Brompton Library Graphic Novel Reading Group

Hello and welcome to the Brompton Library Graphic Novel Reading Group mailing list!

For the next session, MONDAY 11 March, 6:30pm, we will be discussing Marjorie Liu’s contemporary fantasy adventure fable Monstress.

Set in an alternate matriarchal 1900’s Asia, in a richly imagined world of art deco-inflected steam punk, Monstress tells the story of a teenage girl who is struggling to survive the trauma of war, and who shares a mysterious psychic link with a monster of tremendous power, a connection that will transform them both.

“Marjorie Liu and Sana Takeda take eastern and western comics storytelling traditions and styles, and create something wholly their own and remarkable: a beautifully told story of magic and fear, inhumanity and exploitation, of what it means to be human and the monsters we all carry inside us. Also, some of the best cats in comics. A delight.” – Neil Gaiman

“If you want big, beautiful, terrifying, violent magic, Monstress is your next favourite comic.” – Cosmopolitan

If you have any other suggestions for the reading list, then please let me know and we’ll try our best to accommodate. So far we have the following for consideration:

• Casandra Drake
• Cry Havoc
• Full Metal Alchemist
• Barakamon
• Hellblaizer
• V for Vendetta
• Jaco the Galactic Patrolman
• The Legend of Wonder Woman
• The Flintstones Vol. 2: Bedrock Bedlam
• Uncanny X-Force Vol. 1: Apocalypse Solution
• My Brother’s Husband, Volume 1
• Bad Doctor by Ian Williams
• Out of Nothing by Dan Locke
• The Best We Could Do: An Illustrated Memoir

The reading group takes place on the second Monday evening of every month. There may be a pub quiz afterwards if you want to join in!

See you there! Bring snacks.

David Bushell
Library Customer Services Officer, Brompton Library

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Christmas overload already?

Escape the tinsel, mince pies and mulled wine madness with a good book- tell the family you’re off to wrap some presents, disappear into the spare room with a cup of tea (or g&t) for a couple of hours, and let them get on with Christmas  while you lose yourself in a bit of reading…

Yes, we have got the odd Christmas Romance…

 

And some familiar faces

 

But if you want to get away from the whole yuletide thing, try something different…

 

Or how about learning a few words of Japanese, Greek or Italian to wow everyone over the turkey?

 

We’ve got plenty of eBooks if that’s your thing!

 

Classics are always a comfort in times of stress

 

And if all else fails –

You can always go it alone

Merry Christmas everyone!

 

Brompton Library Graphic Novel Reading Group

Twenty-five years since THE SANDMAN first changed the landscape of modern comics, Neil Gaiman’s legendary series is back in a deluxe hard-cover edition! THE SANDMAN: OVERTURE heralds New York Times best-selling writer Neil Gaiman’s return to the art form that made him famous, ably abetted by artistic luminary JH Williams III (BATWOMAN, PROMETHEA), whose lush, wide-screen images provide an epic scope to The Sandman’s origin story.

Brompton Library Graphic Novel Reading Group

Hello and welcome to the Brompton Library Graphic Novel Reading Group. We talk about comics, graphic novels, web-comics and pop culture.

For August’s session (Thursday 4th, 6pm), we will be discussing cult classic ‘GHOST WORLD’ by Daniel Clowes. The book was made into a film featuring Scarlett Johansson, Thora Birch and Steve Buscemi in 2001.

Brompton Library Graphic Novel Reading Group

Hello and welcome to the Brompton Library Graphic Novel Reading Group

As most of you know, at the next group meeting (Thursday 5 May, 6pm) we will be discussing ‘Killing and Dying’ by Adrian Tomine.

Here is a review:

From the master of the small gesture, this collection of stories and characters comprises a fraught, realist masterpiece about the weight of love and its absence, the pride and disappointment of family, and the anxiety and hopefulness of being alive in the 21st century.

For June’s session, we will be reading ‘The Walking Dead Volume 1: Days Gone Bye’ by Robert Kirkman, who wrote ‘Invincible’ which we read before, and Walking Dead is now a popular TV series.

Here’s the blurb:

“The world we knew is gone. The world of commerce and frivolous necessity has been replaced by a world of survival and responsibility. An epidemic of apocalyptic proportions has swept the globe, causing the dead to rise and feed on the living. In a matter of months society has crumbled: no government, no grocery stores, no mail delivery, no cable TV. In a world ruled by the dead, the survivors are forced to finally start living.”

 If you have any other suggestions for the reading list then please let me know and we’ll try our best to accommodate.

So far we have the following for consideration:

• Democracy
• Trees
• Watchmen
• Diary of a Teenage Girl
• Miracleman
• Hip Hop Family Tree
• Pride of Baghdad
• The Bad Doctor
• Y: The Last Man

See you all soon!

David Bushell
Customer Services Assistant, Brompton Library

Brompton Library Graphic Novel Reading Group – Assemble!

From Christian Stevens & David Bushell at Brompton Library:

On Thursday 3^rd July Brompton Library hosted its first ever Graphic Novels reading group. We were discussing the frankly crazy yet genius fantasy graphic novel Saga (Volume 1) by Brian K Vaughan. The heat of the day was tempered by the special occasion refreshments and good company, some of whom we knew, along with some surprise visitors from elsewhere who shared our enthusiasm for the art form.

The first ever Graphic Novels reading group at Brompton Library, July 2015

It was easy for the flow of conversation to get started as we laughed about the very adult themes in the book and the funny content, as well as a collective admiration for the artwork and storytelling within, along with our own personal stories of discovering the joys of graphic novels.

In the end it was all good fun and the feeling of something more regular and established was begun, with us looking forward to the next event – which is today, Thursday 6^th August.

If you’re interested please come along! Don’t be shy. We will be discussing Chew by John Layman.

 

Free Comic Book Day in Kensington & Chelsea Libraries!

Celebrate and discover the amazing world of comics on Free Comic Book Day!

Taking place annually on the first Saturday in May, Free Comic Book Day is a single day when participating comic book specialist shops around the world give away comic books – and this year, for this first time, we are very pleased to have some free comics from Forbidden Planet to give away at some of our libraries.

Participating libraries will have a poster advertising they are taking part. It’s first come, first served, so if you are an avid comic fan, visit one of the participating libraries – Brompton, Kensington Central or North Kensington Library – on Saturday 2 May to pick up your special free copy.

Free Comic Book Day 2015: DC Comics Divergence available at Brompton, Kensington Central and North Kensington libraries.

What are we giving away? DC Comics: Divergence
A first look at upcoming storylines, featuring three 8-page previews for the June releases of Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo’s Batman, as well as Geoff Johns and Jason Fabok’s launch of the “Darkseid War” within Justice League featuring the biggest villains in the DCU – Darkseid and the Anti-Monitor, and Gene Luen Yang’s DC Comics debut with celebrated artist John Romita, Jr on Superman.

Rating: Teen

Why not join the library and check out the graphic novel collection at the same time? All of RBKC’s lending libraries have a comics section, including great Manga titles at Brompton Library. If there’s something in particular you’re looking for, check the catalogue in advance to find out where it’s in stock. Once you’ve whetted your appetite, you should know that there will soon be a whole lot more for you to enjoy, as a recent big stock buy means that what you see on Saturday is just the start…

If you’ve suggestions for future stock, we’d love to hear your views – contact Customer Services Assistant David Bushell at Brompton Library. and Happy Free Comic Book Day!

[Rachel]

A Visit to Gosh!

Gosh! A Graphic Novel Emporium

David, Customer Services Assistant at Brompton library, writes:

Friday the 13^th is usually said to be unlucky, although it usually turns out alright for me personally. The last one was no exception, as I was given the enviable task of visiting Gosh!, a Graphic Novel institution located in Berwick Street, in deepest Soho, to see what goodies we will be receiving from our local independent supplier.

Friday the 13^th (the comic book) was fittingly on display, as were a diverse array of other titles spanning all the genres. As someone who has long been a ‘fellow traveler’ of the graphic novel community, whilst not being totally immersed, I was pleasantly surprised by the sheer range and beauty of these books. Many are truly collectors’ items for a reason; much of the art is staggering, and there is often as much depth as any traditional novel or non-fiction reportage. It’s easy to dismiss Graphic Novels as merely famous superheroes with their underpants on the outside of gaudy tights, but whilst this is a staple of the medium, there’s so much more to be discovered. Luckily for me and the good people of Kensington and Chelsea, a new range of stock will be coming our way in the coming weeks, straight from Gosh! and expertly curated by the personable manager of the store, Andrew.

We are also planning miscellaneous stock picks by yours truly and other members of staff, although input from our customers is most  welcome – so please feel free to let us know of any stock suggestions you may have! Also keep an eye out for Free Comic Book Day on May 2nd; there’ll be many goodies to be had! Watch this space…

A happy morning spent at Gosh!