With beautiful artwork and a plot that can be interpreted many ways, this is a perfect book club read.
Streak of Chalk tells the story of two strangers on a mysterious island where the only residents are the proprietor of an inn/general store and her silent adult son. There is also a lighthouse that hasn’t worked in years and a wall where graffiti has been left by previous visitors to the island.
It is difficult to even decide what genre to which this graphic novel belongs. It has elements of romance, thriller, and mystery. There is even one line that may indicate a possibly science-fiction interpretation of the plot.
Streak of Chalk definitely uses magical realism like that in the Murakami’s Wind-up Bird Chronicle. It challenges a reader’s assumptions regarding reality. The artwork is sumptuous and won several awards when this novel was originally released in 1994.
Streak of Chalk is recommended for book clubs and readers looking for a book that will engender lively discussions and thoughts well after the the last page is read. 5 stars! However, there is some nudity and sexual situations that are not appropriate for younger readers.
Thanks to the publisher, NBM Publishing, and NetGalley for an advanced review copy. Streak of Chalk was released October 1, 2017.