Mary’s Monster
January 25th, 2018 by jules
I have become rock / and wind and fiery sea.”
(Click image to enlarge and read poem in its entirety)
Last week at Kirkus, I talked here with author-illustrator Lita Judge about her newest book, Mary’s Monster: Love, Madness, and How Mary Shelley Created Frankenstein (Roaring Brook, January 2018).
I’m following up today with art from the book. (Please note: I’m quoting from a galley of the book. It’s possible some of the text has changed in final publication.)
Until tomorrow. …
someday we will all be drowned / in his pain.”
(Click image to enlarge and read poem in its entirety)
(Click image to enlarge and read poem in its entirety)
but I know I can’t escape it. …”
(Click image to enlarge and read poem in its entirety)
if it weren’t for the story / still growing in my mind.”
(Click image to enlarge and read poem in its entirety)
But it is no longer my own voice I hear. / It is the Creature’s. …”
(Click image to enlarge and read poem in its entirety)
while you make my chest beat / with a dead man’s heart.”
(Click image to enlarge and read poem in its entirety)
MARY’S MONSTER; LOVE, MADNESS, AND HOW MARY SHELLEY CREATED FRANKENSTEIN. Copyright © 2018 by Lita Judge. Published by Roaring Brook Press, New York. Illustrations reproduced by permission of Lita Judge.
This is a stunning, astonishing, magnificent book. Both pictures and words. I am galloping through it now, plan to sit quietly when I have the long moments to savor individual pages. It breaks boundaries, crosses borders, takes no prisoners. It is just THAT good. I saw some of it on Lita’s drawing table, and couldn’t wait to see if the whole was as good as the possible small bits I visited. Not as good–BETTER. We have only known her work in the small, in the endearing. She has just burst into the Forever categoryl
(Oh, yay, the CAPTCHA is back. For some reason, mine disappeared yesterday. It was probably me, and not you.)
Though I know I expressed some initial doubts about this project, the art and the poetry together make it really strong. I am REALLY glad that the author acknowledged what a pile of poo Percy B. was, and how Mary soldiered on anyway, poor girl.
CAPTCHA was totally broken yesterday. A blog reader told me. Whew. 7-Imp’s tech support (Blaine) fixed it!
OMG, I’m deeply honored by Jane’s comments about my book. Jane has been a hero of mine for so many years. And thanks to you, Jules, for posting this and also for the Kirkus interview. I hope I can get back to Tennessee soon!