Marshmallow is a big fan of Calvin and Hobbes, the comic strip about the often obnoxiously cynical but extremely curious six-year-old Calvin and his stuffed tiger Hobbes who comes alive only when nobody else but Calvin is looking. Early during the COVID-19 pandemic, she reviewed The Authoritative Calvin and Hobbes: A Calvin and Hobbes Treasury by Bill Watterson for the book bunnies blog. So she was very excited to hear that Watterson teamed up with the illustrator John Kascht in a new book project. Today Marshmallow talks to Sprinkles about this book, The Mysteries, which was published in October 2023.
Sprinkles: So Marshmallow this book was not quite what we expected, was it?
Marshmallow: No.
S: We were kind of hoping to see something of Calvin and Hobbes, at least perhaps some humor, right?
M: I was.
S: But before we dig in any further, can you tell our readers what the book is about?
M: Sure. This is a fable about a small village or country in some faraway place which was near a big forest. And in the forest were scary things, things the people did not understand.
S: And maybe they were scared because they did not understand.
M: Actually that is probably one of the points of the story. Because they tried very hard to capture one of these scary things, they called them the Mysteries, and then when they caught one, they were not very impressed.
S: Hmm, so what do you think that means?
M: I am not sure. But maybe it refers to things like thunder and lightning and solar eclipses and earthquakes, which were very very scary things, until we figured out what they were really all about.
S: Hmm, so once we had scientific explanations for them, their power to inspire fear and awe diminished.
M: Yes, but I think it is more than that. I think the Mysteries represent the mysteries of the universe. They go beyond thunder and lightning. And maybe the people got a bit too arrogant once they figured out how thunder worked that there was no mystery left that they should be scared of. But lightning still starts fires. Earthquakes still cause lots of damage to life and property. So in some sense, we will never be able to completely tame and understand nature, let alone the whole universe.
S: I think you might be on to something Marshmallow.
S: Coming back to our original expectations about this book, maybe I am going to say, we actually should not have been too surprised.
M: What do you mean Sprinkles?
S: Maybe the end especially is pretty fitting for a fable coming from the creator of Calvin, the youngest and toughest misanthrope of all time.
M: What do you mean by that?
S: I feel like there is some pessimism about humans in the book. And I think there is some of that cynicism in Calvin, too.
M: Well, I did not notice that, but then again, when I read Calvin and Hobbes, I just laugh at his ridiculous plans and hilarious excuses for not doing what he is supposed to do.
S: Sure, there is definitely that level of hilarity to Calvin and Hobbes, but I’d say there is a lot of questioning of mainstream beliefs and assumptions, too, and some of the questioning does not leave much space for optimism. At least that is how I read it sometimes.
M: I guess I will need to reread Calvin and Hobbes, this time with that perspective, to see what you mean.
S: But coming back to The Mysteries, why do you think it is a fable?
M: Well, the space and time are not very clearly set, and it could be anywhere anytime, almost. And the kingdom seems to be all there is. And the authors are trying to give us a moral message.
S: Ooh, I like that! Can you tell me what that moral message is?
M: If we lose our awe of the mysteries of life and the universe just because we think we understand some of them, we might lose our respect for life and the universe, which can only end in disaster.
S: That is deep. Marshmallow!
M: But there is more. I think the fable is also telling us that there is always more mystery. That we will never run out of them, that there is always some magic and something to be in awe of when it comes to life and this universe.
S: I see. And the book says all this in so few words!
M: Yes. Each two-page spread has only a handful of words, and at least one of the two pages is a full page-picture.
S: Can you tell me a bit about the illustrations?
M: I think the only word that comes to my mind is “haunting”. Everything looks kind of deformed. The people look like they are made out of clay. It is almost like we are seeing our world but through some kind of a magic lens which shows us only the darker, more arrogant side of humanity.
S: In some sense though, I think one could read the ending as a hopeful message.
M: No!
S: I do! No matter what, life and the universe just go on.
M: I am not sure I agree with you on that, Sprinkles. But I guess we will just agree to disagree.
S: Sure, I am okay with that. But at least I think we agree that the core message is a warning.
M: Yes. We do agree. The core message is to warn people not to be too arrogant. As a species, humans should not get too arrogant. I think that is what the authors are saying. And they are telling us that we are like boats; a boat can cross the ocean but it can never conquer the waves.
S: That is a beautiful way to put it Marshmallow. Did you just come up with that yourself?
M: Yep.
S: I will definitely use that sentence again, Marshmallow, and I will cite you.
M: Thank you!
S: Okay, so let us wrap up this review then. What would you like to tell our readers?
M: Stay tuned for more amazing reviews from the book bunnies!
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