The New Literature

I bought a book the other day, it's something I do far too frequently. I should really buy one when I need a new one to read but alas I'm greedy and not practically minded, I'm stupidly impulsive.

So, anyway I bought this book, it looked good. I like short stories I find it's nice to read a book of shorts between novels. I've just finished a great collection of shorts, No One Belongs Here More Than you, by the great Miranda July. Now I'm reading the Slash autobiography, hoping it's as good as The Dirt. So I bought this new book to read after that.

Wow, long intro, this is what interested me:
It's a book of short stories edited by Zadie Smith by notable folk such as Miranda July and Nick Hornby and wait for it Chris Ware and Daniel Clowes. Yes, there are drawn comics in with the typed text.

Brilliant.

For years now people have been yapping on about how comics are as relevant as novels (in a literal context) which they can be. Chris Ware (a few years back) won the guardian book prize, note the book prize not comic book prize.

This is the first time I've seen a publisher actually place them all together. That's progress that is. I don't know if the book is good yet as I've not read it but I know some of it will be good because Chris Ware and Daniel Clowes are unable to do bad.

Comments

[lauren]

i could be completely wrong, but i'm pretty sure the 2.13.61 anthologies have graphic stuff in with the texty stuff. and even if they do, i totally agree that it's about time there were more.
and charlie, if you're into that compilation, check out the one nick hornby edited a while back called speaking with the angel - s'great.

[Charlie Gower]

thanks for the tip. I'm investigating. CGI. Charlie Gower Investigates. That's my private eye name when I move to Ohahu and manage the security on a rich writer's estate.

[grumblemouse]

OMG - just saw the date on this and I must have bought it the same day - its really good although am only half way through