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Liked It1 of 2 members found this review helpful “This cinematographic graphic novel is about the end of a relationship. A bit depressing, sure, but the characterizations are excellent -- especially the insecure guy who has a thing for white girls (he's worried about his penis size, thus the title of the book) and his sassy lesbian friend....” see full review » see other reviews » |
Didn’t Like It1 of 2 members found this review helpful “This is a beautifully illustrated and well-thought out graphic novel about 20-something hipsters living in San Francisco. The story revolves around a Japanese American man who struggles with racial prejudice, sensitivity and negativity, pushing the people he loves away with his rigid views....” see full review » see other reviews » |
Newest Reviews
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“A nice graphic novel that depicts the ordinary lives of some Asian twenty-somethings living in the Bay Area. Tomine is a very capable artist and storyteller. The story of the main character Ben Tanaka and his friends is nothing spectacular or earth-shattering; they're just ordinary everyday average people going about the business of their lives. Friendships, dating and breakups are all covered here in a pleasing and capable manner. A nice effort from Tomine, but like I mentioned there's nothing here that's going to rock your world, make you sit up and say, "Wow, this was really something else!" It's just a good little graphic novel.”
Bookworm wrote this review Sunday, May 31 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“A frustrating graphic novel of the end of a relationship and passive-aggressive non-arguments. Other topics covered include race (the Asian main character's unacknowledged hankering for blonde-haired and blue-eyed girls) and lesbian lifestyles. It left me with a bad taste in my mouth.
Ashley-o wrote this review Wednesday, April 15 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
As an art form though, the book is excellent. Adrian Tomine captures the story's mood perfectly with his illustrations. ”
“I liked this, but prefer more resolution than what the story offered, but I think the lack thereof suited the story well. ”
Shelise G wrote this review Sunday, April 12 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“The title is, perhaps, too accurate.”
Astrid J wrote this review Saturday, February 21 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No“I've read all Tomine's other work and it's pretty uniformly depressing but in a beautiful way (not sure if that makes any sense but that's the way it feels). My boyfriend, who had never read Tomine's work before, read this one and said, "so is there a sequel because there's no real ending". There is no concrete conclusion because the character remains the same throughout the story. He doesn't stop being the unlikeable, snarky, close-minded man he was when the book began. The drawings are crisp and beautiful and really illustrated the sense of longing Ben was feeling throughout the work. ”
Amy W wrote this review Friday, February 6 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“Shortcomings by Adrian Tomine is a new entry in the quickly growing genre of graphic novels for adults. No costumed superheroes, no fantasy, just a powerful story told through pictures and words. Ben is a self-absorbed twenty-something living in San Francisco and going nowhere fast. His best friend is a promiscuous lesbian, and his girlfriend is frustrated with his lack of commitment to anything. When she moves to New York for her career, Ben is left rudderless and quickly sinks into a relationship with a co-worker that improves neither of them. He then follows the girlfriend to NY in hopes of renewing their relationship but instead finds her posing for nude pictures for an artist she's formed a new relationship with. This graphic novel is just a peek into someone's fairly boring life. It's sad and depressing, but Tomine's artwork is stellar and the dialogue is witty, even when it's Ben. The story itself feels hopeless, but I think that was probably the point. It didn't move me.”
clockstein wrote this review Thursday, August 28 2008. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“The first graphic book I felt I could really enjoy as a work of literature, and art. A great read.”
AthenasDaughter wrote this review Wednesday, July 9 2008. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No“one of the most perfect graphic novels i have ever read. each line, each frame suggests all the emotion of its characters. a great plot and heartbreaking emotions. hard to put down”
Michael Z wrote this review Sunday, May 4 2008. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“A beautifully insightful and depressing read. Incisive, funny dialogue. Goes down quickly but stays with you in its truthful and subtle observations of relationships and jealousy, ego and deceit, hipsters and artists.”
Cousin Jacob wrote this review Monday, April 28 2008. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
