The Weekly Smile for the 17th of January, 2022 #weeklysmile

35 Replies

Hello everyone. It was an odd week. The weather was, well it is January in New Hampshire. Enough said. One of the things, although I did get out a bit, no matter the weather, and I did a lot of blogging and spent a lot of time on music, I also did some reading, perhaps a little more (non-news/current events reading) than average. And it was different…

When I was a freshman at Ohio State there was a comic strip, Thorn, by a man named Jeff Smith in the student paper. To say I picked up The Lantern each week only to read “Thorn” would be an understatement. I had little use for the paper once the comic was gone.

So, here we are xx years later and I finally decided to read Jeff Smith’s magnum opus, Bone. “Bone” was originally released as a series of “comic books”, but makes up one story. That story was complied into a large graphic novel (1300 pages), “Bone”.

It was so fun because it started off reintroducing all of those characters that peopled the strip “Thorn”. At the beginning of the book, these characters were just like the ones I knew and loved from my college days. Of course,this being a real “book”, the characters grew as the story progressed.

I had been reading “Bone” a few pages at a time until the last several days. I reached the tipping point I often get to where i have to just read. And, since there wasn’t a lot else going on, I did. I was about 500 pages in on Thursday and I finished yesterday. I did a lot else besides read! A huge amount! But I also read those 800 + pages.

It was fun and I’m glad I picked the book up. My next book will not be as much fun and has just as many pages, but all text, no pictures. So this was a nice little break.

Oh, thinking of those pictures, I have read a few short “serious” graphic novels in the past, but not a fun one and nothing even a quarter as long as this.

So that was my smile, reading the graphic novel “Bone”.

What made you smile?

(A reminder – There will not be a Smile Recap post next week).

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Come on, I’m sure you smiled at least once last week.  Why don’t you share it?  I hope you can join in!

Here is list of “rules” and guiding ideas.  If you don’t have time to read it right now, just remember that this is an exercise to spread positivity.  Don’t smile about the misfortune of others.  Don’t smile in a way to excludes others.  Make sure a 12 year old can read it.

To join in, write a post to share your smile and then leave a comment on this post with a link to your smile.  Or, if you prefer, do a pingback to this post (pingback = have a link from your post to this one) (Note – pingbacks have been very inconsistent – please leave a comment :) ).   You can post any time until next Sunday evening (to be simple, I will say midnight GMT, which is 7 PM Sunday for me).  Note – I am no longer compiling the Smiles into a Recap post. I’ll try to get the new smile out between 7 and 8:30 Eastern Time.

35 thoughts on “The Weekly Smile for the 17th of January, 2022 #weeklysmile”

  2. Sandra Pavloff Conner

    Reading a good book is absolutely the very best kind of escape from all the negatives we have to deal with in the rest of life. Glad you found time to enjoy this one so much. I think our realizing how valuable those special times of reading can be is one reason we want to write books. We want to give other people those same kinds of experiences when they read ours —— hopefully.

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    1. trentpmcd Post author

      Reading is such great escapism, and you are right – it feels great when someone tells me that they got wrapped up in some of my writing. For me it doesn’t happen enough, but those few times are very much worth it! I am just starting Bleak House, so going a different direction now… Hope your weekend is going weel.

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  3. Ju-Lyn

    I am afraid my brain just can’t process graphic novels – there are so many wonderful stories told in this genre, but despite trying several times through the years, it seems I can’t, whether it is manga, or DC, or Gaimon (whom I just adore!).

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    1. trentpmcd Post author

      I get what you mean. I’ve read a few small “serious” graphic novels before, but was never able to get into one. I think it was easy for me since I knew the characters before I started. I’ve read a handful of Gaiman’s books, but I have never tried one of his graphic novels, even know that that is where he originally made his name.

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  9. Deborah

    I bought Bone to read to my boys a couple years back, but it didn’t then catch them! It’s still here, waiting to see if its time does come.

    My biggest smiles involved awakening to snuggles from my 7yo. These are a huge perk of weekenda when his brother is away camping. :)

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    1. trentpmcd Post author

      Funny, I know that the book was very popular but I don’t think of anyone I know having read it – it’s my little secret from my school days ;) Maybe they’ll get into it when they are a little older. I think it is fun, but then, I have no idea how kids would see it. And I came in already familiar with some of the main characters, so…
      I am sure that is the best way to wake up :)

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    1. trentpmcd Post author

      It was a lot of fun – something like classic era Disney meets The Lord of the Rings. My next read is Bleak House. Not sure if it really is 1300 pages, but close! As is War and Peace. I do want to read some 19th century Russian literature this year, but I am thinking more along the lines of Crimes and Punishment. Perhaps in the spring or summer.

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  13. Emille

    Am glad you discovered Bone! My weekly smile is simple. Last week I got sick with the old fashioned flue, and now I am feeling a whole lot better – my energy is still coming back. Have a lovely week, Emille.

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  14. Diana

    What a great smile post and coincidence I mention reading novels in my smile post too. But mine is the lack of reading as I really miss it but need to find that hour of quiet time (or 30 minutes) to get into reading again! I think all this technology hinders my reading time too…. I have some ideas to fit in my reading again! I hope you stay warm, saw the news the northeast is getting slammed with some very cold weather. I couldn’t believe all the power outages too! YIKES! I hope you have power and thanks for hosting the smile posts! :D
    https://myhorsestories.blog/2022/01/17/my-weekly-smile-jan-16-2022/

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