A Career in Books is a graphic novel for everyone who wants to "work with books" and had no idea what it entailed. It's for those who were taken aback by that first paycheck. It's for those who wanted a literary career even in the face of systemic racism, who dealt with the unique challenges of coming from an immigrant family, and whose group chat is their lifeline.
While Gavino empathically showcases independent APA women in search of fulfillment, she also lovingly celebrates Asian American publishing with clever inclusions: a Kaya Press mug, a Dictee poster, Amy Tan, and so on...Presented in delightful four-part, black-and-white panels, Gavino’s memorable characters manage the quotidian, dissect challenges, navigate change, and celebrate triumphs—together.
...the writing is sharp and funny, the trials and tribulations real and rewarding...For anyone who has a romantic notion of working in publishing, this book provides an antidote...Waiting tables while working on a novel seems like a better idea than the soul-sucking misery these women endure...What bolsters them is their friendship, and the way forward that Vo shows them...Do any of them end up getting published? You’ll have to read the book to find out.
With quill-sharp narration and spot-on details, this delightful graphic novel from Gavino (Last Night’s Reading) depicts New York City publishing through the eyes of three Asian American NYU grads who share an apartment...Gavino peppers her savvy line drawings with price tags, and applies actual numbers to her characters’ salaries and calculations...Specificity is the fire that fuels this witty social satire, in which fairness doesn’t always triumph, but friendship does.
