Monday, January 01, 2007
Monday 1st January 2007
Today we made our traditional expidition to Birslae Brae ( see January 2nd 2006 ). Unfortunatly it was a bit too cold and wet and poor old Georgie cried all the way home. On the way back we saw the devastation caused by last night's wind with the back fence down at the other end of the Court, trees and branches down all over the Pans and huge bits of polystyrene blown in from the building site.
As is also traditional some New Year resolutions -- for 2007 I want to:
As is also traditional some New Year resolutions -- for 2007 I want to:
- start using double hyphens for punctuation, like in Marvel comics
- stop picking my nose
- do another reading project, like last year's 12 books. This year I want to read another 12 worthy novels and erm, 300 old Marvel comics. I reckon that in two years I can read all the classic Marvel comics of the 60s and 70s
- stop ordering rubbish films from lovefilm.com. Also start getting some animes and other things that we can all watch as a family
- be a bit more relaxed about work -- consolidate my skills and try to enjoy myself a bit more
- blog more often
- update the design of this site and Monkey Loft Comics
- And perennial favourite, make more of an effort to keep up with friends and family
Monday, September 04, 2006
Finally, comics about Unix and maths
Sunday, September 03, 2006
Blankets by Craig Thompson
OK, so I'm a few years behind on this one ...
This book is a very intense read. I sped through it in two emotionally draining sessions and don't feel fully recovered yet.
To make an autobiographical comic book about being a lonely boy outsider work needs a lot of skill and honesty on the part of the author. This book really works for me.
Blankets is the story of Craig's first love, a girl he meets at Christian camp. As a young man Criag's love burns very brightly, for drawing, for his younger brother Phil and for his friend Raina, but intense passions can cool, as Craig explains by calling on Plato's Allegory of the Cave in a truly frightening passage.
Craig draws like an absolute angel and his love for his family, friends and home state of Wisconsin drives the artistic direction of the book.
The book has an intense emotional truth which took me on a trip through my own youth. I'm eight years older than Craig and very happily married to my first love after a separation of twelve years. This book reminded me of what it had been like the first time.
In short, I can't praise this book enough. Read this book, lend it, read it again. This is as good as it gets.
This book is a very intense read. I sped through it in two emotionally draining sessions and don't feel fully recovered yet.
To make an autobiographical comic book about being a lonely boy outsider work needs a lot of skill and honesty on the part of the author. This book really works for me.
Blankets is the story of Craig's first love, a girl he meets at Christian camp. As a young man Criag's love burns very brightly, for drawing, for his younger brother Phil and for his friend Raina, but intense passions can cool, as Craig explains by calling on Plato's Allegory of the Cave in a truly frightening passage.
Craig draws like an absolute angel and his love for his family, friends and home state of Wisconsin drives the artistic direction of the book.
The book has an intense emotional truth which took me on a trip through my own youth. I'm eight years older than Craig and very happily married to my first love after a separation of twelve years. This book reminded me of what it had been like the first time.
In short, I can't praise this book enough. Read this book, lend it, read it again. This is as good as it gets.
