3 Books in 3 Days…

Or a close proximity thereof. I promised references to comics and graphic novels, and I aim to fulfill that promise here today.

A week ago – I had the pleasure of scrounging through my local MCL branch – Rockwood’s graphic novel section. It was larger than I thought it would be (back in the day, cb’s and gn’s took up a shelf, if that). The Trade Paperbacks were mostly out of order, so I tried to go for the one-shots and the Graphic Novels were sparse, but pleasantly surprising.

I scooped up two biographical novels, and one Wonder Woman TPB.

#1.  The first I read was: Ego and Hubris by Harvey Pekar.

I enjoy the writings and musings of Mr. Pekar – I own a few of his collected volumes – have read more than that – have met an Editor who worked with him – did a report on him in my Graphic Novel as Lit class – own and have watched “American Splendor” the docu-drama-comedy multiple times…but this was probably my least favorite thing Pekar has done. And that has everything to do with the subject.

Michael Malice is a total jerk-off. I hate self-proclaimed “geniuses” who spend their life treating other people like shit. The worst part – is how little accolade or credit he gives to anyone else for shaping the person he is today. Most especially his parents and grandparents get spat upon.

Autobiographies tend to be whiney, parent-bashing things…and this was no better. It was worse actually, because the main character was SO unlikeable. And becayse the character was terrible, I was hoping to get to the end of find some measure of humanity or emotional depth.

No such thing emerged. I love Pekar’s ability to humanize and deepen the most trivial of human interactions. Unfortunately, this dude Michael Malice – seems to be comprised of nary a human bone in his body. Therefore – his ticks and personality quirks were grating, and not ingratiating. He is the kind of person you want to spend your life trying to avoid if at all possible.

I would not suggest this book as a first foray into the Pekar or Graphic Novel world.

#2. The next graphic novel I read was “Fun Home” by Allison Bechdel.

A strange “tragicomic” in the vein of “Persepolis” – written and drawn by a lesbian woman from Pennsylvania. At times, a little whiney and melodramatic. I read this hot off the heels of “Ego and Hubris”…so I think I was feeling less forgiving with people whining about parents. I mean – seriously – at a certain age, I think you need to realize that your parents were people too, not simply vessels there to serve your every need.

The drawing was fairly *meh* – nothing special or specifically stylized – pretty basic Sunday comic strips kinda deal…but the images and facial expressions did perfectly capture the narration, and I enjoyed the bits of actual documents – letters, diary samples, photos – that Bechdel included.

Upon further rumination, I think I can appreciate within the story, a sort of cyclical tightening of examination regarding the relationship of Allison and her father.

Their separate journeys, their separate homosexualities, have a compare/contrast quality that is important. What I don’t think is important – is when autobiographical pieces paint parents in poor light. Which is what 2/3rds of this novel is. Only near the end do we sense Allison endearing any affection towards her father…and then it is mostly self-centered affection, having nothing to do with the man individually, but more to do with his plight as a gay man.

It was definitely worth reading – if you can overlook some of the “woe is me” aspect of the story-line.

Library Books 2 Go

My love-affair with all things Portland, Oregon – started most likely at conception, and only grew stronger at birth. I can honestly say that there is nowhere else on earth I would rather be.

My city/state is too evenly matched to my personality for me to ever consider leaving. Except, you know, I have. Considered leaving. And there is one thing that would drive me away from the 503 faster than I care to admit.

And that is the overwhelming need to get a MLS from an accredited school. PSU hosts a Kansas school on their campus – but that would mean another $40,000 in student loans . So, the alternative is to move up to Washington – obtain residency there, and chop at least $20,000 off my loan block.

I’m sort of waiting until I can get a few thousand paid down on my current student loans. Just for good measure.

In the interim – I get to play around in the Multnomah County Library system, and fall in love with gems like the one I discovered yesterday…Library2Go .

This is just one example of how libraries are flexing to meet the digital age, and doing so successfully. They’ve anticipated people’s desires to download audio files and play them on their iPods. It’s not longer simple enough to check out a book.

You need to download that shit.

Which is what I’m doing this morning. Not to my iPod, just onto my compy so I can burn it and play it in my car on my way up to Olympia Washington. I also have the ACTUAL BOOK – The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay – on hold at the library…but I need something to keep my awake on the road this morning. And it only took me 15 minutes to download, burn the CD’s – and hit the open road.

Technology never ceases to amaze me.

Much Love, Mindy C