Ghost World by Daniel Clowes

Clowes’ Ghost World illustrates, rather disjointedly, the summer after High School Graduation, focusing on two best friends : Enid and Rebecca. Even though this graphic novel is a collection of previously published comics and therefore doesn’t have the conventional exposition-rising action-climax-falling action-conclusion, the narrative flows well and I came to care for the characters without knowing them very well, which is rare for me because the books I usually read are novels that are lengthy enough to provide enough character explanation. This one summer in the lives of Enid and Rebecca is a definite turning point, when they not only look back on their childhood and adolescent memories, but also look to their respective futures, and question whether or not they will be in each other’s futures. I thought Clowes did a remarkable job in capturing the utter confusion that goes on inside a female’s head, especially a female who is no longer a child but not yet a woman. Both the dialogue and the illustrations work wonderfully together to convey how the girls see the world, particularly after Enid and Rebecca have a fight and sulk alone in their respective houses. I enjoyed this graphic novel very much because it shows people and situations that are different than what is normally published, in regards to contemporary teenagers and young women. This graphic novel made me feel sad because it reminded me in so many ways of my own High School years, which just shows how talented Clowes is as a writer.

I feel it worth mentioning that this was made into a very interesting movie a few years back. Like the graphic novel, it is disjointed and confusing at times, but the acting talent and the resolution are both very good.

If you enjoyed this book, please consider :
Fiction Recommendation #1 : Jimmy Corrigan: The Smartest Kid on Earth by Chris Ware. Another graphic novel which deals with similar themes in Ghost World – social isolation, abandonment, and despair. This book covers four generations of one family and the unusual stories that keep retelling themselves.

Fiction Recommendation #2 : Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood by Marjane Satrapi. This memoir in graphic novel form goes into great detail of Satrapi’s childhood in Iran during the Iran-Iraq war. The stark black-and-white drawings only add to the bleakness of her immediate future and barrenness of the landscape.

Nonfiction Recommendation #1 : Girls Who Bite Back: Witches, Mutants, Slayers and Freaks by Emily Pohl-Weary. This book is a commentary on the rise of strong female characters in popular culture, covering graphic novels, movies, and television.