Rosanna Bruno

This was a quick humorous read. Rosanna Bruno used lines from Dickinson's poems to show her life in the modern world. This graphic novel is divided into 5 chapters - Life, Work, Social Life, Nature and Time and Eternity similar to the sections of Dickinson's complete works. I loved the section where Emily was an advice columnist who answered letters using snippets of her poems. Her facebook profile, instagram, dating profile etc. showed her fascination with death, love of nature and her reclusiveness.

Each page is largely an illustration to fit in with a line or section of poetry. The illustrations are black and white pencil drawings or scribbles that really fit with this type of book. If you are a student of Dickinson, someone who has knowledge of her personal life, this book will tickle your fancy, if not, you might have difficulty "getting it". Thanks to the publisher for providing me a copy of this book via Netgalley.… (mehr)

DESCRIPTION:
Paperback, 96 pages
Published March 7th 2017 by Andrews McMeel Publishing
ISBN 1449481353 (ISBN13: 9781449481353)

“Rosanna Bruno’s speculative look at Emily Dickinson’s social media feed is so hysterical you may find yourself with a case of the vapors.”–Alison Bechdel

America’s favorite recluse just got a life! With her distinctively funky drawing style and insightful wit, artist Rosanna Bruno presents a cross-generational Dickinson for the 21st century.

Emily Dickinson said: “Tell all the truth, but tell it slant.” Artist Rosanna Bruno does just as the poet asked in a series of several dozen witty, hand-drawn cartoons inspired by what we know–and don’t know–about Dickinson’s life and work. The Slanted Life of Emily Dickinson explores–often hilariously, and always respectfully–the myth surrounding the reclusive poet using her own words to skew, or slant, a story that is already somewhat fuzzy in detail.

Beginning with a line or two from Dickinson’s poems or letters, Rosanna Bruno presents an image of a real or imagined event. For example, she imagines Dickinson’s Facebook page (“Relationship Status: It’s Complicated”), her OkCupid dating profile (“I am small, like the wren; and my hair is bold, like the chestnut burr…”), her senior yearbook page (“Girl Most Likely to Talk to Birds”), and several other hilarious scenes and fictional artifacts. The result is a wickedly funny portrait of one of the most beloved (and mythologized) poets in the American canon.

MY THOUGHTS:

The publisher was gracious enough to provide this book in exchange for my honest review.

The cover of this book is so beautiful. The white against a soft purple makes everything stand out. Emily Dickinson fans are going to love this book! The author takes a well-loved, often read for her poems author and plops her into the here and now, giving her a Facebook account, puts her on Instagram and Twitter and uses many phrasings from Emily’s poems/written works to show a whole new side to the wondrous Emily Dickinson. Hilarious and sumptuous, fun to read and guaranteed to leave a large smile on your face, The Slanted Life of Emily Dickinson, is one you need to read!

Set in a graphic novel format, filled with many excerpts from Emily Dickinson’s own writings used if she were placed in settings of today, this book is highly entertaining, and a wonderful collection piece for any Dickinson follower. Informative and humorous! Imagine if Emily Dickinson was taken through a time warp and placed in today’s society just the way she was, with her eloquence and gift for the written language, her quirky behaviors and not very known favorite past-times… would she fit in? Guess you’ll have to buy the book in order to find out!… (mehr)