 From My Bookshelf
This month I'm sharing thoughts on two books written by European authors: one British and one Spanish.
Laika by Nick Abadzis is the story of the dog the Russians sent into space. But it is also a revealing glimpse into the pressures of the "space race" of the 1950's. Beginning with the opening panels of a man slowly advancing through the snow repeating to himself, "I am a man of destiny. I will not die", readers understand the motivations behind the fateful decisions that were made. Because these are not "cardboard characters", it is easy to empathize with their situations. I also loved the images, especially the dreams of the dog dancing through space. The language is powerful: "Every day, every moment is a frontier to a country that, once crossed, can never be returned to." What an incredible book!
art © Nick Abadzis used with permission of First Second Books'
 Grimpow: The Invisible Road by Rafael Abalos and translated from original Spanish by Noel Baca Castex is set in France in 1313. The story involves a young man who discovers part of a secret that relates to the Knights Templar. It really isn't a Da Vinci Code book, although there are some puzzles to solve and one pretty intense description of a dead body. There is plenty of action. It almost felt like reading Indiana Jones. Magic and mystical elements are low-key. I did like the theme of Grimpow, a simple boy, being asked to perform a task similar to Frodo in Lord of the Rings. Although his friends assist at times, he comes to realize that he alone must carry a "burden" and complete the task. This usually isn't my type of book, but I really liked this one.
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