More Than Just Words
There are so many mediums that feature more than just words and enhance a story in a multitude of ways. Examples may include graphic novels and comics, audiobooks, or even multimedia novels. On this day, we will be talking about those books and formats that move beyond just the words and use other ways to experience a story. Which books stand out to you in these different formats?
I am not a really experimental reader when it comes to format. Frankly I'm not crazy about e-books sometimes. I've never even tried to listen to an audio book! I know I should try it at some point, but I get so distracted. I'm scared that I would put it on during a long road trip by myself and then realize I'd just spaced out and not listened for the last half hour or something. Maybe I just need the right narrator? Like, Patrick Stewart or James McAvoy or Michael Fassbender or Clive Owen......
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Sorry I get distracted.....
What I read the most that is outside of the normal book format would be graphic novels.
I'm still slowly making my way through the Sandman series by Neil Gaiman and I've read Watchmen and The League of Extraordinary Gentleman by Alan Moore. However the GN that connect the most with me are the historical ones.
Just a few days ago I finished Max Brook's (of World War Z fame) "Harlem Hellfighters" about black American soldiers during World War I that have to fight with the French because the Americans won't take them. There's a review coming up on the blog in a few weeks about it, so stay tuned!
My favorite (or the most impact-full) GN I've read is the Maus collection by Art Spiegelman. There is a reason that so many people think it's amazing and that it's won so many illustrious awards. The narrator tells the story of his father's survival during World War II. What makes the story so unusual is that there aren't any people. Instead of humans, the different groups of people are all different animals; cats, mice etc. It sounds strange or even a little disrespectful, but it really gives you an unusual perspective.
I'm on the lookout for more good historical GN, so if you know of any let me know in the comments and I'd be most grateful!
I'm on the lookout for more good historical GN, so if you know of any let me know in the comments and I'd be most grateful!
I haven't tried audiobooks either but I love that picture. I would probably listen to one if they narrator sounded like either one of them. =)
ReplyDeleteI'm going to take any excuse presented to put up pictures of Michael Fassbender! haha
DeleteI feel the same way about audio books! I know some readers love them but I've tried samples and I always get distracted. I love ebooks though since it's a lot more convenient for me to read on my Kindle nowadays.
ReplyDeleteI snuck my Kindle into my husband's very long graduate school graduation last weekend, and that made me love my Kindle just a little bit more! :)
DeleteYou might like Carla Jablonski's Holocaust trilogy or the GN version of Bag of Marbles. There's a War Dog one as well. Interesting, the only GN history I can think of is WWII!
ReplyDeleteOh thanks for the recommendations! I put them on my goodreads.
Delete!!! You're reading the Sandman! Yay (: How do you like it so far?
ReplyDeleteI'm about 8 in, so I still have a lot to go! I like them but I feel like sometimes I'm missing big gaps of something but then I usually figure it out :)
DeleteJim Dale is a fantastic narrator, if you want to try one out. He has read for Harry Potter and The Night Circus, all were amazing! My More Than Words were audiobook recommendations if you'd like to check them out, I love audiobooks!
ReplyDeleteGreat! Thanks for the recommendations!
DeleteHi, Wesley!
ReplyDeleteLol this was hilarious. I can understand the distractions, and all those narrators you name sound great, except my problem is -why just LISTEN to them, right?! Haha. I'm not a fan of audiobooks or ebooks. I have read some great books that incorporate images, photos, drawings, etc. I've only ever read one graphic novel, but it was brilliant.
Have fun this week! -Adam
I was a happy camper watching the new X-men movie this weekend, haha! People around Armchair are mentioning so many great sounding books in different formats my already full to be read list is getting even fuller!
DeleteI honestly have no tried audiobooks yet! I feel like I would be super picky with the narrators D:
ReplyDeleteThanks for visiting my blog!
Alyssa @ The Eater of Books!
Yeah I think I'm too judgey and too easily distracted for audio books. Maybe someday!
DeleteHistorical graphic novels usually work well for me, and I really enjoy graphic memoirs, too. I loved Persepolis since it has a historical element to it. As far as the memoirs go, Lucy Knisley all the way! Relish is my fave.
ReplyDeleteIf I hadn't read Persepolis I would no even less than the embarrassingly little that I know about that time/place/conflict! Relish looks like the perfect thing to read over my lunch break!
DeleteI can recommend A Family Secret by Eric Heuvel. it's takes place during WWII in the Netherlands. there's also a sequel called The Search.
ReplyDeleteThanks Sullivan McPig!
DeleteGahhhh I need to read Maus ASAP! Your post just made me want to even more! haha And I know what you mean about audiobooks! I can only listen to audiobooks if I read the book before because then I know what happens already and it doesn't matter if I tuned out. And even then I rarely listen to them. I am easily distracted, and I would just have to keep rewinding the audiobook.
ReplyDeleteMaus is so good! The WWII element is really powerful but then there's the father/son relationship dynamic at play that really drives it home. Highly recommended!
DeleteI want narration by Liam Neeson! Ok...honestly though I've never done the audiobook thing either but I feel like maybe if I had one for the gym maybe I'd make more time to go. You know, if gym time doubled as reading time?
ReplyDeleteI'm pro-Liam Neeson in any form! That's not a bad idea for the gym though, especially because I can't watch tv while I run on the treadmill or else I'll not run fast enough and fall of the back...not like that's happened...more than twice
DeleteI have the same fear with audiobooks. I would love to listen in the car, but I'm afraid I would space out and miss most of it.
ReplyDeleteI'm never in the car long enough by myself either. Because it seems like an audio book would kind of have to be a solitary activity, you know?
DeleteYes, I'm not really good at listening to audiobooks most of the time but if there's a really good narrator they are a lot of fun.
ReplyDeleteI bet Mindy Kaling reading her book would be really fun. I might need to check that out.
DeleteI actually just got Harlem Hellfighters from the library the other day and am very excited to start it! I have read A LOT of comics... but can't think of any historical ones I've read. Oh wait... 1602 by Marvel is good. And it's written by Neil Gaiman! http://www.amazon.com/Marvel-1602-Neil-Gaiman/dp/0785141340
ReplyDeleteOh you are in for a treat with HH. It's so good (but also a good reminder about how AWFUL trench warfare is.) I loved Marvel 1602! Especially the artwork, so nice.
DeleteAll I saw in this whole post is Michael Fassbender... sorry. :-)
ReplyDeleteHahaha a common problem I'm sure! Shoulda stuck him at the end!
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