Photo by Omar Eloiza
By Omar Eloiza, Arts & Entertainment Editor
Loneliness in America is universal–and the pandemic only seems to have made the problem worse.
But what’s behind this phenomenon? Author Kristin Radtke explores answers in her graphic novel, “Seek You: A Journey through American Loneliness,” which was chosen by the Moraine Valley library as this year’s “One Book, One College” selection.
The first event of this year’s “One Book” programming will take place Wednesday at noon in the library lounge. The discussion, entitled “The Art of Loneliness,” will explore the unique combination of visuals and text Radtke uses.
“One of our librarians will be interviewing an art faculty member, Chris Matusek, and a literature faculty member, Sheryl Bundy, about the book,” said event organizer Troy Swanson, who is department chair of the library. “They will both examine the text from their disciplinary backgrounds.
“Since this book is a graphic novel, this should be an interesting discussion.”
The novel is Radtke’s sophomore effort. Her first book, “Imagine Wanting Only This” is also a graphic novel, but in the context of a personal memoir. Radtke describes her new effort as a sort of “communal experience.” And the experience of “reading this book is reading about ourselves and our lives.”
Fellow graphic novel writer Mira Jacob says this about the book: “If you’ve ever felt alone in America, this is the book you’ve been waiting to hold, and the one that will hold you back.”
Wednesday’s discussion is open to the general public as well as the Moraine Valley community. Registration is free. The event also will be livestreamed on the MV library’s YouTube channel.
