Reviews

Gudetama: Mindfulness for the Lazy by Wook-Jin Clark

okevamae's review

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4.0

I received an ARC of this graphic novel from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

There’s something about Gudetama that speaks to my soul. I, too, am a cute, wobbly, perpetually tired blob who naps more than I should. And when I saw this on NetGalley, I was mostly just excited about Gudetama. But when I saw it was actually a book on mindfulness, I decided I needed to give it a read. I’ve heard a lot about the benefits of practicing mindfulness and have been wanting to learn more about it.

The illustrations are cute, colorful, and kid-friendly, and the book definitely feels like it’s geared toward a younger audience. But for adults who are new to mindfulness (and who enjoy cute, colorful illustrations) it can also serve as a very basic primer to the key concepts. The language is simple enough for kids to understand, but not so simple that an adult would feel pandered to. Some of the highlights are the importance of empathy and consideration towards the feelings of others, living in the present (getting out of your own head, but also, getting your head out of the clouds), staying positive and reducing stress and anxiety, and the many ways that these different aspects of mindfulness feed into each other and are intertwined.

Recommended to anyone who appreciates cuteness and could benefit from an easy introduction to mindfulness.

marieintheraw's review

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3.0

Overall, an adorable and fun read that fans of Gudetama would definitely enjoy with a pretty decent message behind it. Unfortunately, it is a bit on the shorter side so it is over when it feels like it has just begun.

I received an ecopy of this book via Netgalley; however, my opinions are my own.

geekwayne's review

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3.0

'Gudetama: Mindfulness for the Lazy' with stories and art by Wook-Jin Clark brings back the lazy Sanrio egg with more questionable advice.

For those not familiar, the short comics here are like advice column questions with Gudetama providing sometimes questionable advice. This time around, Gudetama helps us learn about personal zones. There is also a worker who needs to figure out how to focus on the task at hand. A woman faces an ethical choice when she finds a phone, and Gudetama solves a fight between two pet lovers.

The comics are bright and fun. Gudetama is grouchy and lazy. The advice seems mostly about being mindful of others and giving ourselves a break, which is not a bad set of lessons.

I received a review copy of this graphic novel from Oni Press and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this graphic novel.

dame_samara's review

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4.0

This book left me way happier then "Gudetama: Surviving the Holidays" did but that honestly comes down to timing. Gudetama talking about mindfulness feels Poignant as the Pandemic continues to go on and on. As well as with the state the world is in currently. Gudetama has some great advice on dealing with others on the internet, even if they are family.

What I didn't like, was the specific call out to not take time when you are overwhelmed at work to practice mindfulness. Especially when that level of stress can in reality make you much less productive than you would have if you had just taken that time to reorientate and center yourself would have.

Props though for the use of the singular they. I got butterflies reading it. It still feels incredibly rare so seeing it used here felt awesome.

firefox's review

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5.0

I received an eARC of this book from NetGalley. This is my personal opinion and others may disagree with me.

I honestly loved this. It's such a short but lovely read and it really made my day. Fans of Gudentama or just Sanrio in general will love this beautiful book.

thischarmingamy's review

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3.0

Gudetama: Mindfulness for the Lazy was cute and informative. I think any fans of Gudetama and other Sanrio characters will enjoy this guide. As someone who has taken classes in mindfulness, I found this to be a good refresher. I’m going to engage in some self care now by taking a nap.

alisonandabook's review

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4.0

Thank you to Netgalley and Oni Press for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was a cute comic book featuring my favorite lazy egg, Gudetama! I think this book would be great for younger readers, and has good reminders about practicing mindfulness with lots of teachable moments. The illustrations are wonderful and bright and fun to flip through.
Overall, this was a very fun read!

haileydonna's review

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3.0

I received this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This was a cute little graphic novel with vibrant colours and fun illustrations. The theme of mindfulness focused primarily on being mindful and compassionate in your interactions with those around you, however, it also touched on self-care. I think that during times of hardship, for instance being almost a year into a global pandemic and intermittent lockdowns, it is especially important to reflect upon how we relate to others and how we can build a foundation of mutual understanding and empathy. Everyone is a unique and distinct individual, but we are all human and sometimes society could do with a bit of a reminder that all human beings are equally deserving of respect and compassion. There may not be anything revolutionary about what is said in this book, but it is packaged in an engaging and sweet way that makes it a good, quick read.

i_b_anoud's review

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2.0

Many thanks to netgalley and Oni Press for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

It's unfortunate that I can't feel a positive about a book that promotes positivity when I'm anxiety ridden, this felt to me as " stating the obvious" or perhaps it's my fault cuz I don't feel good and this book didn't help,

charlottewilloughby's review

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4.0

I received an ARC, however all opinions are my own:

Adorable

Goes through different scenarios in funny cute ways to help people understand and practice mindfulness

Very bright colours and quite fast paced (parts of it move on quickly)