Grace Notes @ Snarkattack

The first casualty of Spring Reading Challenge is…

*drumroll*

…a graphic novel called Age of Bronze: A Thousand Ships by Eric Shanower. You can take a look at it here.

Again, another edit to show it in its glory thanks to the discovery of aNobii – here’s the cover.

Now just because it’s a graphic novel, don’t automatically assume it’s for kids or something – I think this one is primarily for adults and especially those with an interest in ancient history and Greek myth. I loved it and if it weren’t for the fact that I had to return it to the library, I would have read it a lot slower. I might even buy a copy.

It starts at the very beginning of the Trojan war – and is mainly focussed on Paris, the man who Helen of Troy ends up running off with, and who is essentially blamed for the Trojan war taking place at all. The research is just astounding and the artist has consulted several sources aside from Homer’s The Iliad which adds to the richness of the tale. I love thoroughly researched graphic novels (Alan Moore’s From Hell is the first that springs to mind).

At the moment, I’m in the process of reading Professor Solomon’s Japan in a Nutshell and William Makepiece Thackeray’s Vanity Fair – the latter being my bedtime reading. So far I’m up to chapter 10 and Becky Sharp whom the action is focussed on has just arrived at her place of employment. She is to be a governess for a Hampshire (so think south-east coast of England. This would have felt like the sticks back in Thackeray’s day no doubt) MP’s daughters. Becky is a very pragmatic woman, very smart too. I’m enjoying the novel immensely even though it seems like I shall never make it through all 67 chapters.