Graphic Novels @ T-SPL - Sailor Twain or: The Mermaid in the Hudson

This week it's another graphic novel review from T-SPL, for Sailor Twain or: The Mermaid in the Hudson by Mark Siegel.

Elijah Twain captains a steamboat traversing the Hudson River. One night he finds a woman clinging to the side of his boat, grievously injured. When he pulls her from the river, he is astonished to find that she is a mermaid. He nurses her back to health in his cabin, hiding her from the amorous owner of his vessel. But Twain falls under the mermaid's spell, and interest turns to obsession.

Siegel weaves this gripping tale with the skill of a master, creating his own American legend inspired by Greek mythology. The girl in the water is definitely not a Disney mermaid - she is a siren from legend, luring people to bad ends with her song. It also must be said that this graphic novel is for adults and older teens, since there is a lot of nudity (the mermaid is bare-chested throughout the novel) and characters engage in briefly-depicted sex. The book explores themes of love, obsession, and lust. I liked that no character is entirely good or entirely evil, each one is sympathetic in their own way, and there is no clear-cut villain. Siegel's hazy, dreamlike charcoal drawings complement the novel's gloomy, unreal atmosphere. If you like a healthy dose of myth mixed in with your history, you will love this book.

Below are samples of Siegel's gorgeous charcoal drawings:

Mark Siegel/First Second Books

Mark Siegel/First Second Books

Shannon Wood, Adult Services Librarian

The Sky Over the Louvre

These past few years, graphic novels have gained in popularity and legitimacy, and today I am reviewing a particularly artistic example of the format. The Sky Over the Louvre, by Bernard Yslaire and Jean-Claude Carriere, uses a blend of words and gorgeous art to depict the history of the Louvre museum (and is co-published by the same). The origin of the museum goes back to the French Revolution, Robespierre, and all those other names from your high school history class.

The book explores the philosophical, political, and social changes occurring in France at the time through the lens of an artist trying to paint images that will symbolize the Revolution. An angelic young man, Jules, arrives in Paris and meets the great painter Jacques-Louis David, who has been commissioned by Robespierre to create a painting of the Supreme Being. It is supposed to replace the Christian religion that gave the monarchy the right to rule. But David is captivated by the young man and wants to create his individual masterwork using Jules as a model, not paint what the government orders him to paint. What kind of painting will he create? And what will be the consequences of his actions?

This graphic novel is a wonderful, smart blend of history, art, and storytelling. Think comics are just for kids who can't read real books? Think again. The Sky Over the Louvre is a prime example of images and story weaved together to create a compelling, sophisticated piece of art.