let's get graphic

Sam, one of the interns in the office, comes up to me this morning bearing a gift! In his hand was his copy of "Good-Bye Chunky Rice" by Craig Thompson.

Let's backtrack a bit...

A few days earlier he peeked his head over the glass of my cube and asked if I was "bookish". I looked up from what I was working on and hesitantly answered in the affirmative. I mean, yes, I read as much as I can but don't read as much as I should. I'm totally downplaying at this point. Then I ask Sam what was up with all the questions.

"Funny story, actually. So I happened to get to the office earlier than expected one morning and found myself walking down the street. Then I see the little Japanese place, Yorokobi. I was interested in trying it out so I looked it up on Yelp and saw your review on there...which coincidentally led me to your blog hence I asked..."

Wow.

Sam also knows I've been wanting to get into graphic novels more. (I still have my Death Note books to get to). We discuss graphic novel-ness whenever we run into each other in the kitchen or around the office. And being a graphic novel aficionado Sam has been kind enough to suggest things here and there. I've told him about my newfound love for the Scott Pilgrim series and he is kind enough to bring up tidbits about the upcoming movie and then some.



Which brings us to this morning. Sam thought I might enjoy "Good-Bye Chunky Rice". It's one of his faves and he really loves the artwork. I IM'd him later in the morning asking when he'd like the book back.

"Oh, don't worry about it. You should take your time with it. It's one of those graphic novels that you want to read over a few times. It's really good but the ending is really sad...just warning you."

I started thumbing through the pages then read the back of the book. Then there it was.
"an alternative-comics answer to Saint-Exupery's The Little Prince..." Ahhhh I LOVE the Little Prince!! Now I'm so stoked. Plus, I haven't been in the mood to pick up any of my current reads. I sometimes get what's like post-partum depression...but with my books...don't ask why. So being able to get through a graphic novel will help me get over that hump.



Before he left for the day Sam peeked his head over the cube glass again. "Enjoy the book."

I told him about the Little Prince reference. He nodded then admitted he had never read it. I gasped galore and promised I would let him borrow my copy.

"Do you by any chance read French?", I asked, "Because it's originally written in French but I have the English version too...and by the look on your face I'm going to be bringing in the English version."

My copy is now tucked into my bag. Now I just have to shake off that little "thing" I have with lending people my books.

It'll be fine, Liza. It'll be fine...

Check out Sam's stuff here:
Manga Recon
Damage --> MP