arts / 10 Kickstarter in the Community: How to navigate the Quarter Life Crisis » New book offers advice, stories for young adults Cheryl Minns . Arts Editor Marts @theotherpress.ca Tons 20 can bea tough time for young people as they struggle with the quarter life crisis, in which they question their life choices in their 20s, similar to the way adults re-evaluate their lives during a midlife crisis in their 40S. North Vancouver author Hilary Curry hopes to make the transition from teens to 20s a little smoother with her new book, ThezoProject, to be released November 1. In the book, she and 19 friends share advice and personal stories at that stage in their lives. “It seems that a lot of this quarter life crisis right now,’ Curry said to the Other Press. “I think giving people some framework that they’re not alone, which they can see from others’ struggles, will hopefully help them through that process.” The idea for the book came about in January when people about the difficulties they’d gone through during their quarter life crises. She said some young people told her she seemed to really have her life together, which she admits isn’t entirely true but has motivated her to share her story. Te on ae # : and while that might seem : simplistic, it is the very essence : of personal success. Belief in a yourself and your abilities.” Hilary Curry “One of the things that : is really apparent when you : tell these stories is that other : people learn from what you : talk about. I decided to put : something together that : maybe even kids could learn : something from and hopefully intended to help young people : apply to their own lives.” The book’s authors range : from their late 20s to late 50s, young adults are going through : which allows for a variety : of advice and stories from : different age groups that : resonate with young people. “All of the authors have : had very different experiences : trying to figure out what they : want to be when they grow : up,” Curry said. “I think people : even in their 30s and 4os are : still struggling a little bit Curry was speaking with young : with ‘Maybe I should change : careers’ or ‘Maybe I should do : something else.” On The2oProject website, : English and drama teacher : Nancy-Jean Lahn shares : part of her story about self- : confidence: “Your belief in you : takes precedence above all else, : . : : the2oproject.com Curry launched The2oProject Kickstarter . ; campaign in September with : a goal of $5,000 to cover : publishing costs, ending with : more than $5,500. “This has been a nail- biting experience, but we have : surpassed our goals,” she wrote C—O : page. on The2oProject Kickstarter Since the book is about : imparting wisdom toa younger generation, Curry : and the other contributors : decided to make it not-for- : profit with proceeds going to : support an African charity, : Makomborero, where one of : the book’s contributors, Nicola : Holden, sits on the board of : directors. The charity supports : high potential students in : Zimbabwe, selecting eight : students a year to see them : through their A-Levels (secondary school education). The2oProject’s official : book launch will take place : on November 5 at the Ferry : Building Gallery in West : Vancouver. The event will : feature wine tasting, gift : baskets, books for sale, and : special guest speaker Margaret : Benson, a double-lung : transplant recipient who will : be sharing her story. For more information about The2oProject, check out the official website at theotherpress.ca COMPILED BY HILARY A. CURRY Comic Corner: Monster madness » ‘Swamp Thing Vol. 1: Saga of the Swamp Thing’ review Brittney MacDonald Staff Writer OOOOS t would be hard to approach Halloween and not think about some of the classic movie monsters—creatures like Dracula, Frankenstein's Monster, and of course the Swamp Thing. The Swamp Thing has had several incarnations since his 1971 comic debut in House of Secrets. In Saga of the Swamp Thing, Watchmen creator Alan Moore fully succeeds in his desire to recreate the monster’s initially clunky origin narrative as something profound. This collection examines the origin of the Swamp Thing, from his humble beginnings as botanist Dr. Alec Holland to his rise as the boggy, plant creature that made us all scared of the wetlands as children. Moore takes up the series mid-run, but brings it to a whole new level with his character-driven storytelling. Even though Saga of the Swamp Thing is not the beginning of this particular series, it is only after this that the series becomes worth reading. By defying the comic norm and writing the Swamp Thing as a creature embracing his monstrosity rather than mourning his lost humanity, Moore begins to examine human nature and the effect on power dynamics—a theme he continues in Watchmen. The art by Stephen Bissette isa little outdated stylistically, given that this series was first published as single issues in the 1980s, but it still holds up fairly well. It is detailed yet not overly graphic in terms of content, which emphasizes Moore’s inner character monologue rather than the blood and gore. All in all, I enjoyed this read. It may not be the classic tale of horror that the title suggests, but I'd certainly recommend it to anyone.