Bone

I haven’t really discussed novels here since the start of Pressed & Bound many months ago, but I’m reading something right now that’s so freaking great that I can’t wait to discuss it on the show. Bone isn’t a normal novel for me either. It’s actually what some would call a “comic book” or “graphic novel.” I’ve never really been into comics, and as a kid I honestly can’t remember reading anything that was a comic book. After this, however, I’m pretty sure that I could start.

Bone tells a fairly bizarre story in the beginning, but once you get into the world, it feels right at home. From the start, we’re introduced to three characters: Fone Bone, Phoney Bone, and Smiley Bone. These three are very cartoony, with extreme animations and gesticulations. The story begins with the trio lost in the middle of a vast desert. They were recently exiled from Boneville, and now that they’ve been away a while, they’re trying to find their way back. Suddenly, a large swarm of locusts comes down from the sky, and the three get separated in the darkness. After the separation, Fone Bone searches all night to try and find his cousins, but to no avail. Fone Bone tumbles down a steep hill, and begins searching for his cousins. After a futile search, Fone stumbles upon a lush landscape full of trees and a waterfall in the distance. Now, out of the desert and in a place where he can get a drink, the story really begins.

That brief description probably doesn’t sound too exciting. Here we have three characters that most people have never heard of. Why should anyone care? Well, once you get a little ways into the story, you’re hooked. I don’t want to describe anything because I don’t want to ruin it, but the story is an incredibly touching, funny, and thoughtful ordeal.

The comic used to run years ago in regular comic ways, with thin books bought at comic stores, but the author finally finished the entire story, and everything can be found in one volume. It’s 1300 some-odd pages and took ten years to complete. I’m still concurrently reading The Bourne Identity, but I’m honestly wanting to read Bone more than that novel. That’s saying something because The Bourne Identity is pretty damned good as well.

So I will say that unless you’re a total prude and won’t try new things (Sarah; Yeah, that’s right I called you out. “Oh, I don’t like anime, even if it’s really good.”), then you’ll most likely enjoy Bone. I’m not done with it, but it’s definitely one of my favorite stories I’ve read this year.