Ursula Vernon

[bunnyjadwiga]

So, this morning, I finished reading Nurk: The Strange, Surprising Adventures of a (Somewhat) Brave Shrew by Ursula Vernon, the creator of Digger: http://www.graphicsmash.com/comics/digger.php
a serial graphic novel in which the main character is a wombat.

It's a classic children's story of The Hobbit: or There and Back Again format, with illustrations by the author. Nurk, who is a homebody with a vague yearning for adventure-- much like Bilbo, and very like Mole in the The Wind in the Willows, thinks wistfully of the adventures of his grandmother, the fierce, adventurous Surka. When he accidentally opens a letter that is probably addressed to the vanished grandmother, he ends up setting out to find the sender and apologize. There are, of course, adventures after that, which he survives by doggedness and practicality and a clean pair of socks.

I love it. I love the illustrations. I think it's very cute, and much better than, say, Redwall. But then, I'm a Mole/Baggins at heart, what can I say. :)

Comments

[siobhan1214.livejournal.com]

I has a question, and it's herby in nature. Please forgive its obvious unrelatedness to your post.

What can you use burdock for? I'm curious.

[bunnyjadwiga.livejournal.com]

Burdock root is a well-known Asian vegetable. Burdock leaves were used as poultices in the days of Culpeper, but considering that they stink, I'd avoid them. The leaves and the stems are also supposed to be edible.

[iestynapmwg.livejournal.com]

I remember a delicious soda from when i was a kid, dandelion and burdock. No idea about recipes though. Also, my grandmother always told me to look for it whenever getting stung by nettles, 'cos it grows in the same places and if you rub it on it takes the sting away. Not that i'd remember what it looks like now... I might remember how to tell stinging nettle from sweet nettle, but not sure if i want to put it to the test :)

Burdock or dock?

[bunnyjadwiga.livejournal.com]

I've heard that dock leaves (esp. broadleaf doc Rumex obtusifolius) were good for nettle stings; but I thought burdock and dock were different plants?

Re: Burdock or dock?

[iestynapmwg.livejournal.com]

Could be different plants... the soda was definitely burdock, but possibly my grandmother misremembered some oral tradition. But whatever it is usually grows right among the nettles, i remember that.

[stefsoap.livejournal.com]

You and Becka have given me a couple of great graphic novel suggestions to throw at Thing 1 and Thing 2. Total coolness!