Luann by Greg Evans and Karen Evans for January 09, 2023

How would Bernice even know what her mom reads? She hasn’t spent time with her in ages.

And maybe Bernice’s mother enjoys reading erotica, in private, and she has no clue about it.

Luann is asking the wrong question. She should ask Bernice how she would feel if her mother, secretly, gave her lusty novels to read. I somehow don’t think she’d be happy.

Bernice is smart, though. She sucks up to Nancy, to keep getting free rent and meals.

A week of cat fights

Boy! Talk about a SICK BERN!!

I’m not sure reading romance novels makes one cool but as someone who reads a lot of pulp fiction from the 20s and 30s who am I to judge,

God, Lu’s a prude.

We all had lives before we had children …….. generally that’s how we got the children.

Luann needs to grow up and realize that her mom is a person in her own right and not just someone who cooks and cleans for her—things Luann should be doing herself.

At this rate, it’s going to be weeks before we find out who D. Coverly is. If ever.

Not sure cool is the adjective I would choose…hot and bothered maybe but not cool…and my prediction for the writer…Aaron Hill under a pen name!

Since when did Luann turn into such a judgmental fuddy-duddy? Shaming someone for liking romance fiction’s a bit insulting especially coming from Luann who’s spent countless dollars on gossip/fashion-trend magazines that ALWAYS give her bad/contradictory advice. Sometimes a person wants to read about a couple falling in love. If Nancy and Bernice were into “true crime” podcasts and discussing other women getting chopped up by a serial killer, Luann probably would have less of a dramatic reaction since that particular niche’s gotten big with women, and (judging by the comments about this storyline) it’s less stigmatized than just reading a romance novels. But, either way, it’s uncool to shame your loved ones over wanting to read some romantic escapism.

I’ve kinda gone back and forth a bit on the way Bernice and Nancy being romance novel buddies this arc. Is it a weird thing to share with your daughters friend? Kinda. But honestly, if this Coverly author writes a series involving an on-going cast of characters with fantasy elements (like mermaids) and so on, maybe they just like discussing the couples and the enjoyable things that happen in the books and it’s not strictly limited to the sex scenes. I feel like that’d be awkward to discuss but we have no reason to think that’s specifically what they talk about when sharing the books.

This is the same Bernice who friend-zoned Nil because she was feeling too passionate?

What’s with all the goofy facial expressions in this arc?

A Eureka moment, for someone!!

When Luann swung the book back over the table in front of Bernie, dreadful shame that was not a steaming hot cup of tea or coffee sitting right in front of Bernice to go over in her lap.

Did Luann just have a Linda Blair moment?

“Your mom reads a super popular, poorly written genre of literature, in the loosest sense of the word. She’s cool!”

Again that weird feeling that Bernice is now more Nancy’s BFF than Luann’s. It seems that Luann is now starting to have the same feeling too… Awesome! A story I would never expected!! Will she and Bernice argue, talk to each other and understanding or slowly grow more and more part away? Will Luann try to read romance novels to understand? I hope she goes with them to that “Meet the author”, that would be good for her as an author.

I’m trying to remember if we’ve ever met Bernice’s mom in the strip, and I’m coming up blank.

It may be a setup to let Bernice run into her mother at the authors event!

The artist needs to learn something about anatomy. There is no way Luann could turn her head that way in the last panel without partially turning her body or breaking some vertebrae.

Booooooorrriiinnnnggg…

Bernice’s mom is the author

What? Luann doesn’t know this about her own mother? Then why was Nancy working so hard to keep it hidden? I had assumed Luann had scoffed about it years earlier. But, if Nancy had been working so hard to keep it from Luann how did Bernice find out?

Better would have been Luann demanding, “Mom! You still read this stuff? I thought you’d grow out of your phase!”

Yep. Nancy and Bernice are cougar cubbie tousey-mousey. And you all bash Ann Eiffel.

What was the reason for Bernice leaving home in the first place?

Bernice’s mom gave away Bernice’s bedroom for a very contrived, weird reason. That’s why she hasn’t got a cool mom. And her brother is uncool if he still lives there.

Chukkle * I love the “What?” look on Luann’s face. Funny, I am waiting for the next day. It’s not often we have such a light hearted story.

And once again Mrs. Halper gets a put-down from her own daughter. Exactly what does Karen and Greg intend to gain from this? Are they in favor of families being estranged??

kluAnn has just been hamstrung with her argument.

Bernice, you narcissistic, sneaky little troll.

Great strip!! Love all of the facial expressions and body language.

SUPPOSEDLY her brother was allowed to move in when Bernice was still in a room at the dorm, then she lost the dorm room and went crying to Luann about her cruel mom and being homeless. I have never really believed that story.

It’s the same old story. The kids are embarrassed that their parents know, and, participate in certain activities. Now someone else’s parents, that’s cool.

This comic should be changed from “Luann” to “Clueless”!

Every generation likes to think they invented sex.

Teens like to imagine they were results of virgin births.

It’s a shock for them to discover their parents / grandparents have a love life.

“You see, your mom gives me free room and board, and all I have to do is:”

1) Keep her books

2) Prepare her taxes for free.

3) Clean my room.

4) Make pancakes.

5) And share a laugh at you behind your back.

“Therefore your mom is cool, unlike my mom who’s not. Don’t believe me? Well when my brother is finally written out of the Strip, would you like to swap households?” – Bernice

In fact, Nancy is showing to be the most diverse and developed character in the strip. She started as a stay at home mom. Was revealed to be the bookkeeper for the family and The Fuse. Went to work to replace Pru leaving. Was Momma Bear toward Ann Eiffel. Got hit on as bartender at the fuse – and was excited (titillated?) by it! Enjoys reading romance novels – so what?

Surely the most multi-dimensional character in the strip.

I suppose Bernice could think Nancy is cool. I was thinking hot. Really hot.

Has Bernice’s mom ever appeared in the strip?

Such an interesting flipperroo in this set of panels. Luann is completely gob smacked by Bern’s punch line; that Nancy is a “cooler” read better Mom than Bern’s. One thing we know is that there is a major issue Bern’s and her brother’s parent’s. He is raising kids at the family home, after he had been given up by them for another world-traveling couple, leaving Bern to be raised alone. Thank God for Lu actually. She is so important in Bern’s world as is the DeGroot family.

Some readers should review April 27-28, 2022 during the Bernice/Nil episode to better understand Bernice’s relationship with Nancy.

“You can’t be a rounded human being! You’re my MOM!”

Berrrrrrrrn.

Bern’s right Luann, what could be more cool than a mom who openly discusses p0rnography with your best friend at the kitchen table?

Annnd we’re going to find out that the author IS Bernice’s mom, right?

They’re the “gateway drug” to Anais Nin…

I don’t think the author is the important thing here. What’s probably important is Luann objecting to ‘romance novels’ and why. Because she thinks they are trashy, or because her mom reads them?

Oh shucks!

If you read too many Harlequin books,does The Joker’s girlfriend show up?

I’m avoiding LVLAX’s morning talk show to say that I continue to enjoy this story arc.

Fooey on LV’s grandstanding and inflammatory statements.

Nanny nanny boo boo.

Luann your mom is open minded who enjoys reading books with Bern.

It is weird that Nancy doesn’t say a word in today’s comic. She does not answer Luann’s question and she does not defend Bernice’s mom from criticism. She seems to be distracted or comatose.

Nancy found her ring again and put on her left hand.

very hard for children to understand that parents are people too

you really don’t know your mother and best friend that well, do you, Luann?

Awwww. See, my mom likes MOST things I do. ESPECIALLY rock music, as she went to DOZENS of concerts as a teen! She also used to read Stephen King in her youth.:D

There’s more to your mother than meets your eye. The same with all mothers…..

“She would never”…is that even English?? Someone needs to re-take English 101.

Picture Bernice Smug.

All of these comments about moms reading or not reading romance novels reminds me of a time when I came upon my (single middle-aged) sixth grade teacher going through the book rack in the local pharmacy. I always liked her so I started up a conversation, until she finally told me to get lost so she could buy some books.

The author is probably Elwood Druit.

Lighten up Luann.

I think Bern might be surprised. And then they could form a book club :)

Nancy let’s D. Coverly autograph her tattoo.

So…..

I generally really LIKE arcs that feature Bernice, as Bernice is one of my favorite characters here. But… I have to admit that several of the days last week had me cringe, as it seemed a bit TOO tawdry the various character’s reactions….

1. However, do not get me wrong…. though “romance fiction” is most assuredly NOT my preferred fiction genre, I see nothing wrong with it for folks who happen to enjoy it.

2. The part that was “tawdry” to me was the covert twittering and discussion between Nancy and Bernice. I kind of wish they had just been more “matter-of-fact” about their appreciation of this (to me, silly) genre…. then it would not have felt “tawdry”.

But, now that I see today’s effort, I have a better understanding of how I believe this is going to pan out and why the previous week WAS at least helpful to the story arc, even though it felt a bit “tawdry” to me:

1. The twittering/whispering type of discussion those two had was needed in order to juxtapose with Luann’s displeasure (or if not displeasure, incredulousness) at finding out the two of them read the genre.

2. This dichtomy between Luann & Bernice is what allows the focus to now shift to how Bernice feels Nancy is “cool” and “admirable” and a sort-of “mentor”….. to contrast with Luann’s presumed opinion that Nancy is just a “dowdy Mom” like she may be envisioning all Moms of that age-range.

3. I suspect this arc is now ultimately going in a direction where Luann will begin to realize that her Mom is more enlightened/more interesting/more diverse/more creative than she ever gave her credit for previously….. in other words… I am thinking this is ultimately a “growth arc” for Luann.

Who’s the prude now?

have a blessed day

I am of the camp that hopes that D. Coverly turns out to be Mr. Fogarty. :)

All the pearl clutching in the comments this past week has been awesome.

What does Nancy have that those two immature, little girls will never have? Answer: a wedding ring.

My hope (though not expectation) is that Luann, after several days of gags and debates over romance novels, will be challenged to produce a better (more acceptable) romance novel herself. And that she will have some minor success in that endeavor.

The shameless hussy!

the week is young, and the young are weak! :-/

Panel #3 Luann not happy?

It would be hilarious if Bernice’s Mother was D. Coverly.

Nancy Degroot, Bernice’s Benefactor & Cool mom is being judged by L…..?

I wish you all would quit trying to instill your puritanical beliefs on to a comic strip! I think it’s a funny thread that is quite innocent. What about Peanuts? Where are the adults? They have Christmas parties without supervision! And on, and on, and on…..

My Mom has a sister that I always thought was the “cool Aunt”. Looking back I’m very glad I had exactly who I have for a Mom.

I’m hoping this storyline doesn’t last much longer. It’s not amusing, just weird.

tomorrow: Frank wanders through and wonders why everyone stopped talking ..

Luann doesn’t see her mom as a person – just a mom. That says she is not grown up yet or mature. She has an image of what mom is – virginal, pure, motherly, protector, etc. Luann does not see her mother as a 3-D person with her own interests, could be naughty, complex etc. Bernice, on the other hand, sees Nancy as such simply because Nancy is not her mother. She doesn’t think her mother reads trashy romantic novels. Time for you to go home and get to know your mother better as Luann is just now.

I love Luann’s double-take in the last two panels! “EXAC— wait, what?!?!”

Zing! Bernie scores a big win! Tough times, Luann….

I was so disappointed when I opened this page and saw this arc continuing. No matter what the subject of the conversation is or could be, from romance to tatting to auto mechanics, the way Nancy and Bernice are acting gives me nausea. Yes, Luann is clueless. Yes, she takes her mother for granted. But to have people treat her in this unfeeling, “We’ve got a secret and you’re not in on it” manner is, to me, inexcusable. Bernice might have some small excuse of being young, but Nancy’s puerile attitude is revolting. Even comic characters should not change this much, IMO.

Well, if you can’t win the argument, you can be happy to have “I’ve got the cool mom” as a takeaway.