3 posts tagged “travel”
Obtained: Simon & Schuster booth at NY Comic-Con
Finished: 09-February 2009
Story Synopsis:
Through delightful drawings, photographs, and musings, twenty-three-year-old Lucy Knisley documents a six-week trip she and her mother took to Paris when each was facing a milestone birthday. With a quirky flat in the fifth arrondissement as their home base, they set out to explore all the city has to offer, watching fireworks over the Eiffel Tower on New Year's Eve, visiting Oscar Wilde's grave, loafing at cafés, and, of course, drinking delicious French milk. What results is not only a sweet and savory journey through the City of Light but a moving, personal look at a mother-daughter relationship.
Commentary:
I first discovered Lucy Knisley at her table at the MoCCA fest in 2008. Her art looked extremely cute, and being the wannabe foodie that I am, I was amused that she was selling a "cheese" shirt. So, I looked her up and found out that this book was coming out later in the year, which made me excited since it was about two of my favorite things: food and Paris.
Lucy's experience in Paris is something that I would want to try someday. And she does a great job of detailing exactly what makes Paris enjoyable -- the museums, the art, and of course, all the wonderful food. I truly enjoy reading these travelogue comics (such as Carnet de Voyage and A Year in Japan), so finally owning French Milk is a great addition to my library.
I will admit though, that sometimes, Lucy's feelings towards things make her sound like an ungrateful whiny brat. I mean, she has a wonderful experience of being able to spend SIX WEEKS in Paris, and she wastes precious time whining. Well, I guess we're all allowed our share of existential angst...
Finished: 09-February 2009
Story Synopsis:
Through delightful drawings, photographs, and musings, twenty-three-year-old Lucy Knisley documents a six-week trip she and her mother took to Paris when each was facing a milestone birthday. With a quirky flat in the fifth arrondissement as their home base, they set out to explore all the city has to offer, watching fireworks over the Eiffel Tower on New Year's Eve, visiting Oscar Wilde's grave, loafing at cafés, and, of course, drinking delicious French milk. What results is not only a sweet and savory journey through the City of Light but a moving, personal look at a mother-daughter relationship.
Commentary:
I first discovered Lucy Knisley at her table at the MoCCA fest in 2008. Her art looked extremely cute, and being the wannabe foodie that I am, I was amused that she was selling a "cheese" shirt. So, I looked her up and found out that this book was coming out later in the year, which made me excited since it was about two of my favorite things: food and Paris.
Lucy's experience in Paris is something that I would want to try someday. And she does a great job of detailing exactly what makes Paris enjoyable -- the museums, the art, and of course, all the wonderful food. I truly enjoy reading these travelogue comics (such as Carnet de Voyage and A Year in Japan), so finally owning French Milk is a great addition to my library.
I will admit though, that sometimes, Lucy's feelings towards things make her sound like an ungrateful whiny brat. I mean, she has a wonderful experience of being able to spend SIX WEEKS in Paris, and she wastes precious time whining. Well, I guess we're all allowed our share of existential angst...
Obtained: Queens Library
Finished: 23-June 2008
Story Synopsis:
Famously referred to as one of the "Axis of Evil" countries, North Korea remains one of the most secretive and mysterious nations in the world today. In early 2001 cartoonist Guy Delisle became one of the few Westerners to be allowed access to the fortresslike country. While living in the nation's capital for two months on a work visa for a French film animation company, Delisle observed what he was allowed to see of the culture and lives of the few North Koreans he encountered; his findings form the basis of this remarkable graphic novel. Pyongyang is an informative, personal, and accessible look at a dangerous and enigmatic country.
Commentary:
Lately, I've been having mixed feelings about travelogues. Sure, it's nice to read about somebody else's adventures in a foreign land and to vicariously experience their travels with them, but there have been a few times when I would read a travelogue and become disgusted with the narrator's ignorance and negative biases instead.
I'm still working through what I feel about Delisle's observations of his time in North Korea.
In this era of political correctness and popular democracy, North Korea definitely sticks out like a sore thumb. Even China, once the shining paragon of communism and its ideals, has realized that it needs to loosen up a bit to the West if it wants to play. North Korea, at least from Delisle's comic, doesn't want to leave its sandbox. It's perfectly happy with the status quo, even though the status quo has been irrelevant for many, many years.
Delisle describes the monotony and sheer ridiculousness of the culture (whatever left is there to call culture) -- vast monuments built to honor the Eternal President Kim Il-Sung, and additional buildings built for the son Kim Jong-il. Speaking from a Westernized viewpoint, North Korea is a slowly stagnating wasteland, where the people are so afraid of thinking counter to what the government tells them that they're willing to put up with poverty and starvation merely to avoid the "re-education" camps.
I'm hesitant to recommend this comic as mere entertainment fodder. While I don't feel that the work is super politically charged, I think that this work should just be a start to other books that you may want to read about the state of affairs in North Korea. A comic should not be one's mere source of perspective for something as important as that.
Finished: 23-June 2008
Story Synopsis:
Famously referred to as one of the "Axis of Evil" countries, North Korea remains one of the most secretive and mysterious nations in the world today. In early 2001 cartoonist Guy Delisle became one of the few Westerners to be allowed access to the fortresslike country. While living in the nation's capital for two months on a work visa for a French film animation company, Delisle observed what he was allowed to see of the culture and lives of the few North Koreans he encountered; his findings form the basis of this remarkable graphic novel. Pyongyang is an informative, personal, and accessible look at a dangerous and enigmatic country.
Commentary:
Lately, I've been having mixed feelings about travelogues. Sure, it's nice to read about somebody else's adventures in a foreign land and to vicariously experience their travels with them, but there have been a few times when I would read a travelogue and become disgusted with the narrator's ignorance and negative biases instead.
I'm still working through what I feel about Delisle's observations of his time in North Korea.
In this era of political correctness and popular democracy, North Korea definitely sticks out like a sore thumb. Even China, once the shining paragon of communism and its ideals, has realized that it needs to loosen up a bit to the West if it wants to play. North Korea, at least from Delisle's comic, doesn't want to leave its sandbox. It's perfectly happy with the status quo, even though the status quo has been irrelevant for many, many years.
Delisle describes the monotony and sheer ridiculousness of the culture (whatever left is there to call culture) -- vast monuments built to honor the Eternal President Kim Il-Sung, and additional buildings built for the son Kim Jong-il. Speaking from a Westernized viewpoint, North Korea is a slowly stagnating wasteland, where the people are so afraid of thinking counter to what the government tells them that they're willing to put up with poverty and starvation merely to avoid the "re-education" camps.
I'm hesitant to recommend this comic as mere entertainment fodder. While I don't feel that the work is super politically charged, I think that this work should just be a start to other books that you may want to read about the state of affairs in North Korea. A comic should not be one's mere source of perspective for something as important as that.
What's the next country you want to visit?
Submitted by Schomer.
I never found any of Vox's previous QotD worth elaborating on, but today's intrigued me. Misha and I have been planning our mini-Grand Tour, with Germany and the Czech Republic on our list. I was just in Germany in January for work (Heidelberg and then a short vacation to Munich) so I want to experience those places again with him.
Our itinerary will be: Frankfurt --> Heidelberg --> Nuremberg --> Munich --> Prague
Between history, WW2, beer, castles, sausages, and more beer, this summer will be an exciting one.
