My New York Diary

Rating:
Summary: Fear and Loathing in Washington Heights
Review: It's not that My New York Diary is about some earth-shattering moment, or a series of connected but equallty earth-shattering moments in Julie Doucet's life -- or that it resonates with the human experience or anything. The moments depicted here are certainly defining moments, and ones that are universal, even archetypal (My New York Diary is, really, a kind of heroic journey), but it's not the plot that makes this book a success. What kept me turning the pages (and keeps me returning to turn the pages some more) is that Julie Doucet is honest as hell, whether she's dealing with an ex-boyfriend's dramatic attempts at suicide while she's trying to get ready for exams (after he lightly slits his wrists, she finds herself thinking that if he would just doze off, perhaps she could finish filling out her final sketchbook), or her own procrastination (she easily diverts herself, for example, from her work by drinking beer and playing Candyland with her unproductive New York boyfriend).

And then... there are the drawings. Doucet crowds the frames with detail, particularly throughout the New York portions of the book, so that you find yourself staring into frames for ages. Perhaps this doesn't sound like the highest praise, but I have to say that Julie Doucet draws garbage better than any other comic artist I know. She's also phenomenal at depicting the sad clutter of apathy that surrounds her in her boyfriend's New York apartment, and which she finds replicated and waiting for her in her old apartment in Montreal.

There are times when the narrative might have been more compelling, but in general Doucet conveys time and significance and atmosphere with a lot of charm and power.

Rating:
Summary: refreshing humor and truth
Review: Julie Doucet really has her pen on the pulse of experiences, particularly hers. This volume focuses on her adventures while living in the heart of New York City, and indeed makes for entertainment. The wonderful illustrations only compliment the story line, and makes the reader want to gobble up the book.

Rating:
Summary: Goddess artiste
Review: So you're a confused young man and trying to figure out exactly what women want. Well, Mme Doucet won't help you out there. But she will show you what women HATE in men with brutal honesty. And the guys are utter jerks and crybabies.

I probably was like one of the characters in this book and knew someone like Julie when I was younger. I seem to recall sort of being like her roommate, the one always dreading World War III. Why are us guys so obtuse? Probably for phallogocentric reasons. We get wrapped up in upright behavior and lose out on all the fun we could have by being bent. We're also selfish sometimes in the wrong way. (Women do like selfish men, just not stupidly selfish men.)

It would be nice if Julie could follow this one up with a story of a successful relationship with some guy. Because we care for her and want her to succeed.