In the past few years, graphic novels have exploded onto the literary scene, and the latest hit is Skim, by cousins Mariko and Jillian Tamaki. It garnered a Governor General’s Award nomination — a first for a graphic novel — and was hailed as one of the best books of 2008 by the New York Times and Quill and Quire.
Mariko, a Toronto performer and author, wrote the story and Jillian, based in New York, is the illustrator. Skim tells the story of misunderstood Kimberly Keiko Cameron, also known as “Skim,” a teenaged girl who falls in love with her drama teacher. Set in 1992 in Toronto, the graphic novel expresses the teen angst and drama that abound in Skim’s high school.
In this interview from The Next Chapter, Mariko and Jillian chat with Shelagh Rogers about high school, drama queens and why their Gothic-lesbian-Lolita story is so popular.
There’s more in the podcast of The Next Chapter : Ernest Hillen talks about his cross-country travels for Weekend magazine in the 1970s, which he documents in his book A Weekend Memoir, and Little Miss Higgins, a singer from Saskatchewan, drops by.
First aired Sat Jan 24, 2009 on The Next Chapter. [runs 12:01]
Catch The Next Chapter on Saturdays at 3 p.m. EST (3:30 NT) on CBC Radio One, or listen online.
Words at Large is CBC’s online destination for Canadians who love books. Look for something new every day, from CBC programs and podcasts, to interviews with writers and more. Stay tuned for our newly designed and expanded site.
Comments
what is wrong with you guys?you put a picture up of two lesbians kissing right on your page ready for young children to view..doesnt anybody have any values anymore or are you all just desperate sexually deprived people that you feel a need to display these type of pictures..
Posted by: john ness | January 29, 2009 10:08 AM
what is wrong with you guys?you put a picture up of two lesbians kissing right on your page ready for young children to view..doesnt anybody have any values anymore or are you all just desperate sexually deprived people that you feel a need to display these type of pictures..
guys? who's to say that a woman didn't post this? children shouldn't have access to the internet - the internet is crippling the ability of our species to socialize. now you're implying that because someone posted a HOT photo of two women kissing passionately that nobody has values anymore...or that they're desperate sexually deprived people. For one, I have values - and so does the person that posted this story - they just don't align with your seriously outdated views on this world. Secondly, I've seen a lot of sh*t on this website that doesn't relate to me and am happy that for once I can read something of interest. Thanks CBC, I am thinking about buying this book.
Posted by: annoyed ness | January 29, 2009 02:49 PM
@ john ness
what is wrong with YOU sir?
I fail to see the 'sexual depravity' in an illustration of two fully clothed women kissing, especially when it is excerpted from the book being reviewed - a book that apparently has been nominated for the Governor General's Award..
I highly doubt you would take the same umbrage at an image of a man and woman kissing, so if the issue of same sex romance is so offensive to you - I respectfully suggest you go climb back into your cave : this is Canada in the 21st century. Frankly, I find your intolerance to be highly offensive.
Congratulations to the authors on their nomination.
Posted by: Jerry | January 29, 2009 02:54 PM
Ahhh...it's alright to have your "kids" watch someone get his head blown off or murdered but god forbid they see something even remotely sexual in content...kids understand way more than their "puritanical" parents ever do..it doesn't promote any kind of perversion...it's a picture..get over it!! It will always be better for our kids to see nudity, sexuality or something that makes their parents squirm...than violence...gotta love john's "values"....lol...
Posted by: Bob Hautala | January 29, 2009 03:12 PM
John really it's lesbians kissing. Get over it. It's the same as a guy and a girl kissing and a guy and a guy kissing. If you're telling me children shouldn't see people kissing then you will have a hard time complaining to the world.
Posted by: Sean Walsh | January 29, 2009 03:38 PM
I'm an offended virgin!
Posted by: John ness' evil twin | January 29, 2009 06:15 PM
What's wrong with a picture of two people kissing? Nothing there is nothing immoral about it. If you are going to get up in arms, John, about people kissing then you better not browse the internet, watch TV, go to a movie, etc. There is NOTHING immoral about people of the same sex kissing and absolutely zero evidence that viewing such images has any effect on those who see them. You don't learn to be homosexual either you are or you aren't and there is LOTS of evidence to support that. Take your bible and thump it somewhere else.
Posted by: Aaron Stechesen | January 29, 2009 06:34 PM
Jillian--your voice sounds great :-)
Posted by: Isaac Klunk | January 29, 2009 07:56 PM
Well, It caught my attention. Made me read the article at least..
Posted by: Mitch Ripley | January 29, 2009 09:23 PM
I agree with the other commenter about values. My computer is in the kitchen and I go on to check the news .I have my teen boys here and they see the lesbians kissing as if this is now accepted as normal. If you show something enough times then the shock factor has worn off. It is not okay with me that you show that.
Posted by: p klain | January 29, 2009 10:48 PM
Awesome book!!
Posted by: a. king | January 29, 2009 11:08 PM
NO what is wrong with YOU john ness? Kissing isn't a lewd sexual act (even to Mormons) so may be you should take your own pathetic desperate sexually deprived bias against homosexual people some where else! That's right! People shouldn't have to put up with your homophobia especially on the CBC which represent our multicultural Canadian landscape. You know you're totally ashamed of yourself which is why you would leave such a comment on the page celebrating these Canadian artists.
Posted by: JJJ | January 30, 2009 01:34 AM
OK seriously...I don't even know why I'm responding to you since your comment is so absurd.
How many children do you know visit cbc's website? And even if they do, it's a picture of a kiss. It's not even graphic. A kiss is an expression of love and affection, not sex. And if it were a guy and a girl, you probably wouldn't have said a word.
Posted by: Laura | January 30, 2009 01:41 AM
John, it seems to me you are the one with a problem with an image of lesbians kissing each other. Young children need to learn that lesbians exist one day anyway.
Posted by: ten | January 30, 2009 02:25 AM
Relax dude. It's just kissing. Not full on xxx.
Posted by: jesus | January 30, 2009 02:31 AM
Ignore John Ness's ignorant comments (the 50's called - they want their ignorant puritanical mentality back, buddy). Thank you for your coverage on the novel Skim! I am quite picky when it comes to my graphic novels, and Skim is one of my favorites. I hope more people will buy and read it. It deserves the coverage.
Posted by: Linn Do | January 30, 2009 03:03 AM
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