Book Club

Maus is a classic in the graphic novel genre and a must read. The author/illustrator interviews his father, a Polish Jew, who survived the Holocaust. Black and white and deeply emotional, you'll see why it won a Pulitzer.

A fascinating space opera starts by exploring the war between two extraterrestrial races. Two star crossed lovers fighting for opposing sides of the war meet, fall in love and have a baby. Amazing illustrations, really engaging story with lots of twists. This is not an insular story, new characters are frequently encountered and you even feel for the bad guys.

Fun and fast paced, the Scott Pilgrim is a cult-classic graphic novel. Scott is a sad character who becomes obsessed with a delivery girl and has to fight her ex-boyfriends in a sort of super-heroic way. He's still a very average guy.

This GN is an introspective exploration of the character as she treks cross-country alone on her bike. Written more as an illustrated journal, it's a beautiful depiction of how there's always more to discover.

This novel is about a young artist who begins to seek therapy for bipolar disorder. We explore the characters past with the disorder and her present and how she comes to terms with seeking help. It’s a beautiful and honest exploration of this person’s experience.

Guy Delisle may be my favorite graphic novelist. The majority of his novels are travel writing - he goes to many different countries because his partner is part of Doctors Without Borders, and he's traveled for other reasons. This book though, is his depiction of an administrator with Doctors Without Borders who was kidnapped for three months in solitary confinement. Much of the book is the character's daily thoughts and what he does to keep himself sane while in the room. Awesome read.

The author goes to North Korea on a work visa and sees what he's allowed to see. Like much of his work, the author is alone with his cynical thoughts for much of the story. Drawn in greys, black and white, feels perfect for the story.

Adventure manga with a dark underlying story that is carried by two brothers who are both fun, a little angsty and hilarious. Illustration is at its peak when Edward is feeling strong emotions.

This collection of comics is grouped by theme. Huda's sassy wit and slow comebacks, and nerdy moments with her husband make for a fun read, while still making readers recognize the realities of being a Muslim woman, specifically who wears a hijab, in America.

An adorable comic that focuses on quality cat sass, but also the loving relationship between a cat and its human companion.

A perfect GN memoire for foodies. The author explores the influence of food on her life, from cooking with her mom to traveling to different countries and the importance of a rich variety. These colorful comics contain illustrated recipes that are accompanied by drop-in commentary.

A classic. Persepolis was my introduction to graphic novels. The art work is uncomplicated and black and white which marries well with the tone of the book.
We meet Marjane when she's 10 years old, living in Iran during the Iran-Iraq war. Her parents are involved in the politics of the war, and Marjane is a rebel with ideas of her own. Marjane lives during a very difficult time, yet she is curious, rebellious and playful. A great graphic memoire about a resilient young woman.

I enjoyed this read for its look at the cast of characters and their daily drama at the cafe and beyond. Takes place in the 1970s in Oakland California and follows an artist working in a cafe and trying to figure out her life.

My favorite comic of all time. Gert fell into Fairyland at a young age and hasn't been able to leave for decades. She's now an adult trapped in a child's body and is ruthless to those creatures around her. Absolutely hilarious, sarcastic, cynical, and beautifully colorful.

A funny take on what the heart wants, but the brain knows better than to allow.
Brian is a practical and serious character who keeps the frivolous heart in check... or at least tries to. Each comic "strip" stands alone.