I also appreciate reading works from around the world and in translation: they often offer us a broader vision of the world we live in, as well as the chance to get to see and experience places we may never get a chance to travel to — some of them fictional. Graphic novels have the particularity of being able to convey images alongside storytelling, granting us an even more immersing way to experience these stories, countries, languages, and cultures. In the list below, I have created a very much non-exhaustive compilation of graphic novels from around the world, some of which are in translation. Even just among the works which are published and available in the U.S., there are so many great choices that it was difficult to settle on the titles that made it into this final round-up. I hope they are just a push for you to start exploring all the graphic novels around the world. If you’d like more excellent reads around the world, here are a few posts Book Riot has put together for you: Days of Sand, however, takes place in the United States, and is inspired by the so-called Dust Bowl of the ’30s and the real stories of people who went through it. The story focuses on John Clark, a photographer brought in to shed some light on the conditions in which some affected farmers lived. Two Brothers tells the story of Omar and Yaqub, who are twins but differ a lot from each other. After a violent fight between the two, Yaqub is sent to live with family in Lebanon, and while a lot has changed after his return years later, the tensions between the brothers seem to persist. It sheds necessary light on the slave trade in Brazil, with black and white illustrations which really help encapsulate the heartbreak and struggle faced by Black people under the terrible conditions they were put in, and their fight for empowerment and freedom. This is a memoir of the author’s own childhood and adolescence during the Islamic revolution in Tehran, up to her exile from her homeland. The book was originally written in French, and it has been made into an animated film. After Pete is sent to jail, and he realises what a bad influence he has been on his brother, he tries to encourage him to seek a different path, and to start the process of recovering through traditional healing practice. An animated movie of the series has been made, the story focusing on the fun — and sometimes, dramatic — shenanigans of a community in the 1970s. Well-known Italian author and illustrator Igort has spent two years in Ukraine and Russia, gathering the true stories of survivors, and highlighting two specific moments in history: the murder of journalist and activist Anna Politkoyskaya, and the events of 1932 Holodomor. It’s inspired by the author’s own experiences of being a Chinese immigrant and being queer while living in the U.S. This compilation looks at comics beyond the page, including as shared digitally and through social media, as well as graffiti and stencil art found in public spaces. It covers examples from Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Mexico, Peru, and Uruguay. The book has been originally written in Spanish, and that version has been smuggled into Equatorial Guinea to promote democracy. If, like me, you find it easier to learn about historical events through graphic novels, this is definitely a book you should pick up. Gendry-Kim offers their storytelling and impressive artwork to Lee’s story, turning this book into an anti-war manifesto, encapsulating accurately this time in history. Yachi lives in Tokyo, where he works from home, taking care of his daughter, Kana. One day Mike, a Canadian who claims to be the widower of Ryoji, Yachi’s estranged gay twin, knocks on the door. Together, they set on a quest to learn about Ryoji’s past, challenging Yachi’s own preconceptions of what it means to be queer. On a night bus, a young woman watches as her ride takes us through fantastical landscapes; a young cartoonist tries to reconcile his wish to become a working artist while struggling with his grandmother’s deteriorating memory; strange creatures come and go, blending with the darkness. Part biography, part horror, and part fantasy, Night Bus is one ride you don’t want to miss. The Ramayana is an epic poem by Valmiki, containing Hindu teachings and wisdom. In this version, the story is told from the perspective of the queen, Sita. The main character is half American, half Filipina, and was raised in the U.S., but she travels to the Philippines to experience that half of her culture and learn more about her family. It is, more than anything, a story of finding one’s place in the world. At her first fan convention, Maisie meets Ollie, who she seems to have a lot in common with. Could this be the start of something? With bisexual and nonbinary as well as disability representation, this is a cute YA graphic novel you won’t want to miss. This is a book that includes several short stories, each of them focusing on one character, and it makes for a perfect one-sitting read. The author has worked as an art teacher with intellectually disabled adults, and this is her way to share with readers her experience.
A Global Reading List 15 Audiobooks Set Around The World Must-Read 2022 Books In Translation
