I don’t get books as gifts very often, because my friends are worried about getting me stuff I already have (which is half-justified: I read a lot of books, but I don’t own a lot of books). So it’s pretty exciting when I do get a book as a gift, especially when it’s a total out-of-the-blue surprise! This week a friend surprised me with a copy of Building Stories, which I’ve heard rave reviews about but didn’t think I’d get my paws on anytime soon, since our library has (probably wisely) decided it’s too unwieldy/heavy/large to carry.

Building Stories coverIf you haven’t seen a copy in person, it’s not so much a book as it is a big, heavy box full of different types of bound materials of all shapes and sizes: everything from thick folding game-board to pamphlets and scraps of paper. There’s no right order to look at them in; you just roll up your sleeves and dive in, enjoying these private glimpses into modern life. If you’re familiar with Chris Ware’s work, then you know how crushingly sad and deeply moving his portraits of everyday life can be.

Coincidentally, it just so happens that today is a cold and overcast weekend day, and I have nothing planned aaaaaalll afternoon. Sounds like the perfect kind of day to get a loaf of something-or-other baking in the oven and then dive into this one-of-a-kind graphic novel, doesn’t it?

Stephanie Perry
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