Lindsay Pollock

Graphic novels are often underrated with the stereotypical misnomer of "comic books." This dismissal, however, is unwarranted as proven by Vanni. The authors and illustrators interweave a poignant narrative of tragedy and revivalism set against the backdrop of the Tamil genocide undertaken by the majority Sinhalese in Sri Lanka post-2004. What makes Vanni so compulsive is that alongside a moving story, it also visualizes that very story. The almost cartoonish drawings reflect an innocence which by the conclusion is phased into innocence lost as the protagonists go through hell and back. This is a graphic novel of historic proportions.… (más)

I enjoyed the book and learned a great deal about artists that were new to me. I spent almost as much time on Google reading about the people in the book. The only problem I had keeping things straight was that the chapters were both loosely chronological and topical, so the time that things happened jumped around a bit. I guess I was expecting a birth to death time sequence. Once I realized how Pollock was structuring the narrative, the confusion dissipated. Overall, I was fascinated by the story.… (más)