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I am not sure how I found out about Leaf by Daishu Ma but I am glad I did. Such a gorgeous book. Have you heard of it?
Leaf is a picture-only graphic novel that tells the story of a leaf, or rather the story of a young man who finds an unusual leaf while out walking one autumn day. He journeys around his town trying to find the tree from which this leaf came but without success. He finds a woman who studies leaves and she does not know anything about it either. She puts the leaf in a special jar to preserve it. The young man carries the jar with him everywhere. But then an accident and the jar breaks and the leaf gets sucked up into a place where leaves from all over are collected and sent to be burned for electricity. He chases down the leaf, trying to save it. And something beautiful happens, I won’t say what, you will have to read the book and find out.
Because this is a story told completely without words, the art is extremely important. From small panels to large panels, from multiple pictures on a page to one picture that covers both pages, the detail is amazing. The pictures are done in pencil, mostly gray graphite, but then there are colors blended in to highlight: pale blue and yellow. These are used sparingly and create a richness and magic that is delightful.
The book itself is a lovely thing. Large-format, about the size of a piece of A4 paper, hardcover with thick matte-finished paper. The cover of the book has a cutout in the shape of a leaf through which the title and the author’s name appears.
For a taste of this book, visit Daishu Ma’s website. I don’t know much about Ma, only that she is Chinese. She completed a business degree in the UK before deciding to follow her childhood passion by attending Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design in London. As far as I can tell, she does a lot of illustration but this is her only book.
Leaf doesn’t take long to read and that means you can read it several times. I recommend multiple readings and with much lingering over your favorite drawings. Also, if you have children around, I bet it would be really fun to read with them and ask them to tell you the story. It is clear what the story is, but at the same time there is lots of room for imagination. Don’t miss this book if you can help it. And let’s hope Ma gives us more.
Wow-gorgeous artwork! I am going to look out for this book. I really like graphic novels but don’t pick them up often enough. I have another by Rutu Modan–I really loved her graphic novels Exit Wounds, do maybe I will try and read The Property over the long weekend! Anyway, Leaf sounds like the perfect book for this time of year!
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Danielle, it’s amazing what one can do with a pencil, isn’t it? I go through cycles with graphic books, it seems some years I read a number of them and others none at all. This year has been an especially good year for graphic stories 🙂 I will have to give Exit Wounds a try sometime!
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Gorgeous art work! Just beautiful! Too bad the book is not available here ! 😦
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cirtnecce, it is a really beautiful book. I think it is still newish so hopefully it will eventually make it your area!
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I don’t usually like graphic novels but this one looks so beautiful and it is enticing me to buy it!
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It is a wonderful looking book and It would make a brilliant christmas present. It is the first wordless graphic novel I have heard about (there must be others). Graphic novels: is there a case for saying that a lot of the best fiction around is in this genre?
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Ian, you know I hadn’t thought of that, but yes, it would make a great Christmas present for adults or children. I can think of graphic novels that have long stretches without words but I can’t think of any other entirely without words. There must be some. Graphics novels have certainly come into their own and there are certainly some that deserve to be ranked along with the best “literature” in any genre. That we’ve been able to see so much of this develop is really exciting.
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Ocean Bream, it is a beautiful book, one that can be enjoyed over and over again.
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Will definitely have to give it a read 🙂
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Wow!! An instant add to my xmas wishlist!
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smithereens, oh yes! I bet your and your kids both would love it!
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I’ve lost touch with what is going on in the world of the graphic artist, whether that be in the form of graphic novels or in the illustrations for children’s books since I stopped lecturing in this area. I can see that i have a lot of catching up to do. I know just who to give this to for a January birthday. I shall buy it early and enjoy it myself first !!
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Alex, I like your plan! I hope both you and the birthday person enjoy it! 🙂
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This looks really nice. I’m going to see if my library has a copy.
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Jeane, I hope your library has it!
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This is a world that I know nothing about – the only book I’ve ever read that might fall into this category is by Anthony Browne (I will have to go and check but I don’t think that had any words at all).
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BookerTalk, graphic stories have come a long way since the days of comic books. Even comic books these days have a higher production value. This one is an especially stunning book.
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Looks like an interesting graphic novel and even more is the artist/author. Speaking of graphic novels, I just got this new one called The Explorer Guild co-written by Kevin Costner, yes, that KC. Printed on antique-look paper to reflect its early 20th C. setting with pages of prose but mostly graphic. You may like to check it out.
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Arti, Kevin Costner? Wow, that is not a name I ever would have considered pairing with graphic novel! I will definitely check and see if my library has that one!
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It’s brand new in bookstores. Looks like a substantial read. I haven’t started yet but soon. The first hardcover book I bought in years. Yes mainly b/c of the author and appealing look (the book I mean, well the author too. One of my faves. 😌 )
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My library has it so I put myself in the hold queue. 🙂
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This sounds gorgeous – will definitely take a look. I’ve never read a graphic novel, so this might be a good place to start…
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widget, it is a beautiful book and a great introduction to the world of graphic stories 🙂
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Looks gorgeous! I hadn’t heard of this book before, but will have to keep an eye out for it at the library when I return from my lovely vacation.
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Jenny, I hope your library has it. It is a real treat!
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Oooh. This has just arrived via ILL so I’m looking forward to some quiet time to read it. Your review makes it sound very tantalizing!
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ravingreader, I hope you enjoy it!
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