"Portraits from Life"- Definetly A Graphic Novel

I feel in this book that there's a lot more reading than the last that we've read. It definelty reads more like anovel. One kid in our class (I cant reemeber his name) says that he doesnt believe in the category of "graphic novel." But I feel like Collier's work is defintely a graphic novel! Sure, it may have pictures, which is a trademark of a comic, but the stories themselves dont read as comics, such as Alan Moore's work might. Collier's work focuses mroe on the story lines, which are more serious than say following the adventures of a giant blue man. While I understand that Moore si critiquing certain aspects and giving a certain view in this way, Collier's novel is much mroe straightforward and serious. And his utilization of the history aspect has a different vibe than how Moore used it. Also, the use of black and white art only gives more of an antique feel as well. Maybe this isnt a very good definition of a graphic novel,but maybe that's the way it's supposed to be. It just FEELS like a graphic novel. It jsut gives off this vibe of being different from Moore's work and definelty from the recent installment of X-Men, etc (again, not quite sure if there are recent installments of these...someone correct me if I'm wrong, please....)

Side-note: I enjoyed the story of Grey Owl, but I don't feel like the story of Ethel Catherwood was the right one to open with. It dragged a bit. I didnt really understand the ending of Richard Collier's story...it kinda gave me the creeps...why was that girl who was not his granddaughter singing that song and then hugging him? It made me think of some episode that should be on Law and Order or something....