Graphic Novel Book Club (for adults)

Choose something light or something dark in our double feature graphic novel book club. Join us for a discussion around two graphic novels with differing themes, styles, and tones chosen by two of our librarians. We invite you to pick one book or read both as we explore this art driven form of storytelling. We’ll share what we love (and don’t love) about both books and share recommendations of similar titles. Registration is appreciated!

Librarians & Books:
Justice
When it comes to graphic novels, Justice typically likes lighter stories that revolve around identity, an unconventional sports story, anything with romantic undertones, adaptations, translations, solar punk, and magic.
This month, Justice has chosen Strange Bedfellows by Ariel Slamet Ries. Physical copies are available at the library.

Michael
Michael typically reads the darker end of the graphic novel spectrum. From gritty takes on DC and Marvel superhero classics, to strange, somber or slice of life tales, sci-fi, crime, and westerns-–any story and its art that pushes the boundaries of what the comic format can accomplish.
This month, Michael has chosen The Many Deaths of Laila Starr by Ram V. Physical copies are available at the library. Digital copies are available on Hoopla HERE.

About the Books
Strange Bedfellows
In the not-too-distant future, most of humanity resides on its last-ditch effort at utopia: Meridian, a remote alien planet where you’re more likely to be born superhuman than left-handed. None of that is important to Oberon Afolayan. Since his mildly public breakdown, his whole life seems to be spiraling out of control–from dropping out of university to breaking up with his boyfriend, it seems like only a karmic inevitability when he wakes up one day with the ability to conjure his dreams in the real world. Oberon’s newfound powers come with a facsimile of his high school crush, Kon, who mysteriously dropped off the face of the planet almost three years ago and who is a little more infuriating (if not also infuriatingly hot) than Oberon remembers. Kon makes it his mission to turn Oberon’s life around, and while they struggle to get a handle on his powers and his disastrous personal life (not to mention the appearance of strange nightmare creatures), it turns out this dream version of Kon has secrets of his own–dangerous ones. Oberon might have more on his plate than he originally thought, but is giving up his dreams–even the one he might have accidentally fallen in love with–the only way to find happiness in reality?

The Many Deaths of Laila Starr
Humanity is on the verge of discovering immortality. As a result, the avatar of Death is cast down to Earth to live a mortal life in Mumbai as twenty-something Laila Starr. Struggling with her newfound mortality, Laila has found a way to be placed in the time and place where the creator of immortality will be born. Will Laila take her chance to stop mankind from permanently altering the cycle of life, or will death really become a thing of the past? A powerful new graphic novel from award-winning writer Ram V (These Savage Shores, Swamp Thing) and Filipe Andrade (Captain Marvel) that explores the fine line between living and dying through the lens of magical realism.