Graphic novels – New year, new format
NIKKI BIELINSKI
I’ve never been one for graphic novels, ‘cartoons for boys’, and all that, but I was pleasantly surprised to review ‘The Little Prince’ recently. This graphic novel edition was adapted from the classic by Antoine de Saint-Exupery. I thought the illustrations and text changes would detract from the story… instead the graphics added impact and a silent, haunting poignancy. I actually feel tempted to dig deeper into reading more graphic novels, and found an interesting review site called Grovel . Yes, I liked the name too… Apparently they took the words ‘graphic’ and ‘novel’ and played about with them a bit. They thought it sounded better than ‘Hicnov’. Fair comment.
I hadn’t realised I was snobbish about graphic novels… no more ! Library shelves, here I come.
Buzz about Books 
I know it’s biography rather than a novel, but I’ve always thought Raymond Briggs’ ”Ethel and Ernest”, the comic strip story of his parents and of his own childhood and youth, is brilliant.