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463rd out of 1,496 books
—
3,009 voters
Perfect Example
by
John Porcellino (Goodreads Author)
A melancholic memoir of saying goodbye to the familiar Road trips, drunken concerts, and late-night make-out sessions all swirl together in this coming-of-age graphic novel by King Cat cartoonist John Porcellino. Tackling the pain and uncertainty of the pivotal summer before college, Porcellino's sad and beautiful story is drawn in his sincere, minimalist style. Deceptivel...more
Paperback, 144 pages
Published
October 15th 2005
by Drawn and Quarterly
(first published 1999)
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John Porcellino—or at least Porcellino in the guise of Perfect Example's John P—is not the kind of person I really understand. He suffers under a cloud of depression that curdles even relationships he values. He hopes just like I do but as life rejects those dreams (since this is what life does), he is turned toward home countries where I find no citizenship. Small things set off a miasma of the psyche and drag his mood into the dimlands, into a world cloaked in malaise. John P is not the kind o...more
I bought Perfect Example after being thoroughly impressed by Porcellino's adapted excerpt from Thoreau's Walden in The Graphic Canon, Vol. 2: From "Kubla Khan" to the Bronte Sisters to The Picture of Dorian Gray. In the Graphic Canon, his minimalist art style was a lovely compliment to Thoreau's minimalistic philosophy. The art hinted at so much more left unsaid. Sadly, in Perfect Example, the minimalism just feels simplistic. A nice story with a nice message, but nothing beyond that. Who knows?...more
I found myself unable to connect with this story. Although I will be graduating highschool in a few days, I do not share the cringeworthy thoughts of the depressed main character. The summer after highschool is supposed to be fun, not awkward and depressing. I can understand why one may become depressed but I just can't relate. The story and illustrations are terrible. All in all, this story is very depressing and boring. Do not read if you are feeling down and bored, it will make you feel even...more
I'm not sure if I'm old enough yet to "revisit" my high school days - that awkwardness feels like it was just yesterday, still with me even. On the surface these stories are fairly simple and charming, but they deal with all too real issues such as depression, anxiety, and hopelessness and it's clear that the author has overcome some of his anxieties that he can now see are "foolish" but that he's still currently working out most of them. I like his drawing style a lot 2!
Well, what can I say. It's emo but what can you expect from a depressed high school kid? But seriously, things could've been worse for the kid. He could've had annoying parents and no friends. He really shouldn't have been that emo. But once again, it's a depressed high school kid living in the 80s we're talking about. It was still an enjoyable read.
It won't change the world but for what it is... a diary entry of sorts.. an ode to being young, to being sad... to a world of possibility.. LOVED IT.
*honorable mention to John's REM t-shirt worn throughout the book... sigh :)
*honorable mention to John's REM t-shirt worn throughout the book... sigh :)
Feb 01, 2012
Aerial
added it
the only reason I read this book was because in my film and novel class, we got a new assignment today where we had to a graphic Novel by next Wednesday. this book took me 20 minutes to read. it was horrible.
I found Perfect Example to be a great representation of my the best of my high school years (which i usually choose to forget about). Punk rock, depression, love and friendship. All very familiar.
This would have a lower score if things didn't come together so nicely. Once again, I admire how Porcellino puts himself out there; all the humdrumities of life scribbled on the page.
Stories that barely connect. Protagonist is obviously depressed but there is no real explanation or symbol besides being a teen.
Cool minimal comic almost perfectly capturing the strange landscape that are teenage experiences and emotions.
While I enjoyed this book more than any previous encounter with Porcellino's work, I still find his narrative style too light and superficial to truly satisfy.
read it in one sitting and loved every page. Made me want to read everything else he's done.
Vintage John P. comics, as always charming and honest, with lovely, perfect minimalistic artwork.
Easy read, based out of palatine chicago. Graphic novel ...
this is one of my favorite comics
I like the simple drawings.
hypnotically good
so much heart.
Well mine is not hardcover, but whatever. It is a pretty cute book. As I said to my friend Grace, it's almost like the comics version of 'Slanted and Enchanted'-era Pavement, not to sound even more hipster or anything.
This was a quick read, though a tad disjointed. I identified with the author, and really liked the spare graphics. The perfect book for angsty teens. I loved all the 80's references.
This is a book of coming of age, adolescence and depression. The illustrations are very clean and make the book easier to follow and feel sympathy for the main character.
Ugh, I _hate_ the art style. Am I supposed to appreciate these scribbles ironically? Also, the story itself is just your basic, tedious, suburban coming of age story. Yawn.
Oct 30, 2007
Damion
added it
I read this before in some primordial period of my life and didn't really get it. Now, at 25, for some reason, I get it. Life is weird.
a sweet coming of age tale by a boy growing up in that special time--the 80's *sigh*--who is dorky and cool and a little sad too.
Jul 28, 2008
Melle
rated it
3 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
moody teenagers, John Cusack circa "Say Anything"
Shelves:
graphic-novel,
ya
John Cusack movie in graphic novel form -- sweet, introspective, and hopelessly engaging.
Coming of age story. Compeling graphics. Memorable characters. Broad appeal. 15 and up.
Need to read it almost all before it comes together.
What can I say? I have a soft spot for sappy comics.
Well written, but so emo.
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JOHN PORCELLINO was born in Chicago, in 1968, and has been writing, drawing, and publishing minicomics, comics, and graphic novels for over twenty-five years. His celebrated self-published series
King-Cat Comics
, begun in 1989, has inspired a generation of cartoonists.
Diary of a Mosquito Abatement Man
, a collection of King-Cat stories about Porcellino’s experiences as a pest control worker, won...more
More about John Porcellino...
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