prairiefibrewitch's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
bookishgirlreading's review against another edition
2.0
Artwork was okay but the book in itself was irritating me to no end. Didn’t even bother finishing it.
garconniere's review
2.0
I gasped when I first discovered Elisabeth's work in a used bookstore. I love love love Something to Pet the Cat About - I mean, fuck! The title alone! There really is something about her ability to connect with young people in their early 20s who aren't sure what they are doing with their lives/loves, both visually and poetically.
Some of this bleeds into "One Year in America," in a way that tugs at your heartstrings or makes you sigh in solidarity and empathy. But a few narrative weaknesses stop me from rating it as "really liked it."
Artistically, the pixelating of the (ex)-husband? Brilliant! The skating metaphors, and the beautifully drawn script? Lovely. I enjoyed the idea of incorporating texts/gchats/emails into this work, more than the executing. It often confused and distracted the narrative. I had a hard time keeping track of whose voice was speaking, which friend, who A___ and B____ or X___ were... and understanding how things jumped back and forth. In part, it felt intentional, but for the most part it leaves the reader flipping pages back and forth trying to make sure they are understanding what is happening.
I love Elisabeth's work and will keep reading!
Some of this bleeds into "One Year in America," in a way that tugs at your heartstrings or makes you sigh in solidarity and empathy. But a few narrative weaknesses stop me from rating it as "really liked it."
Artistically, the pixelating of the (ex)-husband? Brilliant! The skating metaphors, and the beautifully drawn script? Lovely. I enjoyed the idea of incorporating texts/gchats/emails into this work, more than the executing. It often confused and distracted the narrative. I had a hard time keeping track of whose voice was speaking, which friend, who A___ and B____ or X___ were... and understanding how things jumped back and forth. In part, it felt intentional, but for the most part it leaves the reader flipping pages back and forth trying to make sure they are understanding what is happening.
I love Elisabeth's work and will keep reading!
otterno11's review
4.0
"One Year in America" was a fascinating, if a little sleepy, piece of sequential art with beautiful watercolor paintings and languid prose poetry in the form of instant messages and emails, somewhat like a collage of one woman's long year. Without saying anything explicitly, we follow one woman from Calgary during a turbulent year in her life, moving from Montreal to Ithaca, New York for a new marriage which slowly dissolves, leaving her adrift on European vacations before her move back to Canada. Attempts to get somewhere in her career, her burgeoning and collapsing relationship, and other triumphs and disappointments of life come through beautifully through the spare artwork and dialogue. Nothing is spelled out, but the ambivalent feelings of young adult life are expressed strongly. Nostalgia and regret coexist in the work, along hope for a better future. The art is the best aspect here, rich with detail, expressing moods through everyday scenes; a diner with her sister, a kitchen, the over the top bumper stickers of American self-expression (my favorite parts- even noticed one Cornell student must be a Minnesotan from the "Wellstone!" sticker and the tiny shape on the licence plate, awesome detail).
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