A new book about the man behind Charlie Brown

[thatcrazycajun]

CNN.com reports here on today's release of Schulz and Peanuts, a new biography by David Michaelis written with the cooperation of the family of Charles M. Schulz, the creator of what many today, in and out of the field, regard as the seminal modern comic strip. His children and widow apparently came to regret their participation when they found out Michaelis' portrayal of the cartoonist, who died seven years ago, would be a "warts and all" depiction of the man's failings and neuroses as well as his genius and triumphs.

I plan to read it myself, as Peanuts was my favorite strip from early childhood and the one whose characters most strongly resonated with me, particularly Linus van Pelt and Charlie Brown. Your thoughts on the book, the strip or whatever your favorite comic strip is are welcome.

Comments

[redaxe.livejournal.com]

Bill Watterson, creator of Calvin and Hobbes, reviews it for the Wall Street Journal here. It sounds like a good read.

Unsurprisingly for this ardent baseball fan, one of the first images from the strip that comes to mind is of Charlie Brown, on -- or rather, off -- the pitching mound, heels over head and losing his clothes when the liner screams back up the middle. Also, Lucy and the psychiatric help booth, and the entirety of A Charlie Brown Christmas (plus the parody that was done for Saturday Night Live -- handwaving will never be the same again :-)

[janmagic.livejournal.com]

In chicago the Tribune contracted to start peanuts strip from the begining. so after reading the end 25 years of the strip i am now reading the begining. although i am WAY behind on comic reading, i find it interesting as they talk about sally brown birth and the emotions surrounding it.
I dont ever remember lucy diagonosing charlie so correctly.

and of course i reveled when charlie hit the footbal when he was invisible. that was great!