Book Club: An Unshelved Collection

I came across this strip a couple of years ago, and have been reading it faithfully since. I've since bought this collection as gifts for a few friends, and they are now big fans as well. It's downright funny, and it shows a real affection for its characters, and for books in general.

The latest volume of this wicked quirky web comic shows that creators Ambaum and Barnes are serious about funny, and not afraid to grow and learn as they go. The daily adventures of the inhabitants (employees, visitors, and residents) of Mallville Public Library provide a surprisingly fertile field in which to grow characters that we all can relate to. And as a librarian with no character who can't relate to anyone, shouldn't I know? On rereading the last years strips, I decided that Mel and Dewey and Merv and Buddy and the rest must have been sneaking off to character development school, as their behaviors branch out from the narrow confines identified in the online Primer. But I had to reconsider this after going back to the beginning (Unshelved, volume 1). Almost from day one, these have been recognizable but unpredictable, changing and developing characters. Let's hope the authors give serious consideration to how well these folks would stand up to a longer narrative form, because when it comes to depth and complexity, they have the denizens of most graphic novels beat by a million miles.

I met Bill and Gene while working the library conference circuit last year. They are hilarious and fun. I am now subscribed to their daily comic strip. I obsessively collect their t-shirts and tote bags. Their collection of Book Club strips is very colorful (literally). My favorite Book Club strip is for APATHY by Paul Neilan.

If you work in any type of customer service profession, this compilation of daily comics from Unshelved.com is for you! Gene and Bill do an excellent job of finding the humor in everyday life in a suburban library. Plus, once a week you get treated to a "Book Club" selection - a fun and hilarious full-color comic all about a new excellent book - these have certainly made MY "Must-Read" list a lot longer! So...CHECK IT OUT! (Okay, so my library humor is not quite as great as Bill and Gene's!)

The latest compilation of the Overdue (tm thingie) comics is a welcome addition to my personal library. The copy at work keeps on disappearing. Although set in a library context, the fodder for the humor is more like a Dilbert (tm thingie?) who has been placed in direct contact with customers on a daily basis. The material provides an outlet for the folks who have to remember the adage "There are no dumb questions" is in fact a falsehood. PS -- the Library "Raid Jacket" and hat have gotten me past a number of security folks, helped me out of a speeding ticket in Atlanta, and resulted in receiving the extra length seats on an airplane.