Litsy

When the Wind Blows (American) | Raymond Briggs

pick

A middle-aged couple face the horrors of nuclear war in this sweet, but devastating adult picture book. A mis/under informed husband tries to man-splain away his worries while his caring but oblivious wife absent-mindedly goes along with his plans. Feels freshly relevant in our age of misinformation, as this couple could only operate with the information they had available, while so many today operate only with the info they choose to accept.

AlaMich I remember that in Olde Tymes, you disagreed with someone about opinions regarding the facts. But at least everyone was working with the SAME set of facts. 1mo

willaful My husband and I were just talking about this, though we're more familiar with the film and soundtrack album. He was drawing similar parallels. 1mo

54 likes1 stack add2 comments

julesG

When the Wind Blows (UK) | Raymond Briggs

#BookMail from yesterday

This story had been on my mind for quite a while, but I never knew what the title was until @Bookwomble posted about it.

Bookwomble I'd say, "enjoy," but it's not that kind of book, so I'll say, "I hope you appreciate it." ? 1mo

62 likes1 stack add1 comment

caffeinated

Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes | Eleanor Coerr

#SchoolSpirit #paper

Eggs, Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks

Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Cool 😎 3mo

Eggs Beautiful 👏🏻😍🙌🏻 3mo

25 likes2 comments

Bookwomble

When the Wind Blows (UK) | Raymond Briggs

pick

Briggs's humour is dark! Jim and Hilda are following the actual advice given to the British public by the government in the event of a nuclear war. That they follow it with the expectation they will survive is part of the humour, the pathos and the tragedy. Jim and Hilda are rather hapless with their malaprops, their vague understanding of global politics, and frequent mixing up of their WWII blitz experience with their present situation. ⬇️

Bookwomble They're a sweet couple, which makes their naïve optimism in the face of their slow deaths from radiation poisoning the more sad, and terrifying. 5☢️ 3mo

julesG Is it possible that there was a film made from this book? If so, I've definitely seen the film as a pre-teen and have forever been wondering what it was called. 3mo

Bookwomble @julesG Yes, it was made into an animated film in 1986. John Mills and Peggy Ashcroft voiced the main parts, and David Bowie did the theme song (sadly, one of his awful '80s efforts!). I hope it wasn't too scary for you as a pre-teen! It scared the bejayzus it of me as an adult! 🤯 3mo

See All 6 Comments

julesG It definitely left an impression. 3mo

TieDyeDude Oh wow, I just put this on hold! For a while, I was fascinated with Cold War rhetoric (still am, really), but I hadn\'t heard of this. I\'m intrigued. 3mo

Bookwomble @TieDyeDude I\'m confident you\'ll find it a worthwhile read. It was cited by an MP in the British Parliament during a debate about unilateral disarmament as an accurate depiction of the effects of a nuclear strike. (edited) 3mo

36 likes6 comments

Bookwomble

When the Wind Blows (UK) | Raymond Briggs

"Cheerio Jim"

#FirstLineFridays @ShyBookOwl

ShyBookOwl That line, paired with that eerie image... surreal! 3mo

Bookwomble @ShyBookOwl Yeah, the first line is the last thing anyone else says to either Jim or Hilda, which I don't think was an accident. 3mo

ShyBookOwl @Bookwomble that definitely seems intentional. 3mo

35 likes3 comments

Bookwomble

When the Wind Blows (UK) | Raymond Briggs

Having just read two novels set in the post-apocalypse, Raymond Briggs's graphic novel is set during one, this of the nuclear kind & focusing on the absurdity of naïve Hilda & Jim Bloggs following the government's advice on "surviving" a nuclear attack by painting their windows white & huddling under a bomb shelter made out of a door.
Loved for his kids books The Snowman & Fungus the Bogeyman, this is mordant adult humour of the blackest sort. ?

LiteraryinPA Yikes! 3mo

34 likes1 comment