not simple [Paperback]

Natsume Ono (Author, Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 19, 2010

Complex, powerful, and emotionally wrenching, not simple is a novel told in visual form by one of the most acclaimed creators at work today.

Reads R to L (Japanese Style). Ian, a young man with a fractured family history, travels from Australia to England to America in the hope of realizing his dreams and reuniting with his beloved sister. His story unfolds backwards through the framing narrative of Jim, a reporter driven to capture Ian's experiences in a novel: not simple. A story within a story, a book within a book, a tale about the search for family, for an emotional home.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Ian is on a quest to find his sister. As his travels across the U.S. take their emotional toll, he is joined by a reporter who faithfully records the teen’s struggles to find his family, planning to turn the hard-to-believe but true story into a novel. Ono’s powerful book has little in common with what many people think of as manga. Her almost-cartoonish character designs do feature gigantic eyes, but by stripping bare her art and using only the simplest of lines, she allows the full emotional impact of her story to punch readers full force. There are weighty issues at work here—incest, abusive families, alcoholism, child prostitution, disease, death—but Ono never goes for graphic details. She allows the story to unfold in a random manner, flipping back and forth in time, that is all the more effective for its subtlety. Readers may need some patience getting through this, but those looking for harsh tales of real life will be rewarded for their time. Pair with Adam Rapp’s Punkzilla (2009) for booktalking or book clubs. Grades 10-12. --Snow Wildsmith

About the Author

Natsume Ono made her professional debut in 2003 with the webcomic La Quinta Camera. Her next works, not simple and Ristorante Paradiso, met with both critical and popular acclaim. Her current series House of Five Leaves (Saraiya Goyou) is running in IKKI magazine, and Gente (a continuation of Ristorante Paradiso) appears in Erotics F magazine. She also creates doujinshi (independent comics) under the circle name basso. Her website, settantanove orsi, is at http://79orsi.web.fc2.com.

Product Details

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: VIZ Media LLC; Original edition (January 19, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1421532204
• ISBN-13: 978-1421532202
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.9 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #553,606 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful, March 7, 2010

By 

Rayyan (US) - See all my reviews

This review is from: not simple (Paperback)

What first attracted me to this book was the illustration on the cover. The art was one of the most unique styles I've seen in a while, and definitely the most unique I've seen on a published comic. The illustrations ended up suiting the story perfectly.
On to the story. The tale is incredibly tragic. It follows the life of young boy named Ian as he unravels his family's past, and the unfortunate truths that surround the family. Ian, however, seems entirely pure and innocent, uncorrupted by the unlucky incidents that befall him. It is written in such a unique manner, and, unlike many works, wasn't even wordy about it. Natsume Ono uses very few words to imply the story, rather than say it directly. I enjoy that style of writing greatly, and "not simple" was a prime example of a great piece using that less wordy style.

Please read this! It was truly beautiful, and I can't stop thinking about it.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars superb, April 16, 2010

By 

conejito asesino (las vegas) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: not simple (Paperback)

There is very little adult themed manga. Most just ends up being hentai or melodramatic fluff. "Not Simple" is a wonderful surprise. It is an intelligent and emotional story. The art takes a little getting used to but the minimalistic style suits the heavy storyline. The way the writer guides the reader without overtly exploitative artwork or dialogue is masterful. I don't think I've ever seen a manga character convey so much in just one panel. This is not a childrens manga. I'd go as far as to say it's not a teen manga. I'm not ashamed to say a cried at the end. This is a beautiful and powerful piece of art work. It's simply superb.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An amazing find, and really touching., November 7, 2010

By 

Razz - See all my reviews

This review is from: not simple (Paperback)

What attracted me to this book, like other reviewers, was the cover. It so... well, simple! The art in this story is simply gorgeous, conveying so much sentiment and emotion in a very original manner. The story itself is dramatic, somewhat tragic, but incredibly sweet all the same! Ian is a character that I'm sure many of us could relate to, and the tale of his life is something that reaches out to the reader and draws them in, making it hard to stop reading until you're finished with it. I highly recommend this to anyone looking for a different take on adult-oriented manga, and anyone looking for a gorgeous art style that matches a superb plot.