Books: Lost at Sea

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Lost at Sea
By Bryan Lee O'Malley
2003





Available now from Islington Libraries
You can reserve this item for free here:
http://www.library.islington.gov.uk/TalisPrism/

Before Scott Pilgrim came this - Lost at Sea: a minor-key, bite-sized classic starring the despondent and withdrawn Raleigh - an eighteen year old waifish dreamer - seeking solace, friendship and her lost soul (stolen by cats) on a fumbling, road trip up America. Set in the melancholy phase at the end of the teenage years where you're still trying to suss out your life, your friends and yourself, and drawn in a crude but effective sub-manga style this is little nugget of happy/sadness that will make your insides feel soft, warm and fuzzy. Like reading someone's diary - it's full of stray thoughts, muddled feelings and guilty confessions ("Grass just looks nicer from the other side, you know? Grass where you're standing looks like dirt with green hair."). And while it's not as epic or accomplished as what came after - it's still gorgeous, tender and rings totally true.

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Links: Focused Totality Review, NY Times Review.

Further reading: Scott Pilgrim, Blankets, Ghost World, Summer Blonde, Blue Pills, The New York Four.

All comments welcome.