Written and illustrated by Canadian artist Camilla d’Errico, I can honestly say that Tanpopo is one of the most unique books I’ve ever come across. Drawn in d’Errico’s signature style, I can only describe the artwork itself as whimsically modern, with the influence of Japanese-style illustration delightfully apparent. Aside from the artwork however, what makes Tanpopo all the more intriguing is that the story, while highly futuristic, finds its roots in classic literature.
While the book turned out to be different from what I was expecting, I didn’t come away disappointed. Since the blurb described Tanpopo as “superhumanly intelligent and inhumanly emotionless” and “ruled by her mind and vast knowledge” I think I was expecting some kind of kawaii-borg hybrid that was an impartial observer of humanity. But the ‘emotionless’ Tanpopo is anything but: she holds a startling fragility coupled with a determination to know the truth that sets her apart from being a mere automaton.
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Tags: artists, book review, book reviews, books, Camilla d’Errico, classic lit, classic literature, comic books, Faust, graphic novels, illustration, japanese inspired, kawaii, lit, literary, Literature, manga inspired, melvin, moms basement, must read, reading list, review, Rime of the Ancient Mariner, robot, robotic, sci fi, science fiction, Strange Stories from a Chinese Studio, Tanpopo, to read
