by Jen
I am a huge fan of graphic novels - I read them ravenously, everything from classics like Alan Moore's Watchmen and James O'Barr's The Crow to Brian O'Malley's Scott Pilgrim and Bill Willingham's Fables. As much as I love fiction, historical and autobiographical graphic novels have a special appeal for me - two standout examples being Art Spiegelman's Maus and Marjane Satrapi's Persepolis.
Igort's latest work definitely falls into the same category as Maus and Persepolis - but while those two masterworks tell the stories of Nazi Germany and the Islamic Revolution in Iran (respectively), The Ukranian and Russian Notebooks is a collection of tales that paint a vivid picture of life under Russian rule in the Ukraine and Chechnya. Frightening parallels between the harsh life that many experience under Stalin and the realities facing some of those same populations under Russia's current government are brought to light in disturbing detail.
This was not an easy or light read, but it gave me much to ponder and I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys realistic graphic novels.
The Ukranian and Russian Notebooks is available for pre-order on Amazon and will be released on April 26.
Igort's latest work definitely falls into the same category as Maus and Persepolis - but while those two masterworks tell the stories of Nazi Germany and the Islamic Revolution in Iran (respectively), The Ukranian and Russian Notebooks is a collection of tales that paint a vivid picture of life under Russian rule in the Ukraine and Chechnya. Frightening parallels between the harsh life that many experience under Stalin and the realities facing some of those same populations under Russia's current government are brought to light in disturbing detail.
This was not an easy or light read, but it gave me much to ponder and I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys realistic graphic novels.
The Ukranian and Russian Notebooks is available for pre-order on Amazon and will be released on April 26.