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A review by amber_lea84
Level Up by Gene Luen Yang
2.0
I find it hard to relate to a protagonist who has such a hard time thinking for himself and who has a strict all or nothing approach to life. Growing up doesn't mean "eating your bitterness" and being miserable. You're allowed to have fun and enjoy what you're doing. And the fact that this character could have made a living doing something he was actually interested in but he felt guilted out of doing it is depressing. Like I have crohns and I absolutely would not want this character to be my doctor. I'd much rather have a doctor who has a genuine interest in medicine, and who is, frankly, smarter. Someone doesn't automatically make the world a better place by becoming a doctor. Please, for the love of god, do what you're good at and try to enjoy your life to the best of your ability. You'll be doing society a favor, I promise. The world doesn't need more miserable assholes doing things they're not very good at. Be an excellent professional gamer instead of a mediocre doctor. And of course being a professional gamer wont make you happy, but neither will being a doctor. (Like bro, have you MET doctors?) Most people aren't going to find what makes them happy at work.
I do like that he came to understand his father's motivations better. But this feels likes a messy first draft of an idea. It doesn't really feel like he knows what he's saying. There are a few points where I legitimately have no idea what this was trying to convey. Like there's a montage scene with his friends and I read it three times and I don't understand what is going on. It seemed like he decided to skip over a bunch of stuff, but there's not enough info to even understand what, exactly. Is there a B plot where his friend has a crush on him? Also the stuff where angels do his chores and harass him is so weird. I get that they're like a metaphor for overbearing Asian parents, but it makes him seem schizophrenic. Did his upbringing give him PTSD?
Also, the choice to write a graphic novel about how gaming is a hallow selfish hobby that wont fulfill you is like come on. I feel like I was tricked. The cover is like, "Oh cool, gaming." And it's actually about how gaming is addictive and bad and he "levels up" by outgrowing it. Lame.
I do like that he came to understand his father's motivations better. But this feels likes a messy first draft of an idea. It doesn't really feel like he knows what he's saying. There are a few points where I legitimately have no idea what this was trying to convey. Like there's a montage scene with his friends and I read it three times and I don't understand what is going on. It seemed like he decided to skip over a bunch of stuff, but there's not enough info to even understand what, exactly. Is there a B plot where his friend has a crush on him? Also the stuff where angels do his chores and harass him is so weird. I get that they're like a metaphor for overbearing Asian parents, but it makes him seem schizophrenic. Did his upbringing give him PTSD?
Also, the choice to write a graphic novel about how gaming is a hallow selfish hobby that wont fulfill you is like come on. I feel like I was tricked. The cover is like, "Oh cool, gaming." And it's actually about how gaming is addictive and bad and he "levels up" by outgrowing it. Lame.