Originally published serially by Fantagraphics between 2001 and 2005, this volume presents the complete story of an American girl who arrives in Mexico City with an idealized vision of the country and its culture. Eager to embrace her Mexican background, though she has long resented her “disappearing Mexican dad” while growing up, she defiantly builds a life for herself that she can consider more “authentic” that the other American ex-pats she meets. With a steadily building suspense, she does not realize her naïveté until it is too late.
The drawing is beautiful, the story well-crafted and infused with Abel’s own experiences living in Mexico City. A truly great graphic novel.
This is an image-rich overview of Penguin cover designs from 1935–2005. I’ve been thinking a lot about book design lately, and there is something oddly fresh about some of the older cover designs. Or perhaps it is just refreshing to see a limited palette when compared to the attention-getting standards of today.
For a long time I never had any intention of reading this book because it just seemed too creepy. But several friends have mentioned reading it lately, so it found its way on my list. While the subject is pretty creepy, the writing is beautiful. I think one of my favorite lines ever follows the foreword’s update on all of the involved characters:
The caretakers of the various cemeteries involved report that no ghosts walk.
This is the first book of Nabokov’s that I have read, and I’m sure more of his books will find their way onto my list in good time.
