2016 is definitely the year of reading and new bookish discoveries for me and one of those discoveries is graphic novels. I have one which is darker and halloween themed but this is the first one that I've been super excited about and the first one that I've read fully.
I was very kindly sent *
The New Ghost by Robert Hunter (£6.50) for review from the incredibly lovely people at Nobrow Publishing and I am very happy with it! Just look at it *stares*, it's so gorgeous. I adore the art style, it's unusual and just beautiful but minimalist too.
This graphic novel is Robert Hunter's debut and it's beautiful! The story is so beautiful, how many times can I type beautiful in this post. It follows a new ghost, who can't keep up with the others and becomes left behind. An astronomer, Tom, finds the ghost and they embark on a short but poetic and endearing journey.
There will be some spoilers now so if you don't want to read on, just skip to the summary! The story to me is so unique and special in a way. It seems that ghosts have the 'job' of transporting special people when it is their time to die to the skies where they becomes stars to twinkle and watch over the world for thousands of years to come, that's my interpretation, it may not be correct but that's what I took from this touching graphic novel.
Overall, I adore the art style, it's unique and gorgeous! I also adore the touching and endearing story too! This was my first graphic novel and I cannot wait to read more, as it's beautifully produced and so quick and easy to read. Overall rating: ★★★★★, 5/5!
I was also very kindly sent *
An Unreliable History of Tattoos by Paul Thomas (£14.99) which I was immediately drawn to because it's so eye catching and I have tattoos myself. It is equally as gorgeously illustrated and designed as The New Ghost. Both are beautifully published and very unique - this book is an illustrated and comic take on some facts, historical figures and tattoos. I adore the colourful, sometimes rude and ridiculous illustrations.
Some of the information is true and interesting for example: the ancient Egyptians had a method of tattooing and the tattoos can still be seen on ancient Egyptian mummies, also ancient Britons and the Picts were tattooing themselves with blue dye and the origin of the word tattoo comes from a Polynesian word 'tattawing'. Although some of it is satire and hilarious! I think this book would be an interesting and very unique gift for anyone interested in tattoos. Overall rating: ★★★★★, 5/5!
Have you read any graphic novels or illustrated books? What are you currently reading?
