Welcome to Litsy!

Reads like an investigative journalist piece in graphic form, visits and interviews. Gave me a more intimate perspective on some of the matters covered in my reading of The Shortest History of Israel and Palestine. I was a little distracted by the author's dedication to self-deprecation, to the extent that I wonder if he bears some self-hatred as a result of visiting refugees and being unable to immediately help anyone he spoke with, 1/?

American cartoonist Joe Sacco spent two months in Gaza and the West Bank during the later part of the first intifada (early 90s), observing and interviewing people. It's tough reading, especially now. But it's also essential reading, especially now.

This joins Maus and Persepolis in my list of non-fiction graphic novel must-reads.

Eyewitness journalism meets comics in this landmark work of graphic nonfiction, based on over a hundred interviews in Gaza and the West Bank during the author‘s visit in the 1990s. This book is intense, ugly, heartbreaking, and remains unfortunately not only relevant but urgent. The author comes across as pretty unlikeable—but you have to respect his transparency. I read this on the recommendation of Jewish author Sim Kern.

Some light holiday reading, via Libby

Non-fiction in graphic novel form! I've wanted to read this for ages, and finally got around to buying it.

#OctoberXFiles Day 15: This is my book tribe discussing how disturbed we are by Sacco‘s graphic novel journalistic memoir where he related that he oftentimes felt like a #SoldMySoul type of emotion as he unearths harrowing tales from Palestinians. We also explored the need of Sacco to pour out his demons for the world to do with it what they will so long as he is able to spew them out in such graphic imagery. My review: https://wp.me/pDlzr-9wV

Some of my findings from yesterday

Turns out Maus is my gateway comic 😄📚💙

Trying to take a picture of some of the graphic novels I will use for my #WorldLit class, but #OctaviaCat and #BonBonCat are demanding affection by photobombing. #CatsOfLitsy #CatsAndStack

The first of my #PassportLitsy countries is #Palestine, and having never read nonfiction comics before, I thought I'd give this a go.

Sacco is a Maltese-American cartoon journalist, who wanted to get the Palestinian view of the Palestine-Israeli conflict. He spent 2 months in the Occupied Territories in 91/92, drinking tea, navigating mud, sharing taxis, and talking.

I learnt loads (I was shocked at how little I knew) and will read more by him.

Stopped by Fantagraphics in Seattle tonight 😍 and picked up a book. 20 pages in and I'm in awe. Joe Sacco is an incredible storyteller.

I wouldn't exactly say I've been avoiding this for 20 years, but I've read a bunch of books in that time that weren't Palestine by Joe Sacco. Picked this up for ten bucks at the Strand and zipped through it on a balmy Shabbat afternoon in Israel.

Sacco visited Gaza and the West Bank in 91-92. He's unflinching as he relates his experiences and retells the stories that he heard. It's a tough read but not, in this reader's opinion, a hopeless one.

Booktalked graphic novels and poetry in my class this week. Have you read any of these titles?

Booktalked graphic novels and poetry in my class this week. Have you read any of these titles?