Interrupting my usual programming to say that I read my first ever graphic novel/memoir/anything! Thanks to @tenspeedpress for sending me This Beautiful Ridiculous City by Kay Sohini, which finally prompted me to engage with this genre.
As a former urban literary scholar this was a return to my urban literary roots, and just a beautiful representation of the city overall. Full disclosure that Kay and I were at Stony Brook University doing our Ph.D.s in different lit departments around the same time. We’ve worked together before (she invited me to present on an MLA panel on careers back when I was about a year into my new life in publishing).
Reading books by people you know (even tangentially) is always a unique experience because you’re seeing the world through the eyes of someone that you’ve met, engaged with. It’s just a really different experience than reading works by a stranger (which is the majority of my reading).
What is really stunning about this work is that it isn’t just a book, it’s a beautifully conceived object. The artwork and color palette are stunning. I immediately felt like I’ll definitely reread and return to this book to take in the visuals and the nuances of the story.
It’s also a book I could see leaving out on my coffee table, or some other flat surface that needs a little life. It’s so vibrant, and a book I could see myself just thumbing through casually to brighten my day.
It deals with serious life challenges, but I think the seriousness and introspection of the work is offset by the brightness and vibrancy of the artwork.
10/10 would recommend. (And believe it or not I read a TON and don’t recommend or post about a large percentage of what I read).
QOTD: have you read any graphic books?
#bookstagram #bookstodon #booksbooksbooks #booklover #bibliophile #bibliophilelife #graphicmemoir #bookreview #bookreviewer #bookish #bookishlife #bookishlifestyle #bookflatlay #bookdecor #phdlife #postdoclife #theleveragedphd #academicaesthet
As a former urban literary scholar this was a return to my urban literary roots, and just a beautiful representation of the city overall. Full disclosure that Kay and I were at Stony Brook University doing our Ph.D.s in different lit departments around the same time. We’ve worked together before (she invited me to present on an MLA panel on careers back when I was about a year into my new life in publishing).
Reading books by people you know (even tangentially) is always a unique experience because you’re seeing the world through the eyes of someone that you’ve met, engaged with. It’s just a really different experience than reading works by a stranger (which is the majority of my reading).
What is really stunning about this work is that it isn’t just a book, it’s a beautifully conceived object. The artwork and color palette are stunning. I immediately felt like I’ll definitely reread and return to this book to take in the visuals and the nuances of the story.
It’s also a book I could see leaving out on my coffee table, or some other flat surface that needs a little life. It’s so vibrant, and a book I could see myself just thumbing through casually to brighten my day.
It deals with serious life challenges, but I think the seriousness and introspection of the work is offset by the brightness and vibrancy of the artwork.
10/10 would recommend. (And believe it or not I read a TON and don’t recommend or post about a large percentage of what I read).
QOTD: have you read any graphic books?
#bookstagram #bookstodon #booksbooksbooks #booklover #bibliophile #bibliophilelife #graphicmemoir #bookreview #bookreviewer #bookish #bookishlife #bookishlifestyle #bookflatlay #bookdecor #phdlife #postdoclife #theleveragedphd #academicaesthet
