A Ghostly Graphic Novel (don't worry...it's not scary)

I love ghost stories. I love stories of haunted houses, spooky encounters, and ghostly meetings. When I saw a book with “ghost” in the title, I requested it from the library without even reading a single review. Because of this, I had no expectations and this graphic novel certainly exceeded any that I did have.

Anya is the epitome of misunderstood; her mother wants to fatten her up with traditional Russian cuisine, her best and only friend makes fun of her crushes, and school is far from being a cake walk. One day, while on her way to school, she falls into a well where she meets a friendly ghost. Emily, the ghost, has been trapped in the well for 90 years and can’t wait to escape with Anya. The two become fast friends until Emily’s guidance takes a nasty turn. Anya must uncover Emily’s past before Anya’s future is jeopardized.

But not as friendly as this "friendly" ghost

This graphic novel has very few flaws. The illustrations are in grays, blacks, purples, and whites which become progressively oppressive as the story becomes darker. Anya is a very relate-able character as she is your typical fish out of water teen. I think teen readers will sympathize with Anya and when Emily starts to improve Anya’s life, readers may even be envious that they don’t have a ghostly pal. However, a dark twist occurs that causes Anya to give thanks for her typical teenage life. Thus causing the reader to do the same. I found the investigations into Emily’s past to be the most interesting aspect of the graphic novel. Overall, this graphic novel teaches a good lesson while remaining interesting and a bit eerie.

Can Anyone Even TRY to Write a Biography Worth of Hoover's Insanity?

I love graphic novels. I think that they’re a fantastic medium to explore a multitude of topics. Sadly, besides memoirs, there are very few nonfiction graphic novels (I am aware of the contradiction in that statement). So when I stumbled upon Rick Geary’s graphic biographies, I felt like the graphic novel deities had granted my wish. Sadly, I don’t think that this series is all that it’s cracked up to be. In fact, I would stick to his series on Victorian era murders.

I am not going to rely the entire biography of J. Edgar Hoover here. If you’re interested in his life, go see the new movie or Google it. Instead, this review is going to focus on this specific biography. Like Geary’s work in his other series, his graphics are used to illustrate the very dry text that he supplies. In fact, the book reads more like a timeline than an enthralling biography. At just about 100 pages, there really isn’t enough room to really delve into the conflicting aspects of Hoover’s character.

Hoover in 1959. Courtesy of the FBI

Personally, I had never read anything about Hoover so I was hoping to learn a great deal from this book. Unfortunately, the facts came at me rapid fire and I had difficulty remembering them once I closed the book. That being said, I think that people who are familiar with his life may enjoy this book as a refresher. The graphics are typical Geary but they somehow lose their charm in this book. Of course this is not a comment on all of his graphic biographies (though I took a stab at the issue on Trotsky and couldn’t get through it). For me, I’m going to stick with his previous series instead!

Similar Reads (but better): The Victorian Murder Series by Geary

The Bloody Benders -- Graphic Novel Without Being Graphic

I know that I said the Axeman of New Orleans was the best in the series, but I lied! Bloody Benders is by far the best. The illustrations are far more complex and intriguing. The story kept me hooked and strapped to my seat. In all due honesty, I had never heard of the Bloody Benders so some of my excitement could have come from being introduced to the legend. Still, this adaptation of the legend is very intriguing and perfectly fits the mysterious story.

In case you're like me and don't know the story, I'll rely it here. In 1870, John Bender Jr. and John Bender Sr. staked their claim in Kansas along the Osage Trail. Within a year, they have built a house, a grocery store and have sent for their family. The parents speak very little English and count on their beautiful daughter, Kate, to help them survive. The family dabbles in spiritualism and holds seances that have the potential to become violent. Yet, it isn’t until dead bodies start appearing in nearby towns that the Benders become #1 on the suspect list. That is if only the authorities can find them.

I absolutely love the graphics in this book; they're stark and eerie. Though they're in black and white, Geary is able to solicit great emotion and depth. The illustrations are simple, but they're far from being dull or drab. The clean lines and use of black and white (even without any gray) work well with the subject matter and atmosphere of the empty and vulnerable prairie.

Illustration of the Benders' Cabin Contraption

This one is a bit different because from the rest of the series because the murders are clearly known. Instead, the mystery is where the Bender’s fled to and if they will ever be found. Still, like the other issues in the series, it is like watching an episode of unsolved mysteries with a little bit of a history lesson.


Similar Reads: The Rest of the Victorian Murders Series

Dotter of Her Father's Eyes -- the FANTASTIC double entendre is just the beginning

Though I haven’t read a single page written by James Joyce, I have always been fascinated by him and his life. It is for this reason that when I saw a graphic novel was coming out about Joyce and the relationship with his daughter, I knew that I had to get my hands on it. I was not disappointed. In fact, I intend on buying more copies to give out to friends and family because I think this graphic novel has an audience wider that Joyce fans or graphic novel readers.

This graphic novel actually tells two stories; that of Mary Talbot and that of Lucia Joyce. Mary, the author of the graphic novel, had a tumultuous and at times an abusive upbringing. Her father was one of the leading Joycean scholars who suffered from depressive bouts and violent outbursts. Interwoven with Mary’s story is that of Lucia Joyce who has a similar relationship to her own father as Mary had to hers. For those who do not know about Lucia’s history, she was a free spirit who was misunderstood by her parents and therefore suffered a tortuous life.

There are striking similarities between Lucia and Mary who both came of age during pivotal times in history; Mary during the 1950s and 1960s right on the cusp of women’s liberation, and Lucia during the 1930s which socially mirrored that of the 1960s with changing roles for women. Yet both women are hindered by their parents’ own failed dreams and subsequent anger which kept them from encouraging their daughters. Instead, they wished to see them cloistered in a traditional setting despite the societal changes that were taken place. Both of their fathers struggled intellectually and this was played out in their troubled relationships with their daughters; forever changing their daughters’ lives.

The illustrations are absolutely gorgeous and adds greatly to the story. Lucia’s story is told in illustrations that are defined but blend into each other as memories typically do. This was an interesting technique and very effective for her story.  Mary’s story is told in sepia while Joyce’s story is told in shades of blue. This technique works perfectly as sepia brings to mind old photographs while shades of blue conjures up melancholy feelings which fits each story. There are images of “today” which are in full color and have very defined panels. This only adds to the feeling of remembrance in the other sections.

James Joyce ca. 1918

At under 100 pages, this graphic novel accomplishes a great deal in very little space. There is not a wasted word or image. This is quite possibly the best graphic novel I have read all year. If you know anything about me, you know that Seth is my favorite graphic novelist...well now he has some serious competition as this book rivals my love for Seth’s work. I am buying a copy for every woman, literature-lover, and historian in my life (which is basically everyone in my life...). Though I have seen this labeled as a children’s book in various places, it is far from it. It is more mild than other graphic novels but it certainly deals with issues of abuse and mental illness which is for a more advanced audience. I really think that this graphic novel will appeal to graphic novel readers and non-readers alike. The book is very approachable and the story flows easily without any jarring transitions that could throw off those who are not typically readers of graphic novels.

Similar Reads: The Fun Home