zeroiv's review
challenging
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
spooderman's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Body horror, Murder, Car accident, Gaslighting, Stalking, Alcohol, Gore, and Cursing
Moderate: Injury/injury detail, Rape, Stalking, Mental illness, Ableism, Islamophobia, Incest, Alcoholism, Sexism, Misogyny, and Torture
Minor: Pedophilia, Panic attacks/disorders, Chronic illness, Child death, Addiction, Medical trauma, Xenophobia, Toxic friendship, and Suicidal thoughts
patrickwadden's review
5.0
Finally, some good fucking fiction.
After going on a post-classical literature romp through some graphic novels, I was attempting to find a certain brand on GN that appealed to me. The easy on the surface but evocatively profound and after three I finally found it.
'Beverly' is a loose collection of stories that turn out to be fairly weakly linked. I've grown tired of this framing device in recent times, but I think it works slightly better for Graphic Novels as they read so quickly anyway, it's more akin to reading the comics page of a newspaper and learning that they exist in the same world.
But Drnaso is not turning out 'comics.' This is well and truly literature with accompaning pictures. It buries and excavated the mundane and opens the cadaver up just enough to let you do the dissection yourself. A pleasure to read, a delight to think over and I hope an equally mesmerizing read when I return to it. Bravo!
After going on a post-classical literature romp through some graphic novels, I was attempting to find a certain brand on GN that appealed to me. The easy on the surface but evocatively profound and after three I finally found it.
'Beverly' is a loose collection of stories that turn out to be fairly weakly linked. I've grown tired of this framing device in recent times, but I think it works slightly better for Graphic Novels as they read so quickly anyway, it's more akin to reading the comics page of a newspaper and learning that they exist in the same world.
But Drnaso is not turning out 'comics.' This is well and truly literature with accompaning pictures. It buries and excavated the mundane and opens the cadaver up just enough to let you do the dissection yourself. A pleasure to read, a delight to think over and I hope an equally mesmerizing read when I return to it. Bravo!
niccoyong's review
3.0
3.5 stars rounded down.
i'll preface this by saying that drnaso is the best graphic novelist i've read - neither sabrina nor beverly were slight or shallow, but were consistently thematically and stylistically clever, interesting, and thought-provoking.
however, here i felt that i could appreciate it more intellectually than i could as a piece of fiction...? vaguely uncomfortable and unsettling with the banality and crass vapidity,, as well as lurking shadowy menaces in his depiction of suburban life,, while i understand on an intellectual level his decision to keep it constantly muted and flat (and there are many other such smart choices throughout), i did think it suffered as a result, in having no "climax", or even much narrative variation other than creeping tension that never really paid off anywhere
would probably rise in my estimation with a reread and more thinking but it really does nothing to capture my attention and incentivise me to do so
i'll preface this by saying that drnaso is the best graphic novelist i've read - neither sabrina nor beverly were slight or shallow, but were consistently thematically and stylistically clever, interesting, and thought-provoking.
however, here i felt that i could appreciate it more intellectually than i could as a piece of fiction...? vaguely uncomfortable and unsettling with the banality and crass vapidity,, as well as lurking shadowy menaces in his depiction of suburban life,, while i understand on an intellectual level his decision to keep it constantly muted and flat (and there are many other such smart choices throughout), i did think it suffered as a result, in having no "climax", or even much narrative variation other than creeping tension that never really paid off anywhere
would probably rise in my estimation with a reread and more thinking but it really does nothing to capture my attention and incentivise me to do so
redeyedandhungry's review
3.0
Renews my hope in the future of the graphic novel. Drnaso is a fine storyteller, building out a collection of six tales that all figure together into a slice of Americana that serves as a greater canvas for a statement on the melancholy and occasional absurdity of existence in the 21st century. It is a bleak and bold work, one which draws ample depths from its simple aesthetics and allows itself to become one of the best examples of storytelling in graphic novels by refusing to experiment at all. In simple gestures and subtle stories, it endears itself to the likes of Raymond Carver and John Cheever while never attending to solely be those influences, instead becoming a more precisely '21st century work' and applying itself thoroughly to the common subject of the modern malaise with exceedingly fascinating results.
narcon_27's review
3.0
Renews my hope in the future of the graphic novel. Drnaso is a fine storyteller, building out a collection of six tales that all figure together into a slice of Americana that serves as a greater canvas for a statement on the melancholy and occasional absurdity of existence in the 21st century. It is a bleak and bold work, one which draws ample depths from its simple aesthetics and allows itself to become one of the best examples of storytelling in graphic novels by refusing to experiment at all. In simple gestures and subtle stories, it endears itself to the likes of Raymond Carver and John Cheever while never attending to solely be those influences, instead becoming a more precisely '21st century work' and applying itself thoroughly to the common subject of the modern malaise with exceedingly fascinating results.
alexisparade's review
3.0
I love the sterility of Drnaso’s paneling and drawing style. I think he’s a phenomenal writer, too,!but as far as like, post-9/11 white suburban “American Beauty” family dramas go, I just liked his 2018 follow-up graphic novel Sabrina way more.
belles_bookishlife's review
2.0
Had to read this one for uni
I don’t think anything is particularly wrong with this book it’s just definitely not for me. I really struggle with satire and I felt the throughout this one
I don’t think anything is particularly wrong with this book it’s just definitely not for me. I really struggle with satire and I felt the throughout this one
gjpeace's review
3.0
3.5
Pretty good stuff. Drnaso is working with a lot of the same themes that show up in Sabrina, albeit in a mostly lighter way.
Pretty good stuff. Drnaso is working with a lot of the same themes that show up in Sabrina, albeit in a mostly lighter way.
anetq's review
1.0
I borrowed this because it was nominated for something, but forgot what... Read it and disliked it: I don't like the drawing style, nothing really happens, except people hating themselves (and possibly want to die) - and then I realised: It is nominated for a Man Booker Prize. As this is how I often feel about previous winners (usually about white males, doing nothing and feeling very sorry for themselves) - I predict, this just may win, even though it's the first time they ever nominated a graphic novel!