Reviews

Roughneck by Jeff Lemire

staplerscissors's review

3.0

3.7. Solid story.

jonm254's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional mysterious reflective sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

2.0

nichole1988's review against another edition

emotional sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

lauel's review

emotional reflective tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

stopnodont's review

3.0

Definitely the most Canadian book I've ever read.

_ash0_'s review against another edition

3.0

3.5 stars
I heard this is about an ex-hockey player (ice hockey) and thought this book would be about hockey. But it was completely different. It is an emotional story about a brother-sister relationship with an abusive father and dead mother. Liked the way it ended. We understand why the main protagonist was kicked out of hockey league and everything neatly ties at the end. Nothing too great or unique and it is just a simple story. Initially I didn’t like the art style but after getting a hang of it, I thought it was done really well. Definitely recommend it at least for the great artwork. I also liked that the main characters were mixed race and half American Indians.

chrisway84's review

dark emotional hopeful sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

brenaudcreative's review

dark emotional medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

jwinchell's review against another edition

5.0

I wasn’t expecting to like this book as much as I did, given that I haven’t read anything by Lemire. The emotional desolation of Derek and his sister, who soon joins him in a deep north town, was expertly drawn with blues and grays and white with jagged and fine black lines. Even at his drunkest, most violent spells, I still liked Derek and wanted to know more about him. The flashbacks to their childhood, Derek’s hockey, and other parts of their past were fully colored and vibrant, showing the rawness of emotions both felt in those times. The dog metaphor was for me about Derek opening up to vulnerability. A sweeping emotional arc to this story. All the snow reminded me of Craig Thompson’s Blankets.

ogreart's review

4.0

I received an electronic ARC of this book from Netgalley in return for an honest review.

I have grown to enjoy graphic novels that are more realistic than the pure fantasy adventures I read as both a younger person and still today.

This is a very rough and gritty look at a man who has withdrawn into himself. He does not want to be bothered by anyone, especially former fans. And he is not afraid to strike out physically and verbally.

The depth of love inside this hard man is shown when his pregnant, abused, and addicted sister returns home. It is a hard love. But it is love.

The slow transformation this love brings is realistic and hard hitting.