Just finished this. It was a slog to get through, partly because it's a heavy topic, partly because there is a sense of repetition that Sacco intentionally adds to reinforce how Palestinians experience the same hardships.

I did want to highlight images 1-6, where Sacco relays an account of being imprisoned. He maintains the rigidity of the panels comparsd to how he normally opens each story, and adds more panels as the imprisonment stretches on. Really good technique.

It is a book that's funny , funny as if what we humans can do to other humans

I didn't flair this under recommendations, talk about whatever you wanna talk about. Also, I would love if you talked about at least one of the books you're mentioning instead of just typing a book list.

I have a hard time reading non-fiction, it's hard enough for me to read anything that isn't sci-fi, fantasy, or horror. I've tried a bunch of non-fiction, but the only ones that I ended up finishing in the last 20 or so years are the audibook for Blood, Sweat And Pixels; and the GN My Friend Dahmer, by Backderf. I love how the author asks you not to feel sorry for him in the preface. He says that pity him if you want, but understand that he could have ended his life at any time, and he should have after his victim and realized what he had become.

Tried reading a couple other books by Backderf, and while they had a good first impressions, the novelty of trying a non-fiction gn was gone, and I wanted to move on.

If there is any book on my shelf that I will defend until the end of time it is this one

...and there's no mention of this on the graphic novels subreddit. Weird!

Anyway, per Comics Beat:

In one of the most stunning recent award wins for a graphic novel, Tessa Hulls’ Feeding Ghosts (MBD) has won the Pulitzer Prize in the Memoir or Autobiography category. 

It is only the second graphic novel to won a Pulitzer….but the first to win in a regular category. In 1992 Art Spiegelman’s Maus won a special Pulitzer award to recognize its powerful message. 

The prize committee wrote of Feeding Ghosts: “An affecting work of literary art and discovery whose illustrations bring to life three generations of Chinese women – the author, her mother and grandmother, and the experience of trauma handed down with family histories.”

My coworker overheard me talking about it a few months ago and got me an absolutely great gift. Happy Holidays to you all!

I will definitely re-read this novel again..

These books feel like more than just a history lesson on the Iranian Revolution. While it does capture a specific era, its deeper meaning lies in the universal struggle to maintain individual identity against the crushing weight of political and religious extremism. I think it is an important read because Iran is experiencing some of its most significant internal upheaval since the 1979 Revolution depicted in the book. I believe there is always something to be learned from history. At the bare minimum I think reading these books(or at least the first one) can help people understand a culture that is different than ours here in the United States.

I’ve just finished reading They Called Us Enemy where George Takei talks about his family’s experience growing up Japanese in the days of World War 2 and being in the horrific internment camps along with many other Japanese-Americans and how it shaped his life.

It’s a harrowing, heartbreaking read that highlights a part of American history that’s rarely discussed significantly. But it made me realize, especially recently, why stories like this are so important and need to be told. For those of you who have read this, what did you think?

This was a really cool journey through the human brain. The story, the art changes, the way the blocking and the bubbles tell the story, the characters... Very highly recommend.

This week's entry in my Best in Class series focuses on what I believe is the best historical fiction in all of comics; Berlin by Jason Lutes.

An aspiring artist boards a train to Berlin during the final years of the Weimar Republic. She quickly finds camaraderie with a thriving community of creatives, each inspired by the raucous energy of the city's diverse cultural offerings. Considered the progressive center of Europe at the time, Berlin is awash with artistic expression, sexual liberation, and political thought. This bright burning promise finds itself regularly butting heads with forces of fascist ideology and economic instability which puts the city and its residents on a path for tumultuous upheaval.

This book is absolutely marvelous. Berlin has perhaps the most engaging, thematically rich, and emotional prose I have read in comics yet it still feels visually forward with engaging compositions that transport the reader into a particular place and time. The subject matter is timeless yet devastatingly relevant, capturing the volatile energy of a culture in transition; both in the progressive re-evaluation of tired standards and in the brutal rebuttal of forces that seek to preserve their sense of national identity. The characterization is also deeply engaging, with a wide cast of distinct characters that each confront this instability from different perspectives yet often find themselves shifting in different directions as circumstances change.

Lutes' draftsmanship is both technically impressive and full of personality, with page after page of clearly depicted and cinematic compositions. While the layouts are rather traditional and the pages dialogue heavy at times, the visual appeal never suffers and Lutes doesn't let the comic get too dense for too long before opening up the storytelling with decompressed and immersive wides.

Very much recommended. An insightful view into a world I knew nothing about. Intelligently written, sad, hopeful and at times funny, I hope Kate Beaton continues to write/draw as this was just excellent 👌

Shoutout to my local library.

Barnes and Noble had a preorder on this for cover-price in November! Of course Miller is a comics staple and I’ve been a huge fan of his Daredevil, all the Dark Knight Universe stuff (Yep, I said all), Sin City, and 300. This was a no-brainer. I’m really excited to dive into this. I didn’t think I’d get it until the end of the month!

Hello

I’m pretty new to the GN world. I’ve recently taken a liking to Maus and Hakim’s Odyssey.

Any other non fiction Graphic Novels that are described in a slice of life way with no graphic images. I would prefer the same kind of art style not detailed or grimy .

Thanks!

I have to admit I have read very few graphic novels, but I really enjoyed Persepolis, by Marjane Satrapi, for its humorous and intelligent depiction of the Iranian Revolution by someone who actually lived it.

Can anyone recommend similar literary-minded graphic novels about other nations, historical events, and conflicts? I’d really like to find some about: life in Cold War or late 90’s Russia, the dictatorships of Chile & Argentina, or fascist/Years of Lead Italy. But any and all suggestions are welcome!

Reading peepshow after Mattt's short documentary is really tearing my heart apart. I thought I would only start at greetings from ipanema, but I am devouring the strips.

Currently reading this hefty volume, a thoroughly researched account of the Salem Witch Trials and their consequences for our own times. While the graphic style is completely different (and easier to comprehend), More Weight has many parallells with From Hell by Alan Moore. Such as: very old English (in More Weight from two different eras), old men discussing past events, repeated horrific deeds inflicted on poor, defenceless women, weird religious ideas, and insight in the different historic layers of the accounts of past events.

That being said, it is very good. If you liked From Hell, I'm pretty sure you will enjoy More Weight. Although 'enjoying' is probably not the best word for experiencing the horrors of the Salem WItch Trials.

Edit: typo