Twelve Reasons Why I Love Her [Paperback]

Jamie S. Rich (Author), Joelle Jones (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 24, 2006

A romance novel told in twelve individual vignettes, Twelve Reasons explores the relationship of young couple Gwen and Evan, and the ups and downs of their relationship. Crafted by Jamie S. Rich and Joelle Jones, this beautiful and lyrical work is a unique experience in graphic storytelling.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Gwen and Evan meet at a sold-out premiere of an indie art film. Their romance starts out disastrously, but both feel a spark of something they're unwilling to let go of. So far the synopsis is no different from dozens of other romantic comedies, but instead of following the formula, Rich and Jones tell the story of the romance in 12 out-of-order snapshots. Some focus on the pivotal moments of their relationship—the first date, the first argument—others on the quiet connections that keep them together. The art's bold lines always draw attention to the emotions, setting the characters sometimes in detailed New York scenery, sometimes against stark black and white backgrounds. Some chapters use softer, full-page drawings to stop time entirely and focus on Gwen as seen through Evan's eyes. The nonlinear structure is diverting, but it imposes a sentimental nostalgia onto a story without enough meat to support it. Before the moments of real drama can be fully explored, the story jumps to a completely different time period. This graphic novel is a sweet little nugget of romance, but there isn't quite enough development for it to be satisfying. (Nov.)
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From the Publisher

The Oregonian:

"Gwen and Evan's story is told in 12 vignettes, which are not delivered in chronological order. It's an effective... means of tracking the course of their romance because we sometimes see the resolution of their arguments before we understand the pettiness that provoked them. For all the young (and young at heart) lovers in the audience, there's a marvelous lesson in that... I can't think of a better Christmas present for quite a few people on my list."

Powell's:

"12 Reasons Why I Love Her takes a nuanced view of the highs and lows of romance, trading fairy tale fantasies for the peaks and valleys of a real relationship. The bittersweet, perfectly ambiguous climax allows an adult male to justify reading a "romance comic" without hiding from public view."

"This is one of [artist Joelle] Jones's first published works, and it's remarkably, consistently dazzling. Her style is an intriguing blend of heightened realism and cartoonish exaggeration, with just a hint of manga flavoring."

Broken Frontier:

"12 Reasons Why I Love Her is the kind of book you'd get if Margaret Atwood came from the Hipster generation"

Eye On Comics:

"The banter between the pair is entertaining and perfect, but there's also an awkwardness in the script at times that really drives home a genuine sound and brings credibility to the characters."

Precocious Curmudgeon:

"12 Reasons Why I Love Her has a lot going for it. Jamie S. Rich and Joelle Jones have carefully crafted something that feels very real."

Comics Waiting Room:

"I'm a sucker for a good romance comic, and no one seems to be doing better ones these days than Jamie S. Rich."

Playback:stl:

"Jamie S. Rich is becoming known for his great work in romantic fiction, and this book is certainly no exception. 12 Reasons Why I Love Her is a visually pleasing and emotionally moving book for which any lover of contemporary romance will fall head over heels."

Read About Comics:

"Rich's writing in 12 Reasons Why I Love Her shows a real understanding of how people interact. In some ways, reading the graphic novel is a voyeuristic process because Rich doesn't hold anything back in his showing the ups and downs in Gwen and Evan's relationship. From raw emotion to carefully phrased responses, every word and action rings true here."

Product Details

• Paperback: 144 pages
• Publisher: Oni Press (October 24, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1932664513
• ISBN-13: 978-1932664515
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 5.5 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #620,506 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Jamie S. Rich is a novelist living in Portland, OR. He has published four prose works: CUT MY HAIR, I WAS SOMEONE DEAD, THE EVERLASTING, and his most recent, HAVE YOU SEEN THE HORIZON LATELY?, released by Oni Press in the summer of 2007.

In addition to writing fiction, he has worked as a music journalist, a manga rewriter, and spent ten years editing comic books, four of them at Dark Horse Comics and six as editor-in-chief of Oni Press. He continues to work in the comics field as a writer, contributing to anthologies published by Dark Horse and Image Comics, including a piece in the acclaimed collection "Put the Book Back on the Shelf," where comic book creators adapted the songs of Belle & Sebastian. Rich debuted his first ongoing comic book series in June of 2006, LOVE THE WAY YOU LOVE, a collaboration with Marc Ellerby (now collected in two omnibus editions). This was followed in the fall of that year by the original graphic novel 12 REASONS WHY I LOVER HER, drawn by Joëlle Jones.

The writer teamed with Joëlle Jones a second time for another full-length graphic novel, YOU HAVE KILLED ME, a hardboiled crime story set in the 1930s. Oni Press published the book in July 2009, and the pair have already gotten underway on their next project. Zigging instead of zagging yet again, the artistic team has joined with cartoonist Nicolas Hitori De to release the teenage witch comedy SPELL CHECKERS.

Rich spouts off about whatever strikes his fancy at his blog, Confessions of a Pop Fan (confessions123.com), reviews movies for DVDTalk.com, and dives into his Criterion Collection like Scrooge McDuck swimming through his money at CriterionConfessions.com. He lives alone with a cat who doesn't understand his obsession with DVDs, but who lets him do as he pleases as long as she is fed.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Reasoning, October 23, 2006

By 

One More Option (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Twelve Reasons Why I Love Her (Paperback)

Tear tracks are still staining my stupid face as I write this review. If you start reading this book, you will likely read it in one sitting. While I was still in the malaise and intoxication of emotion, this question came to my mind: How do I write a review to encourage others to read this book?

Universality - 5 out of 5 stars
Recommendability to a friend - 5 out of 5 stars
Creativity - 5 out of 5 stars
Unformulaicness - 5 out of 5 stars
Visual beauty - 5 out of 5 stars
Insightfulness - 5 out of 5 stars

I scan through several hundred comics every month in Previews, trying to decide what to buy. This cover & title jumped out at me. While I am not a regular reader of this graphic novel genre, this design was compelling, and I ordered the book. I am writing this review with one hand behind my back, because as you will understand after reading the book, I can't really review it completely without giving away the plot flow and conclusion. It would kind of be like trying to write a review about "The 6th Sense" without commenting on the fact that Bruce Willis is dead throughout most of the movie (You have seen The 6th Sense? Right? Please tell me I didn't just ruin that for you.) How do you review a book like this without disarming the artists' intended effect? Since it is a new book, I don't want to spoil anything for anyone. I apologize for the mystery. So instead of a normal review, I will just mention a couple responsive thoughts that came to mind after reading the book.

The book reveals issues that arise when a person chooses that one special person to spend the rest of their life with.

Love is sometimes an emotional and intellectual drive that inspires us beyond our initial ideas and boundaries in search of ways to create long term healthy rapport with others. Self-selected morals and boundaries that disable that drive tend to limit our ability to experience, recognize, maintain, and grow love that is often near to us.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very Pretty and Smart, May 24, 2007

By 

Bob Dog "My Thoughts" (Maryland) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Twelve Reasons Why I Love Her (Paperback)

Wow. Joelle Jones is one talented artist. "12 Reasons Why I Love Her," isn't going to win any nobel prizes, but it's a very pretty, clever and smart little graphic novel about young love, featuring the main character, Gwen. It is Jones's manifestation of the ultra feminine Gwen that really sets this book apart.

Sure, Rich's writing is worthy, and his words articulate Gwen's quick wit, intelligence, and vulnerability, adding substantilly to her compelling feminine appeal. And the writing seems to mesh very nicely with Jones's drawings.

Yet there can be no doubt that Joelle Jones's images of Gwen are the powerful "Je ne sais quoi" behind this books's ability to captivate. Having said that I wonder if it's no coincidence that all of the four reviewers so far have been males. Gwen is the kind of woman with whom that crude little voice in the back of the male brain says quite uncharacteristically, "I'd really like to take a bath with this girl."

So, if you are a romantic and/or an artist of either gender, do yourself a little favor and get yourself a copy. And check out Joelle Jones's website. I was very pleased to find that her wonderful art is readily accessible, including images from "12 Reasons."

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful, January 10, 2007

By 

Mr. Garrigue Christophe (Strasbourg,France) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Twelve Reasons Why I Love Her (Paperback)

Another great Original Graphic Novel from ONI: I ordered this book after a full chapter was previewed on several comic books sites and I don't regret it.
Each of the 12 chapters of the book cover an important scene in the relationship between the two main characters. The realistic dialogs written by Jamie Rich and the emotions carried by Joelle Jones' art make all of these scenes special.
An excellent book for people who like to "piece of life" stories.