Cannon (Lee Lai, Giramondo)

In Lee Lai’s latest graphic novel Cannon, a young chef struggles to navigate the stresses of her late twenties while burdened by family obligations and a chaotic workplace. Central to the novel is the titular Cannon’s friendship with Trish. Both are queer, second-generation Chinese nerds and fans of classic Australian horror films, but they face difficulties in staying connected with each other. Lai offers an authentic portrait of the complexities of maintaining friendships as an adult, with humorous characters illustrated in an energetic manner. Lai is a celebrated cartoonist (her debut Stone Fruit was shortlisted for the Stella Prize and won the Lambda Literary Award), and Cannon continues to demonstrate her mastery of the form. In a recurring sequence, Cannon is shown running through the streets of Montreal while listening to an audiobook instructing her to focus on breathing. This touching scene interrupts the story during tense moments, gently reminding the reader to breathe as Cannon tries to find peace amid life’s challenges. Conveying realism is one of Lai’s strongest attributes as a visual storyteller; her illustrations are powerful yet varied, some minutely detailed while others strikingly restrained. Overall, within Cannon is a vibrant, recognisable world and an impactful story about adulthood. Recommended to readers who enjoyed Alison Bechdel’s Fun Home. 

Books+Publishing reviewer: Abe Theobald is a writer and graduate researcher at La Trobe University. Books+Publishing is Australia’s number-one source of pre-publication book reviews.

Books+Publishing pre-publication reviews are supported by the Copyright Agency Cultural Fund.

Category: Reviews