Free Vacation Post #1 - Light Reading! (Patreon)

Hello loves!

We have returned from the shores of Cape Cod! And I've got all manner of photos and videos to show you and will be doing so every day this week! Plus, they're free to the public! CHOO CHOO! 

Once again I've made some changes to my profile feel free to check them out and tell me what you think but for now let's cut to the chase!

Over vacation we read a small mountain of comics. And I'd like to tell you about my favorites!

Kid Gloves by Lucy Knisley - This book is very personal, very entertaining, and very educational. Unlike a lot of autobiographical works Knisley combines her love of history to inform readers about medical practices, pioneers, and societal changes over time regarding everything childbirth! As someone who wants to become a parent (eventually) this book made the complex subject matter super fun and accessible! I honestly recommend everyone read this book. Period.

Crush & Brave by Svetlana Chmakova - These books (I have not yet read "Awkward" AAH!) are young adult page turners to the nth degree! They are intersectionally diverse! They are cute! They are well written! I could not put these books down. Chmakova doesn't pull any punches when it comes to depicting life in middle school - my wife and I both were triggered by scenes of bullying - but Chmakova's vision and characters are totally wholesome and every book has a satisfying conclusion delivers hope and understanding!

Pantheon by Hammish Steele - This book in entertaining and frankly gorgeous from the moment you pick it up. I have always been interested in Egyptian mythology but also knew it was quite complex. This book tells the tale of Horus, but doesn't take itself too seriously.

I could see how this book might rub people the wrong way. There's blood, dicks, and sex but mainly this is a white man's vision of a decidedly non-white story. I have friends who'd be insulted by the very idea. From what I understand Steele made this book as accurate as possible to the original legends, but since I'm not an expert I couldn't say if he succeeded or not.

HONORABLE MENTION - Brazen by Pénélope Bagieu - This is a collection of comics about women through out history. Happy stories, sad stories, inspiring stories! It is well done and well drawn and a big recommend for folks who are tired of HIStory. This is very definite HERstory. I would have preferred more than the one story about a Trans. Also there is not much breaking up the comics so the book has a somewhat relentless pace.

OK GOODBYE.

-Justin!