graphic novel review: Wilson by Daniel Clowes

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Wilson
The backstory: I've started paying attention to the Amazon picks of the month. They're usually spot on with fiction (which I'm most familiar with), and they often feature a graphic novel, young adult and children's book too. Genre picks don't appear every month, but when they do, they're certainly worth noting. Wilson popped up in April, and I promptly requested it from the library. I haven't read Daniel Clowes before, but I did see the GhostWorld movie in the theater.

The basics: Wilson is the story of Wilson. Unlike any other graphic novel I've read, each page is a different short story or chapter. Clowers uses a variety of drawing and color styles. As the book begins, the chapters seemed more like loosely connected stories about Wilson; they were episodes in his life. As the novel moves on, the story began to seem more linear.


My thoughts: I really enjoyed this book. It was laugh-out loud funny at times, although some of his humor (intentionally, it seems) borders on the inappropriate. There were a few jokes I found unnecessary, but I imagine that was part of the author's point. Ultimately, what Clowes achieves is truly a novel told in a fascinating way. A lot happens over the course of the novel, and although Wilson himself is not terribly likable, the book is, which is a testament to its author and artist.


The verdict: It's definitely worth reading if you're interested in graphic novels or enjoy quirky stories.


Rating: 4 stars (out of 5)
Length: 77 pages
Publication date: April 27, 2010 - order it from Amazon today
Source: my local public library


As an Amazon affiliate, I receive a small commission when you make a purchase through any of the above links. Thank you!

Comments

  1. AndiJune 4, 2010 at 3:49 PM

    COOL! I didn't know about this Amazon feature or this Clowes book. Thanks for enlightening me!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Kim (Sophisticated Dorkiness)June 5, 2010 at 12:33 PM

    I've been looking for some more graphic novels to read -- this one sounds funny!

    And thanks for your really long comment about the Kindle, it was really helpful!

    ReplyDelete

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