July 31 2021

Truly Tyler, by Terri Libenson

Truly Tyler

Truly Tyler, by Terri Libenson

Title: Truly Tyler
Author: Terri Libenson
Genre/ issues: Middle grade. Graphic novels. Friendship.

Shop local where you can: For Australian readers, you can find this book on Booktopia, or support your local independent bookstore. US readers, check out Bookshop.org.

I had plans to keep reading my Murakami today, but the headache that’s threatening to develop into a migraine has kept me laid up in the dark for most of the day. I didn’t want to let the day pass by completely story-free, though, so I decided to finish this delight. Truly Tyler is the latest edition to the Emmie & Friends series by @terrilibenson, and we get to learn more about Tyler as he teams up with Emmie to work on a comic for their art project. Both Tyler and Emmie are dealing with some friendship issues – Tyler has had enough of friends teasing him over his new “girlfriend”, and Emmie is worried that the people who are teasing her friend Sarah are looking at her the same way too.
I love the “story within a story” structure of this, as the alternate chapters from both main characters’ points of view are interspersed with the comic book that they are writing together. A great middle grade read, with a nice mix of comic/graphic and text elements that make it an easy and engaging read.

.

#TamaraReads #2021readingchallenge 117/2021

Happy reading,

Tamara

 

 

Category: Book chat, Children's Books, Graphic Novels | LEAVE A COMMENT
July 30 2021

The called us enemy, by George Takei

The called us enemy

The called us enemy, by George Takei

Title: The called us enemy
Author: George Takei
Genre/ issues: Memoir. History. Graphic Novel. Racism. WW2.

Shop local where you can: For Australian readers, you can find this book on Booktopia, or support your local independent bookstore. US readers, check out Bookshop.org.

They Called Us Enemy: expanded edition, by George Takei. A stunning memoir tracing Takei’s life and experiences as a Japanese American, interned with his family for the “crime” of having Japanese ancestry during World War 2. The deceptively simple black and white illustrations capture the historical trauma of this time, retold with the maturity of hindsight but still capturing the experience through the eyes of a child, excited by the train rides and the vacations and not fully understanding why everyone around him is so scared and upset. I’ve read a few different memoirs about this time, and I’m always struck by the complex emotions that they evoke. Wonder at the strength and tenacity that families showed to endure such treatment from a place they called home. Sadness that there was a need for such strength. Horror that people were treated this way – and moreso that they are still, as Takei points out as he parallels Trump’s orders around Muslim immigration at the beginning of his term in office.
Perhaps the key enduring message from this beautifully told piece of history is the importance and power of democracy. Of the impact of using your voice to speak out for what is right. Representation matters, in politics, in social justice movements, and in our media – which is something that Takei represents on a great many fronts. I’d highly recommend picking this gem up.

.

#TamaraReads #2021readingchallenge 116/2021

Happy reading,

Tamara

 

 

Category: Book chat, Graphic Novels, Non fiction, Serious Adulty Books, YA Books | LEAVE A COMMENT
July 5 2021

Watchmen , by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons

Watchmen

Watchmen, by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons

Title: Watchmen
Author: Allan Moore
Illustrator: Dave Gibbons
Genre/ issues: Comics. Sci-fi. Alternate History.

Shop local where you can: For Australian readers, you can find this book on Booktopia, or support your local independent bookstore. US readers, check out Bookshop.org.

“Who watches the Watchmen?” It’s a phrase I’ve been familiar with through pop culture, and when I started getting into comics last year, I kept seeing Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons’ seminal work appearing on best-of lists. On my first trip back to Perth in a year in February, Jacob bought me this stunning edition with the deliciously ASMR-inducing lenticular cover, and I have been fascinated exploring this depiction of an alternate reality, as the path of world events from WWII through to the Cold War was impacted by 2 generations of superheroes.
It starts with a murder, and the hunt for a killer, but quickly becomes a much larger and broader philosophical mystery that delves into notions of power, corruption and the meaning of life and humanity.
“A live body and a dead body contain the same number of particles. Structurally there’s no discernible difference. Life and death are unquantifiable abstracts.” A stunning piece of work that is deserving of its acclaim, and of the reread I’m going to have to eventually give it in order to fully wrap my brain around the enormity of it.

#TamaraReads #2021readingchallenge 105/2021

Happy reading,

Tamara

 

 

Category: Book chat, Graphic Novels | LEAVE A COMMENT
June 24 2021

Paper Girls and The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl (vol 2)

comics

Paper Girls and The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl

Title: Paper Girls volume 2
Author: Brian K Vaughan
Illustrator: Cliff Chiang
Genre/ issues: Comics. Sci-fi. Time travel. Mystery.

Title: The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl volume 2
Author: Ryan North
Illustrator: Erica Henderson
Genre/ issues: Comics. Sci-fi. Superheroes.

Shop local where you can: For Australian readers, you can find this book on Booktopia, or support your local independent bookstore. US readers, check out Bookshop.org.

A couple more comics off my huge comic TBR shelf! I’ve read volume 2 of both Paper Girls and The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl over the past couple of days, and I think there are as many commonalities between them as there are differences.
📚Paper Girls by Brian K Vaughan and Cliff Chiang is a kick ass sci-fi mystery comic about a group of newspaper delivery girls from the 80s. Think punk, Stranger Things, Stand By Me and War of the Worlds with some time travel thrown in for good measure. I love the non-nonsense get shit done approach of these fab 12 year old girls, and I am OBSESSED with the colouring in this comic. It’s unapologetically saturated in shades of pink and purple, and manages to simultaneously evoke the atmosphere of the narrative whilst playing with the stereotypes of feminine colours – this is a girls story, but there’s nothing weak or princessy about it. Or rather, these princesses take no shit. Adding volumes 3 and 4 to my Kings Comics cart, stat!
📚I’ve had Squirrel Girl by Ryan North and Erica Henderson on my radar since I first met my awesome friend Penny, but I only started reading it last year, and as I sunk into volume 2 I remembered just why I love her. She’s kind, funny, unapologetically enthusiastic, and a fantastic friend. Plus, she’s STRONG. Infinity War would have been a different film if they’d just tweeted Doreen to pop on over to “eat nuts and kick butts”. But her real strength is her empathy, which runs through every panel of this fab collection of Unbeatable Squirrel Girl numbers 5-8. Adding more to my cart? Why yes, yes I am. How did you guess?

#TamaraReads #2021readingchallenge 95-96/2021

Happy reading,

Tamara

 

 

Category: Book chat, Graphic Novels | LEAVE A COMMENT
June 18 2021

Heavy Vinyl, volumes 1 and 2

Heavy Vinyl

Heavy Vinyl volumes 1 and 2

Title: Heavy Vinyl
Author:
Genre/ issues: Comics. Feminism. Queer Fiction.

Shop local where you can: For Australian readers, you can find this book on Booktopia, or support your local independent bookstore. US readers, check out Bookshop.org.

I knew that a queer 90’s record store comic would be my vibe – but then you throw in an underground teen girl vigilante fight club? Hell yes! I read volumes 1 and 2 of Heavy Vinyl tonight and thoroughly enjoyed them. Clever, quirky, and with a fantastically diverse group of characters ready to take on the world and make it a better place. With a strong message about the power of individuals when they join together with a common purpose, and an underlying theme of the importance of music to communicate important ideas, this comic rocks. Quite literally, too – there is a killer soundtrack, and the action throughout packs a punch. I wish I’d been friends with these girls when I was a teenager. Hell, I wish I was friends with them now. Highly recommended.

#TamaraReads #2021readingchallenge 82-83/2021

Happy reading,

Tamara

 

 

Category: Book chat, Graphic Novels | LEAVE A COMMENT
June 17 2021

Pawcasso, by Remy Lai

Pawcasso

Pawcasso, by Remy Lai

Title: Pawcasso
Author: Remy Lai
Genre/ issues: Middle grade. Graphic novels. Pets. Family and relationships.

Shop local where you can: For Australian readers, you can find this book on Booktopia, or support your local independent bookstore. US readers, check out Bookshop.org.

Oh what a fluffy warm hug of a book this is! Pawcasso by Remy Lai is a middle grade graphic novel that ticked all the boxes for me this afternoon. A super-sweet story about Pawcasso, a grocery-shopping pooch who picks up a follower on his Saturday trip to the markets when Jo spots him out the window and follows him, intrigued. She runs into some kids from school who mistakenly assume this adorable pooch is hers, and she doesn’t correct them. No harm, right? Well, we know how these things go – and Jo needs to decide if she’ll risk her new friendships by admitting the truth. Funny, sweet, and beautifully illustrated – a highly recommended addition to your collection!

#TamaraReads #2021readingchallenge 81/2021

Happy reading,

Tamara

 

 

Category: Book chat, Children's Books, Graphic Novels | LEAVE A COMMENT
June 14 2021

Deadpool volume 1: Dead Presidents

Deadpool

Deadpool volume 1: Dead Presidents

Title: Deadpool volume 1: Dead Presidents
Author:
Illustrator:
Genre/ issues: Comics. Sci-fi. Superheroes.

Shop local where you can: For Australian readers, you can find this book on Booktopia, or support your local independent bookstore. US readers, check out Bookshop.org.

Deadpool volume 1: Dead Presidents is as messed up and laugh-out-loud funny as you would expect! In this collection of volumes 1-6, Deadpool battles the zombies of all America’s dead presidents. I can’t read this without hearing Ryan Reynolds’ signature delivery of Wade Wilson’s smart-mouth, wise-cracking superhero. A great Monday afternoon read – partly because it helped me stave off the sads about heading back to NSW tonight, and partly because I could recruit Jacob’s Deadpool collection to stand in for a photo!

#TamaraReads #2021readingchallenge 80/2021

Happy reading,

Tamara

 

 

Category: Book chat, Graphic Novels | LEAVE A COMMENT
June 4 2021

Labyrinth Coronation, volume 3

Labyrinth

Labyrinth Coronation, volume 3

Title: Labyrinth Coronation, volume 3
Author:
Illustrator:
Genre/ issues: Comics. Fantasy. Labyrinth backstory.

Shop local where you can: For Australian readers, you can find this book on Booktopia, or support your local independent bookstore. US readers, check out Bookshop.org.

“Through dangers untold, and hardships unnumbered … “
Jim Henson’s Labyrinth is one of my favourite movies, so when I discovered this series existed it was pretty much an insta-buy. I read the first 2 volumes last year and finally got around to number 3 today. Beautiful artwork, evocative storytelling, and an interesting parallel narrative that provides some context to Jareth’s backstory. Not the best comic I’ve ever read, but a completely enjoyable way to spend an hour or so on a lazy Friday!

#TamaraReads #2021readingchallenge 71/2021

Happy reading,

Tamara

 

 

Category: Book chat, Graphic Novels | LEAVE A COMMENT
May 30 2021

Displacement, by Kiku Hughes

Displacement

DIsplacement, by Kiku Hughes

Title: Displacement
Author: Kiku Hughes
Genre/ issues: Historical fiction. Timeslip. Japanese internment during WW2.

Shop local where you can: For Australian readers, you can find this book on Booktopia, or support your local independent bookstore. US readers, check out Bookshop.org.

I was in my early 20s when I learned about the internment of Japanese people in Australia during WWII, and only by accident, after my Canadian literature lecturer at uni gave me Obasan by Joy Kogawa to read. I read it in horror, appalled at the way Canada had treated their Japanese residents, and then even moreso when I learned the extent of this experience in my own country. How did I get through my whole school life and not learn about this? Obasan and its sequel Itsuka became the focus of my honours thesis, and still remain influential texts for me, as I often reflect on the impact of major cultural and world events on individuals, particularly children.
Displacement, by Kiku Hughes, examines this dark piece of history in the USA through the lens of Kiku, a teenager growing up in a world punctuated by Trump speeches and growing racial unrest. After visiting her grandmother’s home in San Francisco, she gets caught up in a fog and is transported back in time to the 1940’s Japanese American internment camp where her grandmother is being forcibly relocated with her family. Kiku is stuck, and witnesses the lives of people who were denied their civil liberties by their own government but still created a sense of community by and committed acts of resistance to survive. Beautifully illustrated and compelling written, this graphic novel captures the significant and ongoing impact of generational trauma, and the importance of continuing to fight for civil and human rights for all. A really powerful read about significant historical events, sensitively told and suitable for upper primary and high school readers – or adults who are smart enough to know that graphic novels for younger readers are worth their time.

#TamaraReads #2021readingchallenge 67/2021

Happy reading,

Tamara

 

 

Category: Book chat, Children's Books, Graphic Novels | LEAVE A COMMENT
May 30 2021

Wonder Woman Rebirth volume 2, by Greg Rucka

Wonder Woman

Wonder Woman Deluxe edition, volume 2.

Title: Wonder Woman Rebirth, Deluxe edition, vol 2
Author: Greg Rucka
Genre/ issues: Science fiction. Super heroes.

Shop local where you can: For Australian readers, you can find this book on Booktopia, or support your local independent bookstore. US readers, check out Bookshop.org.

Volume 1 of Wonder Woman Rebirth was one of my favourite reads last year, and started me on my obsession with @ruckawriter’s work, so I’ve loved finally getting to read volume 2 today after a serious hunt to track it down! This one collects Wonder Woman Rebirth 15-25, Annual 1 and the 2017 Holiday Special, and follows Diana’s continuing search for the truth about Themyscira, the mysterious Godwatch that are meddling with Steve Trevor and his team, and the gods that she has trusted her whole life. Stunning artwork and compelling stories – can’t wait to get stuck into volume 3!

#TamaraReads #2021readingchallenge 66/2021

Happy reading,

Tamara

 

 

Category: Book chat, Graphic Novels | LEAVE A COMMENT