I wanted my first read of this year, and my first CBR11 review, to be of Gmorning Gnight for a lot of reasons:
Because I don’t know about you, but I could use some pep talks. Because Lin-Manuel defines happiness to me, seems like maybe he’s a sorcerer, and somehow manages to elevate even tweets to an artform. Because the illustrations of Jonny Sun shine with a Silverstein-ian simplicity that radiate glee and grace. Because “its nice to have things to hold on to, some kindness right here, right in sight. You can read this whenever you want to. It will be here. Gmorning. Gnight.” Because Lin is encouraging and understanding, and impatient and honest, and hard on himself, but easy on others, silly and patient and he just… gives it all to us. To do with as we will. To sit with when we need it most. To hear and feel and have.
Mostly because it felt like a good way to open the year.
Any year, really, but especially this one.
With the wishes and words of a genius, and the drawings of a daring doodler, and the opportunities for hope and heart.
And, because of all those things, I not only purposely read this book first, but shared it with the people I love: I may have mentioned before that I have a few (4) sisters (and one who has passed away). This year for Christmas, they all got copies of Gmorning Gnight. As did my mother, my niece, and my best friend. Considering that all of these people could not be more different, you could say that is pretty remarkable. (Even better? Was that one of my sisters gifted the same book back to me. Annotated. The key to this girl’s heart, right there.) Each of their copies had a personal inscription as well, telling them why I thought they would love this book, or the message of the tweets, or the simple, adorable illustrations. I liked knowing that all of the ladies in my life were out there too, soaking up the same loving messages for their year(s). Because there truly is a message and a measure here for Every. Body.
Just in case you don’t have a copy already, lemme just throw one more of those messages, one of my favorites, at you.
“Gmorning. Pain, joy, frustration, euphoria, everything. It all passes. It all keeps moving. Wherever you are is temporary. Let’s go!”
“Gnight. Rage, bliss, fatigue, rapture, everything. It all passes. It all keeps moving. Where you are is fleeting. Andiamo.”
Let’s go, indeed.