Sphinx - Anne Garréta
The First Bad Man - Miranda July
As one of the first, reputedly, good books of the year, The First Bad Man holds a hefty spot on my summer reading list. I can't wait to insert myself into Cheryl Glickman's banal, neurotic world! After thoroughly enjoying her collection of awkward and often surprising short stories, No One Belongs Here More Than You, I'm eagerly anticipating how this might translate to a longer story. A general sense of disappointment in life and in people pervades July's universe and it's this very likeable quality that I'm counting on.
Heroes - Franco 'Bifo' Berardi
Colletion Revue #4
Collection Revue is a magazine about contemporary drawing. It's a completely bilingual publication (French and English) that presents informal, in-depth interviews with an array of artists working in diverse mediums from cartooning and painting to illustration and design and exhibits their work over several pages following their conversations. This edition boasts interviews with Leon Sadler, Daniel Clowes and a fascinating piece on street artists practicing aerosolgrafia.
Stroppy - Marc Bell
Drawn & Quarterly: Twenty-five Years
Whenever I open it, I get chills and that's just from reading the table of contents! Brimming with amazing photographs, writing, and cartoons this anthology alone could fulfill all my needs for summer reading. It contains stacks of unseen - rare - and never-been-published-before material in celebration of D&Q's twenty-five years on earth. If you read one book this summer, I suggest it be this one.
Garden - Yuichi Yokoyama
Garden has been on the shelf for a while now but this summer it's a priority on my list. Yuichi Yokoyama's Garden has frequently been described as "a bunch of fashion-forward humanoid characters wandering aimlessly through increasingly complex environments", "Manga 2053" and "Plato's Cave". Given its lush, architectural landscapes and diverse cast of humanoids I can't wait to venture inside.
For more summer reading suggestions check out Daphné's, Julie's, Kira's, Alyssa's & Helen's lists!