Lucky

I love graphic narratives and wanted to read a female voice and found that I loved Bell's narratives. I loved them because, even as a man, I could relate to much of the stuff on the page. These are journal pages of life. Sometimes they are thoughtful, other times they are thoughtful and funny, and other times they are thoughtful and sad. I don't know how to describe her style really. Her stories journal entries as small scenes of life to please whom they will. They are interesting, but when I remember some of the subject matter, like finding an apartment, I'm left wondering how/why I found it so interesting. And then I realize that the plot isn't interesting at all, it is the characters that make this book worth reading. I must confess, I think I love the main character.

There needs to be more work like this. Honest, autobiographical, moments in time. No more countdowns and fights!

Another great collection of Gabrielle Bell art and writing.

This book doesn't have an overall story, rather it is a quietly observant recording of the minutiae of the daily life of an artist in her 20's, in the ongoing dual struggle of getting by in NYC while pursuing goals - unerringly depicted in tender vignettes that are neither nostalgic, idealized or embittered.I enjoyed it for all its little moments - which is what it basically is - a carefully drawn collection of many small moments. If there is any statement being made, it may be a reminder that small events are the stuff that make up the bulk of our lives - though not necessarily meaning we ourselves are small because of it, rather thats how things are. As for its humor, for the reader it often comes from the recognition of a certain type of subtle abandon & spontaneity - captured sweetly and accurately.

The other day this popped up in my recommendations box on Amazon.com and reminded me that it's been a while since I'd read a graphic novel. Without checking to see what it was about, I added it to my requests queue at the public library and picked it up a couple days later.My first impressions when I opened the book were unmoving. The illustrations were simple, and the panels were over-stuffed with narration. But only a few pages into it, my opinion shifted radically. Gabrielle Bell's cartoons--quirky and ironic vignettes on life as a struggling artist in New York--are simple and funny and honest. She has a good way of putting into words and pictures the strange and lovable details of everyday life. It all made me feel a little bit better about being a generally directionless twenty-something who can't seem to find a job. Certainly recommended.

Unlike many of the autobio comics from the '90s which tend to read like fiction, Lucky is a journal in comics form. Gabrielle chronicled the various experiences she was going through over the course of a few months -- moves to multiple apartments, indecision regarding her boyfriend, tryouts at various jobs -- and the roller coaster of anxiety and relief she experienced during this time. The art has a wonderful clear line and is very expressive without having the characters "overact." (The other end of the spectrum would be Will Eisner's graphic novels such as The Building, Dropsie Avenue, New York, etc. I love Eisner's work dearly, but much of his graphic novels have characters acting with the physical flourishes of silent films stars.) Gabrielle and her friends/characters are shown naturalistically and because of that, we are connected in a more real way.The narrative flows well. The book is a great read. Recommended.

I love Bell's books. The way that most mainstream graphic novels/comics are drawn is annoying to me. They are overdone and comical, even when intending to be serious. It's also frustrating to me how one of the reviews described the book as "bare bones" or "simple". Lucky is wonderfully illustrated and speaks more to the human experience than the majority of books out there.