Saturday, February 27, 2010

Prince of Persia by Jordan Mechner


This graphic novel is part of the storyline followed by the Prince of Persia video games. However it doesn't actually tell the story from the video games; it's more of a backstory. The book tells the story of twins, a boy, Guiv, and a girl Guilan who will rule Persia and a boy, Layth that grows up with them who is the prince of an enemy their father defeated. Eventually the Layth marries the Guilan, but other's interfere in the ruling of the kingdom and all end up dead or in hiding. The story then moves forward a hundred years or so to the love story of Ferdos and Shirin. Shirin finds Ferdos in a well, he is hiding in an abandoned city. At times the stories are told parallel to each other on the page so that the reader can see all of the connections between the two tales and their characters.

The story was interesting and the artistic style definitely fits the story, with vibrant colors and style that reminds the reader of the stories Arabic roots albeit in a superficial way. However Ferdos' confusion about who he is makes the story difficult to follow at times, and also makes it difficult to figure out when the two plot lines are happening in relation to each other. This is where the parallel story telling becomes especially helpful.

Thursday, February 25, 2010

Graphic Novel Day

Today is my birthday so I have decided to spend the day reading graphic novels and doing laundry. Mainly it's cause I love graphic novels and I have the day off so why not, partially it's cause I have something like 30 items out of the library and reading the graphic novels is a quick way to get some of them returned. If this weren't a work day for most people I would make it a contest but I know most people don't have the day off (I only have off because I working on Saturday) so instead you will just have to see what I read. I will post a list at the end of the day and probably post reviews over the course of the weekend.

(2/26) All of the libraries I work at have closed due to inclement weather so I am extending my graphic novel reading day. Yay.

1. Prince of Persia

2. Astro City: Local Heroes

3. Abe Sapien: The Drowning

4. B.P.R.D.: The Black Goddess

5. Oishinbo A La Carte: The Joy of Rice

6. I Kill Giants

7. Elektra Lives Again

8. The Wonderful Wizard of Oz

This is the final count, I will start posting reviews sometime later today.

Monday, February 22, 2010

Sorry for the Hiatus

I never meant to be away from the blog for so long but it's been a way crazy month. I moved (yay), got engaged (double yay) and had some other craziness occur, but I am looking forward to to begining posting again this week.

Sorry for the Hiatus

Sorry I haven't posted in a while but it's been a crazy month. I moved (yay), got engaged (double yay), had to house/dogsit in a house that had something in it I was allergic to and some other familial dramas. I plan on beginning to post again tomorrow.