Ashley Jablonski is a Wisconsin transplant who came to Vermont initially to attend the Center for Cartoon Studies. She fell in love with Vermont, and is obsessed with anything VT. She's also obsessed with graphic memoir, and all things spooky or witchy. In her spare time, you can find her in the woods listening to the Skyrim soundtrack, or enjoying a cup of coffee while drawing, painting, or reading.
"This isn't the kind of fairy tale where the princess marries a prince. It's the one where she kills him." This book has power and rage spun and intertwined within strong characters (a lot of them female), found family and friendship, and impossible tasks that are made possible. The title is perfect for what lies within; and evokes feelings and imagery of what I feel when I read this book. I think of nettle as obviously jagged and stingy, and bone as strong and essential. A perfect description of Marra trying to stick it to the man (I won't give away the ending). -Ashley
I'm still not over this book. It's SO good. I just want to scream it from the mountain tops. -Ashley
A riveting story about a young, aspiring, Chinese American pianist whose parents get into a car crash after one of her performances. She feels guilty, as she asked her parents to stay later than they intended, and so she takes an auspicious offer at a company called Holistik to provide for her parents' care. Things seem great on the outside; all of the organic face creams, supplements, and so on. But, changes begin to occur to her appearance. Lighter skin, longer legs, blonde hair. Her employer pressures her into changing her workplace name to a name that is easier for customers than her given name. This book encompasses themes surrounding toxic, Western, racist beauty standards, fears about bodily autonomy, and beauty culture. -Ashley
This is a brilliant and important book about the interconnectedness of the natural world, primarily with trees and fungi. It talks about how nutrients move through tree roots linked by fungi, kind of like how a brain works. Trees are shown to help each other out, and they will also pass nutrients onto their offspring. Suzanne weaves that interconnectedness with scientific research and her own story, making it quite a compelling read. If you liked Braiding Sweetgrass, you'd like this book. -Ashley
What a wonderful, feel good, cozy book. Simply delightful. This book is about found family, so much love, acceptance of differences, and so much more. I fell in love with each and every character; they are all so charming. They're all tenderly and carefully rendered. This book really struck a chord in my heart, and I wanted to savor and cling onto each word. I didn't want it to end. As soon as I finished reading this book, I immediately wanted to read it again. SO SO good! Definitely one of my favorite reads that I've read during 2023. -Ashley
Utterly delightful. I was charmed and enraptured by the magpie, George, and the author's account of taking care of him. I really appreciated a glimpse into her humanity, and showing how less than perfect she really is. The messy, chaotic life and love that went into taking care of him; and that passion and spark about something you're truly invested in. It's a true snapshot into her life. It was also a very cozy read. I really enjoyed reading this one before bed. -Ashley
It is the year 1791 and Nella has two rules in her apothecary. Rule #1: The poison must never be used to harm another woman. Rule #2: The names of the murderer and her victim must be recorded in the apothecary's register. One day, a young girl comes into her shop for a poison. Little does young Eliza know in that very moment that she had come in for more. "Twelve minutes. A fraction of a lifetime, yet enough to alter the course of it." One fateful evening later, Nella gets blackmailed by Lady Clarence into brewing a poison that will kill her husband's mistress. Ever since then... Nothing's been the same... ...While in the present day, we have Caroline, who is taking a trip that was once meant for two... She goes mudlarking and uncovers a vial with a crude drawing of a bear on it. Her curiosity takes her into uncovering the past... “You are not searching for a thing so much as you are searching for an inconsistency of things, or an absence.” Who and what is behind the symbol of the bear, and what mysteries will unravel as she follows the trail? These three perspectives are parallel lives that spiral like the churning waters. They follow after each other in ways that will become apparent. “The best apothecary was one who knows intimately the despair felt by her patient, whether in body or heart.” -Ashley
I have such a fondness for "retro" color palettes like the color palette utilized in this book. Give me oranges, pinks, yellows, browns. Give me mushroom designed kitchenware. Give me checkered tiles. Floral patterns? YES. (I totally heard this in the voice of Jonathan Van Ness). The authors of this book, Ashley Molesso (she/her) and Chess Needham (he/him), own Ash + Chess, a stationary company. They're a trans and queer couple who utilize bold, retro color palettes, to uplift the queer community. They also made Queer Tarot, which is absolutely splendid. This book uses colorful illustrations and text to demonstrate that words can be neutral and genderless. It's a very celebratory and fun book, perfect for any age. -Ashley
Some parts hilarious, and all encompassing endearing, this book is one of those books that I read a while ago and yet it still has ghostly threads on my mind. I think that I've finally processed it and realized that yes, I did enjoy it quite a lot. There is joy in loving something so much, and we should celebrate that love and enjoyment that we have to that certain thing. I also related because I love Benedict Cumberbatch. I am obsessed with the series that he's in; Sherlock. I watch things that I love repeatedly, as they're comfort to me, and this is one of them. I really love the unashamed, unabashed love this author has for him. It's quite endearing and relatable, although I'm not sure how Benedict Cumberbatch feels about it on his end. It also made me ponder questions about what is a healthy love/obsession, is it an "obsession," and what is the line between that? Celebrities are people, and how do they feel about all of this? I can't even imagine what it would be like. -Ashley
PHENOMENAL. I AM utterly obsessed!!! Dame Darcy's work is incredible. I love the storytelling, the drawing style, the lines, and texture. I love the whole work of art that this book is. It's a well constructed and conceptualized book. I love all of the characters, and the way that the hair is drawn/rendered. This book is just a work of art, and totally worth it. -Ashley
I had utterly no idea how challenging her life was. It was a definite eye opener. This is a really good memoir, and for sure one of my favorite books that I've read in 2023. I was angry for her. I cried for her. I really empathized with her. My heart went out to her so many times, especially to little Jennette. It's written well, and Jennette McCurdy has a definite tone throughout. I devoured it, and have been thinking about it ever since. -Ashley
Even though this wasn't entirely my experience of my first time in New York, I really felt their first experience. I saw vignettes of my first time in New York as a tourist... Times Square, people blasting the "New York" song, Grand Central Terminal, and the creepy, gritty Elmo that you see in Times Square (no offense). Elmo wanted to give me a hug, and Elmo's hands were very small and dirty, and so I ran away, trying to avoid Elmo. It was very hard to avoid Elmo, as Elmo was still following me, trying to hug me. I had also been with two friends at the time. It had been my first convention experience, tabling at MoCCA. Jillian Tamaki lived in New York once upon a time, and you can tell with the details of the sense of place. It was a very youthful story of growing up and traveling with friends, and maybe those friends... are meant for you in smaller doses. Sometimes, travel can make you grow closer to one another, and sometimes, further apart. There's always that risk, but it's worth the risk. Five days with someone can really show you that you're not compatible, perhaps in a traveling sense, or perhaps in a much bigger sense. Really great. -Ashley
This was frightfully bone-chilling, spine-tingling, slapstick scary, cold sweat, nightmare-inducing, and juicy. Indulged in one sitting, and I HAD nightmares. If you loved Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark, this is a definite read for you. If you're a fan of Emily Carroll's earlier works, you'll love this one too. Emily Carroll is a master at balancing color with greys in this book. The pace of the story and the beat of it built up and built up until the very end, and you're left with feeling unsettled with more questions than answers. -Ashley
This is a very endearing and witty, funny story. I enjoyed the pencils in contrast with the colors of the bizarre items that fall from the sky. -Ashley
Hauntingly beautiful. It may be a bit cliché, but to me, it reads like a musical composition. I obviously came to that thought because Song Yan, the main character, is a pianist and piano teacher. She begins to have dreams of mushrooms, and of not being able to get out of a small room. Her waking life is starting to suffocate her. Her mother-in-law moves in with her and her husband and simultaneously, she begins to find out her husband's past through a phone call from his ex-wife, Julia. He never talked about it to her. Mushrooms are also being sent to their address, and at first, she doesn't know from whom. It's somewhat poetic. It feels like an open window, and the only light coming through is light from the natural world, illuminating the walls with shadows of blues. White lace curtains billowing in the wind, airing out a space while breathing new life into it. It also reminded me of feelings that I've felt while listening to "My Immortal," by Evanescence, and the complexities of that song. It's like the contrast of light and dark, but around it all, are soft edges. -Ashley
This book was really helpful and the pick me up that I needed, as I've been in a bit of an artistic slump. Rick Rubin puts text to things that I've thought a lot about. For me and my artistic practice, I wholeheartedly believe that everything I create is sort of a mirror, or a self portrait. It's everything that I am in that moment in time; all of my unconscious and conscious drives, and all of the knowledge and feelings that I know and feel in that moment. Even if it isn't my intention, it's everything that's me in that moment. Sort of like a time capsule. All in all, this book really resonated with me, and it's what I needed to read. It was nice to be reaffirmed. -Ashley
The cover and title struck me, which is why I initially picked it up. Set in historic Chicago, the feel is very noir. She's a magical detective that sold her soul in order to save her brother. Her time is running out, as she has 10 years after selling her soul before death comes for her. Before she has to make her exit from her world, she is offered one more job. She initially declines, until she is offered a deal that she cannot resist: the chance to get her soul back and the chance to grow old with her love. -Ashley
“And telling a story, I suppose, is like winding a skein of spun yarn- you sometimes lose track of the beginning.” I find myself drawn to certain stories... Certain movies... Certain songs... Things that speak to my soul. That makes me feel seen and just gets me. That makes my soul feel seen, I suppose. They ignite something within me... Like a match igniting into a flame. Like, "yeah this is it. This is the story that satisfies my soul." I don't normally read a book more than once, but I find myself coming back time again and reading this one. It's warm, cozy, romantic, fantastical, and wintery. Rose was born facing North. Her destiny awaits her... Will she be a traveler, like other northborns? Even if the circumstances of her birth were at first a lie? This is my absolute favorite book of all time. “That's the trouble with loving a wild thing: You're always left watching the door. But you also get kind of used to it.” -Ashley
To be quite honest, it took me a little while to get into this book. It wasn't that the story was not captivating nor engaging. In fact, it is very much so. It was just hard. Wanda's life is harsh, beginning at her birth. She knows death. She knows the harsh reality of living and surviving in a world that is futuristic apocalyptic, dealing with climate change. She learns very young how to survive, as she forms a friendship with a woman named Phyllis. They learn and grow from each other. Wanda is special. Every time she's in the water, the water lights up. She can hear whispers and gets inklings, but she learns to try and hide this from the world. She does this to keep herself safe... Sometimes, I don't know how a book will affect me until after time has past since finishing it. I find that if a book tends to stick with me and if I think about it, then it spoke to me. -Ashley
I found this book to be very important and profound. PTSD and feelings of derealization were captured extremely well in my opinion. Comics are powerful in the sense that they can capture and shake/viscerally evoke feeling. They're such an important and engaging story telling medium. They have the power to really evoke empathy, as well. It's well crafted, and this book flowed really well. -Ashley
I love how Nicole J. Georges tells a story. She’s one of the first authors that I looked at in order to try and help me tell my graphic memoir. This book is brilliant. She bares her heart in telling the story about a challenging dog, about her successes and mishaps in being an imperfect dog owner and taking this dog home. -Ashley
My colleague, Beth, suggested that I might really like this book, and so I read it. I'm really glad that I did, and she was correct. The story was enthralling, and it was fascinating to see how a poster, or a piece of art can take a life of its own. What does one poster do? What does many do? Outside of the makers' hands, who does it belong to? What consequences (intended or unintended) can result from something being created and put out into the world? And this last question can extend to anything and everything. It's fun to ponder. -Ashley
Gorgeous hyper-realistic, surreal drawings that tell a chill-shivering story about siblings looking for flowers for their mother, when they stumble upon Paradise Sands Hotel, a hotel in disarray. They happen upon a mysterious teller, whom wants them to stay… -Ashley
I loved how poetic and lyrical Patti Smith's writing is in this book. This book blends reality with dreams, like waves washing upon a shore. Or, the sound of listening to the ocean through a shell. It evoked those kinds of feelings in me. How does one cope with loss? How do we continue to carry those we love with us? Through our memories? Our dreams? What do we bring forward as we live in present tense? Those are types of questions that I reflected on as I read this. -Ashley
What a bizarre and absurd read, and I mean that in the best of ways. It was rather delightful, and I chuckled a couple of times. I'm still unsure what happens in the end, and I'm left with more questions than answers. Anyways, it's a wild ride. -Ashley
Utterly heart-wrenching and emotional. It's one of those books that will make you cry while you're reading it. But, it's oh so good. Gendry-Kim tells Granny Lee Ok-sun's story of being kidnapped and forced to be a "comfort woman," after conducting multiple interviews with her. It's a very hard read. You really empathize with Granny Lee Ok-sun, and it's a book that I feel honored to be able to read. -Ashley
Just what I didn't know I needed. I picked it up because of my love for two things: coffee and cats. It's very tender and sweet. It reminds me of one of my favorite shows: Midnight Diner: Tokyo Stories. The coffee shop tends to pop up for those who kind of need it. The cat barista (Hachi) is a good listener and doesn't have a menu to order from. Instead, the cat makes people just what he thinks they need, and listens to their woes. In the end, customers leave with an uplifted spirit. -Ashley
I love good character development. Lily gets unintentionally turned into a vampire after meeting some handsome stranger in a bar. He tries to use his "influence" on her to drink from her, after he takes her home, but it doesn't work. Although, he doesn't know that. And... Then, she bites him back. She wakes up trying to piece together what happened the night before, and finds herself having new cravings. Along with... New special powers. She leans on him to figure out how to be a vampire, along with her best friend. Apparently, he wasn't supposed to turn her into a vampire, and there's a whole world of vampires, along with a vampire council. The penalty for turning a human into a vampire is death. Also, side piece of information, the vampire (Tristan) who turns her is a romance novelist. Loved it. -Ashley
So beautifully rendered and magical. Trung Le Nguyen was our commencement speaker at the Center for Cartoon Studies graduation. This is a semi-autobiographical story, depicting Tiến Phong, a second generation American Vietnamese teenager, who is teaching English to his mother through reading fairy tales, while simultaneously trying to find the words to tell her that he's gay. Very wholesome read. -Ashley
This book will always have a special place in my heart. Growing up, innocently enough, I thought that comics were only stories about superheroes, or humor. I had never heard of terms like "graphic memoir," or "graphic medicine." However, in undergrad, I took my first class that really exposed me to what the world of comics really is, and what it could be. This was one of the books that we read and analyzed over the course of the semester. I adore everything about this book. Lynda Barry is a master at towing/blending the line in regards to text and imagery; of showing versus telling. These are stories about her life; hard moments; her demons. The introduction of the book: "Is it autobiography if parts of it are not true? Is it fiction if parts of it are? She was at the library when she first read about a painting exercise called, 'One Hundred Demons!...' She checked out some books, followed the instructions, and the demons began to come. At first they freaked her, but then she started to love watching them come out of her paint brush...." -Ashley
The use of color, texture, and the page design/panel compositions are beautiful. This story is magical and dream-like. Townsfolk float paper lanterns down the river for the Autumn Equinox Festival, and no one knows where they end up. On this particular year, a group of classmates are determined to make a pact to find out. As they bike, all break from the pact but Ben and Nathaniel. This is a story about their magical adventure into finding where the lanterns end up, and the blossoming of a friendship. -Ashley
What a very interesting story and perspective. Everyone has multiple stories to tell, and I'm always fascinated to hear them. Sophia Glock depicts her childhood and what growing up was like for her. She learned to keep her parents' secrets (not even knowing what those secrets were), and how to respond to questions other children and parents may ask. Her parents had been foreign diplomats, and she traveled around a lot, and frequently changed schools. Reading this book, although quite a different experience, made me feel less alone in my upbringing. Growing up in the military, I can relate to the feelings of moving around and uprooting. My family had secrets, and I didn't quite understand until now, looking back. -Ashley
Captivating and enthralling. It's an interesting storyline, and the "flood," comes to creation through internal factors, rather than external. People's feelings create and give power to these beings, called "neighbors," especially if they're repressed, and in pain. Lotus Valley is a very strange place, and Rose keeps getting hit with the past. The very past she's trying to push away. The "flood" is trying to tell her something through showing her this. Will she hear and understand what they're trying to tell her? Will she learn to befriend both the darkness and the light, and befriend the flood? -Ashley
My friend recommended this book to me. I was initially drawn to the cover; the shapes and forms; the colors. The characters are fully formed/fully fledged and realized. The world is rich. I found myself enveloped within their world. For a moment, I felt as though I was also a member of a Hole in the Wall Gang. Their wishes were mine. Their desires and hopes were mine. Their wants were my wants. Their fears were my fears. "In the year of our Lord 1894, I became an outlaw." As did I, through their eyes. As did I... And it was delicious. -Ashley
The annotation for this book says, "A graphic novel love letter to the beauty and resilience of Black women, their hair, and friendships." This book was wholesome, and you got to look inside the lives of these characters on a personal and real level. Their love for one another is just beautiful. -Ashley
Such a lovely book. The poetry is beautiful; it's definitely a book that I can feel. I can never describe the feeling fully, but the feeling of a book or a movie that gets me; that tugs on a piece of my soul. Some of the pages open up to reveal a bigger picture. "Every beginning is only a sequel, after all, and the book of events is always open halfway through," a quote from the book. -Ashley
This book makes me feel so nostalgic. I was born in Nebraska, and so some of my fondest and earliest memories are my parents taking me to the pumpkin patch in Omaha. It is in fact, the absolute best. I remember them having SO much, and there was SO much to do. Probably why Halloween became my absolute favorite holiday, and fall my favorite season. -Ashley
The way this carried through was enchanting and mesmerizing, along with being oh so chilling. It starts with a lumberjack losing his hand, and the hand turns into a dove. He has two choices that carry through; either go to the hospital or go to a witch. It's interesting to be carried through like following a string each way and still ending up almost at the same ending; the same place. There's a lot to think about. The writing style, my gosh. I can't even describe it, as I'm still thinking about it and deciphering. It was bizarre and weird, but in a good way. It was bone chilling. There's a lot to think about. -Ashley
CUTE! I love the color palette utilized. Little Garlic gets volunteered to investigate a nearby castle that has smoke billowing out of the chimney, as no one has lived there for quite some time. Everyone else is worried that who is staying there is a vampire. And he is, but it takes a very unexpected turn. -Ashley
I'm trying to find the right words to talk about this book, and it's hard. This book (like a lot of books I like) has left me with feelings, and has left me thinking (or perhaps reeling). The story is rather alluring and lyrical like a luna moth; ghostlike and beautiful. Perhaps, a luna moth is the best way to describe this book, and how it feels for me. Luna moths have great beauty, and are attracted to the light. Moth is attracted to light, to a boy named Sani. And he's attracted to her. Fate has made it so their paths tangle, like a moth caught in a light. He has dreamt of her. But, along with light comes darkness, for the night is dark. A luna moth has no mouth, and only has about a week to live. Luna moths are fleeting. Moth has a summer with Sani, in which they road trip. She had lost her family in a car accident. This is the description from the book: "Two summers ago our car broke in half like a candy bar on the freeway & we all spilled onto the pavement..." Sani's family is disjointed. He stops singing and Moth stops dancing. They're both attracted to each other, they help each other find a way back to themselves. They give each other light, and feed off of each others' light. Amber McBride has really thought about the story, and it's cohesive, even if it's unexpected. Even though Amber lines the story up in a way that I can go backwards and be like, "ah, yes, all of the strings are there to lead me here," but I cannot go from the start to the end and see the very ending. -Ashley
Matthew McConaughey describes greenlights as, "Green means go, proceed, carry on, to keep traffic flowing. So in life, greenlights are affirmations that you're doing something right --headed in the right direction." He journals a lot, and in this book you get glimpses of his life, what he believes in, and what he values. It was a good pick me up, and an encouraging book to read. -Ashley
I was kind of aimlessly waiting for a book to take hold of me, wandering in and out of books but couldn't find one that would hold my attention, until I picked up this book. I was sort of at a standstill; a drought. And, since I'm in love with using clichés; a spark ignited, and I consumed this book. We meet Lillian at face value; inhabiting an attic in her mother's home. She gets asked by her former roommate to come to her estate, as she has a job for Lillian. The job? Watching Madison's two step kids. The catch? They combust and burst into flames, without hurting themselves. How genius, novel, and witty of a twist is that?! Like, let's just add this to the mix, and see how this changes things. What are the problems that could arise? It's so endearing seeing Lillian grow so attached and protective of these two little weirdly, wonderful children. Kevin Wilson's writing is exciting in the way that a cigar could just be a cigar, or that cigar (aka his writing), could be more. It leaves us to ponder with questions. Does Kevin Wilson mean more? It sparks much larger conversations; what does it mean to have your life changed by children? When it isn't solely your own? When you're caring for two little beings, and not just yourself? How does your life change? How does the meaning and value of your life change? How is your life enhanced when caring for two little, fire-y ones? This book was combustible. -Ashley