Nocturne

by Tara Booth

Nocturne is Booth's first wide release, following her critically acclaimed short-run debut, DUII. In his wordless graphic novella, Booth covers autobiographical themes of mental health, anxiety and consent. Unable to sleep, Tara takes too much sleep medication and enters a dream soaked fantasia. A vivid and moody euphoric journey where dreams and hallucinations intersect.

Genres: Graphic Novels, Comics, Short Stories, Graphic Novels Comics, Graphic Novels Comics Manga

64 pages, Hardcover

First published September 12, 2018

Reviews

[Denver Public Library · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have always had an infatuation with wordless books. As a child I would spend hours deep in the story of The Snowman by Raymond Briggs, able to create my own story within the one illustrated on the page. Tara Booth’s newest comic provides her take on the genre of the wordless storybook, spun through the tale of a woman looking for her perfect BDSM match. Through incredibly vivid illustrations, Booth uses a combination of marker and paint to illustrate the story of getting dumped by an ill matched pegging partner, taking a psychedelic binge eating trip from taking too many sleeping pills, and finding a new dominant partner all in the span of a what would amount to a children’s picture book. Grotesque, dirty, campy and a terrifically fun little graphic novel, this romp has me digging around for her other work and deciding which print of hers I need to own.

Get Nocturne from the Denver Public Library

- Hana

[Bailey · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Tara Booth and I love this trashy, beautiful wordless comic about finding the perfect match. I want every spread to be my phone background.

[Reid · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sometimes I have a hard time with wordless books but wow this was just perfect

[Molly · Rating 2 out of 5]

I struggled a bit with this one, and was glad that I got someone else to read it so I could talk about it with them. The book starts off with what seems to be an awkward sexual encounter, in which I felt she is shamed by her partner for her sexual desires; but upon more reflection, it seemed to be an awkward sexual encounter, in which she is confronted by her partner because she sprang something upon him that he was not expecting and which it seems they had not discussed. So... sort of an issue of consent. But the book ends with another case of consent- this one being completely explicit, though; 'don't touch my cake' means just that; yet in her sleeping-pill-induced, butterfly-led night journey, she sees the sign and eats the cake anyway. And when her roommate is mad, she gives her a gift and then they're okay. So... the message kind of felt like it's okay to do whatever you want, as long as you apologize or give a gift afterward. And I don't know that I'm on board for that. But I like the art style. And I could be missing something.

[Amory Blaine · Rating 4 out of 5]

More of an art book than graphic novel, this wordless story begins with a BDSM session. The MC introduces a toy her partner is not expecting, and he leaves, angry. The MC returns home full of regret and unable to sleep. A trip to the bathroom medicine cabinet brings a handful of sleeping pills that lead to trippy dreams and binge eating a cake clearly labeled Do Not Eat. When she wakes up, the MC's roommate is angry about the cake, and the MC apologizes with a gift: the toy from the first scene. The story ends with another BDSM session, this time between the MC and her roommate, now with full consent. The end!

[James Payne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gorgeous!

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bold. In every way. You will not be disappointed.

[Brianna · Rating 5 out of 5]

<3

[Richard · Rating 5 out of 5]

WTF Love.

[Jason White-Wiedow · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tara Booth can make one body take on so many shapes. And then the patterns. And sexy and sad.

[Caro · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was a bit confused on where this would go, but it was such an interesting surprise!

[Caroline Abigail :) · Rating 4 out of 5]

How did we even get here tho

[Kirsten Benson · Rating 5 out of 5]

i LOVE this art style

[Zemora · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m kind of obsessed with this artist

[Jeroen Swinnen · Rating 3 out of 5]

😅