My first contribution to Beer and Comics! The funny thing is, compared to the moderators of this site, I know very little about either subject. I am, however, very opinionated. And a girl. So I thought we’d mix things up a bit.
To start things off, let’s tackle a subject I know a little better – the written word. There are plenty of books that have been adapted to the art of graphic novel, but I have my own ideas on what should make it. Below is a list of 10 of the novels on the UK’s Guardian’s list of the 100 Greatest Novels of All Time. They are presented in no particular order and they are all books that I would like to see converted to comics. If anyone has any knowledge of them actually existing in that media, please, let me know. I will buy them and review them. Anyway, here it is:

1. Tom Jones – Henry Fielding

Arguably the first novel in print, it encompasses 18 “books” that divide the story and follow a foundling child on his quest to find his place in society. Filled with sex, intrigue, and death, this surely deserves a dark and classic adaptation (and if it was styled after Thomas Nast, I certainly wouldn’t object).

2. The Woman In White – Wilkie Collins

One of the first mystery novels, shifting perspective so that the reader never knows whom to trust and was, in fact, first published as a serial. Here we may also have the forerunner to the super-villian, cunning and intelligent as any Lex Luthor.

3. The Riddle of the Sands – Erskine Childers

Spies, yachts, and England before World War I. Written by one of the leaders of the early IRA who was executed in 1922, but his son went on to be the president of Ireland. This is considered one of the first spy stories, and firsts, as you may be able to gather, I am fond of adapting firsts of things.

4. The Trial – Franz Kafka

This was filmed by Orson Wells, illustrating how visual Kafka’s work is. I think that a media that mixes images as well as the written word on the same page would beautifully recreate this story. Frankly, I’m surprised it hasn’t been done yet. Black and white, stark, frightening, and surreal.

5. The Lord of the Flies

I think that perhaps a literal adaptation of this might be a little too… easy, but the story of the collapse of a man made society is right up there as one of the most universal themes of modern literature. Using the medium to mirror the violence of 6 and 7 year old boys with the fighting of an atomic war could be beautiful and haunting.

6. The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie – Muriel Spark

This book is not well known which is a shame. The story of a fanatical and independent woman who inspires and teaches a group of young girls with disastrous results – an authentically feminine tale of betrayal that would be offer a perspective on the world of women during a period of rising fascism. I can’t tell you how excited the idea of this makes me.

7. Haroun and the Sea of Stories – Salman Rushdie

The title says it all. I love the idea of a collection of short stories contained in an overarching narrative – probably due my love of Neil Gaiman.. This is a children’s book that follows the son of a famous storyteller introducing many colorful characters and locations. Stylized and glowing, it lends itself to artistic interpretation.

8. Northern Lights (The Golden Compass, US) – Phillip Pullman

Alright, I’m going to have to devote more space to this. Ignore the movie. Ignore it. The book is amazing and one of my favorites ever and I think it would absolutely perfect done by Ben Templesmith (30 Days of Night). I sort of dissolve into babbling about armored polar bears when this subject comes up, but a parallel universe with a presence of magic that can be felt and seen… how is that not right for a graphic novel? Maybe I make the Templesmith connection because of the snowy landscapes of the book, but I think that this book deserves something along the lines of a violent watercolor to do it justice.

9. Men Without Women – Ernest Hemmingway

I’ll be frank: I don’t like Hemmingway. He bothers me to no end. But. His dialogue could become something interesting. These are short stories about purely masculine men where settings play an integral role. Laid out on the page visually, perhaps his works would be more accessible. And I would focus less on how he was a drunken bastard.

10. The Big Sleep – Raymond Chandler

Phillip Marlow is THE detective. I don’t care what you have to say on the matter, because this is a seminal work in detective fiction. Double crossing, triple crossing, maybe even some quadruple – this story defines Noir. I would also love to see Humphrey Bogart’s character redefined. Trench coats and comic books – classic.

That’s it for this week, ladies and jellyspoons.

Singing off,

Lauren