Shenzhen: A Travelogue from China

It was probably inevitable that graphic novelists would apply their talents to travel writing, but this is still the first example I’ve run across. Guy Delisle has written a thoroughly enjoyable and insightful book about his experiences in Shenzhen, a large city in China. Far from the seaside vistas of Hong Kong, or the bustling history that colors Beijing, Shenzhen is a utilitarian commercial hub. Delisle, in town as an animation supervisor for one of his employer’s studios sees a China most tourists never will. He approaches the experience with a refreshing enthusiasm mixed with a touching longing for someone he can communicate with. The visual format allows for some unique observations that straight-up written travelogues would be hard-pressed to convey.