nimrodiel

Title: The Tale of One Bad Rat
Author: Bryan Talbot
Publisher: Dark Horse Books
Publication date: 1995

Helen Potter is a runaway following the steps of Beatrix Potter whom she holds an affinity to because of sharing both first and surnames. Her troubles with being touched by males and her sexuality combined with the mental stigma and shame she feels as a survivor of incest has her constantly on the move and leery of trusting anyone.

Her traveling companion starts off as a pet rat saved from a school biology lab. As she travels north her reliance on the rat as a companion becomes more prevalent after a tragedy drives her to continue North. Helen finds her way to the Lake Land District, home of Beatrix Potters house Hill Top. Helen finds friends in the owners of the Herdwick Arms pub who help her after she collapses in the rear of the building, and who offer her safety in a job, a place to sleep, and eventually in support in facing her parents.

This is a tough story to read. The subject material is uncomfortable, and you can see the research and the pain and suffering that the author conveys in the subject. He quotes Miriam Saphira from The Sexual Abuse of Children "The first step towards prevention and to provision of supportive services for the girls who've been abused is bringing abuse into the open... Incest is not taboo. It seems that talking about incest is the real taboo."

This was such a moving little story about finding the strength to stand up to the person abusing you and finding your strength as a person despite the mental stigmas that plague your thoughts and opinions of who you are. The artwork in this book is absolutely stunning. I don't know that I would have picked this up on my own, though it is the story driven type of graphic novel I adore. This was shared with me by bookcrosser HI77 I'm sad I wasn't able to fit it into my manga and graphic novel book box. I'll have to think on a place to share this book with the world.

Another two week entry. Should be bacl on track next week.

Books read week of 9 June 2006

1. The Ninth Life of Louis Drax by Liz Jenson
2 Fat Girl: A True Story by Judith Moore
3. Back in Texas by Roxanne Rustand

Books read the week of 16 June 2006

1. Warrior's Song by Janis Reams Hudson
2. Julie and Julia: 365 days, 524 recipies and one tiny apartment kitchen by Julie Powell (audiobook)
3. Young Warriors edited by Tamora Pierce

1. The Secret of the Pink Carnation by Lauren Willig
2. A Soldier's Quest by Lori Handeland
3. The Thin Pink Line by Lauren Baratz-Logstead
4. The Price of Pride by Donna MacGuigg (ARC) <- currently reading

1. Anasazi Boys by Neil Gaiman
2. Wanted: One Sexy Night by Judi McCoy

1. Confessions of a Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella
2. On Mexican Time by
3. Half-Breed by Maria Campbell

1. Spirits in the Wires by Carles DeLint (audiobook)
2. The Devil in the White City by Erik Larson

Just a few days late with last weeks books read.

1. Mutant Message Down Under by Marlo Morgan
2. Skinwalker by DeFilippis, Weir, Hurtt, and Dela Cruz (graphic novel)
3. Agyar by Steven Brust
4. The Undomestic Goddess by Sophia Kinsella
5. The Riders by Tim Winton
6. Thud! by Terry Prattchet (audio book)

1. Anne of Avonlea by L.M. Montgomery
2. Anne's House of Dreams by L.M. Montgomery
3. The People's Republic of Desire by Annie Wang (ARC)

1. The Madonnas of Leningrad by Debra Dean (arc)
2. Once upon a time (she said) by Jane Yolen

1. What Lies Beneath by various authors
2. Into Thin Air by Jon Krakauer
3. The Gardens of Kyoto by Kate Walbert
4. Ruse: Enter the Detective (Graphic Novel)
5. Bombay Time by Thrity Umrigar
6. Mystic Warrior: Book one of the Bronze Canticles by Tracey and Laura Hickman (audiobook)