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Graphic Novels & Comics April 2016
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Hello there! My name is Patrick Holt, and I'm a librarian at Southwest Regional Library. I'm also a lifelong reader of comics and graphic novels. Check out the contents of this month's newsletter in the box to the left, and get access to past editions in the archive at the bottom of the page. I hope you find these recommendations worthwhile, and please email me at pdholt@dconc.gov if you have any thoughts or questions.
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Rosalie Lightning
by Tom Hart
From Vulture: "Graphic novelist Tom Hart and his wife, Leela [Corman, author of Unterzakhn], lived through a horror story. Their baby girl, Rosalie, beautiful and vibrant, like all little children, died unexpectedly — and without explanation — in 2011, three weeks before her second birthday. It’s the kind of thing often too painful to consider, let alone experience. But Hart, the acclaimed author of the Hutch Owen series of graphic novels, wasn't given a choice, nor did he have any option but to try to arrive at some sort of understanding — tenuous as it may be — by turning what happened into art. 'There was a part of me,' says [Hart] 'that realized I need to give my feelings some sort of form.' "The form of which Hart spoke became, ultimately, his new work, Rosalie Lightning: a Graphinc Memoir. The book recounts Rosalie's life and death, and their immediate aftermath. I know it’s only January, but I’m hard-pressed to imagine coming across a more emotionally honest and moving piece of art this year. It's the kind of book that’s simultaneously almost too painful to read and yet impossible to put down."
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The Owner's Manual to Terrible Parenting
by Guy Delisle
From the publisher: "Guy Delisle, the author of Jerusalem: Chronicles from the Holy City and A User's Guide to Neglectful Parenting, shares hilarious new comic strips that pay tribute to all the ways parents can drive their kids crazy, and vice versa, in The Owner's Manual to Terrible Parenting. Slipping grammar lessons into bedtime stories, being challenged by difficult toys, and pretending to forget you even have a son: it's all in a day's work for Delisle. In The Owner's Manual, Delisle doesn't hesitate to make a slightly bumbling, fictionalized version of himself the butt of the joke, though his children often contribute zingy repartee and laugh-out-loud insight in the stories on display here."
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Descender book one: Tin stars
by Jeff Lemire and Dustin Nguyen
To get cinematic, this book combine's of A.I.'s questions about the humanity and implications of artificial intelligence, a Dune-like vision of intragalactic politics, and the ragtag crew and sense of peril that would be at home in Firefly. Recommended, especially to those (like me) who find Jeff Lemire's drawing style to overshadow his more interesting writing. A solid science fiction adventure!
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Oyster War
by Ben Towle
From the publisher: "In the little hamlet of Blood's Haven, overlooking the Chesapeake Bay Commander Bulloch and his crew are tasked with aprehending the oyster pirates and their leader, Treacher Fink." Written and drawn by a Durham Comics Fest alum and NC-based cartoonist!
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Bardín the Superrealist: His Deeds, his Utterances, his Exploits, and his Perambulations
by Max
One of the strangest and funniest books on our shelves, Bardin the Superrealist documents the adventures of a bewildered little man as he journeys through the world of surrealist art and philosophy. As Publisher Weekly says, "[cartoonist] Max takes what can be impenetrable and uses some fine cartooning to make it accessible and enjoyable." Perhaps not for everyone... but it should be!!
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The Amazing Screw-On Head and Other Curious Objects
by Michael Mignola
Screw-On Head, a robotic head with a vast array of specialized robot bodies and sidekicks Mr. Groin and Mr. Dog, and he's been deployed to foil the nefarious plans of the nefarious Emperor Zombie! This completely ridiculous story was obviously written off the top of Mike Mignola's ink-infused, Lovecraft-obsessed, antiquated sci-fi head, and the world is better for it. Highly recommended!
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Supermutant Magic Academy
by Jillian Tamaki
Started as an improvisational webcomic for a sketchblog, this story about kids in a kind of Hogwarts / Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters mashup grew into a whole narrative of the weirdness of youth... plus magic... and superpowers. By turns hilarious, absurd, and heartbreaking, Supermutant Magic Academy is further proof that Jillian Tamaki is one of the finest cartoonists and illustrators in the field today. Highly recommended!
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Saturday, April 23, 2 p.m. Main Library - 300 N. Roxboro St. Questions? Call John Davis at 919-560-0125 Join our MeetUp group at meetup.com/graphic-book-club Enjoy comic books or graphic novels? Join us for the monthly meeting of Main Library's Graphic Book Club. This month we're reading HUMOR! Check out some recommended titles above.
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Ultimate Ladies Book ClubThursday, April. 7, 7:30 p.m. Ultimate Comics Raleigh,1301 Buck Jones Rd, RaleighThe first Thursday of each month the Ultimate Ladies Alliance meets to discuss a different comic or graphic novel. Join the Ultimate Ladies’ Alliance on Facebook for more info and to vote on your top picks for the next month’s meeting, plus suggest books for future discussion and share your favorites. April's pick is the wonderful Supermutant Magic Academy!
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Durham Comics Project: Drink & DrawWednesday, April 20, 7-9 p.m.This monthly meetup is for those new to comics and seasoned vets alike. The hardest part of making comics is often making the time to draw, so let’s make that time together! We'll have an exercise or two (often collaborative), but you're welcome to just come to work on your own thing.
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For personalized reading recommendations from Durham County librarians, try My Next 5! Simply complete an online form to tell us a little about what genres, books, and authors you like (or dislike). A DCL librarian will review your submission and reply with a list of the next five books you should
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NoveList Plus is a comprehensive database of fiction and nonfiction titles for all ages, including recommendations, articles, and lists for your fiction and nonfiction needs. DCL cardholders can access NoveList Plus from any computer.
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Check out the library's top ten checkouts! Lists include top tens for adult fiction and nonfiction, movies, young adults fiction, picture books and kids' fiction.
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Links to newsletters from the past year:
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If you are having trouble unsubscribing to this newsletter, please contact the Durham County Library at
919-560-0100, 300 N. Roxboro Street, Durham, NC 27702
librarywebmaster@durhamcountync.gov
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