Reviews

El Nao de Brown by Glyn Dillon

zorpblorp's review against another edition

Go to review page

reflective medium-paced

4.25

bookmoth's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional inspiring reflective medium-paced

4.25

beth79's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark emotional sad medium-paced

4.0

erinray82's review against another edition

Go to review page

5.0

This was great! Amazing art, thoughtful story, wonderful neurosis complete with violently morbid obsessions. However, Nao and her OCD are oddly endearing, if sometimes jarring. She is artistic woman full of ritual, always seeking balance, always willing herself to walk the "good" path. What I like about this story is that it shows the contrast between the face we put on and the chaotic anxiety within. It shows the divide between who we want to be and who we think we are. It's the story of a roundabout way toward peace. It has love and longing. There are meditations and washing machines. There are endings followed by new beginnings.

nickdouglas's review against another edition

Go to review page

4.0

Beautiful illustrations, and a story full enough to not feel like a "short story" (as so many graphic novels do).

satan_is_back's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging dark informative mysterious reflective slow-paced

3.0

chelseamartinez's review against another edition

Go to review page

2.0

Strange turn of focus to the second character in the last five minutes of the book. Beautiful illustrations, especially of the main character.

thommyflommy's review against another edition

Go to review page

funny hopeful medium-paced

4.0

chrissireads's review against another edition

Go to review page

3.0

The Nao of Brown centres aroune Nao Brown who is a Hafu, she’s half Japanese and half English. Nao is in her late twenties, she shares a flat with a nurse and works in an adult Japanese toy shop. Nao has obsessive compulsive disorder. She is plagued by intrusive thoughts which can often be violent. One particuarly disturbing scene that comes to my mind is when Nao imagines attacking a pregnant woman-killing the baby. Nao is searching for love and becomes obsessed with Gregory. The story follows Nao’s love life and her battles with her OCD.

This story really is grim at times, yet there’s something about it that kept me turning the pages. I wanted to know what was going to happen to Nao. I think it’s quite a unique story even if it can get a little muddled at times. I don’t think it’s the clearest or strongest storyline that I’ve read, I also didn’t enjoy the ending at all, but it’s well worth reading if you don’t mind a strange tale. It may have a dark edge, but there are also some great humorous moments which I appreciated.

The art in this graphic novel is simply beautiful. It’s got such detailed watercoloured art work. I often spent some time just looking at the pages admiring the art!

bluenicorn's review against another edition

Go to review page

4.0

I need to read this again. This is one of those examples where you really miss out if you just read the text and don't take the time to really look at the art.