July 8, 2022
Welcome to a world where literary puns abound, and a degree in literature will get a nice workout. Dark robed publishers gather at midnight to unleash the annual Christmas bestsellers. A writer stares through a window at two birds, but the birds are not alarmed as they explain that procrastination is part of the writing experience. A couple's argument outside of a coffee shop becomes immortalized in multiple works of fiction as they entertain the aspiring authors within. In these cartoons, monochromatic art that is deceptively simple lures the viewer into unexpected depth of thought. Reading these comics slowly will be rewarding as one has to stop and digest each panel. The punchlines often feel like insider jokes aimed at publishers, librarians, and authors, so this will be a hit with anyone who has a deep love of the written word. VERDICT Gauld's (Department of Mind-Blowing Theories) literary comic strips, originally published in The Guardian, are sharp and range in their humor.--Mary E. Butler
Copyright 2022 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.