Have a little Faith (ouch!)

Did you know that Faith Erin Hicks is awesome? Because she is.

She's published books about zombies, aliens, and boarding school. She's serialized webcomics. She's even created a beautiful tribute to the Hunger Games book series, and other pieces about favorite books and movies.

And her new book, Friends With Boys, is out right now.

Reading Friends With Boys is the literary equivalent of having a cup of coffee with a good friend who's been going through some heavy stuff but who's going to be just fine, and then going home and hugging your cat because your cat is awesome.

Just like Faith Erin Hicks.

 

Flatiron Snacks: RIP Deli Marche

(image ganked from here)

Deli Marche was our deli across the street.  I say 'was' here because it closed down last week. 

One of the times I'm most amused about the skewed New York perspective is when my relatives come to town -- whenever we're going to a museum or the theater and I pull them past the deli because it's not Ethiopian or dumplings or artisian ice cream, at which point someone has to say, 'That deli is amazing!  It has fresh fruit!  It has several pasta selections!  It has sushi!  Why don't you go there all the time?' 

Deli Marche had all those things, and it always had chewy ginger candy and wheat thins, two obviously necessary items for hard-working publishing employees.

What fate awaits us now? 

We'll just have to go to the deli two doors down. . . .

R.I.P. JEAN GIRAUD and MOEBIUS 1938 — 2012

 

On Saturday morning, May 10th 2012, the world lost two of its greatest master comics authors—who happened to be one and the same man: Jean Giraud and Moebius, each known for different styles and careers. Both of them dazzling, leading lights the world over.

Fly on, Arzach.

Town Limericks

Have you ever wondered about life far away?
Where peoples' lives are different from ours every day?
This book gives brings you that
The story of Lat
You can see the world changing in every way.

This book is the sequel to Kampung Boy, which we already limerick'd about -- a really fascinating glimpse at life inside Malaysia. 

Flatiron Snacks: Wafels and Dinges

(image ganked from here)

You guys!

There's a truck that makes waffles that has come to our building for every morning of the past two weeks that I have remembered to notice it.  This is such an exciting thing, because, waffles!  Are they not superior breakfast foods?  Especially when one puts chocolate and fruit and sometimes more chocolate on top of them? 

(Also the truck itself is most excellent, being yellow and rectangular and mysteriously both arriving and disappearing every day, which makes me suspect it is akin to the gingerbread houses of witches, except in a non-lethal sort of way.)

In short: wafles & dinges, I recommend them. 

This is big: AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL adopts Zahra's Paradise in its Iran Report

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Tyrannical Limericks

There once was a king who was very small
(Many people almost couldn't see him at all)
But his wants were great
And would not abate
Luckily he would be easily distracted and stall.

We love the Tiny Tyrant!  He is so tiny, yet so tyrannical!  And also so incompetant.  If only all our tyrannical rulers would have as their highest ambition to not be bored, and also bioengineer dinosaurs while they're at it.

Glorious CLAUDETTE makes her entrance!

Don't miss this gem—no child should be without GIANTS BEWARE!

 

Shadowy Limericks

There once was a father who lost his son.
But wait! There's a possible loophole which which he could run.
He'd keep his son safe.
Let no harm come to the waif --
But then the tale of his life could never be spun. 

If you haven't before, check out this story -- it's a really powerful exploration of what grief will make people do.

You should be reading: The Silence of Our Friends

The Silence of Our Friends was a joy to edit. From early conversations with the two authors and the artist about the story structure and the nature of autobiography to the moment the printed book landed in my hot little hands, I've had nothing but joy in this project. And I could not be prouder of it.

(Note the typically gorgeous cover, designed by :01 book designer Colleen AF Venable)

Based on co-author Mark Long's childhood in Texas, where his father was a television reporter focusing on the civil rights struggle, The Silence of Our Friends is a very personal story but it also tackles one of the defining moments of the United States of America. It does this with understated, nuanced writing by Long and his co-author Demonakos, and gorgeous, immersive artwork by artist Nate Powell.

 It seems like I'm not the only person who loves this book (though I'm probably the least objective!)--The Silence of Our Friends has spent three weeks so far on the New York Times bestseller list, and it's been getting very gratifying media attention.

For a taste of what this book is all about, check out Mark Long's essay for the Wall Street Journal "Speakeasy" blog, or the exerpt available at the book's website.