature Audiences" and Dark Horse (the publisher) lists it at 16+.

How I learned about it: It had been reviewed in a journal or catalog, however, it was a bear to actually get. Also, the review mentioned the hilarity aspect, but not really the adult and wrongness (in the right way) of it.

Reviews:

http://www.shinyshelf.com/2007/11/10/the-trial-of-colonel-sweeto-and-other-stories/
http://www.playbackstl.com/content/view/6774/167/
http://thedailycrosshatch.com/2007/08/29/the-trial-of-colonel-sweeto-by-nicholas-gurewitch/
http://www.darkhorse.com/Books/13-825/The-Perry-Bible-Fellowship-The-Trial-of-Colonel-Sweeto-and-Other-Stories-HC
http://www.avclub.com/articles/comics-of-note-november-9-2007,22511/
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/booksblog/2007/nov/02/bloodshedcrueltymurderthes
http://nymag.com/daily/entertainment/2007/11/the_perry_bible_fellowships_fi.html

New Yorker Magazine did an interview with the creator:
http://nymag.com/daily/entertainment/2007/11/nicholas_gurewitch_kind_of_reg.html

Book of Bunny Suicides

Book of Bunny Suicides
Return of the Bunny Suicides
Andy Riley

The books can be found individually, in a set, as a postcard book, in a Big Book of Bunny Suicides.

I said somethings about these books earlier, but I figured it's time to expand.

To Sum: Cartoon drawings of fluffy bunnies killing themselves in unique fashions. Some of them are just one panel, others span up to six (maybe eight). Often times there's cultural references - mostly to things adults would get. Very British in humor, not surprising given that the creator is, funny enough, British. Generally, however, these ways of suicide are not very likely to occur in real life, or by most humans. Part of the humor is that these bunnies are bound and determined, and often, it's not even noticed by the humans that are right there. (The one exception is Darth Vader.)

Things to Watch Out For: Well, there isn't a whole lot of sex. There's not a whole lot of nudity (unless one counts the fact that the bunnies are not wearing clothing). The thing that people will take note is the fact that these bunnies are trying to kill themselves - in very unrealistic scenarios. However, the idea of suicide seems to be the one people who have complained about this book are latching onto.

These are meant to be funny. They aren't meant to encourage suicide, but to poke fun at it. Some of the suicides are so elaborate, or so out there, that you know not to take it seriously.

Where to Shelve: This is going to be one of those where I fall back to who was the intended audience. Given the references, most of which anyone alive and functioning in the 80's would get, I would have to say this is for adults. Would 13 year-olds get the jokes? Most likely. But there are probably some that would go over their head. Like, say this panel:



Most adults have been exposed to enough British humor/culture that they're going to get most of what's going on, as well as having been alive for the cultural references. (Okay, most of us don't really need to have been alive to understand the hand-gesture to Hitler, but the statue of Saddam falling? The Doctor Who joke?) I will say that the humor is very, very British.

How I learned of it: It came out when I was working at a chain bookstore. A bunch of us flipped through it when we saw it.

Other reviews:

http://www.curledup.com/bunnysui.htm
http://www.cnn.com/2004/SHOWBIZ/books/05/31/review.summer.books/index.html (review is about 3/4ths of the way down)
http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/article/CA6418669.html (Under the category "What's so funny?")
http://pfacker.wordpress.com/books/graphic-novels/

Past incidents:

http://www.kval.com/news/local/31282894.html
http://www.kval.com/news/local/31378584.html
http://www.lita.org/ala/alonline/currentnews/newsarchive/2008/october2008/bunnieswontburn.cfm

Miss Don't Touch Me

Miss Don't Touch Me
by Hubert & Kerascoet
ISBN: 978-1561635443

There's something we don't have a lot of in America, and that's graphic novels like this one. It's adult, and a fun read. It's not deep, it's not earth shattering, but it reads like a mystery novel/drama made into a comic book. Everything you need to know about the book is on the back of it 1) For Mature Audiences and 2) a brief summary of the plot.

To sum: To sum up the story, a girl's sister gets murdered by a serial killer and it was made to look like a suicide. The girl starts investigating and follows the trail to a high end brothel, where she takes a job. Since she's worried about her virtue, she takes a job as Miss Don't Touch Me - an English Governess persona, which is basically a dominatrix. Set in 1930's Paris, there are scenes of semi naked women, and there's some violence as well.

Things to watch out for: Patrons that just flip through this without understanding what they are looking at are going to see scenes from life in a brothel. Complete with mostly naked customers, women in skimpy outfits, as well as violence. It is stylized, but if they are going to just point at one panel and object, there are ones in here that they may do it to.

Should I have it in a library: Overall, this is a rare sort of graphic novel. It's a translation from a French work, so the standards are slightly different. But what really sets it apart is the fact that it's not trying to blow your mind with deep messages; it's not making political statements; it's not heavy with symbolism. It's a story about a girl trying to solve a murder, and adapting to life in a brothel. It's fluff, and fun at that. A quick read with a great feel for the era it's in.

Who would like this: Well, it's not a typical graphic novel. It's part murder mystery, part intrigue, part enjoyable, "fun crap" (as one review puts it, and I agree). Give it to people who have read some graphic novels, but are tired of the superhero genre, or the heavy stuff.

How I can to learn of it: I learned of it through Booklist, which recommended it.

Other reviews of it:
http://blog.newsarama.com/2009/01/25/review-miss-dont-touch-me/
http://www.readaboutcomics.com/2009/02/27/miss-dont-touch-me/
http://www.oregonlive.com/books/index.ssf/2009/01/graphic_novel_review_miss_do_n.html
http://highlowcomics.blogspot.com/2009/02/baser-instincts-miss-dont-touch-me.html
http://www.grovel.org.uk/miss-dont-touch-me/
http://comicsworthreading.com/2009/03/09/nbm-releases-little-nothings-2-miss-dont-touch-me-why-i-killed-peter-first-time/
http://robot6.comicbookresources.com/2009/03/robot-reviews-miss-dont-touch-me/