I finally picked up Chris Ware’s Building Stories.
I first became aware of Ware when he was doing stuff for the Daily Texan at the University of Texas in Austin. Not that I went there, but some of the stuff he did was published in some Texas indie comics in the early 90s. His little potato guy strips were too cool.
After that, my wife and I picked up all the Acme Novelty Library stuff he did, up until that last few. (I think the last one I read was #17, so I was at least familiar with the beginnings of Building Stories he was tinkering with in #16 or #17.) One of the things Ware became known for with Acme Novelty Library books were the various sizes in which they were published. (Oversized books; tiny books.) I must confess to liking when Ware hit his stride with smaller books, but since we’d already been dealing with his over-sized comics, I figured why not buy his big box of stories about a building and the people who live inside?
When you read enough of anything — over time — you occasionally stumble upon creators from the start and get to see them grow over time. I consider myself lucky for stumbling upon a cartoonist who often leaves me feeling just as floored as my favorite novelists.
Start Anywhere
Building Stories is a big box containing 14 books, pamphlets, fold-outs, and other printed matter telling the story of a building in Chicago and the people who live there. When asked what book one should start with, Chris Ware said it doesn’t matter — he set out to create a work that can be started by grabbing anything in the box and reading.
I’m sure that’s true, but I must admit: I’m glad I went to the book that reminded me of a Little Golden Book in a way.
That First Page!
Maybe I was just really in the mood for it, or maybe it really is that good, but the first page of that particular book from the box is so well done — on so many levels — that if you presented somebody with Ware’s quirky little potato guy comic strips and that page, they would want to read all he did in between just to see how he got from there to here.
It’s a beautiful page in how understated and just…Chris Ware it is.
Acme Novelty Library #5 was the first thing Ware did that made me go from, “Cool! Chris Ware stuff,” to “Wow…he’s really done something special, here, and if this is the way he’s going with things…we’re all very lucky.”
In that one page alone, it’s clear: we’re all very lucky.
I’ve been meaning to pick this up for some time now. There is something about what Chris Ware is doing that says to me, “No matter what you may have heard, print isn’t dead.”
Larry: I agree! Maybe certain kinds of books will end up going the way of e-books, but there will always be those special things people will want. I don’t really read too much sci-fi and horror, but the special editions Subterranean Press and others put out are beautiful! Those limited (and often expensive) runs for editions of things people love so much that they must have it on a shelf — or just having your favorite author’s fave books in a collection — will always be there in some form.
Recently, I read Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore, which is a celebration of books and technology co-existing (as well as the importance of doing stuff and friendship). (I’m quite fond of the book!) The book has done well; in part, I’m sure, because it’s a reminder that books matter. The cover glows in the dark…I’m not getting that on my Kindle Fire. It’s a book I’m glad I possess physically. I’ve probably read the last page 25 times because I love it, and it’s so easy to take down from the shelf and flip right to it.
I love being able to read on my phone or on my Kindle, but there will always be books I want on the shelves around me. Add to that what Ware does with printed things and it’s part of the experience, that physical thing in your hands. I can’t imagine an electronic version of Building Stories.
Interesting about the Mr. Penumbra book cover. I had no idea. I checked it out from the library, but never noticed that version glowing. I also got the audiobook edition through my Audible subscription. I can totally see why having a physical version of that book in particular could be very special.
Interestingly enough, I really engaged with the audio book version of that story. It was very well presented by the voice talent. Also, I couldn’t shake the massive feeling of deja vu when I was listening. Come to find out, I had heard the short-story version of Mr. Penumbra on the Escape Pod podcast years before and had forgotten about it:
http://escapepod.org/2009/09/10/ep215-mr-penumbras-twenty-four-hour-book-store/
No wonder the audio book version was so entrancing to me.
Another book I couldn’t imagine experiencing any other way than in print is Personal Effects: Dark Art by J.C. Hutchins:
http://www.amazon.com/Personal-Effects-Dark-J-C-Hutchins/dp/B0030EG110/
This is a murder mystery / horror story that ships with much of the evidence that the main character gathers as he progresses along the way in the story. Also, if phone numbers or web sites are referenced, you can call them or visit them in real life and find content that expands upon the story. I find this type of innovation in the story telling process intriguing. Rather than using technology as a way to replace the print book, this book is enhanced by technology.