Books I read in 2019
One of my yearly challenges is to read as many books as I can, and more every year. This one has been additionally boosted by joining the book club at work which forced me to broaden my scope a bit and moving to London where I had access to Tonka's immense comic library.
Death - Neil Gaiman
Just a few stories centred around my favourite member of the endless. Short and sweet.
The Farseer Trilogy - Robin Hobb
These spanned 2018 and 2019 (where now I’ve started the Liveship Traders’ trilogy). Hobb’s fiction writing was praised highly by George R.R. Martin; that’s enough of a recommendation for me.
Stardust - Neil Gaiman
Proof that fairytales can be equally enjoyed by children and adults alike. There is a movie based on it which is, in my opinion, much better than it’s given credit for.
The View from the Cheap Seats - Neil Gaiman's selected nonfiction
This is a series of essays, introductions, and speeches by NG. I remain to be a big fan of his, and in this book, although much different than his fiction work, proves that he can dabble in anything he wants to write.
Ocean at the end of the lane - Neil Gaiman
It is simply wonderful. A personal story (an autobiography of sorts) which is completely made up. You can imagine each part being read to you slowly by Neil himself. Check out the talk at google about it here.
Note: later in the year I went to see a National Theatre play made from it, and for my money, it’s one of the best pieces of theatre I’ve ever seen.
I HATE FAIRYLAND (all 4 volumes) - Skottie Young
Gertrude's sheer bloodlust, combined with Larry's resigned sarcasm makes for a hell of a laugh. I've finished all 4 volumes in a day.
Art matters - Neil Gaiman and Chris Riddel
It's more of a zine than a "book" but it's arguably the most important thing I've read this year. If you read one book this year - this should be it. A lot of the "less traditional" office jobs require the more-than-average amount of creativity and this book reminds us just how important it is.
Michelle Obama - Becoming
This one was on an FB Boston reading list and it provides a rarely seen insight into the life of president's family, and a side of him public rarely sees. It is hard to read any book like this and not to think of it as shameless self-promotion. However, in the world of lies and uncertainties, I'd like to believe Obama was as cool privately as he seems to be publicly.
Transmetropolitan
This is a 10 volume graphic novel about a punk journalist Spider Jerusalem fighting against the lying president. I hated to love him and loved to hate him at times, but the books are filled with a witty political critique which is arguably even more appropriate today than when it was originally written.
Sahist - David Sala (orig. Le jueuer d’eches)
One of the most beautifully drawn graphic novels I’ve read in a while. The story is amazing as well: there is just a lot to love about this.
Jednog proljeca u Cernobilu - Emmanuel Lepage
Scratch what I wrote above - this is the most beautifully drawn graphic novel I’ve read to date. Every page and every panel is like a small artwork. Stunningly beautiful. Whoever is a buyer/selector for Fibra is doing an amazing job!
Povratak Zemlji - Manu Larcenet (orig. Le retour à la terre)
A collaborative autobiographical novel from one of my favourite cartoonists ever (author of the “Ordinary victories” series). A lot of fun to read.
Talking to Strangers - Malcom Gladwell
ruined Malcolm Gladwell for me. Here is a pretty good summary and a better review of the book than I could ever write. I’ll just add that, on its own, the book could be overlooked as an array of Gladwell’s traditional oversimplifications (although on what I find a very sensitive topic) but his comments and interviews regarding the said topics were what really “sealed the deal” for me.
Corto Maltese - Hugo Pratt
”Corto is an anti-hero who prefers freedom and imagination to wealth. He’s a modern-day Ulysses who takes us along on his travels to the most fascinating places in the world.”
Feathered Serpent/Dark Heart of Sky (the myths of Mexico) - David Bowels
The stories in Feathered Serpent, Dark Heart of Sky trace the history of the world from its beginnings in the dreams of the dual god Ometeotl, to the arrival of the Spanish conquistadors in Mexico. This was a very educational read before my failed trip to Mexico.
Tvrđa: Parada - Manu Larcenet, Lewis Trondheim
The whole series is hilarious, and Manu’s drawings really brought the stories to life for me. I’ve heard it described as “a mix of Conan and The Muppet Show” and I don’t think it can be much more on point.
Pet Bagdadskih Pripovjedaca - Vehlmann and Duchazeau (orig. Les Cinq Conteurs de Bagdad)
For the five of them, storytelling is a way of life. They travel to find the best story to satisfy the rulers and the folk alike. One more of the amazing editions from Naklada Fibra in Croatia.
The Night Circus - Erin Morgenstern
This is a wonderful book I got from Tamy for graduation. It has a very ethereal feel to it the whole way through which makes for beautiful visuals and a deliberate sense that while you're in that world, you're on a different plane of existence. I only really hate that the bookmark in my edition is blue - what a missed opportunity.
Factfulness - Hans and Ola Rosling
This is a wonderful book and a reminder of why we should be much more positive about the world than we are. It analyses systematic misconceptions people have about the world and provides a framework to consult next time we hear the catastrophic news. It also provides a few things to be genuinely scared of, which is a nice addition.
Ar-Men, zivi pakao - Emmanuel Lepage (orig. Ar-men, l’Enfer des enfers)
After reading the Chernobyl journal, I got hooked. Lepage’s drawing is just so exquisite, so detailed and artistic. Every panel can be seen as small artwork in itself. The same applies to the next one in the series.
Know my name - Chanel Miller
This was, in my opinion the best and most important book I’ve read this entire year. It should be a prerequisite for every US college student, especially in schools like Dartmouth, where sexual assault is still a common occurrence.
Extras: Re-read the Good Omens (Gaiman and Prachet) in anticipation of the much-awaited TV series. It's so funny, that I might consider starting every year with it (I don't know why it took me 3 years to read it again). Also went through the Good Omens script book, which I got signed by pure luck in Forbidden Planet, London.
Also, I had the chance to read all Frazz comics ever published (18 years worth) - Tonka scraped GoComics.com for my birthday <3