Earliest memory of ...
The first graphic novel I ever saw was - âHushâ by Rajiv Eipe. Nilanjana was reading it in Pilani. From the name - âgraphic novelâ, I gathered that it would be like a cartoon series, only longer. Something like Tintin, or of the Superman/Spiderman comics category. I was looking forward to reading it once she finished with the book.
But when I borrowed the hardly-50 page novel, I didnât like it at all. Back then I was much more innocent (a kid, really), and unaware of the complex realities of the world around us. It was all beautiful and rosy for me. I didnât understand why someone would draw and write about such dark & unspeakable, adult things - depression, homosexuality, blood, power, abuse etc.
The sketches very vivid, and powerful. But the theme had me greatly dislike the book. Till a long time later, the memory of this book led me to not pick up a graphic novel.
Two years ago, though, I read âPersepolisâ. It is Marjane Satrapiâs memoir of growing up in war-struck Iran. I really liked the characters & the story, the consistency of the drawings. I followed it up with âKariâ by Amruta Patil, and âMausâ by Art Spiegelman. The aversion of âgraphic novelsâ has gone and Iâm looking forward to reading many more such novels.
PS - Read Nilanjanaâs review of âHushâ here














