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A Career in Books
A Career in Books: A Novel about Friends, Money, and the Occasional Duck Bun | Kate Gavino
19 posts | 11 read | 20 to read
A Career in Books is a graphic novel for everyone who's wanted to "work with books" and had NO idea what it entailed. It's for those who were taken aback by that first paycheck. It's for those who wanted a literary career even in the face of systemic racism, who dealt with the unique challenges of coming from an immigrant family, and whose group chat is their lifeline. Shirin, Nina, and Silvia have just gotten their first jobs in publishing, at a University Press, a traditional publisher, and a trust-fund kid's "indie" publisher, respectively. And it's . . . great? \_(?)_/ They know they're paying their dues and the challenges they meet (Shirin's boss just assumes she knows Cantonese, Nina cannot get promoted by sheer force of will, and Silvia has to deal with daily microaggressions) are just part of a career in books. When they meet their elderly neighbor, Veronica Vo, and discover she's a Booker Prize winner dubbed the Tampax Tolstoy by the press, each woman finds a thread of inspiration from Veronicas life to carry on her own path. And the result is full of twists and revelations that surprise not only the reader but the women themselves. Charming, wry, and with fantastic black-and-white illustrations, A Career in Books is a modern ode to Rona Jaffes The Best of Everything, and perfect for fans of Good Talk, Younger, and The Bold Type, as readers chart the paths of three Asian-American women trying to break through the world of books with hilarious, incisive, and heartbreaking results.
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oddandbookish
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Pickpick

What a heartwarming graphic novel!

I absolutely loved the friendship dynamic between the 3 friends. It felt realistic and I liked how supportive they were of each another. Their friendship with their neighbor was also well done. I liked how she became a mentor to the girls and how the girls also helped her out.

Full review: https://oddandbookish.wordpress.com/2024/01/27/review-a-career-in-books/

61 likes3 stack adds1 comment
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trueisa4letterword
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Pickpick

Dense but delicately drawn character-based graphic novel of three Asian-American millennial friends starting out in NYC publishing. Love all of the little details and the strength of their friendship.

#graphicnovel

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Leftcoastzen
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Pickpick

Soft pick . I‘m a little old for the demographic!😄Yet it is disappointing that after all these years women who want to work in publishing are still expected to live in the New York metro area on horrible pay.As the book points out, some want to be writers, some are pushed back to university, graduate school ,because of over work & low pay.There are some laughs in the book too.The friends boost each other up,through the micro aggressions & such .

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Leftcoastzen
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#caturday afternoon, to hot to do housework, not too hot to read!!Nacho is good with it.

dabbe It's Nifty Nacho! 💙🐾💚 11mo
Bklover Nacho is a cutie pie!❤️ 11mo
Leftcoastzen @Bklover thanks ! He thinks so! 11mo
Leftcoastzen @dabbe he‘s a grumpy old man!😁 11mo
dabbe @Leftcoastzen He's older and wiser and knows what he likes! 🤩🤣😍 11mo
60 likes5 comments
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TheBookDream
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Pickpick

A charming #graphicnovel about 3 Asian roommates who befriend their elderly neighbor, a forgotten Booker prize winning novelist. An excellent #diverse read.

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Robotswithpersonality
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Pickpick

About half '20-somethings making it in the big city' and half 'behind -the-scenes in the lower rungs of publishing', with a healthy dash of book love and writer angst thrown in. The Asian American women's perspective felt like a key part of each character's story without making it the sole focus.1/2

Robotswithpersonality 2/2 The Veronica Vo character ties it all together. So many pearls of wisdom about life from this fictional author that feel widely applicable enough that I kind of want to shove this book into the hands of all people fresh out of college. I'll admit I still prefer full colour graphic novels, but this story has a distinctive art style and a lot to say text wise, which makes up for the limited (B&W) palette. 1y
6 likes1 comment
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Robotswithpersonality
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Hard agree.

8 likes1 stack add
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IndoorDame
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Bailedbailed

I‘m bailing on this one at just under 25% and sending it back to the library. I‘ve been picking it up and putting it down all month and it‘s just not holding my interest. I think this is a case of “it‘s me not the book” but since it doesn‘t seem like a book I particularly “ought” to read, I figured life‘s too short.

StayCurious good for you - I never finish books that aren't doing it for me 2y
53 likes1 stack add1 comment
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Lauredhel
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Pickpick

I enjoyed this contemporary black-and-white graphic novel. It's the story of three Asian-American women apartment-sharing in Brooklyn. Each has a career in publishing, but they all have different backgrounds, goals, and career trajectories. Joining their found-family is a nonagenarian neighbour whose novels have fallen into obscurity.

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Lauredhel
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48 likes1 stack add
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Lauredhel
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This is definitely the ride or die friendship energy I am in the mood for

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Lauredhel
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I kinda love Nina

CaroPi Ohh I so much want to have this book. But unfortunately it looks that is only in hardcover. I don't like hardcovers (edited) 2y
Lauredhel @CaroPi I just borrowed the ebook from the library 2y
CaroPi @Lauredhel I try... They didn't have it 😔 2y
See All 6 Comments
Lauredhel @CaroPi darn... My local library system has a pretty limited selection too, so I joined Queens Public Library, only fifty dollars and they accept international members 2y
CaroPi Ohh I have the New Orleans one since I live in Poland. In general is quite good. But I will check the catalog in Queens. Maybe they have more books in Spanish. Thanks for the tip! 2y
Lauredhel @CaroPi not an enormous Spanish catalogue but they do have a few. 2y
51 likes6 comments
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Lauredhel
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FMK, Little Women edition. Your thoughts?

JamieArc OMG 🤣🤣 2y
Ruthiella 😂😂😂 2y
59 likes2 comments
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cornfedwellread
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"You took a different path. It's not as clear-cut. You should offer yourself a little more grace."

As someone who has had difficulty getting a career started post-undergrad and compared myself to classmates who seemed to easily find full-time jobs in their fields, this hits home. While this book is about the publishing industry, I see a lot of similarities to trying to build a career in museums.

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Lauredhel
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This is a graphic novel about three Asian-American flatmates all working in bookish jobs in New York. I'm quite enjoying it so far. Libby borrow.

62 likes2 stack adds
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hissingpotatoes
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Pickpick

3.5/5⭐ The artwork isn't my style and it takes a while to get into the story/characters. Once I did, though, it was a fun and meaningful exploration of friendship and ambition. The many references are perfect for readers who grew up during the '90s. #bookspinbingo #booked2022

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Chelsea.Poole
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Pickpick

Loved this graphic novel! A group of twenty-somethings in NYC, Asian-American, beginning careers in publishing live together. They realize a famous author lives in their building!
I‘ve always been interested in the publishing side of the book world; I‘m in a library so I see the side of connecting readers to books. However, not a huge focus on books, and more a story about friendship and figuring out life.
This is a delight.

85 likes7 stack adds
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Chelsea.Poole
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It‘s been a wonderful, beautiful weekend full of family, friends, reading and delicious food. Heading into this upcoming week on a high note. 📖 🌸 🌻

90 likes1 stack add
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Chelsea.Poole
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Dragging these two home with me today from work. 📚#libraryhaul

76 likes1 stack add