When people think of graphic novels, they often think they are only for children. Here are some recommendations for titles that will appeal to your grown-up self.
Non-fiction titles are the most obvious choice to recommend for grownups who want to start reading graphic novels.
Palestine, by Joe Sacco, is a journalistic account of the lives of Palestinians under the occupation of Israel. This is a rare glimpse of lives whose stories are rarely told in mainstream news.
For Canadian content, try Louis Riel by Chester Brown. Riel was a political leader of the Métis people as well as the founder of the province of Manitoba. This page-turner will give you both factual accounts of historical events and entertain you throughout. Who says Canadian history has to be boring?
Autobiography is another genre, that when told in graphic novel format, can lend to richness of detail and expression that may be missing in written text.
An example of this is Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi – her story of growing up in Tehran during the Islamic Revolution. Satrapi paints vividly what Tehran was like during this time, and her writing makes her experiences relatable.
If you prefer your novels fictional, Super Spy by Matt Kindt might be for you. This collection of short stories follows the life of a spy during Second World War, and is written in a way that forces readers to become spies themselves.
What did you eat yesterday? by Fumi Yoshinaga is a series of comics that adults can appreciate for its slice-of-life portrayal of a middle-aged gay couple living in Tokyo and the many meals they share together. This series is best described as part comic book and part cookbook. If your idea of literature escapism is through romance, this series might just be the one for you.
More adult-focused graphic novels can be found at the New Westminster Public Library. For more suggestions visit us in person, email [email protected] or call 604-527-4660.
