dessa's review against another edition
4.0
Man. So smart, so funny, so tender and cynical all at once. At first I hated the juxtaposition of realistic art and cartoon caricature panels, but I grew to love it. And I loved Lena, and her honesty, and her determination to look things in the face - whether that's what it means to be in love, what it means to have sex, or what it means to depend on a lover or a mother or a child. And I especially loved her relationship with Russia - feeling connected and drawn to her "homeland" even as she is repulsed by it - how she wants to go back but knows the place she wants to return to doesn't exist any more. Which, as someone who has lived 5000 km away from "home" for two years, struck me especially hard. Yeah. Just thoughtful. And wonderful.
fschulenberg's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I enjoyed this book. It was a deep character study of a struggling and loving woman who couldn't quite find her way in love.
thunderbolt_kid's review against another edition
3.0
This book wasn't one that I needed to race through but I had enough momentum with it to finish it.
It's a graphic novel about online dating and love - it rather reminded me of the podcast Strangers, another thing that I like but that isn't exactly for me.
The high quality of this book still led me to give it a 3 star review: the art is very well-executed and the story hangs together. I don't think there are pat lessons or easy morals here but it is a story comforting in the search for love.
It's a graphic novel about online dating and love - it rather reminded me of the podcast Strangers, another thing that I like but that isn't exactly for me.
The high quality of this book still led me to give it a 3 star review: the art is very well-executed and the story hangs together. I don't think there are pat lessons or easy morals here but it is a story comforting in the search for love.
irena_smith's review against another edition
5.0
Lena Finkle is a Soviet Jewish emigre who keeps explaining to bewildered Americans that she is Jewish, not Russian, even though she was born and raised in Moscow (a distinction instantly recognizable to Soviet Jews and meaningless to everyone else). And, as a Soviet Jew transplanted first to Arizona (where her family was sponsored by a family of Hassidic Jews and where she marries a 7-11 store clerk in order to escape an arranged marriage to much older Hassidic man) and then to New York City, where she is raising two daughters from her (also failed) second marriage, she has enough neuroses, compulsions, insecurities, and anxieties to fill a book. Which she does.
Among other things, Lena has published a successful first novel and now teaches a novel-writing course at the Writing Place she fears is a sham. Each eight-week session, the students vary—"the brilliant, the insane, the illiterate, the angry and ambitious, and the jerk-off" (there's one in each class, it's always a man, and he always writes rape porn disguised as a mystery, sci-fi, or historical fiction). And in her spare time, she explores the surreal terrain of online dating, which yields its own revelations: "It's sad and amazing," she reflects, "how many over-educated, canvas-bag-toting, Bon Iver-listening Jewish hipsters are would-be eugenicists...How many cute doctors would take away preschools and food stamps from the poor... How many rugged war photographers would faint at the sight of a fat lady."
And then she meets someone—on a bus, not online—and, well, at the risk of spoiling the second half of the book, stuff happens. A lot of stuff. Alternately hilarious and heartbreaking stuff.
It's entirely possible that this book resonated so deeply because like Lena (and like the author) I also come from the Soviet Union, but I suspect that the reason I loved it so much was the ambitious, audacious prose that jibes effortlessly from the soaringly lyrical to the deadpan, the brooding illustrations, and the whip-smart, keenly observant voice in every single frame. And because somehow, Ulinich manages to take her character's entirely singular and idiosyncratic life and, through some strange alchemy of word and image and genius, to make it stunningly, amazingly, and—yes, magically—universal.
Among other things, Lena has published a successful first novel and now teaches a novel-writing course at the Writing Place she fears is a sham. Each eight-week session, the students vary—"the brilliant, the insane, the illiterate, the angry and ambitious, and the jerk-off" (there's one in each class, it's always a man, and he always writes rape porn disguised as a mystery, sci-fi, or historical fiction). And in her spare time, she explores the surreal terrain of online dating, which yields its own revelations: "It's sad and amazing," she reflects, "how many over-educated, canvas-bag-toting, Bon Iver-listening Jewish hipsters are would-be eugenicists...How many cute doctors would take away preschools and food stamps from the poor... How many rugged war photographers would faint at the sight of a fat lady."
And then she meets someone—on a bus, not online—and, well, at the risk of spoiling the second half of the book, stuff happens. A lot of stuff. Alternately hilarious and heartbreaking stuff.
It's entirely possible that this book resonated so deeply because like Lena (and like the author) I also come from the Soviet Union, but I suspect that the reason I loved it so much was the ambitious, audacious prose that jibes effortlessly from the soaringly lyrical to the deadpan, the brooding illustrations, and the whip-smart, keenly observant voice in every single frame. And because somehow, Ulinich manages to take her character's entirely singular and idiosyncratic life and, through some strange alchemy of word and image and genius, to make it stunningly, amazingly, and—yes, magically—universal.
annm1121's review against another edition
3.0
After meeting Anya Ulinich I was so excited to read this book. It started off great. It is dark, and funny. A true account of what I imagined online dating must be like. After the middle of the book it became melodramatic and boring. Although the events may be accurate and true. Yes, I've spent nights crying over an impossible relationship, but for fiction, it was too predictable, and not creative enough.
mhall's review against another edition
4.0
The cover and the title are a mismatch with the content of this fictionalized graphic novel memoir. I would describe it as a dating/OkCupid story, with the protagonist Lena being a Russian immigrant living in New York City, who's been in the US for over two decades and has two children. While it opens with a trip back to Russia, the bulk of the novel is about Lena experimenting with online dating and a relationship with a man she calls the Orphan. I loved the artwork, and the way the author would draw a small little figure of Lena on the bigger Lena's shoulder as a sort of truthful little conscience. Flashbacks to childhood are integrated well into the current-day storyline.
renee_pompeii's review against another edition
3.0
Thoughtful and contemplative, but with some great shots of humor. Does skirt the line between graphic novel and illustrated novel, as mentioned by other reviewers, but it's OK.
chwaters's review against another edition
3.0
After Lena divorces her husband of 15 years, she decides to leap back into the world of love and sex. Or maybe just sex. At the advice of a friend, Lena is determined to expand her horizons to see what she's been missing. Along the way, she encounters a number of curious suitors, including the Vampire of Bensonhurst and the Orphan, among others. Though the experiences may not always be revelatory, they each teach Lena a little something about herself and the world she lives in. All while raising two teenaged daughters.
Lena's journey is humorous, awkward and, at times, heartbreaking. Ulinich gives us a unique glimpse into the trials and triumphs of a woman who's determined not to let middle age and divorce get her down. All in all, an amusing, sex positive and literary graphic novel.
Lena's journey is humorous, awkward and, at times, heartbreaking. Ulinich gives us a unique glimpse into the trials and triumphs of a woman who's determined not to let middle age and divorce get her down. All in all, an amusing, sex positive and literary graphic novel.
thtblklibrarian's review against another edition
4.0
That took longer than I expected. It was a really good book to start my graphic novel endeavors on. Full of notebook writing, silly drawings and honest human interaction.
Obviously I liked the meeting guys on the Internet and making fun of them parts. When she finally found someone I was annoyed at this idiot And how he seemed to captivate a brilliant and hardworking woman and I likewise was disappointed when she hurt so badly and begged him to stay. But what do I know about love? It's kind of rude of me or anyone else to be critical of honesty. I'm happy I read it & despite wanting it to end differently it felt genuine!
Obviously I liked the meeting guys on the Internet and making fun of them parts. When she finally found someone I was annoyed at this idiot And how he seemed to captivate a brilliant and hardworking woman and I likewise was disappointed when she hurt so badly and begged him to stay. But what do I know about love? It's kind of rude of me or anyone else to be critical of honesty. I'm happy I read it & despite wanting it to end differently it felt genuine!
patsaintsfan's review against another edition
2.0
I finished the book, but I would never say this is my type of book. It was OK.