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shallowdepths's review
1.0
I'm okay with the potential mundanity and repitition of diary comics. But here it didn't speak to me and just made me sad about the things that absorb people. Records of consumption: food, coffee, alcohol. The challenge of budgeting; the desire for material things. Maybe sometimes in a joyful way, but also often in a self-loathing or defeated kind of way. More personal dreams and desires are present, but obscured or reduced to cliche.
iffer's review
2.0
I wanted to like this, and I like the illustrations, and Emi Lenox seems like she'd be a fun and interesting person to hang out with. However, EmiTown started off as a personal diary, and reading it feels like one, and not in a good way. There are too many redundant and repetitive details, and, since the pages weren't designed to be read as a graphic novel, the art doesn't lead the eye. Furthermore, for something that started off as a personal diary, it seems somewhat lacking in personal detail or depth, with too much time spent on beverage costs than life events. Consequently, Emi unfortunately sometimes comes off like a whining Millenial instead of the endearing, quirky, creative, sometimes self-conscious I suspect that she is. With some editing (definitely shortening), and some reworking of the entries into a tight, cohesive story, I think that this could be a good book, but with this version, I was left wondering when the book would end, and how this ended up being published in this form.
Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced reader copy.
Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced reader copy.
daynpitseleh's review
3.0
I received this from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This graphic novel is a comic diary that details the life of author Emi Lenox. It's an interesting concept and it's easy to relate to the author. The drawing style is cute, but sometimes it just felt like it needed something more.
This graphic novel is a comic diary that details the life of author Emi Lenox. It's an interesting concept and it's easy to relate to the author. The drawing style is cute, but sometimes it just felt like it needed something more.
aziz_reads's review
The Good: Emi has a fantastic talent for drawing. I'm super impressed and jealous. Emi is raw and honest and has a really cute style even when it comes to her words.
What could be better: While I appreciate the candor of this book, letting us see every bit of detail, I'm not sure we really...needed so much detail. Gosh, there was a lot. I don't really mind long works--my favorite book is the Poisonwood Bible. But I wish there had been more of a story element, at least in the first few pages where it matters most.
I lost interest before I could get a tenth of the way through. I pushed until page 50 and still didn't really feel like I had met Ocean Girl, White Heart or Black Heart. I'm sure, according to their profiles on the first page, I had seen them. But according to their descriptions I couldn't really be sure.
No star rating (read: not a zero, just declining to rate). I'm sure many others would love this book but it wasn't for me.
What could be better: While I appreciate the candor of this book, letting us see every bit of detail, I'm not sure we really...needed so much detail. Gosh, there was a lot. I don't really mind long works--my favorite book is the Poisonwood Bible. But I wish there had been more of a story element, at least in the first few pages where it matters most.
I lost interest before I could get a tenth of the way through. I pushed until page 50 and still didn't really feel like I had met Ocean Girl, White Heart or Black Heart. I'm sure, according to their profiles on the first page, I had seen them. But according to their descriptions I couldn't really be sure.
No star rating (read: not a zero, just declining to rate). I'm sure many others would love this book but it wasn't for me.
jenny_librarian's review
2.0
I couldn't get past the first month. The only reason I gave this book 2 stars is for the drawings that could be really cute at times.
There was nothing linking one day to the next. It's great that Emi Lenox did a comics diary, but there is no obvious point to it for the reader. Sure, the drawings are good - although usually quite simple - but there was nothing to draw me in and make me enjoy her world. It's the kind of diary that should have stayed private (or at the manuscript stage at least). A published work should be for the author, but mainly made with the idea that people will read it. This book is not something that someone who has no emotional ties to Lenox would read.
And I would really like to know what those blue post-its with numbers and letters on them are about...
There was nothing linking one day to the next. It's great that Emi Lenox did a comics diary, but there is no obvious point to it for the reader. Sure, the drawings are good - although usually quite simple - but there was nothing to draw me in and make me enjoy her world. It's the kind of diary that should have stayed private (or at the manuscript stage at least). A published work should be for the author, but mainly made with the idea that people will read it. This book is not something that someone who has no emotional ties to Lenox would read.
And I would really like to know what those blue post-its with numbers and letters on them are about...
haunshaul's review
3.0
There's something quaintly pleasant about a daily log of minutae and the tiny steps necessary to make a career out of art. However, that doesn't make up for a complete lack of detail about ANYTHING with emotional resonance whatsoever. Also, she sure goes out for drinks a LOT considering how tight her budget always is.
annaonthepage's review
3.0
CN: ableist & classist terms mentioned.
This was a great comfort read to dip in and out of, and to spend chunks of time with on lazy weekends when you're hibernating. It's very human and the young, spunky energy behind it is fun and nostalgic, if quite twee for the age she is. The army cat interludes and the art features like the Pretty Artists Detective Agency are really great. Some of the language is lamentable. It's laced with casual ableism and classism despite being pretty recent, so I feel like it could at least have been more consciously edited. We don't need to see the words 'spaz' or 'dumb', or 'bum' when referring to homeless people. That hurt to read. It's also incredibly guarded, so very very surface level and often barely enough detail for interest's sake, never mind deep personal disclosures. Odd choice to publish really, because it's obviously written *for* the author alone - there's no explanation of the reflections to invite a reader in.
This was a great comfort read to dip in and out of, and to spend chunks of time with on lazy weekends when you're hibernating. It's very human and the young, spunky energy behind it is fun and nostalgic, if quite twee for the age she is. The army cat interludes and the art features like the Pretty Artists Detective Agency are really great. Some of the language is lamentable. It's laced with casual ableism and classism despite being pretty recent, so I feel like it could at least have been more consciously edited. We don't need to see the words 'spaz' or 'dumb', or 'bum' when referring to homeless people. That hurt to read. It's also incredibly guarded, so very very surface level and often barely enough detail for interest's sake, never mind deep personal disclosures. Odd choice to publish really, because it's obviously written *for* the author alone - there's no explanation of the reflections to invite a reader in.