Going Graphic

Graphic novels aren't usually my reading of choice, but I'm trying to expand my horizons and want to get more graphic under my belt, so to speak, so I can do better Readers' Advisory in this format. I decided to start with the Booklist Top 10 Graphic Novels to see what they're about and understand the dynamic and appeal.

So the top ten are as follows:



1. Ant Colony by Michael DeForge. Illustrated by Michael DeForge. Published by Drawn & Quarterly.

My review.

2. Arsene Schrauwen by Olivier Schrauwen, Illustrated by Olivier Schrauwen. Published by Fantagraphics


My review

3. C.O.W.L.: Principles of Power by Kyle Higgins and Alec Siegel. Illustrated by Rod Reis. Published by Image Comics.

My review

4. Here by Richard McGuire. Illustrated by Richard McGuire. Published by Pantheon.

My review

5. Kill My Mother by Jules Feiffer. Illustrated by Jules Feiffer. Published by Norton/Liveright

My review

6. The Love Bunglers by Jaime Hernandez. Illustrated by Jaime Hernandez. Published by Fantagraphics


My review

7. Nijigahara Holograph by Inio Asano, Illustrated by Inio Asano. Translated by Matt Thorn. Published by Fantagraphics

My review

8. The Sculptor by Scott McCloud. Illustrated by Scott McCloud. Published by First Second

My review

9. The Undertaking of Lily Chen by Danica Novgorodoff. Illustrated by Danica Novgorodoff. Published by First Second

My review

10. Weapons of Mass Diplomacy by Abel Lanzac. Illustrated by Christophe Blain. Translated by Edward Gauvin. Published by SelfMadeHero

My review

I've read them all and loved some and didn't enjoy others.  My favourites were The Sculptor and Here by far, and both of those will be among my favourite books this year.
When I enjoy a graphic novel, the images are a big part of the enjoyment, making the book come alive for me in wondrous ways. When I don't, the images are still interesting but not enlightening in the same way. I found myself puzzling over some of them.
I'm glad I ventured into this format that I'm still not as familiar with as I'd like to be.