Asterix the Gaul by René Goscinny
There’s a bookshelf behind the piano at my parents’ house full of almost every Asterix book (and Tintin book, for that matter). I grew up reading the Asterix books, over and over and over again. I started out in appreciate of the adventure and crazy characters. As my thinking progressed, I started appreciating the punnery as well. They’re wonderful books, superbly drawn and written with wit and real affection for the art of story-telling.
I’m extremely selective about buying new books. It comes down to shelf space, the cost of money, being able to find a lot of decent used books in thrift stores or used book stores, etc. However, the Asterix books are well worth their price new. The collection at my parents’ house is jointly owned by my brothers and my self, so I can’t run off with them in good conscience. That said, I’ve started slowly amassing my own collection.
If you enjoy the Roman Empire, puns, violent (yet kindly) Gauls, and feasting on roast boar, you will want to own these books. All of them.
I remember being taunted by my brother with a new Asterix book being held just out of my reach. It was cruel, and traumatic…
Wow! That is extremely cruel. Joking aside, they really are superb books. I’m already excited about introducing my sons to them when their reading skills reach the proper level. Lucky Luke, Tintin, and then Asterix.
Don’t wait until their reading skills get there. Those books are fabulous for *building* reading skills, because you don’t have to be able to read well to still get enjoyment out of them, and in the process you pick up words.
Incidentally, that new Tintin movie is very well done (the Tintin experts in my house agree). I’m sure it’ll spark a run on the books- yey, reprints!
Yeah, very fun movie. I took my 6-year-old to see it. We both loved it. Good point about building reading skills. I’ll start investing in Asterix now… (btw, I haven’t started reading the mss yet; things haven’t seemed to have slowed down yet from the Christmas frenzy).