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3.46 AVERAGE
3.46 AVERAGE
The style of this is excellent. The illustrations are simple enough to be clear and accessible, but expressive enough to be really enjoyable. Like many others, I can imagine, I started reading this because I know a movie will come out from Randall Park based on this graphic novel. So I wanted to scope it out in advance of the film. I'm not a massive fan of unlikeable characters and this novel's main character is a complete embodiment of that. So it was a frustrating read on that end. There is also some horrible language that points to when this was written (i.e. using the r-word). In other words, the graphic part of this was great; the novel part, not so much.
But we'll see how the film diverges from this.
But we'll see how the film diverges from this.
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Not my type of book. I didn’t like the characters and didn’t enjoy the time spent with them.
dark
fast-paced
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I read this to follow up on the movie, Shortcomings, directed by Randall Park. While the movie takes many of the books scenes verbatim, the book as a stand-alone is very hard to read through because Ben is such an unlikeable character. He's an ass and he never really learns anything from it here. Ups for queer representation and representation but still rough.
emotional
funny
informative
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Adrian Tomine creates paired down Graphic Novels that resonate more with early independent films of Ed Burns or Miranda July than with other contemporaries of the graphic novel genre.
The illustrations are paired down and minimalistic and are the perfect compliment to the text and stories. This is one of the longest stories Adrian has created as he usually focuses on shorter work. This is well worth checking out and is filled with insight and gentle humor.
The illustrations are paired down and minimalistic and are the perfect compliment to the text and stories. This is one of the longest stories Adrian has created as he usually focuses on shorter work. This is well worth checking out and is filled with insight and gentle humor.
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
All throughout reading this, all I could think was that fish from SpongeBob who says “oh brother, this guy stinks!”. Good read!
These characters feel extremely real, but they're all people I'd avoid at all costs - they're petty, bitter, dishonest, and lack the basic sense of introspection that you kind of expect from people in their late twenties/early thirties. I can't fault Tomine for depicting this kind of millennial ennui accurately, but I do think the story could have used a bit more comeuppance for our flawed protagonist, and the ending left me wondering what the point of all this was. I can't deny that the drawings are gorgeous, though.
Warning for biphobia, racism, use of the r-slur, and general MRAsian bullshit
Warning for biphobia, racism, use of the r-slur, and general MRAsian bullshit
Para na skraju rozstania, zinternalizowane uprzedzenia rasowe i stereotypy, irytujący, choć realistyczni bohaterowie. Fabularnie koresponduje z czytanym przeze mnie równolegle „Prawem do seksu”. Brakowało mi jakiejś większej refleksji na zakończenie, a tak historia się po prostu kończy. Ale czasem w życiu bywa właśnie tak.
3.5/5 :)
Trust Adrian Tomine to tell a story, emotionally rich, razor sharp in its observation of relationships and brutally honest in his depiction of far-from-perfect social misfits and their mundane lives. His drawings are simple in structure and style, but incredibly effective in conveying the depth of the characters and the story and it just works phenomenally well.
Shortcomings follows a Japanese American couple as they navigate their relationship, and come to terms with their general dissatisfied existence. At its heart, its a reflection of the experiences & emotions we inherently fall short of, and an intimate portrayal of unfulfilled desires told from the perspective of an unlikeable, prejudiced & racist anti-hero.
What really baffles me is the fact that Adrian Tomine manages to offer depth and complexity that is comparable to a full length novel, through ink drawings and dialogue. His graphic novel feels like you have watched an art film or something to that effect. Whilst I could really appreciate Tomine's work, I'd recommend it only to a particular type of reader. His stories are not plot heavy and focus on very unlikeable characters who live on the edges of society and norm.
Trust Adrian Tomine to tell a story, emotionally rich, razor sharp in its observation of relationships and brutally honest in his depiction of far-from-perfect social misfits and their mundane lives. His drawings are simple in structure and style, but incredibly effective in conveying the depth of the characters and the story and it just works phenomenally well.
Shortcomings follows a Japanese American couple as they navigate their relationship, and come to terms with their general dissatisfied existence. At its heart, its a reflection of the experiences & emotions we inherently fall short of, and an intimate portrayal of unfulfilled desires told from the perspective of an unlikeable, prejudiced & racist anti-hero.
What really baffles me is the fact that Adrian Tomine manages to offer depth and complexity that is comparable to a full length novel, through ink drawings and dialogue. His graphic novel feels like you have watched an art film or something to that effect. Whilst I could really appreciate Tomine's work, I'd recommend it only to a particular type of reader. His stories are not plot heavy and focus on very unlikeable characters who live on the edges of society and norm.