Synopses & Reviews
Acclaimed cartoonist Lucy Knisley (, ) got an opportunity that most only dream of: a travel-expenses-paid trip to Europe/Scandinavia, thanks to a book tour. is Knisley's comics travel memoir recounting her charming (and romantic!) adventures. It's punctuated by whimsical visual devices (such as a "new experiences" funnel); peppered with the cute cats she meets along the way; and, of course, features her hallmark--drawings and descriptions of food that will make your mouth water. But it's not all kittens and raclette crepes: Knisley's experiences are colored by anxieties, introspective self-inquiries, and quotidian revelations--about traveling alone in unfamiliar countries, and about her life and career--that many young adults will relate to. --which takes its name from a French saying--is an for the alternative comics fan.
Review
"[Knisley's] art, as always, has a melancholy whimsy, combining childlike joy with the all-too familiar doubts and fears that are born of burgeoning adulthood. ... carries all the weight and emotion of a diary entry, but with the added benefit of charming visuals that only enhance the beauty and apprehension that accompany Lucy throughout her journey." Richard Pachter Miami Herald
Review
"Knisley is a good artist and entertaining storyteller, and her rather typical tale rises well above the mundane." Publishers Weekly
Review
"Like the best travelogues, shows you what it would be like to visit a place while reminding you that you can never have the same experience. If you liked her last book, , you should definitely check this out... This book is more thought-provoking than her other works, demonstrating growth and a challenge to readers to think about these things in their own lives." Brigid Alverson Robot 6
Review
"Knisley... continues to own the travelogue/graphic novel genre by bringing her characteristic humor and heart to this memoir of a summer in Europe. ... The title comes from the French -- the freedom to explore, experiment, and feel joy, all feelings beautifully captured here. []" Wisconsin State Journal
Review
"The mix of color and crisp black & white in makes this the first book of [Knisley's] that truly showcases her abilities as a draftsman and a cartoonist." Brigid Alverson Robot 6
Review
"In her classic travelogue style and interspersed with lovely, contemplative watercolor sketches, [Knisley] offers glimpses of her journey-feeling...as she observes her life from the distance of travel, and her simple lines, lively illustrations, and patchwork of moments she chooses to include artfully capture her introspective mood. Fans of Knisley's earlier works, particularly older teens or young adults, will appreciate this honest, charming, and gently paced travel journal." Wisconsin State Journal
Review
"Knisley is a pleasurable picture-maker... and she engages directly with the issue of privilege as it pertains to her ability to take trips like this one." Richard Bruton Forbidden Planet International
Review
"... has an immediacy to it that makes it... compelling.... Knisley composes each page carefully, leading the eye through a series of little moments that add up to a real story. ...[M]y guess is that she will simply continue to mature as an artist and writer. is already evidence of that." Tom Spurgeon The Comics Reporter
Review
"Lucy Knisley is one of the standout artist-writers of her generation, her storytelling assured and inviting. Her third book, , picks up the themes of her first two books with increased sophistication. ... Further work from her pen can only enhance her fine reputation as an artist whose growth and exploits we delight to share." Richard Pachter Miami Herald
Review
"The cleverness here is how swiftly Knisley communicates everything... So much delivered so swiftly, so easily, Knisley's chronicles always steering clear of both the sickeningly saccharin sweet and the angst-ridden. It nestles quite naturally in between, as light and as serious, as sad and as funny as real life often is." Paul DiFilippo Barnes & Noble Review
Review
"...[T]he undertone [of ] is about learning to embrace periods of change to better understand the person you want to be. ... Knisley's borderless pages and personal insights give the feeling of paging through someone's drawn diary, and her delicate linework is lovely." Johanna Draper Carlson
Review
"Lucy Knisley's is as tender, funny, and keenly observed as and , but with a new sort of wistfulness and range that I loved. ... Knisley's work is always fun, but has a softness, a new shade of emotion that bodes well for the rest of her career." Johanna Draper Carlson Comics Worth Reading
Synopsis
Lucy Knisley's latest food-themed graphic memoir recounts her adventures (some romantic) on a European book tour.
Synopsis
Acclaimed cartoonist Lucy Knisley (French Milk, Relish) got an opportunity that most only dream of: a travel-expenses-paid trip to Europe/Scandinavia, thanks to a book tour. An Age of License is Knisley's comics travel memoir recounting her charming (and romantic ) adventures. It's punctuated by whimsical visual devices (such as a "new experiences" funnel); peppered with the cute cats she meets along the way; and, of course, features her hallmark--drawings and descriptions of food that will make your mouth water. But it's not all kittens and raclette crepes: Knisley's experiences are colored by anxieties, introspective self-inquiries, and quotidian revelations--about traveling alone in unfamiliar countries, and about her life and career--that many young adults will relate to. An Age of License--which takes its name from a French saying--is an Eat, Pray, Love for the alternative comics fan.
About the Author
Lucy Knisley is a cartoonist and occasional puppeteer, ukulele player, and food/travel writer living in Chicago, IL. She is a graduate of The School of the Art Institute of Chicago and Center for Cartoon Studies.