Comfort Reads discussion

I'm not sure this book qualifies as a graphic novel but it was definitely a visual feast. The Arrival by Shaun Tan is simply beautiful and the story is told completely through illustrations with no text.

My daughter and I like to read shojo manga (clean, teen romance style). My favorite series are: From Far Away, Volume 1, V.B. Rose, Volume 1, and I Hate You More Than Anyone - Volume 1. From Far Away is 14 volumes, but I reread it evey year.

Lee wrote: "I'm not sure this book qualifies as a graphic novel but it was definitely a visual feast. The Arrival by Shaun Tan is simply beautiful and the story is told completely..."

I think I could read the Arrival a hundred times and find something new to admire in it every time.

On a more conventional graphic front (but in two different genres) I love returning to the worlds of Fables Legends in Exile and Dykes to Watch Out for for every volume. Like For Better Or For Worse, both of these series allow their characters to age and grow and change.

I'm so glad to meet another fan of The Arrival. That book just blew me away!

Thank you for all the suggestions everyone.

I'm yet another fan of The Arrival! I'm not sure it's one of my personal comfort reads though, but I can see how it could be one.

Has anyone read Neil Gaiman's Sandman series? I love the other books of his I've read but haven't dipped into this genre before.

I loved the Sandman - I read them when they were still individual comics! The very first collection, The Sandman Vol. 01: Preludes and Nocturnes is not a great introduction to the tone and scope of the series. If you persevere through that one, they pick up from there.

ETA: Just as a warning, I wouldn't call those comfort reads either...

My favorite is the Mafalda series, I read all of them.

Funny, I've become fond of graphic works (usually for me non-fiction, not novels) ever since I read Maus I: A Survivor's Tale: My Father Bleeds History and Maus II: A Survivor's Tale: And Here My Troubles Began. The latest one I thought was outstanding is Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic, but they're not comfort reads for me. Perhaps I'll check out some of the ones you all mention/end up mentioning in this thread.

Skim by Mariko Tamaki. I scored a review copy for a magazine I review for, and it was one of the gold nuggets. I read it twice in the same day, and flipped through it for days after.

Oh yes Peregrine! I've got that one on my list. Glad to know you think it's great.

Oh, I have that on my to-read shelf too. I see that it's a school story so I just added it to my school-stories shelf, which I created when I joined the group: A Thrilling Term at Goodreads: The Girls' School-Story Group. It had gotten lost in the sea of books so thank you Peregrine for reminding me of this one.

Jeannette wrote: "My daughter and I like to read shojo manga (clean, teen romance style). My favorite series are: From Far Away, Volume 1, ..."

How funny you should mention it, Jeanette, because From Far Away is one of my favorite series as well, and I go back to re-read it at least once a year, too. My daughter and I are both fans of graphic novels and, although our tastes are sometimes divergent, From Far Away is one we have in common.

Skim is another one, Peregrine - we just discovered it last fall and became big fans.

Although they aren't as high on our lists, we also enjoy Her Majesty's Dog and Wallflower.

Lauren wrote: "Jeannette wrote: "My daughter and I like to read shojo manga (clean, teen romance style). My favorite series are: From Far Away, Volume 1, ..."

How funny you should mention it, Jea..."

It is such a good story, isn't it? My daughter and I are following a few series together, and she reads a few I don't. I'll check out your shelves for reviews. Makes me happy when someone else enjoys the manga I read. And, nice to find a mother/daughter that both read manga. My daughter's friends find me odd. :)

I'll probably check out some of your groups, too, Lauren.

I agree, Jeannette, it's a very under-appreciated series and it seems rarely has anyone heard of it, let alone have it as a favorite. It's definitely on my "will never sell" bookshelf.

It's nice for me, too, to find another mother/daughter who enjoy manga - but I think it's more likely that your daughter's friends are jealous that you two share an interest like this, not that they find you odd! But now I feel guilty that I've been rotten about updating my shelves ... I'll have to get on that soon!

You are right; they think I am odd in a cool way. They say things like: "I never thought I'd be talking to my friend's mom about manga!"

My husband bought me "From Far Away" as an anniversary present, 14 volumes in one swoop! He doesn't read it -- can't get into reading backwards. xp

Do you watch anime, too? (dumb question, I suppose)

I loved the Asterix comics when I was a kid (I read them in German). Later, I started collecting them in French, and, they are so much funnier in French than they are in translation (too bad, that I have absolutely no idea what happened to my collection, they were lost when I moved from Waterloo to Toronto).

"Do you watch anime, too? (dumb question, I suppose)"

Jeannette, there are no dumb questions, especially in the forums! ^w^

Yes, I LOVE anime. In fact, I started with anime. My daughter is fond of saying that I turned her on to anime (starting w/Miyazaki when she was a toddler - "Kiki's Delivery Service" was her favorite) and she turned me on to manga (Vampire Games was the first).

(ps - very cool of your husband!)

Gundula, I'm so jealous! Unfortunately, I only understand English and there are so many graphic novels I would love to get in other languages!

My husband brought a bunch of German Asterix with him and he and the kid love them! I've read a few in English (both US & UK) translation. The translators are amazing to get so many word jokes in so many languages! (Can't read French, unfortunately.)

A moldy sweater was not a fair trade for Asterix!

Abigail wrote: "For someone (ahem, like me!) who's never read any manga, is From Far Away a good place to start?

I've never really been much of a comics/graphic novels person, but recently I've really gotten into..."

I read teen (young teen, really) manga, so it depends on the kind of stories you like. If you just want to get used to reading right-to-left, I can recommend
YOTSUBA&! Volume 1 which is super cute, funny, and not complicated. From Far Away, Volume 1 is a good story and a mix of shojo and shonen (girls and action).

Abigail wrote: "For someone (ahem, like me!) who's never read any manga, is From Far Away a good place to start?

I've never really been much of a comics/graphic novels person, but recently I've really gotten into..."

For comics, my husband and daughter loved
Runaways, Vol. 1 Deluxe Hardcover.

Lauren wrote: ""Do you watch anime, too? (dumb question, I suppose)"

Jeannette, there are no dumb questions, especially in the forums! ^w^

Yes, I LOVE anime. In fact, I started with anime. My daughter is..."

I meant dumb, as in obvious! We enjoy anime, too. Have you seen Densha Otoko: Train Man (live actors, subtitled)? I love it!

Abigail, I think "From Far Away" would be a perfect place for you to start with manga. It's beautifully drawn, well-paced and the main character doesn't have what I think of as "stupid girl syndrome." The ending is also quite philosophical, so I enjoyed the message.

There's a definite drawing style difference between manga/manwha and American graphic novels so this may be a good place to find out which side your preferences will be (or both is good, too!).

Plus, FFA is already done so you could probably get the series economically on eBay or someplace similar.

I'm very curious about the manga too Abigail. I'm going to give From Far Away, Volume 1 a whirl!

Alright! I hope you love Noriko and Izark as much as I do!

Chandra wrote: "If you just want to get used to reading right-to-left

This might make me sound like such an old lady, but I think this would boggle my mind!

Lee - I can't wait to see what you think!"

right-to-left and down-then-up. Check out the how-to page at the end of the book (our page 1).

Oops, sorry Jeannette - but glad you like it, too!

No, I haven't seen it, but I loved the Train Man books so I'll look for it. My tastes can be a little quirky but, if you like Train Man, there are two Japanese live-action movies that I love that you may enjoy: "Otakus in Love", and "The Taste of Tea." I think both are hysterical!

Chandra, perhaps because it's mostly graphics instead of solid text, you'd be amazed how quickly you'll adapt to right-to-left format.

And I agree with Jeanette: there's a diagram in most books that give you the outline.

Chandra wrote: "If you just want to get used to reading right-to-left

This might make me sound like such an old lady, but I think this would boggle my mind!

Lee - I can't wait to see what you think!"

Chandra, if you are an old lady, I must be ancient.

Somehow this thread is reminding me of my daughter's favorite scene in the book Persepolis. There is a picture of her peeing while standing up and my little one is just fascinated with that picture. Sorry this is sort of OT but I find it kind of funny.

You lucky duck! Mine doesn't have it. Grrrrrr.

Abigail wrote: "Score! I've just checked online, and it looks like my library system has the first six volume of the From Far Away series... Yay!"

Let us know how you like it and how you do reading manga!

Lauren wrote: "Oops, sorry Jeannette - but glad you like it, too!

No, I haven't seen it, but I loved the Train Man books so I'll look for it. My tastes can be a little quirky but, if you like Train Man, there..."

Lauren,

I'm not sure which post the "Oops, sorry" belongs to! lol (Oh, now I see -- dumb question/anime). I'll see if those movies are on Netflix. We just watched "Linda, Linda!" (Odd school girl story.) We will watch "Millenium Actress" this week, too. Another great story.

We loved "Millenium Actress" - I look forward to hearing how you liked it. Our favorite by director Satoshi Kon is "Tokyo Godfathers" ... his "Perfect Blue" was a little obscure even for me.

So is "Linda, Linda" worth checking out?

Lauren wrote: "We loved "Millenium Actress" - I look forward to hearing how you liked it. Our favorite by director Satoshi Kon is "Tokyo Godfathers" ... his "Perfect Blue" was a little obscure even for me.

So..."

We loved Millenium Actress, too. It was our first with sub-titles, but that was not a hindrance. Very moving story, with just enough humor and unusual plotting. Very beautiful, too.

"Linda, Linda" is a silly teen-girl-band movie. Some cute/funny bits and interesting cultural insights, but the pace was way too slow. It was always like, "Is this movie ever going to end?" So, I didn't like it or particularly dislike it.

Well, Jeannette, your neutral position has convinced me to pass on "Linda, Linda", then, unless I'm really desperate for a movie. There are so many manga's and anime's out there, and only the second half of my life to see them in! lol

(ps - I have no idea what the plural of "manga" or "anime" is so forgive me if I just butchered that.)

Anyway, I just received two new manga this weekend that I have high hopes for them ultimately becoming "comfort reads." The first is "Telepathic Wanderers" and the other is "The Building Opposite." Wish me luck!

My daughter is studying Japanese, and at this point she hasn't seen any plural forms. I guess we can say it any way we choose.

I highly recommend Densha Otoko, really sweet, really funny! We also watched April Bride on a transatlantic flight in September. "Disease-of-the-week movie, a real weeper, but I liked it.

How old is your daughter? Mine is 15.

Wow, Jeannette, this is kind of eerie (but cool): I'm 51 and my daughter will be 15 in April.

I'll have to pick up Densha Otoko this week and give it a shot!

What day in April?

April 4

I am 53. My daughter turns 16 on April 21! That is cool. We are going to an Anime Con for her 16th birthday (am I a great mom, or what?). Her bff turns 16 on April 15, so both families are going, 7 of us.

Wow, what a coincidence! I took my daughter, her bff and bff's brother to an anime con for the first time last August and we had a ball - I'm sure you all will, too (yeah, you're a great mom)! It was amazingly cool to be in the midst of so many people who understood - even encouraged - our hobby. We're considering one this spring and then the same one next August.

We have to go to Minneapolis (3-1/2 hours) but I anticipate having a blast. The bff will bring her younger sister and they are planning their cosplay right now. I'm talking them into school uniforms, which is cheaper and easier to sew!

Wow, Jeannette, cosplay and everything. Good for you - you're truly a way fab mom! I'm sure you'll all have a wonderful time and I can't wait to hear about it.

Lauren wrote: "Wow, Jeannette, cosplay and everything. Good for you - you're truly a way fab mom! I'm sure you'll all have a wonderful time and I can't wait to hear about it."

Well, the 3 girls want to dress up -- NOT me! That would be a sight! lol

I was wondering if you were, Jeannette! I didn't, either, but I almost wish I had the gumption to do it (I'm sometimes reminded that it was thanks to people our age that anime and manga exist)... maybe I'll have the courage when I'm older! ^_^

You mean when we reach the crazy old grandma phase of our lives?

Right now I just don't think I could pull it off! lol

(lol) Yes, Jeannette, in fact I'm thinking of starting a whole list of things I'm going to do when I enter the "crazy old grandma" phase of my life!

I just broke down and ordered the third book in a series I started last summer, "With the Light... Raising an Autistic Child" by Keiko Tobe. (I don't know how to link to it here. Goodreads has it but you have to search by author name.)

I stumbled upon it by accident and didn't think it could be of interest but it reads so well that I was amazed how quickly I came to care for these people. And I certainly get my money's worth: each volume is about 300 pages long.

With the Light... Vol. 1: Raising an Autistic Child by Keiko Tobe.

Lauren, if you want to add a link to an author or book look at the top edge of the comment box when you're typeing and you will see "add book/author" and click on it. You can perform a search and there is a button to add the correct book or author. I hope that helps.