Pleasant.

 

What other words are there to describe the feeling I had when reading through Book Love by Debbie Tung? A book, borrowed from the library based on its title alone, full of pleasant illustrations, situations, depictions, and all the other “-tions” experienced by those who make reading a part of who they are as a person.

 

Rainy day, sunny day, busy day, slow day, the desire to crack open a book is ever present, and is something Tung looked to depict in the book of relatability. Who hasn't lost track of time with eyes glued to an engaging book? Who hasn't fallen prey to the discounted section of a bookstore? Who hasn't gone to a party where everyone just sits around reading silently to themselves?

 

Ok, I'll admit that I've never done the last one, and quite frankly have a hard time believing that there are those who do. But the scene is one used to emphasize Tung's view about the importance books have on her life, and of those addicted to looking at letters for long periods of time. With that in mind, relatability is key as to why I'd call this a “pleasant” book.

 

Relatable humor often falls flat on me, unless done so satirically with the sole purpose of falling flat (think scrawny dude puffing out his chest while walking through a gym). This book has a lot of that flatness, but not too much to make it unreadable. There's enough substance and quirkiness have brought at least a grin to my face throughout. None of the humor made me want to grimace in embarrassment for having been able to associate myself with the situations depicted, so I'll give it a +1 for that.

 

“So how's the art then?” - you, just about now.

 

It's fine.

 

I'm not an expert at anything related to art: can't draw, can't write (as you can tell), can't critique, can't do much, but I can give my opinion as an unculutred pleb (so keep that in mind, Debbie, if for whatever reason your eyes cross these poorly written words). Many of the illustrations depict people doing normal (though book related) activities, so I'll start my plebeian judgment there. The people are...fine. It's the art style you'd see someone doodle in high school: very much 2D and simple, but given the context, its does the job. When used alongside the relatable humor, the pictures and words combine together to create a pleasant sensation. I'd assume it to be the same one a parent feels when their child hands them a drawing they've made. It isn't some grand statement of political dissent or groundbreaking philosophical thought, it's simply the reining in of those little moments of joy brought about by the smallest of things. Wholesome? Yeah, that's probably a word one could use, but I'll stick with pleasant, since that's what I wrote first. Basic, simple, but effective, that's the art. Most pages contain four panels pertaining to a particular idea, each following the Ok art style, but where things get a little more creative are with the full page illustrations. Here, with the larger space to contain a larger image, scenes are develops more, and I become briefly excited. My natural repose was to stare in hopes of finding something hidden (there aren't any maps to lost treasure, sorry), but what else is one to do when going through pages of white-backgrounds to suddenly having a whole living room? What's on the bookshelf? Where's that lamp plugged in at? Why's the guy sitting at that angle, doesn't he know he'll have to turn himself quite a bit to make conversation?

 

The last full-page illustration in particular is one that really resonated with me, and ultimately displayed the thing that I most got out of the book: literature, in all it's forms, expands your mind, your being, bringing you to a sandbox to do with as you please. Writers, historians, translators, cartoonists, whomever it may be, lead the way with their words or images, but ultimately it's you who decide what to do with them.

 

So, why do you like to read?

 

Final thoughts: The book is alright. There's nothing groundbreaking in it, I've nothing overtly negative to say, nor anything overly positive. It'd make a fine coffee table book. Maybe not one I'd necessary buy for myself unless on sale, but perhaps something I'd give to a book-lover as a gift when nothing else comes to mind. If your library has it, then go on ahead and borrow it for an afternoon, you won't be disappointed. At the very least you'd say to yourself “well that was pleasant.”

 

A solid 6 out of 10 (plus 1 bonus point for having not made me grimace).

 

-BH

 

Useful Links:

• Debbie's Website
• Book Love on Amazon
• A pleasant song