Sailor Twain by Mark Siegel is an adult graphic novel. That’s all I really needed to know in order to pick up a copy from the library. Because I’m a total graphic novel lush these days. Throw in the words ‘fairy tale’ and ‘mermaid’ and there is no telling what I’ll do.
Sailor Twain tells the story of Captain Twain, a 19th Century riverboat captain working a ship on the Hudson River. The boat’s owner is a rather fancy Frenchman who is obsessed with taking seven lovers which baffles Twain. Then Twain finds a wounded mermaid and nurses her back to health. All of these things eventually connect and lead to some very strange happenings at the bottom of the sea.
What struck me first with Siegel’s novel is the artwork. The charcoal drawings are so atmospheric and gloomy. Considering it rains throughout the entire story, these drawings set the absolute perfect mood. At times, the human figures can look cartoon-ish, but this didn’t bother me since the book is part fairy tale. Do be warned, however, that the drawings can be quite graphic as there is full frontal nudity. Not a book for the kiddies.
As for the plot, it was mostly a quick, dark, fun little read. At times though, things just felt a bit confusing – like there was too much happening for anything to be super well done. I’m not sure how much that was a personal comprehension failure. I would find myself having to really study a page or so of panels to try and figure out what was going on. Those moments took the magic out of reading.
The characters were also sort of uninteresting. I would liked to have cared more for them. Captain Twain did earn my sympathy at parts, but the way he treated his wife ruined it all. I did enjoy the not-so-delight mermaid. She was an odd-duck until shit hit the fan and then I liked her crazy ass. The ending was extremely ambiguous and left up to your own personal interpretation. That wouldn’t have bothered me too much if the rest of the story had been more decipherable, but alas…
So not my favorite thing ever, but still worthy of giving a shot if it sounds like something you’d enjoy. Go find it in the library and breeze through it in an hour or two. I’d love to see what others think about Sailor Twain – especially the end.
So, tell me – what was your least favorite graphic novel and why?
The Blog of Litwits 
Well rats. Sorry this one didn’t work out better for you, but it happens right? I never read graphic novels until I started blogging. I only read ones that have been highly recommended so I don’t have a least favorite. 😉
I don’t read many graphic novels either so don’t encounter too many that disappoint. A lot of times, if the pictures are pretty I don’t care too much about anything else. Haha.
I soooo want to try this one. I think it’s the cover. I can’t get over how much I dig it.
I’d be very interested to hear what you think. I think my problems with it are highly personal.
I’m sorry to hear this wasn’t very good! The cover looks so pretty, I’d be pretty tempted to pick it up otherwise.
You should give it a shot! I know people who loved it!
This sounds kind of strange, but I think I will try it eventually. I’ve been on a GN kick.
Recently the graphic novel that didn’t work for me was Goodbye, Chunky Rice by Craig Thompson. Maybe it was because I had already read Habibi by him, but it was kind of weird and confusing.
I need to read something by Craig Thompson – I think I’ll probably start with Blankets and then Habibi. Thanks for the warning on this one.