Suggested by Vega:
Last Saturday (May 2nd) is Free Comic Book Day! In celebration of comics and graphic novels, some suggestions:
- Do you read graphic novels/comics? Why do/don’t you enjoy them?
- How would you describe the difference between “graphic novel” and “comic”? Is there a difference at all?
- Say you have a friend who’s never encountered graphic novels. Recommend some titles you consider landmark/”canonical”.
I haven’t read any graphic novels. There are a few in my local library, but none of them appealed to me. What I enjoy most about books is the words and the pictures they paint in my mind. So graphic novels have little appeal.
As far as I can tell there is little difference between comics and graphic novels, apart from the obvious one of their format – comics are magazines and graphic novels are bound volumes. I love cartoons and I used to read comics and comic strips in newspapers and enjoyed their humour, so maybe I should do more than take a graphic novel off the library shelf and look at it, maybe I should borrow one and read it.
Obviously I cannot recommend any titles, although I’ve read that Neil Gaiman’s work is excellent.
I am the same as you really, I still think of them as being very childish. I hadn’t thought about Neil Gaiman when answering, I have heard that his books are brilliant too, might see if my library has some of them.
I can’t tell the difference between graphic novels and comics, but I do read mangas (though not as much as I read fictions!!).
I too have heard recommendations on Neil Gaiman’s work so I guess I need to check them out soon.
I have never read a graphic novel either but i can understand the appeal of them to children and young adults. It’s great if they can stimulate anyones interest to read. Happy BTT!
I’ve never read a graphic novel, but would like to try one. Today I’ll be making a list of recommended titles.
I feel the same way. I read comic books as a kid, but comics and graphic novels never appealed to me as an adult. I prefer a book filled with words
I’d be willing to try one if it caught my interest, though.
I have several, and find the artwork fascinating, with intriguing angles of city views or country scenarios or passing trains, as the protagonist ponders life, the universe and everything. For a taste, explore Seth’s work at drawnandquarterly.com
I don’t read a ton of graphic novels but I loved Epileptic by David B. It is incredible.
I’m surprised at how many people have said they don’t read graphic novels. I can understand why many book people don’t read it, the same reasons are given. But I would say give one a try, I was surprised when I read my first graphic novel, you may like them.
I’ve got some tips on my post about how to venture into the world of graphic novels, if you’re interested in doing so. I’m very much a literary fiction person myself, so I had to first get a glimpse into the artistry behind them and then I could appreciate them as a wholly separate type of art, rather than comparing them to novels (which helps me).
You can check out my post here.
I’ve just had a thought while reading your post: Graphic novels, et. al. are as much art as writing. So maybe we go at them the wrong way. Instead of viewing them as books, and a lower form of them at that, perhaps it’s more artist meets novelist and mash-up their loves. Hmm… it’s a thought.
That’s one of the things I’ve loved most about joining LibraryThing and the blogging worrld. I’m exposed to so much more than I was reading by myself, and because of that my library has changed and broadened
I must admit I don’t see much in the way of graphic novels, perhaps I am not looking in the right places.
I think I will try sharing my nephew’s Graphic novels!
My BTT post
I love my books, but enjoy my comics & graphics, too.
http://thebookresort.blogspot.com/2009/05/booking-through-thursday.html