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nica00's review
5.0
Art⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️+ Story⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This rural, coastal Australian coming of age story took on the heavy theme of anti-immigration in a way that some will not like on the surface. It gives no moral conclusions but begs the reader to think for themselves. The story’s tone maintains the naïveté of youth and leaves the wiser judgements to be made in hindsight by the adult reader. While it’s told as a nostalgic, adolescent memory, it hints strongly at the social squalor that lies underneath it. It leaves the reader with thought provoking notions about processing childhood memories, holding on to the status quo, and releasing oneself to societal change as foreign as it feels.
The artwork is inspired, a reverent homage to late 20th century indie surf comix, and well...basically legendary.
This rural, coastal Australian coming of age story took on the heavy theme of anti-immigration in a way that some will not like on the surface. It gives no moral conclusions but begs the reader to think for themselves. The story’s tone maintains the naïveté of youth and leaves the wiser judgements to be made in hindsight by the adult reader. While it’s told as a nostalgic, adolescent memory, it hints strongly at the social squalor that lies underneath it. It leaves the reader with thought provoking notions about processing childhood memories, holding on to the status quo, and releasing oneself to societal change as foreign as it feels.
The artwork is inspired, a reverent homage to late 20th century indie surf comix, and well...basically legendary.
mschlat's review
2.0
Very underwhelmed. From the preview, I thought I was getting a mix of personal narrative and a slight science fictional take on immigration and racism. But the read was almost all personal narrative (with a strong surfer focus) and the larger issues just faded. Nice art, but I did not identify with the protagonist and felt like the plot dropped out.
dawnoftheread's review
3.0
One of the odder alien invasion books I've ever read, with zany/rough Australian characters complaining about the Blue taking over their little town, much as one might complain about any other group of immigrants moving in and "ruining" everything for the last group of immigrants. I very much enjoyed the use of color in what otherwise is somewhat typical indie comic style.
carleesi's review
0.25
I kept waiting for this book to actually say something, to make the story mean something, and it never did. The symbolism was clumsy and just came across as racism and xenophobia.
Add to that the unnecessary sentimentalizing of racism and sexism and I can’t warrant this book getting any stars.
Add to that the unnecessary sentimentalizing of racism and sexism and I can’t warrant this book getting any stars.
ikovski's review
3.0
IMO the book neither anti-racist nor supporter. And because of the complexity in the book, the question remains: "is it that bad to say no to immigrants?"
Before you start your bullshit I support them, but except the hate-crimers it's nothing more than OK to not wanting outsiders, IDK why we are shutting them up. I can not be racist or chauvinist, just because I don't want foreigners who can cause negative impact.
That doesn't mean I understand nationalists or patriots or people who r devoted to their lands or ancestors...
Anyway by complexity, I mean,,, it's just chaos, not trying to say something rad, weird as a teen joke. Or maybe I've just wanted to ask that question but still if the book makes you think that way, then it's a good thing. You can even extravagate and say "this looks more like an occupation." Like Palestine.
The art is beautiful; with the shades of greyish blue, cacoa & ivory; landscapes, characters, doodles... Also loved the allusion u know lol
"Maybe that was the day locals around here started to wonder whether Bolton was worth the effort."
This is yet another thing got my attention. Grant talks about how it was difficult to live in 'an isolated Australian coastal town' and his childhood, so maybe he was trying to point out meaningless of 'localism' and all these shitty politics about citizenship.
I would like to read a few page more, just to connect with the real story (not the lectures) the artist wanted to tell.
you can read this online free
xoxoxo
iko
lobodepapel's review
3.0
¿Recuerdas ese día?
Ese día en el que te escapaste de la escuela con tus amigos, ese día en el que todo era mejor y te quejabas de que las cosas no fueran mejor, ese día cuando las cosas eran diferentes y no podías evitar echarle un ojo a la catástrofe.
De eso trata esto, de ese día.
Ese día en el que te escapaste de la escuela con tus amigos, ese día en el que todo era mejor y te quejabas de que las cosas no fueran mejor, ese día cuando las cosas eran diferentes y no podías evitar echarle un ojo a la catástrofe.
De eso trata esto, de ese día.
hiko's review
1.0
Kitabda mavi rəngin istifadəsindən başqa heç nəyi bəyənmədim. Əsas olan miqrasiya, rasizm və anti-immiqrasiya mövzuları daha yaxşı işlənə bilərdi. Gözləntilərimi qarşılamayan bir komiks oldu, heyif o rəsmlərdən. Amma yazar-cizərin ilk kitabıdır deyə başa da düşürəm eyni zamanda.
ellsbeth's review
4.0
This is a bit different from the other comics I've read lately, and it was a welcome departure. It was good to read a book set in a rural town with economic struggles, facing some issues similar to places I've called home. The art style was also an appreciated departure. I am glad the author decided to add his own history of surf comics at the end of the book. It was an interesting read.