Book Review...

Sophie Crumb: Evolution of a Crazy Artist (non-fiction)
by Sophie Crumb and edited by A. & R. Crumb

Renowned comic book artist Robert (R.) Crumb not only married a fellow comic book artist (Aline Crumb) but their daughter Sophie is one as well. As Sophie grew up, all of her drawings were saved by her parents. This book is a fascinating document of her development as an artist. The drawings are sequenced in chronological order from the age of 26 months to 28 years. Before I sat down and really delved into the book, I enjoyed just flipping through it quickly to see her progression from a crayon scribbler to a genuinely talented, creative adult. Many of the pages function as much as a diary as they do a sketchbook, with many of Sophie Crumb's daily thoughts and feelings written around the drawings. Quite a few pages are full of teen angst, some drawing are sexually explicit (although mostly in a silly, cartoon-ish manner) and may not be appropriate for every reader. This is a unique book that should interest most fans of graphic novels, comic books, or art in general.

Trevor
~Youth Services