It’s taken almost 4 years to make it from our inaugural entry in March 2020. Nevertheless, we’ve managed to outlive till Weekend Reading 200! It looks as if our milestone 100th entry was simply yesterday… give or take a couple of a long time.
As you may count on, the Beat Elite might be spending the weekend holed up in Stately Beat Manor, getting misplaced in an enormous pile of books. But this week, to have fun the landmark entry, we’ve invited a plethora of movie star friends over for an enormous Weekend Reading gala!
We’re hoping you’ll contemplate participating this weekend, too! Please tell us what you’re studying whilst you keep away from the arrival of Monday, both proper right here within the remark part or over on our Bluesky web page.
AVERY KAPLAN: It’s been an extended highway, getting from there to right here. I’m pondering of these darkish days in July 2020 once we had been caught at house consuming reasonably priced scorching canines as a substitute of soggy $19 ones, touring solely by way of Animal Crossing: New Leaf and resorting to again points for studying materials. So for our landmark 200th Weekend Reading column, I’m choosing Comic-Con: 40 Years of Artists, Writers, Fans & Friends. Written by Gary Sassaman and Jackie Estrada, with a foreword by Ray Bradbury and a canopy by Sergio Aragones, this e book is crammed with reproductions and pictures of the primary 40 years of Comic-Con.
Then so far as prose goes, I’m testing Hell Bent by Leigh Bardugo, the sequel to Ninth House. The first e book gained me over with its refreshing depiction of magic, which is conceptualized not as boring coloured sparks popping out of hokey wands, however fairly, a posh system designed to maintain energy within the arms of an elite few (a potent and related metaphor).
Finally, I’m desirous to dive into Adversary by Blue Delliquanti. Between Delliquanti and writer Silver Sprocket’s respective data, I’m positive I’m going to get pleasure from this comedian. To all those that have contributed to this column over the previous 4 years, I’m sincerely grateful. And for you readers: thanks for studying our column, thanks for studying The Beat and thanks for studying basically. Long days and nice nights, pals.
RYAN NORTH: Sorry to out myself as a Fake Geek Guy right here, buuuut – this weekend I’m studying The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkein for the primary time. It’s the newest choice for the e book membership I’m part of, and we selected it after everybody couldn’t imagine I’ve by no means learn ANY Tolkien EVER. They had been shocked and appalled at my cultural miseducation – horrified, actually. I used to be roasted fairly ruthlessly. Anyway to this point I’ve learn the primary couple of chapters, and I gotta say – this Tolkien man’s received chops! I actually assume he is perhaps going locations!!
WENDY XU: I’m at present studying LEECH by Hiron Ennes. Not gonna lie, Tamsyn Muir‘s blurb of “Wuthering Heights but with worms” really sold me, even though I usually hate “X but with Y” comps. It is, however, a beautifully written, dark and atmospheric medical fantasy… with worms, told from the POV of the equivalent of whatever that hivemind parasite thing living in Star Trek’s Jadzia Dax is. I’ve been listening to it on audiobook whereas inking comics pages. And if I had been to recommend an accompanying illustrated e book to pair with it: THE UNFORTUNATE LIFE OF WORMS by Noemi Vola, is a meditation on being a worm as a metaphor for being an individual, with plenty of actually enjoyable worm comics. That one I’ve been studying in little snippets as a bedtime story.
ARPAD OKAY: So I’ve been studying Hurricane Isle and Other Adventures, Fantagraphics’ “best of” Roy Crane’s each day strips starring Captain Easy and Wash Tubbs. A good-looking, heavy quantity of a number of the finest journey comics ever written. Flip the e book over and on the again Gil Kane is quoted, saying “Superman was Captain Easy; Batman was Captain Easy.” But my learn to this point has been Tintin was Wash Tubbs. A globe-trotting mix of pulp motion and good-natured humor. A boy adventurer, treasure, dames, gangsters, roughnecks, hazard, derring-do. Ron Coulart’s essay on the e book’s begin posits Floyd Gottfredson was so besotted with Crane’s work that Mickey Mouse is Wash Tubbs. And there’s lots of discuss on the market however not likely any print about Tintin taking pages immediately from Mickey’s e book. If there’s writing on the market connecting Wash Tubbs, Mickey Mouse, and/or Tintin, I’d like to see it!
RON CHAN: This weekend I might be studying (Or extra precisely, re-reading. It’s actual good!) Sunflowers, an autobiographical shortform comedian about dwelling with bipolar 1 dysfunction by Keezy Young. When I purchased Sunflowers from Keezy at Emerald City Comic Con final weekend, she stated she felt bizarre saying “I hope you enjoy it” because it’s not likely a enjoyable material, however I’ve certainly loved it immensely. Keezy’s talent at storytelling, lovely paintings, and deeply-personal writing come collectively to make a beautiful comedian that’s each informative and charming.
ADAM KARENINA SHERIF: To honor this pretty column’s two hundredth entry, I’m going to disclose my full studying slate. In prose (no pics), I’m at present studying Patricia Highsmith’s Strangers On A Train. It’s my first Highsmith and like Ryan North(!) above, I’m studying it as a part of a e book membership (comprised of two members). The impulse got here from this good Ali Fitzgerald comedian bio of Highsmith that ran in The New Yorker pretty lately. In poetry, I’m studying When My Brother Was An Aztec by Natalie Diaz, whose Postcolonial Love Poem was nothing wanting life altering.
In comics-adjacent studying, I’m delighted to have snagged a duplicate of Jim Rugg’s 1986 zine – which collates every kind of comics-related writing and promoting from the 12 months in query, together with some writing our personal Heidi MacDonald did for Amazing Heroes. Finally, in comics (pics), this weekend I’ll be studying Dracula, Motherf**ker by Erica Henderson and Alex de Campi after being so completely blown away by their most up-to-date collaboration, Parasocial. Okay!
STEENZ: I simply began two books lately: Blue Period Vol 2 and Radium Girls. Both I’ve gotten from my native library!
Blue Period is by Tsubasa Tamaguchi and is a few pupil who decides to deal with artwork. He’s used to doing properly at school, however artwork is one thing he actually has to work at. There’s a lot extra to artwork than the power to draft a picture realistically. There’s shade idea, composition, and FEELINGS! It’s a very enjoyable learn and has jogged my memory why I like artwork within the first place. It’s an particularly nice manga for many who may wish to dabble within the arts themselves. Big ups to Gale Galligan for recommending this to me!
Radium Girls: The Dark Story of America’s Shining Women by Kate Moore has been a THRILLING learn. I like studying nonfiction, particularly ones that concentrate on scams and scandals. And that is QUITE the scandal. Kate does an important job giving a voice to the entire ladies that labored within the Radium discipline portray watches and clocks. I really feel like we all know so little concerning the struggles these ladies went by. But Kate deftly unveils their tales and the difficulties getting anybody to take heed to them concerning the risks of radium. I don’t wish to put it down!!
A.C. ESGUERRA: Of course you ask me what I’m studying on the very weekend it’s “horny stuff”. First, Rebecca Mock’s DIE HORNY, a few large monster villain and her fortunately pathetic henchman on a derailed honeymoon. Mock packs a ton of splendidly drawn motion, comedy and innuendo into the energetic hot-pink pages. Power Rangers and 90s anime infused with additional step-on-me power and only a contact of tech trade critique—I would like extra!
In prose I’m doing my annual reread of the CAPTIVE PRINCE trilogy by C.S. Pacat (identified extra lately in comics for FENCE), a story of two enemy princes destined to combat, f**okay and have emotions. Not essentially in that order. It’s stuffed with vicious dialogue, political intrigue and an unabashed quantity of excessive fantasy and BL/erotica tropes from the Livejournal period. I like it to bits.
PAIGE BRADDOCK: I used to be captivated by the quilt artwork for this superbly illustrated trendy fable about defending our planet. In this lushly illustrated image e book, The Wild by Yuval Zommer, the Earth is imagined as a magical, treasured, and susceptible creature known as the Wild. These days I discover myself each drawn to and impressed by image books. I plan to sit down and examine every illustration whereas having fun with a cup of espresso this weekend.
TAIMUR DAR: My sister gifted me a duplicate of All of the Marvels: A Journey to the Ends of the Biggest Story Ever Told by Douglas Woulk for my birthday final January. I’ve been making my means by the opposite books I received for my birthday however I’m lastly going to sit down down and start All the Marvels this weekend. And with the tragic passing of Akira Toriyama, I believe it’s becoming I learn a number of the unique Dragon Ball manga since so many I used to be obsessive about the Dragonball franchise as a child.
MERVE GİRAY: Since we’re celebrating International Woman’s Day, my plan for the weekend is to begin studying Gösta Berling’s Saga by Selma Lagerlöf, the primary girl to be awarded The Nobel Prize in Literature. For comics, I initially put aside a couple of newer volumes of the collection I used to be maintaining with, however much like Taimur, I’ll revisit Dragon Ball to honor Akira Toriyama as a substitute as properly.
D. MORRIS: Like many, I used to be devastated by the passing of Akira Toriyama. In his honor, I plan on pulling out my copy of Akira Toriyama’s Manga Theater. It is a group of quick tales that additionally charts his development as an artist.
CY BELTRAN: I’ve been behind on my studying for some time, so it is a big catch-up weekend for me. I’ll be beginning off by ending up the wonderful twentieth Century Men by Deniz Camp, Stipan Morian, and Aditya Bidikar. Then, for a e book membership I’ve joined, I’m gonna be wrapping up We Play Ourselves by Jen Silverman, which is a few queer playwright who escapes to LA after some public shenanigans in NYC. Finally, I’m so so so behind on this 12 months’s Oscar, however I plan to seek out time to take a look at Oppenheimer (I do know!) and The Holdovers, two movies that I in some way missed in theaters and now should stream on Peacock on my little laptop computer. Hopefully I can do all of this within the subsequent 48 hours!
JANICE CHIANG: My weekend studying might be Tao Te Ching by Lao Tsu who was a thinker within the royal courtroom of Zhou. His writings are identified to have formulated the ideas of Taoism. When I search solutions to questions I’ve in my life and broader problems with nationwide and world occasions I re-read this e book. I imagine philosophy represents the information and experiences of civilizations who’ve proceeded our lifetime.
Although know-how and requirements of dwelling have advanced over the centuries, there are basic human experiences which can be common whatever the timeline. I see inside our nation has a lot turmoil within the authorities and among the many residents. There is lots of strife and hardship in each nation on this planet as properly. Why is there extra ache than pleasure?
One principal precept of the Tao Te Ching is to know humankind’s relationship to Nature.
Meaning that the self significance of humankind is the gateway to destruction. Not solely do the choices of some have an effect on the lives of the bulk however Nature herself is the goal, too. Climate destruction, warfare, transgressions between folks and creatures who share the Earth with us is our current state of affairs.
Once, I used to be ready on line at our native well being meals retailer. I had a bunch of parsley that I wanted for a recipe. A person in entrance of me rotated and noticed that I had one merchandise. He informed me to go forward of him and stated, ”I’m a Catholic Taoist.” This man was David Johansen/Buster Poindexter the musician. In retrospect, he was letting me know that he believed in theology…The perception that every one religions share the identical constructive ideas. Compassion being the primary precept of unity.
The cause I periodically return to learn this e book is for a quieting of the agitated thoughts.
With philosophy, one’s understanding deepens as we’ve got extra life experiences. It helps one sum up the place we stand and tips on how to transfer ahead.
I used to be honored final 12 months as a Special Guest at San Diego Comic Con and was in a position to current my work and experiences in our trade throughout a Spotlight Panel. We have a particular group of creators, readers, followers, and cosplayers. There is all the time nice pleasure and discovery throughout conventions the place previous pals are reunited and new pals are made.
How will we navigate these troublesome occasions? Our each day interactions are a possibility to bridge the divide between “strangers” and people exterior our regular circle of household and pals. Achievements in historical past, tradition, information, and philosophy is a social exercise being that they’re the end result of many individuals’s lifetime experiences. The problem is will one contribute or destroy for the sake of destruction?
ETHAN SACKS: Weekends are an excellent time to make amends for my studying, and I all the time have one non-fiction e book and one novel by which I’m concurrently engrossed. It might sound bizarre, nevertheless it appeals to completely different components of my very warped mind. Sometimes the non-fiction choice is analysis for an upcoming comedian. Right now, nonetheless, it’s a e book known as Stolen Focus: Why You Can’t Pay Attention — and How to Think Deeply Again by Johann Hari. It’s a sobering take a look at how all the things in trendy life — from the way in which social media is designed to our diets to sleep deficiency — has rewired our minds. Sobering, nevertheless it’s one thing I really feel is vital to face. For enjoyable, I’m at present devouring my Star Wars colleague Charles Soule’s newest mind-blowing novel, The Endless Vessel. And subsequent up, I’m going to learn fellow Star Wars writers Alyssa Wong and Daniel José Older’s new High Republic epic, Escape From Valo. What can I say? I’ve ridiculously gifted pals.
NAOMI SACKS: I’m studying One Last Stop by Casey McQuiston. This novel follows 23-year-old August who simply moved to New York City. She meets Jane, a mysterious and funky girl all the time on her subway, and falls in love. But as she learns extra about Jane, August discovers that Jane is from the 70s and decides to assist Jane discover her place in time. This e book has a very nice mix of romance and sci-fi components, and the native historical past woven in makes it really feel like a love letter to New York City. I additionally occurred to seek out this e book translated into Portuguese and French, so I’m excited to strive studying it once more in these languages as soon as I’m carried out! (I don’t converse Portuguese. I purchased the Portuguese model fully on impulse. I don’t understand how I’m going to learn it.)
GREGORY PAUL SILBER: As I wrote in final week’s “Weekend Reading,” I’m nonetheless studying Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, and I’m nearing the finale. Specifically, I’m studying the Penguin Classics version entitled Frankenstein: The 1818 Text, which, per the again cowl, “preserves the hard-hitting and politically charged aspects of Shelley’s original writing” as later editions had been altered by Mary Shelley’s famed (however apparently sexist) husband, poet Percy Shelley. This is my first time studying it in any respect so I’ve no body of reference, however regardless, it’s a hell of a e book. Don’t let the truth that it’s over 200 years previous scare you away; it’s suspenseful, profoundly philosophical, and in some respects surprisingly trendy. Expect a extra thorough examination of the novel and the way it speaks to present storytelling traits by subsequent week or so in my column, Silber Linings.
SAMANTHA PUC: I’m all the time studying a couple of e book at a time, and this weekend isn’t any exception! For The Nonbinarian Book Club, I’m studying Krista Burton’s Moby Dyke, which is a highway journey saga about visiting the final remaining lesbian bars within the US, and I’m additionally decided to complete Jenny Fran Davis’s Dykette which is a bizarre, wild time. I hold checking it out from the library, studying slightly, returning it, placing it again on my holds record, rinse, and repeat. It appears like flirting, which appears acceptable for the plot. I simply completed Shalene Gupta’s The Cycle, which is (to my information) the primary e book printed about Pre-Menstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD), and it was affirming, infuriating, and informative suddenly. Last however undoubtedly not least, I’m hoping to learn Matthew Erman and Sam Beck’s Loving, Ohio! My TBR is meticulously sorted and stacked in my residence and my harddrive and I’m attempting to work by it patiently, which as you possibly can inform isn’t precisely working, however chaos turns into me (no less than once we’re speaking about studying habits).
KELAS LLOYD: I run a bookclub that began a few 12 months into the pandemic, and I managed to con them this month into studying one thing that’s lengthy been part of my bodily TBR pile – A History of Wild Places, by Shea Ernshaw. It’s a few hunt for a lacking girl that intersects with a mysterious commune/cult, which inserts properly with the quick story centering on a cult that I’m writing for the time being.
GEORGE CARMONA 3RD: In anticipation of the upcoming Netflix present The Three-Body Problem, I wished to be a kind of individuals who decide all the things by the supply materials. Written by Liu Cixin and translated by Ken Liu, Three-Body Problem is an intense examine a secret alien invasion, a mysterious VR recreation, and the response of Earth’s governments. Outside of manga, I haven’t learn any Asian sci-fi, so this has been a really attention-grabbing modification with my expectations as to how the e book reads and feels.
On the comedian aspect of issues, I’ll be ending off DC Comics’ 2022 Dark Crisis on Infinite Earths occasion. Writer Joshua Williamson asks and solutions the query what occurs when the Justice League dies? As I’m having fun with the present Titans run and the standing of the Justice League, I wished to return and skim how Nightwing and the Titans stepped as much as turn out to be the DCU’s A-team. To again Williamson up on this large reboot of the DCU is a squad of gifted artists together with principal artist Daniel Sampere, Jim Cheung, Jack Herbert, Giuseppe Camuncoli, Cam Smith, Rafa Sandoval, Chris Burnham, Jordi Tarragona, Daniel Henriques, Danny Miki.
NANCY POWELL: A brand new Asian Comics exhibit simply opened this weekend at Bowers Museum in Santa Ana, CA, and so in honor of that, I picked up Eike Exner’s Comics and the Origins of Manga: A Revisionist History, primarily based on a dissertation he wrote as a USC graduate pupil. Exner posits that comics (and subsequently manga) developed in response to new applied sciences in audio visible leisure. It is a departure from the extra generally held perception that manga arose from centuries-old Japanese artwork kinds. I’m additionally excited to be studying 4 zines I picked up on the Cartoon Art Museum by Donna Almendrala. Her paintings is simply too lovable to withstand.
YAZMIN GARCIA: I’ve heard lots of good issues about See You in My nineteenth Life by Lee Hey so I’m studying the primary quantity this weekend. Juwon Yun has lived by and remembers her earlier 17 lives. Just earlier than she was in a position to inform her secret to her buddy Seoha Mun, she dies in his arms. She reincarnates once more a 12 months later and she or he’s decided to be in Seoha Mun’s life once more. I benefit from the reincarnation trope so I’m excited to get into this collection.
BEAU Q.: As a comic book artist, as a comic book author, as a comic book critic, as a comic book reader, I’d be remiss if I didn’t load up on Akira Toriyama work that’s been floating round my reread record. In this second, I discover myself drawn to rereading all of the Toriyama corners and after-chapter quantity inserts from Akira Toriyama’s Manga Theater and Dr. Slump volumes 1-18 the place Tori Studio circa 1983-85 doc their goofing off and subsequent crunchtime. Manga Theater has been my espresso desk tableau for years now, and reads as Toriyama’s diary of trial & error with discovering his artistic voice in a then-shifting manga trade. As we mourn Toriyama’s passing, it’s by no means too late or too silly to catch a glimpse of who he was when he first began, in order that we will pursue our goals with such fervor and foolishness.
MATHEW NEW: I’m all the time studying a number of issues without delay! Right now I’m studying Usagi Yojimbo Saga Vol. 3 (one of many big volumes from Dark Horse). Stan Sakai is a legend so I in all probability don’t have to say a lot however in the event you’ve by no means learn Usagi you actually ought to! Also I’ve been watching FX’s new Shogun collection and it’s been enjoyable to understand how a lot I already knew about seventeenth century Japan due to all of the Usagi Yojimbo I’ve learn!
I’m additionally studying the primary quantity of Yokohama Kaidashi Kikou by Hitoshi Ashinano. I’m solely simply ending the primary quantity, nevertheless it’s a slice-of-life collection a few cute android who runs slightly café set in a future a while after an environmental catastrophe. It’s post-apocalyptic however light, which is a very attention-grabbing dichotomy. Of course, with the latest unhappy information we’ve all heard by now, what I’ll truly in all probability be doing this weekend is launching a re-read of Dragon Ball. RIP Akira Toriyama, probably the best cartoonist of all time.
DERRICK CROW: It’s been a minute since I’ve contributed right here, however I’m all the time completely satisfied to, I’m simply not all the time attending to learn one thing. This weekend although I’m lastly choosing up a e book that I’ve had in my little assortment for awhile: Anime Architecture: Imagined Worlds and Endless Megacities by Stefan Riekeles. An unbelievable assortment of behind-the-scenes cels and sketches of cities seen in lots of well-known anime and the tales behind their creations. I received it as a Christmas reward and now I’m lastly checking it out! I additionally lately completed watching Monarch: Legacy of Monsters and cherished it. I’m additionally watching Shogun on FX. I extremely suggest each. Like others right here, I wish to use a few of this time to pay tribute to Akira Toriyama who has additionally forged a large shadow over my life in lots of inspirational and private methods. He is an absolute legend and can all the time be remembered. I hope he’s studying loads of soiled magazines up within the nice past.
KRISTINA ELYSE BUTKE: As all the time, I’m bringing the BL! I’ve received two very completely different BL manga to learn this weekend. First off is Heat x Beat: A Shut-in Omega Becomes and Idol by Ken Homerun. This is my second enterprise into Homerun’s Heat x Beat world of alpha and omega idols with cute tails and animal ears. In this quantity, Minoru is an omega shut-in resulting from heartbreak, and he vents his emotions by music. It attracts the eye of the mega-popular idol Hijiri, who sweeps Minoru into the highlight! After that, I’ll be studying The Man Who Shattered my World by Osamy Moriya. This one is about Tachibana, who solely goes for slender, fairly males as companions. But when the brawny, robust Kuzumi enters his life, the tables get turned! Both Heat x Beat and The Man Who Shattered My World come from Tokyo POP’s LoveLove line and I’m excited to dive into each!
EMMA GROVE: I received midway by studying a Shirley Jackson e book Life Among the Savages, about elevating her youngsters and husband, then began writing and illustrating a brand new e book and couldn’t deal with anything. Shirley Jackson is unquestionably one in all my favourite authors, and I like her writing, so I hope to complete it sooner or later quickly.
PAUL ALLOR: I lately picked up Fabien Vehlmann and Kerascoet‘s Satania. I loved their Beautiful Darkness, so I’m actually wanting ahead to that. And on my buddy Claire Napier‘s recommendation, I’m testing Tsubasa Yamaguchi‘s Nude Model, which looks dark and horny, one of my favorite combinations! On the prose side I’m engaged on Heaven and Hell: A History of the Afterlife, which began as analysis for a pitch that didn’t actually come collectively—however actually, a non-fiction examination of loss of life what comes thereafter is analysis for almost all the things I write. I’ve additionally lastly began Tom Lake, the newest by Ann Patchett, one in all my all-time favorites. And I’m all the time dipping out and in of quick fiction—currently I’ve been studying The Collected Stories of Stefan Zweig and Broken Stars (a group of latest Chinese sci-fi). And I’m on a Robert Aickman kick, however I’m all the time on a Robert Aickman kick!
REBECCA OLIVER KAPLAN: I’m lastly digging into my field of First Second evaluation copies this weekend, starting with Plain Jane and the Mermaid by Vera Brosgol and The Case of the Golden Bone by Sara Varon.
DEAN SIMONS: Like lots of people, the information of Akira Toriyama’s passing floored me. I had been on a gradual Dragon Ball reread for the previous 12 months or so (I’m presently on the Namek saga). The anime and the manga had been gateways for me as a child within the late 90s/early 00s. This weekend I might be studying his different collection – the one quantity tales Sand Land (unique Japanese publication 2000; translated by Anita Sengupta and Gerard Jones) and Cowa! (unique Japanese publication 1997; translated by Alexander O. Smith).
You can peruse the 199 earlier entries in The Beat’s Weekend Reading archive by clicking right here.
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