Posy Simmonds

You Want It Darke(r)
Review of the Jonathan Cape hardcover edition (2018)

I had read and enjoyed Posy Simmonds previous graphic novels Gemma Bovery (1999) and Tamara Drewe (2007) in my pre-Goodreads days, but have only recently caught up with her most recent work. Cassandra Darke is a totally original story as opposed to the earlier works which were modern day adaptations based on the novels Madame Bovary and Far From the Madding Crowd.

Prosperous art dealer Cassandra Darke is discovered to show more have been defrauding her clients by selling unauthorized copies. The scandal sidetracks her career and her relationship with her family until her stepsister's daughter Nicky becomes her basement tenant. Nicky gets involved with some dubious types and helps a boyfriend to hide some incriminating evidence which turns out to tie into an abduction and murder. The story becomes a redemption journey for the curmudgeonly Cassandra who is constantly entertaining with her cantankerous observations and actions. The intricate artwork and the engaging story (which is often told in extended prose panels and not limited to speech balloons) made this both an intriguing and suspenseful read.

I read Cassandra Darke thanks to my GR friend JimZ's recent 4 star review and his encouragement for me to bump it up my TBR list. Thanks again to Jim!

Trivia and Link
Yes, I couldn't resist riffing on Leonard Cohen's You Want It Darker for my lede headline. show less

Lulu is looking forward to romping in the snow, once her slow-poke Dad, and annoying baby brother Willy are ready, and she makes her impatience more than evident, at home and on the street. When the wintry weather proves too cold for Willy, however, Lulu finds herself shepherded into the local museum instead, where her sulky behavior finally causes her father to lose his patience. Depositing her on a bench, he tells her to catch up when she's "feeling better," and departs. "Horruble Daddy," show more she concludes, and begins (naturally) to pick her nose. Fortunately, two cherubs - from a nearby sculpture, and painting, respectively - intervene, before any more toddler grossness can ensue, and take her on a wild ride through the painted landscapes in the museum's collection...

Curiously innocent in its conceit - I have a hard time imagining any current parents leaving their child on a bench in a public place, with instructions to behave - this picture-book from the late 1980s is full of amusing child-appeal. Who hasn't felt, at that early stage of development, during which every denial of our wishes feels terribly unjust, that one's parents are just "horruble?" The magical adventure here, in which Lulu is guided through a number of works of art, satisfies both the childlike desire to dive right into pictures (I know I often wished I could dive into my books, at that age!), and the need (possibly for the first time) to have separate experiences from one's family. I did wonder what kind of museum this was - natural history or art? - given the presence of both dinosaurs and fine paintings, but I suppose that is all part of the fun. show less

A knowing graphic novel parody of Flaubert's 'Madame Bovary', written and illustrated by the wonderful Posy Simmonds. As is her wont, she gently mocks the English middle class and their desires. Here the target is expatriate English owning cottages in France. Gemma Bovery has married on the rebound and found herself living a boring dream in a French town. She proceeds to have affairs and go on spending sprees. The story is told by M. Joubert, a local baker who becomes obsessed with Gemma and show more her connection to the novel 'Madame Bovary'. While the book's sad ending for Gemma turns out to be inevitable, there is a lot of gentle social and cross-cultural humour on the way there. show less

Stand-alone novel in graphic form by Posy Simmonds. Absolutely brilliant. Nails the quirks and pretensions of the London Art world. Loved it to bits, so many subtle little side jokes. Not sure that any non Brit would get the most out of this book.