Sunday, November 2, 2008

Odds & Ends & Ego

Halloween is a favorite holiday for my family and we had a good one. The weather forecast called for rain, but we got a nice break between storm fronts that lasted from mid-afternoon until about midnight, allowing me to set up stuff in the yard and host a good party. Our girls came home from school for the weekend (they like the spooky props and party, too) and we had a lot of trick-or-treaters. Sorry, didn't take any pictures. Y'all are welcome to drop by next year, though.

I got a little ego-boost in a bookstore today when I picked up a new book titled 500 Essential Graphic Novels and discovered that I wrote one of them. That made my day! To be honest, I don't remember whether I was told about my inclusion in advance. I don't think so. I do know Mom's Cancer is also mentioned in another new book, The Rough Guide to Graphic Novels by Danny Fingeroth, and although I got a sneak peak at what they wrote about me I haven't seen the published version yet. If the rough draft is a fair indication, it's a good review.

This type of recognition is . . . nice. Flattering. Appreciated. Odd. Surreal. The kind of thing that always makes me think, "If anyone had told me a few years ago . . . ." I wonder whether lists like that ever inspire someone to pick up a book they haven't heard of or would have otherwise overlooked. Maybe a few; I'll never know. But it's better than a poke in the eye with a sharp stick. (I was going to attribute that last sentence to Lee Marvin in the film "Cat Ballou" until I looked it up and was reminded that it wasn't said by Marvin but to him, and phrased a little differently. So never mind.) I'm sincerely thankful.



5 comments:

Wallflower said...

Speaking for me, I will pick up a book previously unknown to me, if it is in a "Best of. . ." compilation and I respect the editor(s). While I was reading your post, though, I did think, "Good grief, what's next? Graphic Novels for Dummies?"

Mike Lynch said...

Wow! Congratulations, Brian. Couldn't happen to a nicer guy!

The Graphic Novel Adventure is Just Beginning, my friend!

Mike said...

You were probably thinking of how Kid Sheleen felt about critics: "At first you don't think you can stand to get hit, then you realize you can take it 'cause the blood don't matter, and you know you're gonna live."

ronnie said...

Like wallflower, I have definitely bought books and music recommended to me on lists by editors I respect.

Congratulations. As always it's well-deserved. Mom's Cancer seems to be the little book that just keeps going and going - that's a hell of a big little stone you dropped into the pond to cause all those ripples.

Brian Fies said...

Wallflower, Anything written by Scott McCloud in the past decade would probably fit the bill.

Mike L,, I see what you did there. Too bad Persis Khambatta isn't around to inspire me.

Mike P., Marvin's Kid Sheleen is a great character. I was actually thinking about a bit where someone's scolding Sheleen about being a drunk and says, "You'd like a drink better than a poke in the eye with a sharp stub, wouldn't you?" to which Marvin quite sensibly agrees. Funny thing is I remember that even though I haven't seen the movie in at least 25 years. My mind is an attic indiscriminately crammed with crap.

Ronnie, thanks. My sense is that one genuine word-of-mouth recommendation is worth a couple dozen mentions in print. I owe you a few.