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A review by unabridged_reader
Shortcomings by Adrian Tomine
3.0
Was interested in reading the graphic novel that inspired the Shortcomings movie (2023). Some things I noticed was that the dialogue was nearly the same line for line, and I thought that was cool. Ultimately, I think I enjoyed the movie more than I did its written form, and I think that's a compliment to the film team. In fact, had I read the graphic novel first, I probably would have despised our antihero to a point that this would have disrupted how much I enjoyed the overall piece. Would highly recommend watching the film (and perhaps, watching it before picking up this piece that inspired it).
More generally, I thoroughly enjoyed both this piece and its film counterpart because I've never seen an Asian American experience depicted with this level of nuance, wit, and self-reflection. I felt represented in a way I haven't before in contemporary literature. For example, Tomine and the film-makers successfully interweave some hitting questions about fetishization, sexuality, and "panasian" solidarity in a way that resembles how these topics come up in my conversations with my friends.
More generally, I thoroughly enjoyed both this piece and its film counterpart because I've never seen an Asian American experience depicted with this level of nuance, wit, and self-reflection. I felt represented in a way I haven't before in contemporary literature. For example, Tomine and the film-makers successfully interweave some hitting questions about fetishization, sexuality, and "panasian" solidarity in a way that resembles how these topics come up in my conversations with my friends.