In Real Life
Ratings68
Average rating3.6
It's pretty classic Doctorow, with pictures? I mean, if you're into gaming unionization, you'll probably get a kick out off it. Otherwise ...
Disappointing, because I usually enjoy this author. This ends up being a simplified version of the politics in his novel For the Win. Doctorow has his agenda, but doesn't take the time to set it up which is a real disservice, because it had so much possibility. If you want a strong female heroin gamer, Check out Felicia Day's The Guild comics. You get to see a female gamer grow into the strong woman she is without the proselytizing and lack of depth in this book. Sorry Doc, you've done better.
I love the artwork but one of the conflicts brought up was solved much too swiftly and it relied on the “white savior” trope which was a total buzzkill. I know it probably came from a good place but the topic is way too complex to be dealt with in that manner and in a 200 pages graphic novel.
This book was not at all what I expected (which was more video game-y type stuff) and I was very happy with it on the whole. I can't believe I sat on this book for so long without reading it, it was truly a delight to read from beginning to end.
Hmm; depending on how you approach this book it is either a brisk, fun read, or a disturbingly simplistic view of a complex topic. Taking it at its most basic level, the topic is refreshingly different and the artwork is very good. The problems come when you think about the implications of the actions of the main character; in real life (ironically, given the title of the book), the consequences for the person affected by the actions of the main character would be much more dire, and it is unlikely the tale would have such a neat ending.
I guess my confusion stems from not being clear on what the target audience is. Based on the wordy introduction, which references economics, political activism and the Occupy movement, initial impressions are that the story is going to be a meaty, in-depth look at a complex problem, of interest to a slightly older, more well-informed audience. It is then somewhat of a surprise to encounter the neat, almost fluffy, story that seems better aimed at a slightly younger, more innocent audience. The older audience is likely to be constantly thinking “well, ok, but...”, while the younger audience is likely to be driven off by the introduction.
So, while it is not bad story, it is not quite as deep or as world-view changing as the introduction would have you believe. A story that it is best enjoyed when you don't think about it to deeply.
I've just begun to explore the graphic novel genre, so I'm picking up one every once in a while from the library. This one looked interesting, so I took it home.
I can't say that I'm in love with the genre or anything, but I did like the message the author was trying to convey in this story. It was an interesting read!
5th March 2022:
The ending might have a bit too optimistic I would admit that. But I was reminded a lot of the online freelance world so it wasn't that unrealistic.
I did like that Anda became more confident at the end, more willing to branch out.
The world's a big capitalistic mess but even then I guess a little ray of hope and sunshine every now and then isn't so bad.
expected something else but got very pleasantly surprised with the storyline such a cute and moving read:)
Lovely illustrations, important themes, but I hoped for something more as far as the length and details of the story are concerned.
This book was so adorable. I loved the artwork and how relatable and realistic Anda was. I also love how Anda wasn't the stereotype awkward loner, she was a regular girl with a natural body type. I also love how it went slightly above the gaming world and talked about other issues going on. I did think that at times it was a bit fast paced for what was going on though.
Beautiful artwork. Dabbled in a complex problem, could have gone further, but I understand not wanting to go further at the risk at limiting audience or being controversial. Enjoyable introduction, too.
Charming story of gamers IRL and inside games. There were a few hops in logic and information that could have used a bit more explanation particularly as this was targeted towards a younger audience but the art was stunning so it was easy to overlook.
3/5 stars
This is one of those books that I'm going to have to reread at a later time. Usually, graphic novels are an easy and fast read for me. This wasn't the case with this book. While the art is extremely captivating, I had a hard time grasping the story itself.
Although I was interested in the premise, the more I read, the less I was interested in reading the book. Even though I finished it, I barely retained any of the story. At the moment, I can't say I recommend it.