Junko Mizuno is a Japanese artist whose style is usually described as “Gothic kawaii”. Her illustrations are cute and childish but also erotic and grotesque. After Cinderalla and Hansel and Gretel, Princess Mermaid is her third and darkest retelling of a classic fairytale, and the one that differs the most from the original version (I’m referring to the Hans Christian Andersen story, not the sanitized Disney version). Princess Mermaid tells the story of three mermaid sisters who have sworn to avenge the death of their […]
Where’d You Go, Maria Semple
The more I think about this book the less I like it. Today Will Be Different is the story of a single day in the life of Eleanor Flood. Eleanor is trying to be the best version of herself. She has plans to make this day perfect. She is going to be present. She is going to be a better mom, a better wife, a better friend. Eleanor is not a bad person, she’s just a bit of a mess. But her plan begins to […]
Something Different
This is probably the first book I’ve read that falls under the category “experimental literature.” Rich Ives has written what seems to be a series of connected vignettes, each introduced with a diagram by Nils Davey and concluded with an illustration from Jack Callil. Each chapter is named for its diagrams, each of which illustrates a common tool. Even the final chapter, “Ghost Twins” shows a tool, though a more complex one: “the twins may not reveal their purpose easily.” It’s a strange read if, like me, you’re […]