Monkey & Spoon

by Simone Lia

The second "animalia" graphic novel! This graphic novel explores the relationship of a married couple in an all-too-realistic snapshot of their everyday lives.
Monkey & Spoon is the second of three books that will tell the "tale" of an animal's exploits. All three books will be designed and formatted to complement each other. These books might be considered a distant cousin to the Big Little Books. Each page has only one panel, so that the reader can focus on the detail of each picture.

Genres: Comics

112 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2004

About the author

Simone Lia is a graphic novelist and a comics artist, and her work has been exhibited across Europe, including at the Tate Britain. She lives and works in London.

Reviews

[Matt · Rating 4 out of 5]

If a story about a stuffed monkey and an anthropomorphized spoon facing the difficulties of day-to-day life in a long-term relationship appeals to you, then I hope this book finds its way into your collection. Even if the narrative concept has you scratching your head, there's a good chance that this deceptively simple story just might bring a tear to your eye. Its themes are so universal and the quiet moments contained between the covers are so achingly tender, you'd have to have a pretty icy heart not to be a little moved by this story.

Simone Lia's child-like art nicely renders the emotionally complex relationship of the book's protagonists. It's worth flipping through the pages slowly and savoring each illustration and subtle facial expression.

This is the kind of book that's best left around the house for someone to randomly pick up and flip through. I guarantee they will completely ignore whatever it is that you are trying to say to them as they become accidentally engrossed in the trials and tribulations of Monkey and Spoon.