One of the best things about my job is getting advance readers of new and exciting fiction yet to hit the bookshelves. I’ve discovered some fantastic books this way, and I love to share them with anyone who will listen. But I also get the chance to read books that have been out longer—be it a few years or a few centuries—and they can be just as fun to talk about. My first pick for a book you should have read by now is The Watchmen by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons.
If you’re a fan of the BookPeople graphic novel section, you’ve probably already read The Watchmen and are anxiously awaiting the movie. If you’re not so much into “comic books,” take it from this literary snob that you really need to give The Watchmen a try.
I’m not really a fan of graphic novels. I’ve read a few that fall more into the “graphic memoir” genre, and I’ve enjoyed them, but by and large it always comes down to this: why on earth does the story need pictures? Reasonable people may disagree (feel free to disagree, this is a great place to begin a discussion like that), but it’s just always seemed to me like most of the stuff in our Graphic Novel section could be turned into a successful novel without losing anything. And if it doesn’t have the literary merit to be turned into a successful novel, why would I want to read it?
The Watchmen breaks all sorts of preconceived notions about Graphic Novels. The literary merit of its complex storyline, morally ambiguous characters and philosophically troubling conclusion is undeniable. And the alternate history Cold War setting—with Nixon still in office in 1985—is amazingly relevant. But the most impressive thing about it is that Moore and Gibbons really know how to use the comic format effectively, achieving a narrative flow that just wouldn’t be possible in novel form—or movie form, I fear. This is a graphic novel that could stand up next to any book of modern literary fiction I’ve read, and that’s just darn impressive. I knew by chapter five that it would be on my list of all-time favorite novels, and I can’t wait to reread it.
Trying to nail down a solid plot description of any good book can feel futile, maybe pointless, and this is no exception. Just come pick up the original deconstruction of the idea of the “superhero” before the movie comes out. You won’t regret it.
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