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October 30, 2010
44 Down, 8 To Go "120 Days of Simon" (52 Books, 52 Weeks)
In 120 Days of Simon, the cartoonist sublets his flat for four months and travels around his native Sweden, staying mostly with people he has never met (who arranged the details though the cartoonist's website). The ground rules are simple, he can never stay in the same place more than two nights in a row and he can not go back to his flat for any reason.
Gardenfors has an eventful and exciting story to tell, filled with drugs, sex, music, racism, and even love. The project teaches him about not only himself, but the world around him. The book's simple black and white panels, two per page, are reminiscent of old newspaper comic strips, and their visual innocence (in style, at least) made the often adult subject matter even more powerful.
In the comics world, Swedish cartoonists seem to be the current fad (much like the rage of Scandinavian thrillers). I haven't read many Swedish comics, but based on 120 Days of Simon, I will seek out many more.
My next book is Mary-Lou Weisman's Al Jaffee's Mad Life: A Biography.
also at Largehearted Boy:
other 52 Books, 52 Weeks reviews
Online "best of the decade" book lists
Online "best of 2009" book lists
Online "best of 2008" book lists
Book Notes (authors create playlists for their book)
Note Books (musicians discuss literature)
