Home » Blog » February Staff Picks!

February Staff Picks!

Check out this month’s staff picks from the Betty’s Books crew!

 

Alain’s Pick

 

The Guy She Was Interested In Wasn't a Guy at All book coverThe Guy She Was Interested In Wasn’t a Guy at All by Sumiko Arai (she/her)

Fashionable and upbeat high schooler Aya loves listening to rock, but no one else seems to share her interest…until she meets a cool, stylish employee at a CD shop. Dressed in black from head to toe, he has this air of mystery about him, and his taste in music is impeccable. Aya falls hard for him–not knowing her crush is actually her female classmate Mitsuki! For her part, Mitsuki generally keeps to herself and avoids standing out at school. But given that she sits right next to Aya, Mitsuki’s all too aware of the other girl’s feelings, and she’s afraid to reveal the truth. So why does she find herself talking with Aya more and more…?

It should be no surprise that I love a story with some gender chaos. And when that dynamic is used for a wholesome queer romance? Chefs kiss. No notes. The characters are so well portrayed, with the humor of this manga causing me to audibly giggle as I read it. The pacing is perfect, and the choice of using pops of green is so fresh and engaging. I read this manga and then immediately made two other people read my copy. We are all obsessed. Truly cannot recommend this one enough!

 

Alex’s Pick

 

The Legend of Kamui book coverThe Legend of Kamui by Shirato Sanpei

If you’re not familiar with the legendary alt-manga magazine, Garo, I can’t say I blame you. It wasn’t exactly mainstream in the United States when it was around, and has been shuttered for over twenty years. However, its cultural impact remains profound. For almost four decades, the publication gave countless manga artists and writers a chance to shine outside traditional avenues, creating a space for experimental and counter-culture narratives to thrive. Legends were made thanks to Garo, and one of them–the reason the magazine was created to begin with–is Shirato Sanpei.

Sanpei’s epic, The Legend of Kamui, ran its course in Garo as a serialized story from 1964 to 1971, and finally, FINALLY, is getting its Western shine in this gorgeous, re-released edition from Drawn & Quarterly. An unflinching critique of capitalism, or rather its hundred-years-old roots, this story follows a sprawling cast of characters across differing class lines in 17th century Japan.

Shirato gave the titular character Kamui his name from the Ainu people, an indigenous ethnic minority from northern Japan who’ve suffered at the hands of Japanese colonialism. Even in the hero’s name, Sanpei infuses his politics. Kamui, a member of the lowest rung of society, the outcasts, decides to climb his way out of his situation by taking on the mantle of ninja. What follows is an action-packed drama that deserves its status as a true classic, especially considering this large book is only volume one of ten.

Unflinching and real, The Legend of Kamui is a well-researched portrait into the reality of 17th century Japanese countryfolk, infused with constant interludes from the natural world, which bustles on regardless of human suffering or triumph. While I wouldn’t recommend this book for someone who’s sensitive to violence against humans or animals, I think that if you’re alright with the intensity of this story, it’s well worth the read.

 

Betty’s Pick

 

Sunday book coverSunday by Olivier Schrauwen

In this hefty tome, Olivier Schrauwen details every moment of his fictionalized cousin Thibault’s Sunday. Every thought, memory, and snippet of song, etc. is cataloged over a course of a mundane day where nothing really happens…or does it? He struggles to compose a text message to a romantic interest, avoids human interaction all day, and has James Brown stuck in his head all day. And all on the eve before his birthday!

I will not lie that this book took me several weeks to get through. It is massive! And each page is highly detailed with many panels per page. The thread of the narrative jumps around, which makes sense, of course, because that’s how our minds work. I read one review that compared Sunday to James Joyce’s Ulysses, and that’s a fair comparison. I loved how much I laughed out loud while reading this book. There’s a hilarious slapstick quality to the narrative and character’s gestures and expressions. Even though the main character Thibault is a bumbling, self-absorbed fellow, I still found myself hoping for the best for him, and the humor was a big part of that. And I think we have all been Thibaults at one time or another.

Stream-of-consciousness works perfectly in the comics format, especially in the hands of a creator as capable as Schrauwen. Because of the flashbacks and roaming visual point of view, the text and image sometimes conflict. For example, a snippet of James Brown’s “Get up,” such as “I’m a sex machine” will be juxtaposed with a drawing of Thibault doing something ridiculous. The colors are also a clue to whether an image is a flashback, a dream or the present reality. It sounds complicated, but as you read, you get used to it. Also, the ending is pitch perfect.

This is THE graphic novel for folks who love literary graphic novels, and, especially anyone interested in experimental storytelling in any medium. It is definitely an 18+ read because there is nudity and light sexual content. If you give this a read, I would love to know what you think!

 

Elena’s Pick

 

Citizen 13660 book coverCitizen 13660 by Miné Okubo

Originally published in 1946, Miné Okubo’s Citizen 13660 collects almost 200 drawings created throughout her years in several Japanese internment camps during the WWII era. Since cameras were prohibited within these sites, Okubo’s documentation was the first (and one of the only) firsthand visual representations of the internal conditions of these camps. Almost a century later, her story continues to be used as an educational resource on this lesser-known tragedy on American soil.

Despite Okubo’s efforts, public knowledge of the U.S.’s displacement and imprisonment of Japanese citizens (both immigrants and American-born) remains minimal. Her illustrations are imbued with a quiet honesty that carries the weight of an atrocity that deserves to be reckoned with. They ask readers to consider realities outside of our frame of reference, and challenge us to stop history in its tracks before it repeats itself. In today’s political landscape, where birthright citizenship is in danger and Americans are being directly asked to turn on our neighbors, Citizen 13660 is all the more relevant. I encourage everyone to engage with Miné Okubo’s work- through its harsh truths, we can find a greater sense of compassion and understanding in a world that deeply needs it.

 

Emma’s Pick

 

Beautiful Darkness book coverBeautiful Darkness by Fabien Vehlmann & Kerascoët

The title pretty much sums this graphic novel perfectly: it is beautifully dark. Don’t let the adorable cover fool you, there are some pretty strange events that go down. The story opens with our protagonist, Aurora, on a date with her perfect prince, Hector. This date takes a turn for the worse when they are forced to leave their home immediately, which happens to be the corpse of a little girl. Now, Aurora must lead her people as they learn to survive in the wilderness.

I must admit, I always judge a book by its cover. I was captured by the beautiful foliage and adorable princess on the cover, but boy was I surprised! It had similar vibes to Ari Aster’s Midsommar, just tamer. You have never seen such cute illustrations of someone getting buried alive!

Although dark, this book still feels comforting in a strange way. I can’t help but imagine living in their tiny colony and getting up to some mischief. If you’re a fan of Patrick Horvath’s Beneath the Trees Where Nobody Sees, you will absolutely fall in love with Beautiful Darkness!

 

Vivi’s Pick

 

The Color of the End: Mission in the Apocalypse book coverThe Color of the End: Mission in the Apocalypse by Haruo Iwamune

If you love beautifully drawn cityscapes, meditations on the meaning of life, and/or one of your favorite Disney movies is the first 35 minutes of Wall-E (I.E. watching a lovable robot clean up trash, dance to Barbara Streisand, and fall in love with an uncertain future), then The Color of the End is sure to find a treasured place on your bookshelf!

50 years after a pandemic is spread across Earth by violent monsters of uncertain origin, humanity has been all but destroyed. The monsters’ airborn “miasma” causes those infected to develop a highly contagious condition where fatal crystal deposits grow from the body. Because these crystals preserve the bodies of the dead and continue to spread sickness for decades, protagonist Saya, the lone surviving agent of a mysterious research institute, is tasked with clearing a city of miasma. Her mission: decontaminate, reclaim, and search for survivors.

This manga is a masterful depiction of a world once ravaged by unimaginable terror, now blooming with quiet signs of healing and renewal. Charmingly devastating, I relished reading about the day-to-day lives of Saya and her animal companion Coco as the two search for a new apartment, shop at abandoned supermarkets, and find little moments of joy and excitement in a world seemingly beyond saving. The Color of the End’s depictions of apocalyptic collapse, paired with scenes of stillness, connection, quiet observation, and hope for a better future, make this a timely and valuable read for 2025.

Loading...