How to be a Grrrl!

9781782113614I just got How to Be a Grrrl! which according to its cover is by Lucy Van Pelt herself. This is a collection of strips (and selections from strips) starring Lucy, about feminism and power. They attempt to use a ‘zine-style design asthetic, with the strips put in front of backgrounds that look like degraded photocopies of something, or panels looking like they were taped to the page and photocopied with the tape visible. It’s a fun attempt to add some indie energy to the most mainstream of products (but then, Peanuts has long been embraced across the creative spectrum.) In a way, this book is about its layout, and while it doesn’t always achieve its goal. I like it. This is not a good book to get for getting a lot of strips or getting sharp reproduction, but as an object, it’s kinda keen. The plasticy cover just ads to its offbeat nature. Anyway, this is a UK book (albeit printed in Latvia; I don’t recall ever owning a book printed in Latvia before); you can order it with free shipping to the states from Book Depository, or you can get it from third-party sellers at Amazon US.

Classic finds
A needle-ssly fine present

Being a) an adult and b) not a Christmasian, it makes sense that I’m not given much in the way of Christmas presents. This year’s haul was just two items, both given by Dr. Mrs. The AAUGH Blogger: a Terry’s Chocolate Orange (yum!), and this Peanuts embroidery book from Japan. …

New releases
Double Love

Simon Spotlight has dropped two books for the Valentine’s Day Shopping Season, and they’re pretty similar. Love is Everywhere, Snoopy! is a board book that is supposed to be Charlie Brown explaining love to Snoopy (who is said to have asked, which raises the usual how-does-Snoopy-communicate-to-Charlie-Brown question.) Charlie Brown answers …

New releases
“Books”

My grocery shopping today landed me two new Peanuts “books”. The more bookish of the two is the latest edition of The Great Big Book of Peanuts Word Seeks, volume 5 to be precise, which as I’ve mentioned before I’ll allow to qualify as a book… particularly because it not …