Zine Review: What Makes a Story Scary?
Zine Review: Ker-bloom! 133
Ker-bloom! 133
Art Noose
8 pages
https://www.etsy.com/shop/artnoose
https://kerbloom.bigcartel.com
https://www.instagram.com/artnoose/
Ker-bloom! 133 is a quarter-sized, letterpress colour zine about Art’s visit to the Hawaiian island of Moloka’i, Kalaupapa National Historic Park, and the history of the area.
We open to a simple title page printed with letterpress in black ink, which, of course, made me immediately want to run my finger over the texture of the letters. Turning the page puts us right into the zine with Art writing about their second trip to Moloka’i. We flow along as Art shares thoughts about hiking in Kalaupapa, how people only rarely visit that particular Hawaiian island, the tour Art went on, and into the history of the island.
If you’re not familiar, a peninsula here was once used by the government “as a forced relocation settlement for people with Hansen’s Disease (commonly referred to as leprosy).”
Art’s writing flows easily and blends a retelling of a trip along with a respectful recounting of history (much of it not pretty). Art doesn’t moralise nor lecture – rather, writing it all out as part of the experience. Tourism with a respect for history. I quite appreciate it as well as the slice of life style of zine this is.
This and all issues of Ker-bloom! are a beautiful experience if you like the tactile side of the zine reading experience. The entire zine is beautifully made with everything done in letterpress on lovely cream paper. Even the main internal text has texture and colour. There’s even a beautiful sliver of pattern in the very centre, and the staples binding the zine seem to disappear into it.
This zine is a prime example of why I mostly stick to reviewing physical zines. Holding this zine adds a whole dimension of experience to the zine in and of itself. All the elements work together beautifully.
Plus, Art uses an element that always makes me smile: the number zine I have out of a limited (in this case, 250 copies) print run.
Ker-bloom! 133 is definitely one to check out and one to keep.
Mini-Zine Review: Do It Your Self Care 5 – Autumn Blues
Do It Your Self Care 5: Autumn Blues
Nina Zina
One-page folded mini
https://echopublishing.wordpress.com
https://lostluna.bandcamp.com
https://ko-fi.com/echozines
Do It Your Self Care 5: Autumn Blues is a full-colour, one-page-folded mini-zine about embracing the autumn season.
It’s almost winter here in the land of Oz, but autumn marches gently into winter without the snow to mark it, so it all blends together quite nicely.
Autumn Blues opens with Nina writing about the sadness that comes with saying goodbye to summer and all the summery activities and events that go along with the season. Then she introduces the zine as a means to help embrace the beauty and the magic of autumn.
We then have lists of lovely autumn-y pleasuress. From cosy activities and events like listening to the rain hitting the windows to comfy clothes and warm drinks. There’s plenty to enjoy about autumn and the cooler months, and this zine provides a gorgeous little reminder of so many of those things.
Even more, this beautiful little zine opens all the way out for dozens more things to enjoy in autumn as well as an additional note from Nina.
I could always go on for days about how much I love Nina’s style. Nina’s handwriting is clear and easy to read. Beautiful autumn and winter blues and reds in patterned backgrounds go perfectly with the mustard yellow paper pieces the text pieces are written on.
Do It Your Self Care 5: Autumn Blues is a beautiful zine in both aesthetics and intentions. It can be easy to lose yourself in the blues of the colder seasons. It’s so nice to have a reminder of all the wonderful things that come along with it. It’s another lovely addition to the series, and definitely one to pick up.
If you’d like to check out my reviews of issues one through four, here are the links:
*Do-It-Yourself Care
*Do It Yourself Care #2: Self-Care During Heat Waves
*Do It Yourself Care 3 – Self-Care During Christmas
*Do It Yourself Care 4: Joyful Girl Where I Find Joy
Zine Review: International Zine Month 2018
International Zine Month 2018
Hadass
28 pages
https://hadass420.wordpress.com
https://ko-fi.com/pmsmess
International Zine Month 2018 is a quarter-sized black and white zine with a ‘page a day’ perzine style format covering July 2018.
While we aren’t even quite to June yet, International Zine Month (July) is already on my mind…
IZM 2018 opens with some very metal art elements on the inside front cover before launching into the intro. Hadass writes about feeling inspired to create a zine and deciding on a one page a day zine for the month.
Therein is day one, and we go right into day two in which Hadass writes about doing Tai Chi (and colour me intrigued and wanting to look more into it) every Monday. As the days of the month pass, we get a fun look into Hadass’ life with all sorts of subjects. Sharpie marker highs, memories from going through old journals, an Ozzy Osbourne concert, and plenty around metal and the impact of music on her life.
Hadass’ writing is raw and unapologetic. She writes without filter, the highs and lows of life, creativity, and art coming out on the page. She navigates the world of wife, mother, metalhead, zinemaker, writer, and so much more. Life is often chaos, and Hadass gives us a glimpse into how she handles hers. (Like a badass.)
The aesthetic of this zine is really a free flow of creativity. Some entries are typewritten and others handwritten. Some are words on backgrounds while others incorporate photos and drawings.
I’ve often talked and written about how much I like perzines and life update newsletters. This zine mixes the two into a diary zine. While this is from six (!) years ago at this point, it’s still interesting to get a peek into my friend’s life. As well as ride the highs and lows of creating with her. I also learned that we have something in common: a sweet tooth!
I really enjoyed this zine on multiple levels, and had started my creative engines going not only for IZM 2024 but for getting into a writing routine for my novel.
PS. I now have ‘Wreck This Journal’ on my wishlist. Sounds like fun!
Mini-Zine Review: Discarded
Discarded
Kendy Paxia
20 pages
https://linktr.ee/Missmuffcake
Discarded is a quarter-sized, full colour photography zine featuring discarded plush and other toys.
Discarded opens with an introduction to the zine: inspired by a photo that Kendy’s boyfriend Matthew took of an abandoned squishmallow. As with many sparks of inspiration, it grew from there being also fuelled by a curiosity for how the toys found out in public get there.
From there, we venture into a collection of photos of discarded toys. Each page features one full-colour photo of a toy along with credit in name, location, and – when available – social handle.
Some are dirty. Some are old. Some look downright sinister; but then again, I did always find dolls a little creepy. And all of them with no indication to what led them to be in their current environment.
Like other art, this zine is as fast or as slow as you want it to be. I don’t know if it’s because I’m a writer and look for the story in everything, but I found myself really taking my time and thinking of all the stories of these plushies. Were they lost? Dropped? Discarded? As well as all the possible things the imagery of the lost toys could represent. So many possibilities.
All up, though melancholy (with the paths my mind wandered while looking at this zine), I quite enjoyed Discarded. It got my mind working in so many different directions, and I always appreciate that.
Even better? I believe there is a second issue on its way. So if you’re interested in being a contributor, definitely get in touch with Kendy.
Mini-Zine Review: Brood XIX
Brood XIX
Jessica Gilbert
One page folded
https://www.catobear.com
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCO6UzZarI8Zi_LEIlWTLcvQ
Brood XIX is a full colour, one-page-folded mini-zine about the 2024 cicada co-emergence that will be a once-in-a-lifetime event.
I am both a touch envious of parts of the US experiencing a once-in-a-lifetime event while also glad I don’t have to deal with all that noise.
Brood XIX opens with ‘things you might confuse with the 2024 cicada event’, which gave me a giggle, and explanations of those things. I think one could be forgiven for confusing ‘circadian rhythm’ for cicada event.
We then jump into what the 2024 cicada event is: the co-emergence of the thirteen-year cicada brood and the seventeen-year cicada brood this year. Something that hasn’t happened since 1803. Jessica writes a brief intro to that before transitioning to cicada facts – including how many animal species out there who will be having an all-you-can-eat buffet during this event.
The zine wraps up with a “Cicada To-Do List” before cicada’s scientific name and Jessica’s socials (noted with drawn cicada heads haha) on the back.
I had no idea this event was happening until I saw this zine, so it just goes to show that you never know who you might reach or teach with your zines. Jessica’s handwriting is easy to read, the drawings are cute, and the zine is a great introduction to what the event is all about. Definitely a keeper for me.
Book Review: Water Under the Bridge by Jennifer A. Payne
Water Under the Bridge
Jennifer A. Payne
https://linktr.ee/jenpayne
132 Pages
“She thought about him often over the years. Looked him up online occasionally to see where he was and if he was all right. It wasn’t until last fall that she found his email address, and several months more before she got up the courage to write.”
So begins the epistolary novel WATER UNDER THE BRIDGE by Connecticut writer Jen Payne, a sort-of love story told through a series of emails, about two people who reconnect after 15 years apart and work to reconcile their pasts…and futures. Influenced by the work of Brené Brown and a proponent of the bravery of storytelling, Payne says “WATER UNDER THE BRIDGE is about having the courage to speak our truths; it’s about trust and vulnerability, and about the true blessings found when we open our hearts – come what may.”
I usually only review books, but a book by a zinemaker? Yeah, I will make an exception for that. Water Under the Bridge accompanied me while I waited for day surgery, and it was quite the lovely companion indeed.
Water Under the Bridge opens as written above with our main character contemplating and sending off an email… What follows is a story about the past, nostalgia, and things coming full circle primarily through email exchanges.
This is a fairly short and easy read, but that suited the style of the story. Everything was well-balanced, from the brief interjections of our main character’s personal thoughts (separated out by grey pages – to mentions of water that alluded to the title and themes without being to heavy-handed about it. The story itself says enough but not too much, with both characters having distinct voices. Her trepidation. His enthusiasm. You can easily be drawn into their exchanges and emotions, filling in whatever pieces you care to fill in without it needing to be laid out on the pages.
‘Water Under the Bridge’ is really the perfect title for this. The story is about the shine of old memories and nostalgia, the temptation to wade back into those waters, and the reminders of of why the bridges were built over them in the first place. It’s bittersweet, had me smiling, had me sighing, and even had me thinking about all the times that I have almost been swept away into doing something similar. Memories and hopes that maybe things could be different this time…
All up, I quite enjoyed Water Under the Bridge. It is like a beautiful painting: there for you to enjoy and take from it what you will without demanding anything from you but a bit of time to enjoy it.
Zine Review: Things I Learned from a Pastry Chef
Things I Learned from a Pastry Chef
Rachel Schwartz Fagan
8 pages
https://www.instagram.com/word.tonic.press/
https://linktr.ee/rachel.schwartz.fagan
Things I Learned from a Pastry Chef is a quarter-sized, black and white illustrated zine of tips that Rachel learned from a pastry chef.
I loved baking and eating baked goods of all sorts, so does that make this zine even more of a comfort read?
Things I Learned from a Pastry Chef opens non-traditionally by holding it in landscape orientation and opening from bottom to top. On the inside front cover, we get all the details for Rachel, including when and where the zine was printed. (I like these details because someday I shall make a big map with all kinds of info on zines read, sent, and received.)
From there we jump right in with the tips, starting with a lemon zest tip that seems so simple but I know would have a big impact on the flavour of whatever baked good called for it. We also get tips on everything from handling eggs, to dealing with garlic, to even a handy top on getting even slices when slicing bread.
Each page has its own handdrawn border and accompanying illustration/s, which makes a cosy zine about a cosy subject make me smile all the more. And crave some banana bread, but that’s an aside.
I was totally in the mood today for a zine that would invite me to learn something, and Things I Learned from a Pastry Chef absolutely provided that. If I know anything about baking, it’s that small steps done in the right way can make a huge impact on what you end up creating. Not only did I appreciate the shared tips, I also appreciated the little things Rachel included like the drawings and the wavy border on each page to add visual interest.
Things I Learned from a Pastry Chef is a zine going in my forever collection and a fairly quick read I think you’ll enjoy.
Zine Review: Root Cause
Root Cause: Championing Beets, Turnips, Rutabagas, and Other Unfairly Maligned Vegetables
Andy Boynton
12 pages
https://www.reciwee.com
https://www.instagram.com/reciwee/
Root Cause is a full-colour, quarter-sized zine about unfairly maligned vegetables in the grocery store and recipes for how to enjoy them.
Andy had me at comparing the bin of ‘lesser known’ veggies to an Island of Misfit Toys. Poor beetroot.
Root Cause opens right on the inside cover with an introduction to the zine and about it. Andy lets the reader know that this zine isn’t mean to be totally comprehensive but rather an appetizer (ha! food pun for the win) to what can be done with these root veggies.
Each veggie featured has the name, a personal introduction from Andy, a drawing of the veggie, and a recipe to try out. Truly living up to the ‘appetizer’ description given in the introduction.
I must say (or rather, write) that I was surprised to see carrots in amongst this group of veggies. Two words: carrot cake. Even so, I appreciated the inclusion for the carrot muffin recipe that will enjoy trying out. (And eating.)
As someone who enjoys trying new things, cooking, and baking, this is definitely a zine for me. But I also appreciate its existence for the more serious side of things too. We are, by and large, visual creatures, and food wastage is a big problem in a lot of places. Not to mention the health side of things.
A zine that encourages people to try new things they might easily pass over otherwise is definitely a good thing. I liked that it didn’t lecture or berate, rather celebrating that which isn’t often celebrating. Definitely a keeper.
Zine Review: Joyful Girl Where I Find Joy – Do It Yourself Care #4
Joyful Girl: Where I Find Joy – Do It Yourself Care #4
Nina Zina of Echo Zines
Mini One-Page-Folded
https://echopublishing.wordpress.com
https://www.instagram.com/echozines/
Joyful Girl: Where I Find Joy – Do It Yourself Care #4 is a full-colour, one-page-folded A7 mini-zine
“Little reminders for myself that there can be joy even in hard times.”
And don’t we all need that?
Do It Yourself Care #4 opens with those handwritten words written on bright yellow slips of paper pasted onto pink solid and patterned paper. This colour scheme, which reminds me of lemonade and strawberries, continues through the zine as the reader gets to know Nina’s little joys in life.
Do It Yourself Care #4 had me smiling from the get go. Not only has it been a rough week and some so this topic suited me quite well, the first thing Nina listed is glow-in-the-dark stars. I may have not long ago finished putting the little sticky bits on a bunch of glow-in-the-dark stars to stick to my bedroom ceiling. Following that with cuddles and snuggles with friends, which I adore, and I felt so utterly cosy and happy reading this zine.
Nina covers all sorts of things. Indoors and outdoors, things she participates in and things she observes. Of course what Nina enjoys is personal, but I do like that there is a variety so people can be reminded of their own joys no matter what kind of person they are.
One thing I wanted to mention is that I like how Nina mentioned enjoying creating things “even if I have to push myself sometimes to get started”. While it may have been an afterthought or side thought, I think it’s important to remember that it can take a bit of a push to get ourselves to do things even if we enjoy them.
In Nina’s usual style, Do It Yourself Care #4 opens up into a full page of even more joys set on a colourful cut-and-paste style page. Including the joy of the silly little tea tags that come on the string of your tea bags.
I love the whole Do It Yourself Care series thus far, and this zine is a wonderful addition to the series. I totally recommend grabbing this as well as the rest of the series as well.
Check out my reviews of:
*Do-It-Yourself Care
*Do It Yourself Care #2: Self-Care During Heat Waves
*Do It Yourself Care 3 – Self-Care During Christmas