Snapshots of a Girl
Beldan Sezen
Publisher: Arsenal Pulp Press
Summary
A bold and frank memoir/graphic novel about a young lesbian, born to Turkish parents in Germany, who messily navigates her coming of age, and her coming out, in a number of locales and cultures – Germany, Turkey, the Netherlands, and America. By doing so, the book is a personal and very contemporary look at cultural and sexual politics; a modern take on dyke life, and the nuances of sexuality and cultural identity.Of course, our precedent in the lesbian-themed graphic novel is the bestselling Blue Is the Warmest Color. Where that book was an earnest (and tragic) love story, this one is lighter and more grounded in contemporary lesbian life; there is much self-deprecating humor as the narrator comes out to her parents (more than once) and navigates the dating world in different cultures.Author Beldan Sezen has a versatile style; she uses different approaches to the text and artwork on every page, making the story dynamic.Sezen is also a filmmaker and cartoonist, and regularly teaches workshops on illustration. She has exhibited her work widely, including in Amsterdam, London, Berlin, Wiesbaden, and Beirut.This book was originally published in Italy, and has been translated into English by the author herself.