I got a late start to this only because I was finishing up some library checkouts before they had to be returned. I have only one library audiobook left, and then all my other holds are postponed for the month!

My goal is to whittle down my physical books on my shelves that I haven't yet read. I've decided I'm going to do a rhythm of two graphic novels and then one print novel, hopping back and forth between comics and print as I go.

I just finished with my first graphic novel for this project, Alex Robinson's Box Office Poison. It's a lengthy, meandering, zeitgeisty comic from the 90s. I think that one of the strengths of graphic novels is that they can easily handle large casts of distinct characters, since it's so easy to visually distinguish them, and Box Office Poison does this really well. I also really appreciated that it treats its characters as flawed, complex humans, and that its story is very far from didactic. Each character has good and bad attributes, and the events of the story feel lived rather than moralistic. This can make it uncomfortable in places, as it allows some pretty bad actions to go uncritiqued, but it also does a good job of conveying the idea that there's good and bad in everyone. Robinson's art is really splendid, and he utilizes really interesting visual composition techniques throughout the book, which made it a treat to both read and look at. It gets a really solid thumbs up from me.

Following this, there's a short addendum to Box Office Poison called, literally, More Box Office Poison that I'm going to read as my second graphic novel before diving into my first print novel. @Algernon_Asimov inspired me to start with, of course, Isaac Asimov, so for my print novel I will be reading the first book in his Foundation series, which I've been meaning to read for years but have never actually gotten around to.