Around the age of seven, I decided that books with pictures were for little kids who couldn't read real books yet, or boys who liked robot trucks and superheroes so much that cartoons weren't enough. The only exceptions to this rule were
Garfield,
The Far Side, and
Calvin and Hobbes.
Luckily, by the time I got to college, dorm rooms came equipped with internet and in between working on papers I discovered webcomics. Almost always free, often created by newer, less established, or more experimental artists and writers, these were my one-page-at-a-time introduction to the world of graphic novels.
I'm still an avid reader of webcomics, which is how I came to hear of
Poorcraft: funnybook fundamentals of living well on less (640 TRO). The writer, Spike Trotman, is responsible for one of my favorites,
Templar, AZ (sometimes NSFW), and I've been waiting to read this graphic novel guide to living within your means since she raised the possibility.
In fact, I wish I'd had this book before I finished college, and entered the world of entry level positions, job hunting in a lukewarm economy, and graduate school.
Poorcraft has everything from tips on how to make your own cleaning supplies to how to navigate the complexity of the health care system. Some of the advice my parents gave me (always keep a budget, don't buy things on credit), and some I've learned through experience (how to find a good apartment), but many elements were new for me (how to care for an iron skillet).
The art is done by Diana Nock who, among other projects, does the webcomic
The Intrepid Girlbot (family friendly). The style she uses for
Poorcraft reminds me of cartoons from the 1930s, very expressive and loose limbed. A callback to the Great Depression makes sense for the topic! I love the humor of the visual style (there are some very amusing background elements), and how the book is organized around Millie's navigation of the concepts of frugality with Penny's help. By having the humor and a narrative, it turns
Poorcraft from a list of Dos and Don'ts into a story you'll want to read cover to cover!
I highly recommend this title for anyone looking to save a little money in their budget, whether you're just starting out, or you've been navigating adulthood for years.
Poorcraft will give you a good starting point!
You can see more of Spike's work on her website:
www.ironcircus.com
And more of Diana Nock's work on her website:
www.jinxville.com
Both sites may include material that is NSFW.
~Sarah, Adult Services
For August we've selected both Taste of Home and Taste of Home Healthy Cooking for our Magazines of the Month.We invite you to stop into the library and browse through our collection of issues for delicious recipes (or check one out to take home!).
Saturday is St. Patrick's Day, when we Americans celebrate our Irish heritage, or at least the possibility that we might be related to or know someone with Irish heritage. Ireland is a beautiful country with a rich history that goes far beyond the rather American custom of green beer.
It's once again the time of year to consider making a New Year's Resolution. Whether you promise yourself to eat healthier, get a handle on your finances, or just to read more great books, Carnegie-Stout is here to help!
December is a busy month for food, with holidays, parties, and gatherings galore! In addition to the Big Holidays, December has National Fruitcake Day (27th), Eat a red apple day (1st), National Cotton Candy Day (7th), National Brownie Day (8th), and best of all, National Chocolate Covered Anything Day (16th). To help you plan your celebrations we've selected Food Network Magazine as our magazine of the month for December.
November is both National Diabetes Month and Diabetic Eye Disease Month, and because of this we've selected Diabetic Living as our Magazine of the Month.
Carnegie-Stout also has a collection of books and DVDs on topics related to diabetes, and of course we have a number of excellent cookbooks!
: How a Rare Disease Became a Modern Pandemic, and What to Do about It by Dan Hurley (616.462 HUR)
The kids are back in school, and we seem to be past wicked heat of summer (finally). If, like me, your thoughts are turning toward apple cider and fall foliage, you might consider picking up September's Magazine of the Month: Midwest Living
In 2007, a group of friends got together and decided to celebrate their friendship and their favorite beverage: beer. They created a website, and a new holiday was born. This year's celebration will be tomorrow, Friday, August 5th.
g with Beer & More
With a projected high today of 94°F (and the humidity to match), my mind keeps turning to the colder landscapes of the polar regions. That and ice cream!
This month's feature magazine is Latina, a lifestyle, fashion, and entertainment magazine aimed at American women of Hispanic background. Since it began publication in 1997, Latina has only grown in popularity, and, yes, it is in English.
You may or may not remember Pi from math class, but anyone who loves pie can enjoy Pi Day!