Stupefied

BOOK REVIEW

STUPEFIED

Author: Moderna de Pueblo From the reader report by: Rafael Falasco

Idiotizadas is a graphic novel that approaches the theme of feminism today using fairy tale princesses as a metaphor. Moderna de Pueblo, the protagonist, was conceived in 2010 as a blog character, by illustrator and author Raquel Córcoles. Her comic strips soon became a hit in social networks. Moderna, a mix of the author’s alter ego and an allegorical figure capable of connecting with the readers’ lives, is a blond-haired girl who always wears sunglasses, and moves to the big city to study and work. She lives typical experiences of the life in the metropolis for people in their twenties and thirties, such as professional struggles, friendships, love affairs, and generational frustrations and anxieties, all with a fine comic irony drawn with a unique line.

The online success of the comic strips has already given rise to five different books. In Idiotizadas, as in the most recent Coñodramas, the central theme is feminism in everyday life. The story is divided into short chapters, and at every moment ties together situations experienced by a group of friends with biased versions of fairy tale characters. It portrays several situations, such as the friend who abandons her friendships to spend time with her boyfriend; the experience of moving to the outskirts with her partner to avoid the expensive rents and chaotic life in the city center; the process of body acceptance; the relationship between mother and daughter; the idea of marriage; having or not having children; the relationship with parties, sex, etc. Córcoles seeks inspiration in events and situations that happened to her or to friends and that somehow are connected with the experiences lived by her readers. It is a current, charming and truly funny graphic novel.

PUBLISHED IN NEW SPANISH BOOKS BR

PLANETA EDITORIAL

Title STUPEFIED IDIOTIZADAS

Author Moderna de Pueblo Genre Comic Pages 208

ISBN 978-84-08176-88-6 Year of publication 2017 Language Spanish Spanish retail price 14.90 €

Author’s biography: Moderna de Pueblo is a blog created in 2010 by Raquel Córcoles (1986, Reus). Thanks to it, she won the Connecta’t al còmic Grant, which allowed her to publish her first book, I’m a Small Town Girl. After working almost a year for the magazines El Jueves and Cuore, she took time off to write her first solo comic book, Idiots Never Bring You Flowers, which has sold over 40,000 copies. From 2013, started cowriting with Carlos Carrero (1984, Madrid), with whom she cowrote Cooltureta: The Graphic Novel. Raquel and Carlos are still working daily on the content of modernadepueblo.com and contributing to media such as Cuore, El País y GQ. www.modernadepueblo.com

Synopsis: Moderna de Pueblo grows up hearing phrases such as “That’s not appropriate for a young lady”, “that one is a skank”, and “your wedding day will be the happiest day of your life.” But, after moving to the big city and meeting Sluttirella, Snow “Fat” White, and the Fishy Mermaid, she starts to slough off all lessons in stupefaction and undertakes a long journey to unlearn everything she should have never been taught. She feels that everything she has seen in princess movies, and all the advice she has received from her parents, grandmothers, and female friends to become a “proper woman” is toxic, and realizes all the time she has wasted trying to be liked by men and to find the love of her life. So, once she does find him, she is afraid of leaving everything for him and to be lulled back to that stupefied world like a sleeping beauty.

Publisher: Editorial Planeta Editorial Planeta was founded in 1945 and has grown into the mighty Planeta group. Of Spain’s most prestigious publishing houses it has the greatest influence in the Spanish-speaking world. Every year it awards the Planeta Prize, the best known Spanish literary prize, along with other prominent accolades.

Publishing rights available from: Editorial Planeta - CIF A08186249 Diagonal 662-664, Barcelona, Barcelona www.planetadelibros.com Contact: Pilar Lafuente [plafuente@planeta.es] [foreignrights@planeta.es] Phone: (+34) 934 928 244

Countries where the rights have been sold: First Éditions (France), Editorial Presença (Portugal) .