Riposte Card No. 9: Rejected reading!
Or, Virginia Woolf by Maxine Kryzaniwsky
Of course I love that illustrator Maxine Kryzaniwsky worked my book into her riff on Virginia Woolf!
Woolf’s line originally appeared in her 1925 essay “How Should One Read a Book?” as follows:
The only advice, indeed, that one person can give another about reading is to take no advice, to follow your own instincts, to use your own reason, to come to your own conclusions. If this is agreed between us, then I feel at the liberty to put forward a few ideas and suggestions because you will not allow them to fetter that independence which is the most important quality that a reader can possess. After all, what laws can be laid down about books? The battle of Waterloo was certainly fought on a certain day; but is Hamlet a better play than Lear? Nobody can say. Each must decide that question for himself. To admit authorities, however heavily furred and gowned, into our libraries and let them tell us how to read, what to read, what value to place upon what we read, is to destroy the spirit of freedom which is the breath of those sanctuaries. Everywhere else we may be bound by laws and conventions — there we have none.
The Riposte Card for November 2023 bubbled through a few incarnations, all featuring a young reader repelling the suggestions of a well-meaning adult.
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And here are Maxine’s answers to the Obligatory Questionnaire:
What's your go-to item in a well stocked stationery store?
Post-its! I think I use them almost as much as my graphite pencils.
Where do you go for inspiration and/or information?
For inspiration, quite honestly, anywhere and everywhere. Neighborhood walks, conversations with friends & family, watching a good movie, life moments, reading a good book, seeing a squirrel do its thing, etc. If I connect with something, or something catches my attention and then nudges me creatively, I'm inspired. As for information, my favorite source is still the good old fashioned book format haha.
Is there one joke, witticism, or aphorism you live by?
A new one for me, in personal practice, but a very old one for many: KISS - Keep it Simple Stupid; or [insert whatever S-word you like]. Sassy?
What's the best thing to put on toast?
Good question! Either a smidge of butter with a nice drizzle of honey, or I do love sliced avocado with a bit of cracked pepper and a teeny pinch of salt!
What work are you most proud of, and how can people support it?
That's a hard one to answer but my favorite moments are when I have done an illustration that brings a smile to someone's face or gives them a good chuckle. There are no prints or purchase ready items available at the moment, but I am open to inquiries about work if there is something someone really loves. Just email me. Also, you can follow me on instagram for updates on new projects and events that are coming up and/or happening in my illustration world. You can follow me at: @maxkbzy