A Novel Alternative, Part 4: Graphic Novels

"A Novel Alternative" is going to be a four-part series here at the Forest Park Public Library Blog which will aim at suggesting alternative forms of literature beyond the standard novel or non-fiction. If you are looking for shorter materials to read while on the go, these options may be of interest to you. Or, maybe, you just want to try something different. Either way, we hope we can make you aware of some lesser know items we have here at the Forest Park Public Library. This fourth and final post will focus on graphic novels.

The Oxford English Dictionary (OED) defines a graphic novel as a "full-length (esp. science fiction or fantasy) story published as a book in comic-strip format." Graphic novels have seen a steep rise in popularity recently with the success of movies based on the books. The films Watchmen, Sin City, 300, and Persepolis all achieved critical and commercial success and were based on graphic novels. One of the hardest things to get past when approaching a graphic novel is the visual element; while some artists attempt to develop new forms of storytelling through the drawings and text (such as Frank Miller and Craig Thompson), other authors allow the art to remain more simplistic, choosing instead to focus on the story. This can sometimes lead to the art having a "Sunday comics" type feel which can make the content look less serious.

Another interesting aspect of graphic novels is the fact that they are sometimes collaborative efforts between authors and artists. Popular fantasy writer Neil Gaiman worked for years on The Sandman series with help from many artists, including Dave McKean, who penned the massive graphic novel Cages on his own. Acclaimed author Alan Moore has also collaborated with artists, most notably Dave Gibbons, who contributed the artwork for Watchmen.

The American Library Association (ALA) offers quite a few few resources and book-lists in regards to graphic novels for teens. The University of Wisconsin-Madison also has an excellent collection of online resources pertaining to graphic novels and their prevalence and place in the library system. Personally, my favorite graphic novel would have to be Blankets by Craig Thompson. The 550+ page story in stark black and white tells Thompson's life through semi-autobiography. The drawings rage from intricately detailed black lines to sparse, snowy grays, all of them helping to convey the weight held in the simplistic writing style utilized. Although long, the first time I read Blankets, I finished it in three days; it's rare that you encounter page turners in alternative formats.Check out Blankets and other graphic novels at the Forest Park Public Library!

Crafty?

I posted a while back about our new online resources, including a Hobbies and Crafts database with projects and how-to videos on a huge variety of crafty topics from Beading to Bowhunting. Now that resource has gotten even better. A long list of books has just been added as full-color PDFs. The new additions include fly fishing manuals, a bunch of crochet project books, sewing guides, and birdwatching how-tos.

Check out a few of these titles--you don't have to worry about late fees, and you don't have to go out in the cold! Once you enter your card number, click "Advanced Search," then "Publications," and search for for the title you want.

A Novel Alternative, Part 3: Essays

A Novel Alternative is going to be a four-part series here at the Forest Park Public Library Blog which will aim at suggesting alternative forms of literature beyond the standard novel or non-fiction. If you are looking for shorter materials to read while on the go, these options may be of interest to you. Or, maybe, you just want to try something different. Either way, we hope we can make you aware of some lesser know items we have here at the Forest Park Public Library. This post will focus on essays.

The Oxford English Dictionary (OED) defines an essay as "A composition of moderate length on any particular subject, or branch of a subject; originally implying want of finish, ‘an irregular undigested piece’, but now said of a composition more or less elaborate in style, though limited in range." Essays have long been divided into two categories, personal essays and formal essays. Personal essays tend to be exploratory and much less formal and can also be on almost any topic imagineable. Oliver Wendell Holmes (published during the 1800s) and H. L. Mencken (published during the early 1900s) are two of history's most famous personal essayists. Currently, there are many popular, personal essayists, including Augusten Burroughs, David Sedaris, Chuck Klosterman, and John McPhee.

Formal essays are very different from their conversational counterparts.Generally much more organized, informative, and impersonal, formal essays are often about such lofty subjects as politics, morals, and ethics. The Federalist - a collection of formal essays by James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and John Jay - argues for the ratification of The Contitution and is one of the most important publications in regards to the history of the United States. William Hazlitt's Characters of Shakespear's Plays and Ralph Waldo Emerson's Nature, which helped establish the trancendental movement in the United States, are two more famous collections of formal essays. Some current formal essayists are Maureen Dowd, Susan Sontag, Stephen Jay Gould, and Rebecca Solnit.

There are also several publications and websites that feature essays in both forms available either via the internet or the Forest Park Public Library. Salon.com and Nerve.com both offer editorial pieces based on current events and popular culture. The New Yorker also boasts collections of essays every month from new as well as established writers. All of these resources are either available online or at the library.

I have always found essays a very different beast than most other types of literature. They are generally based on observation and opinion, though many formal essays use research and citations to back up claims. Personally, one of my favorite collections would have to be Albert Camus' Resistance, Rebellion, and Death: Essays. In this often rousing collection, Camus discusses everything from the finer details of French politics, to the victims and repercussions of the Cold War, to his moral and philosophical issues with capitol punishment. All written in Camus' eloquent, simplistic style, these essays are among some of his best work and showcase his politics and ethics, stripped of their fictitious setups so often employed in his novels and short stories. Please be sure to check-out or request this collection or any other collections of essays that you may be interested in at the Forest Park Public Library!

Album Review: Two Suns, by Bat for Lashes

Bat for Lashes is essentially Natasha Khan...and Pearl. Pearl is the alter-ego Khan created for her second full-length, Two Suns, and all of the songs on the album revolve around Pearl and how she interacts with her world. Khan's versatile and beautiful voice drives these songs, immediately drawing to mind the earlier work of Tori Amos and Homogenic-era Bjork. But while Amos relies on more solo piano or standard, full-band arrangements and Bjork focuses on layers of manipulated and digitized sounds, Bat for Lashes go for a very minimal approach that highlights Khan's voice and the story it's telling. Look no further than lead-off track "Glass" and it's haunting chorus, complete with tribal drums and a steady bass line to anchor Khan's soaring vocals. If this track as well as some of the others bring to mind the keyboard-heavy approach and rhythmic qualities of bands like TV on the Radio and Yeasayer, it's no coincidence; Khan spent a significant amount of time in New York City while both bands were garnering attention and positive press. Members of Yeasayer actually contributed music to Two Suns and helped with some of the production as well.

While Bat for Lashes' latest may seem a bit simple sometimes, it's beauty can be heard in the small details that Khan and her collaborators include; the bluesy stomp of "Sleep Alone", the rising digital beats at the climax of "Siren Song", the latter providing one of the most powerful moments on Two Suns. I would recommend this album if you enjoy some of Radiohead's less-commercial work channeled through a woman both vulnerable and manipulative in character and voice. Bat for Lashes' latest is not to be missed and was definitely one of the best releases of 2009.

A Novel Alternative, Part 2: Short Stories

"A Novel Alternative" is going to be a four-part series here at the Forest Park Public Library Blog which will aim at suggesting alternative forms of literature beyond the standard novel or non-fiction. If you are looking for shorter materials to read while on the go, these options may be of interest to you. Or, maybe, you just want to try something different. Either way, we hope we can make you aware of some lesser know items we have here at the Forest Park Public Library. The second post will focus on short stories.


The Oxford English Dictionary (OED) defines a short story as "a prose work of fiction, differing from a novel by being shorter and less elaborate; a novelette." Classic Reader offers some excellent classics from the likes of Anton Chekhov and James Joyce, two masters of short fiction. Also check out East of the West's Short Fiction page for some more modern examples of short stories. The Forest Park Public Library also has subscriptions to Harper's Magazine and The New Yorker, both of which can be checked out and feature modern short stories from current celebrated authors.

One of my personal favorite collections of short stories comes from Sherman Alexie, a Native American writer who has written novels, screenplays, and several collections of both poetry and short stories. The one that stands out for me, though, would have to be The Toughest Indian in the World. Alexie's collection follows Native American characters (although he often prefers the more culturally charged term, "Indian") throughout all walks of life; from an Indian woman who marries a white man and is worried about her cultural identity, to the strange wanderings of an Indian author who arrives in town only to be told that his host has left to spontaneously get married. All of Alexie's stories in this collection revolve around some aspect of Native American culture and identity, often making for a provocative and enlightening read. Be sure to check out Alexie's website for all kinds of reading suggestions as well as links to his works featured online. And also check out Sherman Alexie's latest collection of short stories, War Dances, which won the National Book Award.

Library Snapshot Day!

You may see a few librarians with cameras walking around on Wednesday, February the 10th, because it's Library Snapshot Day! We're gathering statistics, testimonials, and photographic evidence to show lawmakers how important libraries are to their communities. Stop by and be counted!

Book Review: Bluebeard, by Kurt Vonnegut

If you have read almost any other books by Kurt Vonnegut, you are familiar with his penchant for historical revision and incomparable sense of humor. Bluebeard, one of Vonnegut's more celebrated novels, is told through the one eye of Rabo Karabekian, a retired military man who also happened to be an integral part of the Abstract Expressionist painting movement. He lives on Long Island in a 19-bedroom house - left to him by his wife when she passed away - with his friend Paul Slazinger (an author and a drunk), the cook and the cook's daughter. That's it.

Bluebeard is introduced at the very beginning as Karabekian's autobiography, which he is encouraged to write by a strange woman he meetas on the beach, Circe Berman. Ms. Berman offers a trade; Rabo let's her live at his house and she, in exchange, will help him write his autobiography. This deal acts as Vonnegut's opportunity to tell us about the life of an interesting and troubled man. See, Rabo was a spy in the military. Rabo hung out in Soho with Mark Rathko and Jackson Pollack before either became famous. He has an art collection on par with most major museums. And he's creating something in the locked up potato barn out back. This barn and it's contents help reveal the title of the book but you'll have to read it yourself to figure out what Rabo is doing that must be kept so secret, not to be revealed until he dies.

An incredibly enjoyable and witty read, Bluebeard is certainly one of Vonnegut's best works, with memorable characters, bizarre situations, and a truely moving ending that ties Rabo's life and experiences together in one final statement.