I think I know why I don’t read many graphic novels. I don’t feel like I’ve really gained anything by reading them. With non-fiction there is an obvious additional of knowledge gained. With Fiction (at least good fiction) I come away feeling I have accomplished something and learned an interesting story. With most graphic novels, I think I feel guilty. Guilty that I’ve wasted my time reading something purely because it looks pretty.
Of course, with graphic novels like Maus, that is not the case. That was a deep and serious work, that was by far my favorite graphic novel of all time. However, with something like Guardians of the Galaxy by Dan Abnett, I don’t feel as though I am gaining any additional insight or learning from the story. But I still enjoy it.
After this, I’m definitely going to take a break from graphic novels for a bit. It may be time for some serious non-fiction to cleanse my palate so to speak. I checked this out from the local library and saved $21! Yeah!
Okay, so now that I am done with this, Im totally going to read more graphic novels. Not only was the art awesome, the story was really good. A little difficult to follow for me. I find it hard to figure out the reading order of the word bubbles in comic books. I guess I’m so used to the linear reading in regular books this throws me.
We are going to the library tomorrow, and I will be stoping at the graphic novel section again. Even though my to read pile is dwarfing my house right now. This gets 4 stars, because nothing can ever be better than Maus.