What graphic novels should I read? Although graphic novels have been a popular type of book for many years, people often prefer to read and buy non-illustrated books or their digital variants. This is the feeling I’ve been getting over the past few years. Ever since I got into reading graphic novels, I’ve sensed that people around me didn’t know enough about them, and in fact, very often wrongly associated them with reading for only a young audience.
The truth is that graphic novels are, in my opinion, a concentration of intellectual power and true art, managing to send important messages with the use of words but also of images. In this article, I want to introduce you to the world of graphic novels, talking about three graphic novels that are perfect for adults and that everyone should have in their library.
What graphic novels should I read?
Pyongyang, New York, Palestine.
Pyongyang, New York, Palestine. So far away but also so intense to live and tell.
What they have in common is that they were described by 3 of the most important illustrators/authors of all time.
Respectively, Guy Delisle, Will Eisner and Joe Sacco tell us about particular dynamics that took place in those places. They allow us to visit and know those places through their eyes and their pencils, looking at them from their point of view and with the power of their illustrations. What else to say… three books by three authors that must be on every bookshelf!
Pyongyang by Guy Delisle
Pyongyang is a work by Canadian cartoonist Guy Delisle. In his graphic novels, the author through his illustrations allows us to visit places like Jerusalem, Shenzhen, Myanmar (formerly Burma) or Pyongyang through his experience. After living for months in Pyongyang for work, he decided to tell that experience and life in North Korea through his illustrations.
Such a censored and unknown place is told for the first time in a graphic novels and the result is exceptional.
New York by Will Eisner
New York by Will Eisner has entered my heart. The power of this book is indescribable. Will Eisner is a master, his illustrations are works of art and every single pencil stroke manages to convey the exact feeling that character is feeling at that moment. As a drawing lover and art enthusiast – Will Eisner’s New York is and will remain a masterpiece and definitely on the list of my favorite books.
In this book, as you can easily guess from the title, New York is the main character. Four graphic novels are collected such as: New York: the Great City , the Palace, City People Notebook and Invisible People.
In them, we find both short vignettes as in New York: the big city or City People Notebook and stories as in the Palace or Invisible People. In each, however, we find well described the indifferent side of the big city that turns a cold eye to the lives of its citizens.
Palestine by Joe Sacco
Palestine by Joe Sacco is another must. This book describes the events and testimonies of the First Intifada that was about to end during Joe Sacco’s stay in Palestine. In fact, I should include many other Joe Sacco books in this list, such as Paying the lan or Footnotes in Gaza. His journalistic style is unique, so I would say that among nonfiction graphic novels there has to be at least one Joe Sacco book.
Enjoy your reading
