One of the best things about Summer Book Bingo is how it challenges readers to step outside their comfort zones. Of all the different kinds of books out there, however, poetry and graphic novels can be some of the most challenging. Readers not used to a visual format can sometimes struggle to make a cohesive whole out of words and images, and poetry can feel so nuanced and esoteric as to be indecipherable, even if you recognize its talent and value. If you are ready to dip your toe into the waters of alternative formats, here are a few to get you started:
Cartoonist Eleanor Davis is well known for her spare yet incredibly evocative work that can twist stories within stories until you aren’t quite sure where you’ve landed. In You and a Bike and a Road, Davis uses a more conventional narrative to share her experience cycling across most of the southern United States by herself. It’s incredible how much she can convey with a few plain pencil lines and, in this particular book, she exposes herself with a raw and beautiful honesty.
Debut author A.J. Dungo offers a work of surprising depth with In Waves. A blend of memoir and nonfiction, Dungo recalls his relationship with is first girlfriend who died of cancer at a tragically young age, blending it with a history of surfing, the sport that cemented their relationship. This beautifully illustrated work uses simply drawn images with muted, limited palettes and, while certainly melancholy and introspective, successfully parallels two individual stories to create a rich and much larger picture of life lived to its fullest.
Wordless graphic novels take comics to their fullest expression, relying entirely on images to convey stories. I’m always amazed at how well some artists are able to tell nuanced, complex narratives solely with character action drawn on a two-dimensional surface. For an uplifting glimpse into this special subcategory of graphic novels, try About Betty’s Boob. After a bout of cancer Betty loses her left breast, her job, and her boyfriend in rapid succession yet what looks to be the worst day of her life turns out to be anything but. Vera Cazot’s lively narrative is in perfect harmony with illustrator Julie Rocheleau’s joyous drawings. Clever visual shorthand and nuanced humor make this one a standout and a real pleasure to read.
If you aren’t quite ready for a collection of Serious Poetry, try a novel in verse! This format that is used to extraordinary effect in The Poet X. In this National Book Award winner, Xiomara Batista faces a complex web of challenges growing up in her Harlem neighborhood. Xiomara’s tough exterior hides the heart of a poet and performer, and when an opportunity to share her poems arises she’s not sure she can resist, even if the consequences will be severe. Author Elizabeth Acevedo reads the audiobook and her performance brings the words to vivid life.
If you are looking for an intense collection of poetry that will grab you and not let go until you finish try Whereas, a National Book Award finalist, by Layli Long Soldier. She uses luminous, vibrant prose in her debut collection to challenge our very concepts and structures of language, stepping deftly between identities as a U.S. citizen, a member of the Oglala Sioux Nation, a mother, artist, friend and more. Powerful and evocative.
Perhaps you’d like to read something that could be categorized as both poetry and comics for the best of both worlds? Try Electric Arches by Dr. Eve Ewing, a professor of sociology and visual artist in Chicago. Blending a variety of formats and mediums, Ewing explores coming of age in a way that pushes the porous boundaries of storytelling.
For even more ideas, please see our #BookBingoNW2020 – Poetry or Comics booklist!
For more ideas for books to meet your Summer Book Bingo challenge, follow our Shelf Talk #BookBingoNW2020 series or check the hashtag #BookBingoNW2020 on social media. Book bingo is presented in partnership with Seattle Arts & Lectures.
~Posted by Summer H.
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