Staff Pick of the Week
Today’s Staff Pick is Mimi Pond’s delightful book Half Off. Pond is a dedicated cartoonist, graphic novelist, and writer with writing credits that include The Simpsons, Pee Wee’s Playhouse, and Designing Women. She has also been a longstanding cartoonist for the Los Angeles Times and won an Inkpot Award in 2014 after her the release of her graphic novel Over Easy.
Half Off presents witty observational stories centered around swimming at the YWCA, bargains shopping at Woolworth’s and Capwell’s, and Pond’s years as a waitress at Mama’s Royal Café in California. The stories are accompanied by relief engravings in Pond’s distinct illustrative style and exuberant color palette. Published by Rebis Press in 1981, Half Off was designed, printed, and bound by Pond and Rebis partner Betsy Davids in an edition of 115 copies signed by both the artist and publisher. The book is joyously finished with a half-shower cap binding and bubblegum pink fishnet overlay. Of the 115 copies made, Special Collections holds number 97, signed by the artist and publisher.
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-- Jenna, Special Collections Graduate Intern