May 2022 BotM: BotM Runner-Ups

[Erin]

This month, we're going back into the archives to look at the books that took second place in past BotM polls. Was there one you reallllly wanted to win but didn't? Now's your chance!

You can check out the list of all previous runner-ups here: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/...

This month's episode will be a Patreon exclusive, available May 29th at https://www.patreon.com/ircbpodcast

[Canavan]

I was probably going to take a look at The Fifth Beatle: The Brian Epstein Story , by Vivek J. Tiwary (Author) & Andrew C. Robinson (Artist). It has been on my to-be-read pile for quite some time.

[Stephanie]

There are some great books on this list, including some I've read before and some I'm eager to read. I might pick Blue is the Warmest Color. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...

[Jade]

I'm going to go with Green River Killer: A True Detective Story by by Jeff Jensen (Writer), Jonathan Case (Illustrator). I haven't read many true crime comics.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...

[Ashleigh]

I will be picking The Beauty, Vol. 1 because it is already on my TBR.

[Paul]

Woot! Looks like a library copy of The Magic Fish is on its way to me, I was worried I’d be waiting on my hold for too long to have a chance to (finally) read it this month.

Nobody’s fault, but so many books on the list I have already read, or am not interested in. My second (available) choice was going to be Green River Killer: A True Detective Story which is a bit of a whiplash between picks.

[Nancy]

I'll pick Flashpoint because I'll never pick up a book about the Flash otherwise. BTW- I'll be very happy if Green River Killer is picked- it's a great true crime story.

[Ed]

Nancy wrote: "...I'll be very happy if Green River Killer is picked..."

I think we are still doing the thing where everyone picks a book for themselves and then discusses it here.

[Nancy]

Ed wrote: "Nancy wrote: "...I'll be very happy if Green River Killer is picked..."

I think we are still doing the thing where everyone picks a book for themselves and then discusses it here."

Thanks for the clarification Ed- I misunderstood this month's discussion theme. Now I'll probably lurk to see what others say about their choices and then chime in if I read the book too.

[Matt]

I am picking Snowpiercer: The Escape for this month. It has been on my to read list for a while and I enjoyed the movie so am looking forward to finally getting to sit down and read this one.

[Mike, Host & Producer of IRCB!]

I haven't read this in a while so I'm picking X-Men: God Loves, Man Kills

[Brandon]

I decided to reread My Lesbian Experience with Loneliness. I first read it years ago, back when it was first released and getting all the year-end wards, so it felt like a good time to revisit it. Really enjoyed it! I loved the art style, it was very cute which gave a good contrast to some of the darker more mature subject matter but also had the 'cuteness' take the edge off so some of the more explicit things concerning mental health weren't as realistic-looking/graphic/kind of disturbing.

[Erin]

Better late than never, right? I'm planning to finally read Livewire, Volume 1: Fugitive this month!

[Paul]

Paul wrote: "Woot! Looks like a library copy of The Magic Fish is on its way to me,

I did read The Magic Fish and, sadly, was somewhat unexcited. There’s a really good core to the story of Tiến and his difficulties communicating across language and experience, but I felt that ended up mostly told, not shown. Instead, the bulk of the book is (beautifully drawn) fairy tales and fables which, though I may be somewhat oblivious, only seemed to have tenuous parallels to the modern storyline (other than the well-turned ending to the final tale).

It is a good book, and I can see why others are fans, I just didn’t find the heart I wanted there to be to make it great.

[Stephanie]

I did in fact read Blue is the Warmest Color and I had thoughts. Happy to discuss with someone else who read it but won’t spoil it for those who haven’t. I would recommend this book

[Erin]

Stephanie wrote: "I did in fact read Blue is the Warmest Color and I had thoughts. Happy to discuss with someone else who read it but won’t spoil it for those who haven’t. I would recommend this book"

I've been meaning to read that forever - I'll try to get to it so we can chat about it! :)

[Ashleigh]

Ashleigh wrote: "I will be picking The Beauty, Vol. 1 because it is already on my TBR.

"

I enjoyed this comic I ended up reading more! Up to Vol, 3.

[Andrew]

Just found this group! What is the plan for June!?

[Mike, Host & Producer of IRCB!]

Andrew wrote: "Just found this group! What is the plan for June!?"

Welcome! Checking our Theme Schedule: Favorite Reads from 2021!

[Tom]

I read Nimona by Noelle Stevenson and absolutely loved it.

[Andrew]

Great thanks!

[Ed]

Brandon wrote: "I decided to reread My Lesbian Experience with Loneliness...."

I just read her more recent memoir. I thought it was OK, but nothing too special. One difference is that "...Lesbian Experience..." was her memories of things that happened over many years, whereas the new one was her writing of things soon after they happened. (Specifically about her hospitalization for pancreatitis probably caused by drinking.)

[Chad]

This week's trip to the LCS. It's a 5th week so not too many new comics shipped this week.

Knights of X #2
Fire Power #21
Once & Future #26

[kaitlphere]

Re: Paul: I re-read The Magic Fish for this month! I understand what you're saying about the story being told instead of shown. For the most part, the combination of the modern storyline and the fairytales worked for me and I followed their parallels. But I didn't follow the story the aunt told...which was perhaps part of the message about differences between the two modern cultures.

---

I also read Wrinkles. On one hand, I've said before that I want a story about folks in a retirement home getting up to mischief, and this story somewhat gave me that. But the story about someone experiencing memory loss was a bummer. The story did end on a high note, and I think there's an important story here for anyone who knows someone with memory loss.

[Chad]

KaitLphere wrote: "I also read Wrinkles. On one hand, I've said before that I want a story about folks in a retirement home getting up to mischief, and this story somewhat gave me that. But the story about someone experiencing memory loss was a bummer. The story did end on a high note, and I think there's an important story here for anyone who knows someone with memory loss"

Have you read The Old Geezers? It's along the same lines. Three old friends getting up to mischief in their retirement. It's a delight. Ablaze has translated the first 2 stories into English as of this moment.

[kaitlphere]

I'll have to check that out Chad! That sounds like fun and I tend to love translated comics!

[Paul]

KaitLphere wrote: "Re: Paul: I re-read The Magic Fish for this month! I understand what you're saying about the story being told instead of shown. For the most part, the combination of the modern stor..."

I wish I could have felt the stories interweaving—it’s a great story concept—but I lost the connections so it felt to me like either he got too absorbed in the fairy tales, or wasn’t confident enough in (his ability to tell?) the modern story to make it stand on its own.

I also read Wrinkles.

I love Wrinkles. I seem to have an affinity these days for aging and loss books like this that aren’t lighthearted, I am sure it is related to aging parents and in-laws, and family medical conditions. Just read Forget Me Not which is in a similar-yet-different vein, although a slightly less satisfactory ending. For some reason I always lump Tumor into the “memory issues” category although it’s due to a totally different cause, and drives the plot radically different.

[Nancy]

Mike wrote: "I haven't read this in a while so I'm picking X-Men: God Loves, Man Kills"

My favorite X-Men book- such a classic!