 |
Reviewed by: Lisa Rice, Middle School Librarian Title: Diana: My Graphic Obsession Author: Sivan Piatigorsky-Roth Publisher: Street Noise Books
Year: 2023 Good for Grades: 11-Adult Genre/Type of Book: Nonfiction graphic novel, graphic memoir, graphic biography, LGBTQ+
Content Warnings, or things that other School Librarians should be aware of: Language, nudity Recommended for a school library: Yes Reason(s) for choosing the book: I love learning and reading about the life of Princess Diana, and I am trying to read more graphic novels. When I saw this blushy-pink graphic novel, I immediately picked it up. I never thought I'd see princess Diana in a graphic novel! I had no idea how many subjects this book would be tackling! If you were tasked by the publisher with writing a short quote for the back cover of this book, what would it be: From page 49: "Drawing is like writing or talking. It is theory being worked out in front of you."
|
Review:
While I am not a fan of graphic novels, I am a fan of Princess Diana. When I saw this graphic novel about Princess Diana done in pink and black, I immediately picked it up. I found a graphic novel that I wanted to read! This book is about Princess Diana and so much more. Maybe too much more. It is about Princess Diana and the people who exploit her (including the author), it is about the author and his life as a trans person and his obsession with Diana, it is about mythological figures and how their lives mirror the lives of the Royal family. It is a book about women and power and living in a patriarchy. It's a lot, especially when I was just expecting Diana.
The book starts with Sivan receiving a box in the mail- a birthday present from his mom. However, upon opening it, Sivan discovers that the mugs celebrating the marriage of Charles and Diana have arrived with most of them broken. Instead of throwing them away, Sivan begins repairing them, thinking how the broken mugs are a metaphor for Diana's life. It is here we learn that Sivan is obsessed with Diana- he talks about her, draws her, and cuts out pictures of her which he puts on his bedroom wall. Throughout the book, he shares information about Diana, such as when Charles proposed in February of 1981, he and Diana had only met a total of 13 times (p.11), and that Diana was the first member of the Royal family who had a paid job prior to her engagement (p.33). I enjoyed hearing his perspective about Diana, and his interesting remarks about Kate Middleton, although he tends to skip around, also interjecting his life into it as well.
I don't know how much our high students are or are not interested in Diana but there are many issues in this book that they may relate to. The book addresses dealing with feelings of acceptance, fear, pressure, and pain. It discusses heteronormative femininity and activism and intense isolation. It raises questions like, "What do you think about the fact that The Crown's Diana is played by someone nonbinary?" (p. 82). There is a quote from Charles saying to Diana, "Oh, a bit chubby here, aren't we?" and then the next frame is a picture of a toilet, and the next frame is Diana throwing up. The next frame is Diana getting measured for her wedding dress, stating that she had "shrunk" to nothing. There are so many topics to discuss in this book.
I loved the end of the book, with Sivan and a friend talking about Diana sitting around a kitchen table with Diana drawn in, sitting between them, listening to the conversation. When I first finished this book, I wasn't sure what to make of it as there was so much to unpack and think about. Now that it has been a few days, I want to reread it to experience it again, now that I have a better understanding of what the book is really about. I wish the book was a little longer, going deeper into some of the many topics introduced. I wish I knew more about Sivan's life than what he told us in the book. I think older high school students can also appreciate this book, especially our students who may be going through some of the same struggles as Sivan...and Diana.
I liked that it was easy to read. The pages were clean and simple. Sometimes a graphic novel can be hard to read and follow (especially for people who do not regularly read graphic novels) and this one was not. I loved the soft pink tones that were perfect for a book about a princess, real or imaginary. I could easily recognize Diana and members of the Royal family. The drawings looked like the famous photos we all have seen of Diana and of Charles and Diana.
Number of party hats:
For more information about this book, see the Publishers Website