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We will be inaugurating a new book club at the Central branch of the Brooklyn Public Library this coming Saturday (here are the BPL page and the Facebook invite), with a bit of a twist: In addition to simply reading and talking about some really fantastic, interesting books, we will try to focus in on one aspect of comics language each time. We’ll help you learn HOW to read and discuss comics as a narrative art form.  Whether you are new to reading comics or a seasoned fan, the conversation will shed new light on the mechanics and poetry of this dynamic, growing medium. Each meeting, we’ll frame the conversation with a brief and informal discussion and slideshow about a topic of comics art that is germane to the book we’re reading.

The book club meetings will be at the Brooklyn Public Library, but we hope that those not able to attend in person will chime into the discussion via the comments field on the individual posts for each event.

Not sure where to start when it comes to reading comics, manga, and “graphic novels”? What is a “Graphic Novel”? is a helpful guide for first-time comic readers.

We will be meeting at the Brooklyn Public Library:

Dweck Center, Central Library
10 Grand Army Plaza
Brooklyn, New York

Schedule:

Saturday, Oct 15 at 4:00 PM
 Fun home by Alison Bechdel
topic: word + image

Saturday, Oct 29 at 4:00 PM
Ice Haven by Daniel Clowes
topic: page design, traditional formats

Saturday, Nov 19 at 4:00 pm
Lucille by Ludovic Debeurme
topic: drawing style, open page layouts

Saturday, Dec 17 at 4:00 PM
Asterios Polyp by David Mazzuchelli
topic: page and book design, drawing style to express narrative/theme/personality

The books are available in large numbers for checkout at the library, so if you’re a BPL library card holder, you can get one easily. They’re also all easily available in stores or online.