Synopses & Reviews
Samantha and George are about to launch into a sabbatical year in the quaint Mexican town of Oaxaca. For Samantha, the trip is a reconnection to her past and an opportunity to complete her novel; for George, it is an unsettling step into the unknown. As the couple depart for Oaxaca, a monarch butterfly begins its annual migration south from Canada to Mexico. The story of its remarkable journey, woven into the fabric of Ruins, draws striking parallels with the challenges faced by Samantha and George as they adapt to their new surroundings. Beneath its picturesque veneerandmdash;the 16th-century architecture, the nearby ruinsandmdash;Oaxaca is a town shaken by political unrest. Samantha and George find themselves embroiled in events that will alter their paths forever. Ruins masterfully captures the shadows and light of a troubled country steeped in history and culture, weaving together personal, political, and natural dramas into a thrilling portrait of life south of the Rio Grande.
Review
“A fascinating, meandering look at one of Chinas most storied new cities.” —Boing Boing
Review
andldquo;With a monarch butterfly serving in the role of all-seeing observer flying poetically above it all, the constantly remarkable Peter Kuper details the travels and travails of a creative New York couple who move to Oaxaca to find inspiration and revitalize their lives. Kuperandrsquo;s art is, page after page, astonishing.andrdquo;
Review
andquot;Maybe youand#39;ve never been to Oaxaca, Mexico before, or maybe you know it like the back of your hand - either way, Peter Kuperand#39;s beautiful, immersive graphic novel is the next best thing to being there. Gorgeous art, high stakes themes and a plot with a surprising twist combine to transform this pivotal moment in the lives of a culture, a country, a couple, and a butterfly into a timely and illuminating journey from North to South and back againandquot;
Review
andquot;Ruinsandnbsp;is a masterpiece of visual imagery and poignant storytelling. Kuper weaves an elegant tapestry of colorful human lives juxtaposed with the multi-generational monarch butterfly migrations. I recommend this extraordinary book to fellow travelers and everyone interested in the survival of the monarchs.andquot;
Review
andquot;Ruinsandnbsp;is Peter Kuperand#39;s experiences living in Oaxaca, Mexico colliding with an abiding fascination with insects woven into an epic graphic novel. Kuper illustrates the remarkable ability of the Monarch butterfly to survive, beauty intact, in the face of astonishing hurdles and illuminates the equal perseverance of the Mexican people and their culture.andrdquo;
Synopsis
Shenzhen is entertainingly compact with Guy Delisles observations of life in urban southern China, sealed off from the rest of the country by electric fences and armed guards. With a dry wit and a clean line, Delisle makes the most of his time spent in Asia overseeing outsourced production for a French animation company. He brings to life the quick pace of Shenzhens crowded streets. By translating his fish-out-of-water experiences into accessible graphic novels, Delisle skillfully notes the differences between Western and Eastern cultures, while also conveying his compassion for the simple freedoms that escape his colleagues in the Communist state.
Synopsis
Samantha and George are a couple heading towards a sabbatical year in the quaint Mexican town of Oaxaca. For Samantha, it is the opportunity to revisit her past. For George, it is an unsettling step into the unknown. For both of them, it will be a collision course with political and personal events that will alter their paths and the town of Oaxaca forever.
and#160;
In tandem, the remarkable and arduous journey that a Monarch butterfly endures on its annual migration from Canada to Mexico is woven intoand#160;Ruins. This creates a parallel picture of the challenges of survival in our ever-changing world.
and#160;
Ruinsand#160;explores the shadows and light of Mexico through its past and present as encountered by an array of characters. The real and surreal intermingle to paint an unforgettable portrait of life south of the Rio Grande.
and#160;
About the Author
Peter Kuper has created over a dozen graphic novels, includingand#160;The System,and#160;Sticks and Stones,and#160;and an adaptation of Franz Kafkaand#39;sand#160;The Metamorphosis. He is co-founder of the political graphics magazineand#160;World War 3 Illustratedand#160;and since 1997 has written and drawn andquot;Spy Vs Spyandquot; forand#160;MAD Magazine. He has been teaching comics courses for over 25 years in New York City and is a visiting professor at Harvard University.