Review! Rolling Blackouts by Sarah Glidden

I found Sarah Glidden's first graphic memoir How to Understand Israel in 60 Days or Less so compelling and thoughtful and reflective so I was very keen to read Rolling Blackouts. It's in a similar style, but with Glidden taking more of an observer's view to the rest of her group, which comprises of two journalist friends and an ex Marine as they travel through Turkey, Syria and Iraq in 2010, pre Arab Spring. 

Glidden's two friends, Alex and Sarah, are reporters and founders of a non profit journalism site, who are researching stories of the effects of the Iraq War. They talk to refugees, an Iraqi American deportee, a UN refugee administrator, an Iranian blogger; gathering stories about their experiences in the aftermath of war. Alongside these encounters and the stories they bring, is the story of childhood friend of the journalists, Dan, who is a former Marine, and his return to Iraq. 

While in How to Understand Israel, Glidden was the centre of the story, seeking an understanding of the complicated history of her heritage, in Rolling Blackouts she becomes more of a fly on the wall as the two journalists and the ex Marine navigate their own understandings of the very complicated post war landscape of Turkey, Syria and Iraq in 2010. And in fact all the more interesting in light of everything that has happened in the last 7 years.

I really love Sarah Glidden's artwork. She has such a soft touch- subtle, with really beautiful watercolour washes, and great characters. Ugh she's good. Can't wait for next thing she does! 

Super interesting, great storytelling, beautiful artwork.

Books I read in February!: Wuthering Heights, A God in Ruins, The Handmaid's Tale, Rolling Blackouts

February! My reading has really slowed down the last two months. I blame loads of essay marking and also writing of stuff. I did read some biggies in February though. I finally got round to reading The Handmaid's Tale and Wuthering Heights. I listened to A God in Ruins by Kate Atkinson on audiobook, which I had been putting off for ages. And I read Sarah Glidden's Rolling Blackouts, an extremely good graphic novel. 

Wuthering Heights- Emily Brontë

I literally, in the literal sense of the word, had the Kate Bush song in my head every time I picked up my kindle to read this. I didn't realise how much second generation Cathy there was in this. Or how the book is set up as a story told by someone else. Or even have any idea what Wuthering Heights was about apart from moors, Heathcliff and Cathy. Maybe I've not even watched any of the film/tv adaptations? Anyway, now I know all those things and I enjoyed it. I loved the melodrama of the romance, and the creepy darkness of all the scary dark bits. So many people just Stuck in situations. V bleak. 

The Handmaid's Tale- Margaret Atwood

This one had been on my TBR list for years and I've read so many books inspired by it that it felt about time I finally read The Handmaid's Tale. I was totally engrossed in the story and kept wanting to go to bed early to read more. A lot of books I've read that were written after this, now seem so obviously a response to it. In some ways I feel like what has come since is better, but The Handmaid's Tale had to be the first one. I did enjoy it a lot though and the context that comes in to play at the end does give the story a bit more nuance. I now follow Margaret Atwood on twitter, you should too.

Rolling Blackouts- Sarah Glidden

I found Sarah Glidden's first graphic memoir, How to Understand Israel in 60 Days or Less, so compelling and thoughtful and reflective so I was very keen to read Rolling Blackouts. It's in a similar style, but with Glidden taking more of an observer's view of the rest of her group, two journalist friends and a marines (I think) vet, as they travel through Turkey, Syria and Iraq in 2010, pre Arab Spring. Super interesting, greta storytelling, beautiful artwork.

A God in Ruins- Kate Atkinson

Oh Teddy. I listened to this one on audiobook, and it a great way to read it I think, Kate Atkinson's  wonderful vivid storytelling accompanying me as I walked about. I really liked the world of Life After Life, and while this was different and less multiple lifey, I enjoyed hopping around in time to different parts of Teddy's life after he survives the war. I've read several of Atkinson's books, but I may have to read a few more. Or maybe just revisit Behind the Scenes at the Museum, because I was enthralled by it as a teenager. 

More stuff soon I promise! I went to a couple of Aye Write! book festival events this month in Glasgow so I'll write up wee reviews of them soon and do some reviews of new releases soon too! I just finished reading A Conjuring of Light, which was wonderful.