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Love in Vain
Love in Vain: Robert Johnson 1911-1938, the graphic novel | J. M. Dupont
5 posts | 4 read
From 'Crossroads Blues' to 'Sweet Home Chicago', 'Hellhound on My Trail' to 'Come On In My Kitchen', Robert Johnson wrote some of the most enduring and formative songs of the original blues era, songs that would go on to help shape the birth of rock'n'roll in the 1960s. Beloved of Clapton, Dylan and the Stones, Robert Johnson remains one of the most iconic and mythologised figures in popular music (and the first of many to die at the age of 27). Born in the in the South in Mississippi, Johnson made his way to the urban North as a travelling musician, but it was only when he returned to the South that he recorded the twenty-nine songs, in two sessions, which would create his legacy. Exploring the stories and legends that surround his life and death - his childhood, his womanising, his pact with the devil at the crossroads - Mezzo and DuPont have produced a fittingly creative and beautiful depiction of this most extraordinary life.
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Bookwomble
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Pickpick

Yep, this was a fantastic graphic biography. The authors don't flinch from presenting Johnson's troubled life, and his misogynistic and abusive treatment of women, so TW for those things, whilst recognising his musical genius and enduring legacy.
There was some random rhyming in the text, and I'd have preferred it either to have all been in verse, or not at all, but that's my only gripe.

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Bookwomble
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"Poor Robert, your life ended in tragedy
Which the angels must consider well deserved
But before judgement is served,
They need to understand your choice
To be a sinner with a demonic voice
And why you burned your life to Hell,
This is the tale I'm here to tell."
#FirstLineFridays @ShyBookOwl

[A day late ? Don't tell!]

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Bookwomble
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The artwork by Mezzo in this graphic biography of Robert Johnson is gorgeous. Black and white woodcut-style prints, influenced by Robert Crumb. It's written by music journalist Jean-Michel Dupont, and the foreword by Blues scholar Lawrence Cohn praises the use of language, so I'm hopeful of a good read.
(Name-dropping writers and artists I've never heard of before as if I know them personally 😎)
#BooksAndMusic

SamAnne Must check this one out. 2y
Bookwomble @SamAnne It's fantastic 😊 2y
25 likes2 comments
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Redheadrambles
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Pickpick

⭐️⭐️⭐️

After reading White Tears I went into a sort of Delta blues soundcloud and started listening to haunting tracks from the 1930s. At about the same time I spied this graphic novel in a bookshop. The story of Robert Johnson's life illustrated in beautiful woodcut graphics.
The text gives an account of Robert's life (from what is known)  however some nuance was lost in translation as the text was awkward especially when it tried to rhyme. 

Redheadrambles #ReadHarder2018 Graphic novel not Marvel or DC (edited) 6y
ClairesReads Nice another one for #readharder you are so on top of it right now. 6y
Redheadrambles @ClairesReads yeah finally caught up - things were looking behind schedule there for a while. Of course I do seem to be leaving longer books until later .... 6y
ClairesReads @Redheadrambles I seem to be doing that too at the moment- I need to focus myself somewhat on spreading that stuff out! 6y
27 likes4 comments
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Redheadrambles
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White Tears I salute you and your sad early departure from #tob18 . Buying this book has made me feel a little better.

The story of early blues singer Robert Johnson done in amazing black and white woodcut style by French graphic designer Mezzo.

batsy That looks wonderful! I'm truly bummed about White Tears. Reading the judge's statement & the comments made me marvel once again at the fact that we all read the same book but it's like we all read different books. 6y
Redheadrambles @batsy yes I think that‘s one of the things I appreciate the most from ToB - the transparent judging makes you realise how arbitrary all judging of books really is 6y
33 likes2 comments