Accessibility Tools

  • Content scaling 100%
  • Font size 100%
  • Line height 100%
  • Letter spacing 100%

Literary escapism

Three new comic novels
by
May 2022, no. 442

Literary escapism

Three new comic novels
by
May 2022, no. 442

Doubtless there will come a time when one’s more disciplined reading self requires nourishment from serious books that offer sustained intellectual, creative, and moral challenges. In the meantime, books – in particular the contemporary urban novel – may continue to satisfy by being charming, delightful, witty, heart-warming, hilarious, astringently refreshing, sharply observed, and deliciously original.

That, of course, is a sample of front and back cover terms designed to spark interest in these three new comic novels. In less grim times, one might feel guilty just dipping into such books, let alone reading them to the end, but with the never-ending trail of natural and invented disasters, both global and local, escapism seems the most sensible recourse. Besides, one of these novels deploys a crossword puzzle as a central structural device – what’s not to love?

From the New Issue

You May Also Like

Leave a comment

If you are an ABR subscriber, you will need to sign in to post a comment.

If you have forgotten your sign in details, or if you receive an error message when trying to submit your comment, please email your comment (and the name of the article to which it relates) to ABR Comments. We will review your comment and, subject to approval, we will post it under your name.

Please note that all comments must be approved by ABR and comply with our Terms & Conditions.