Literary Exploration discussion

I want to know if it would be possible to use the illustrated version of Carmilla for the Graphic Novel category in the Insane Challenge?

I would think so. Wow, that looks pretty cool. I have that book on my to read list too, but have the ebook version.

Franky wrote: "I would think so. Wow, that looks pretty cool. I have that book on my to read list too, but have the ebook version."

Franky, I was actually looking at the book for something else and came across the illustrated version, available on Amazon in both Kindle and paperback versions.

I read Carmilla without pictures but think it would be very adaptable to illustration. Perhaps even better. As a lover of Victorian era writing, I love that someone would adapt such an old story.

I don't consider illustrated to be the same as graphic novel. It says only there is only 16 pieces of artwork in a 100+ page book. In a graphic novel every page is illustrated. They are very separate types of books.

Kim wrote: "I don't consider illustrated to be the same as graphic novel. It says only there is only 16 pieces of artwork in a 100+ page book. In a graphic novel every page is illustrated. They are very separa..."

Darn! I was trying to find something for the Graphic Novel category in The Insane Challenge that I wouldn't hate reading. Though I truly read a wide variety of books, everything I come across in this genre seems to be comic book and totally not anything worth my time to read.

If you like more serious/weighty books maybe try something like Maus or Persepolis.

There are some Graphic Novel suggestions for the non comic reader over on the Literary Exploration blog too

Kim wrote: "I don't consider illustrated to be the same as graphic novel. It says only there is only 16 pieces of artwork in a 100+ page book. In a graphic novel every page is illustrated. They are very separa..."
Sorry, I really meant to say graphic.

I loved Maus.It won the Pulitzer.

Persepolis and Maus are both very good. I'm not really a graphic novel reader usually, but I'd still recommend these to anyone

Thanks for the recommendations, as this is one of the genres I'm lacking for the challenge.

There are graphic novels (different from comics) for all tastes and many of them deal with more mature topics such as the Holocaust (Maus, winner of the Pulitzer Prize), growing up in Iran during the Iranian Revolution of 1979 (Persepolis), philosophical dichotomies, human perception and what constructs a person (Asterios Polyp, with the most stunning and innovative artwork I have ever encountered in a graphic novel), family dynamics, suicide, self-identity (Fun Home, Are You My Mother?), social ineptitude and depression (Jimmy Corrigan, the Smartest Kid on Earth), peculiarities of different cultures (Guy Delisle’s travelogues) etc. The Arrival by Shaun Tan is also amazing, but it's wordless.

I will be choosing my first graphic novel. Is Watchmen a bad one to start with? Loved the movie. I do like super heroes but am open to other kinds of stories. I have looked at the suggestions and am also thinking about Maus.

@Beth: I haven't read Watchmen yet (although I own it in paperback). The movie was great indeed and I hear it stuck very close to the book, so I imagine they're both great. I usually choose graphic novels mostly based on artwork. That's why I prefer memoirs like Persepolis, Jerusalem: Chronicles from the Holy City and Fun Home: a Family Tragicomic over Maus. If you like Art Spiegelman's artwork or if you're just interested in Holocaust stories, Maus is a good starting point.

Thank you for the suggestions Xandra. I will take a look at these.

I just finished Gris Grimly's Frankenstein, which was amazing. Grimly's art is very unique (he illustrated The Dangerous Alphabet by Neil Gaiman).

What I respected most was that he used Mary Shelley's text--and his artwork fits the story chillingly well.

King City by Brandon Graham

Definitely cool cats.

Julia wrote: "I just finished Gris Grimly's Frankenstein, which was amazing. Grimly's art is very unique (he illustrated The Dangerous Alphabet by Neil Gaiman).

What I respected mo..."

Signal to Noise by Neil Gaiman

Film art imitates real life and fades to black.