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Scenes from an Impending Marriage
MAKING LIGHT OF NUPTIAL NARCISSM
At the behest of his soon-to-be wife, Adrian Tomine set out to create a wedding favor for their guests that would be funnier and more personal than the typical chocolate bars and picture frames. What started out as a simple illustrated card soon grew into a full-fledged comic book: a collection of short strips chronicling the often absu
Hardcover, 54 pages
Published
February 1st 2011
by Drawn and Quarterly
(first published January 1st 2011)
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When I was in the midst of my own ridiculously long engagement to Michelle, I was something of a stick in the mud. I complained about a lot of the irrational things that we were for some reason expected to do as part of the social ritual. Unity candle. Bouquet toss. White wedding dress. Bridesmaids and groomsmen. Inviting people. The usual.
I’ve never been big on traditions and have always done what I could to pare down the detritus that’s accumulated over the decades and centuries on the shores...more
I’ve never been big on traditions and have always done what I could to pare down the detritus that’s accumulated over the decades and centuries on the shores...more
Mar 02, 2011
Malbadeen
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
Jill and other newly-weds
Shelves:
comics-graphic-novels
I have a highly sophisticated starring system. If I get a feel-goody-feel-good-feeling about something - FIVE STARS!
Here are my reasons for the feel-goody-feel-goodness:
#1. Look at that little stubby legged couple on the cover, doesn't that make you kind of sort of think Marriage might not be such a ludicrous idea after all?
#2. I REALLY admire people that can laugh at themselves, and this book does that.
#3. I read this in between "Lint" http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/... and "Essex County...more
Here are my reasons for the feel-goody-feel-goodness:
#1. Look at that little stubby legged couple on the cover, doesn't that make you kind of sort of think Marriage might not be such a ludicrous idea after all?
#2. I REALLY admire people that can laugh at themselves, and this book does that.
#3. I read this in between "Lint" http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/... and "Essex County...more
I was a big fan of Adrian Tomine's OPTIC NERVE when it was first being published, but eventually I became disenchanted with his work; it just became to seem too sterile, too "same-y" for my tastes. But when I read an excerpt of SCENES FROM AN IMPENDING MARRIAGE in this year's The Best American Comics 2012 anthology, I was enchanted, and I quickly requested a copy of the book from my library. I wasn't disappointed.
Tomine's cartooning is looser here than I'm used to seeing - he's having fun, and i...more
Tomine's cartooning is looser here than I'm used to seeing - he's having fun, and i...more
En quelques années Adrian Tomine est devenu un des incontournables de la BD indépendante américaine. Ses histoires profondément ancrées dans un quotidien morne, quasiment déshumanisé, et la profondeur psychologique de ses personnages offrent un portrait implacable de la société moderne.
Monsieur Tomine s’est marié. Cet heureux événement lui a permis d’affronter la terrifiante épreuve de l’organisation de la fête. Petit rappel, l’industrie du mariage aux États-Unis « pèse » plus de cinquante mill...more
Monsieur Tomine s’est marié. Cet heureux événement lui a permis d’affronter la terrifiante épreuve de l’organisation de la fête. Petit rappel, l’industrie du mariage aux États-Unis « pèse » plus de cinquante mill...more
I was the maid of honor in a wedding a few years ago, a wedding the groom had been planning his whole life. He had a vision, you see, and he wanted it to be perfect. Because the day was so important to him, my friend, his fiancee, shelved her desire to go to court and started planning a wedding.
Now, the groom didn't actually plan anything, but he did override a large amount of my friend's wedding planning including the color of the bridesmaid dresses, the location of the ceremony (it had to be i...more
Now, the groom didn't actually plan anything, but he did override a large amount of my friend's wedding planning including the color of the bridesmaid dresses, the location of the ceremony (it had to be i...more
This short comic book is made up of brief comic strips Adrian Tomine wrote/drew about his upcoming marriage to his wife Sarah. They take in things like planning for a wedding DJ, sorting out the wedding invites, worrying about what to wear, etc. In short the banal details of planning for such an event.
I love Tomine's work usually but this book (originally done as a party favour for the wedding guests) isn't as interesting as he and his nearest and dearest would like you to think. It's the usual...more
I love Tomine's work usually but this book (originally done as a party favour for the wedding guests) isn't as interesting as he and his nearest and dearest would like you to think. It's the usual...more
I hear that this comic isn't his best work from lots of folks, but since a) I've read and loved all his work and b) I feel a kinship to his attitude about most things, I feel qualified to say this book was awesome. I kept cracking up because I imagine that this is EXACTLY what it would be like if I were planning my own wedding. There is a kind of cautiously hopeful misanthropy to it that makes the perfect depiction of the modern couple who has not been imagining their wedding day since childhood...more
Apr 25, 2011
Joanne
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommended to Joanne by:
scott macleod
Shelves:
non-fiction
Ostensibly the favor for Adrian and Sarah's wedding, this short little book describes their wedding planning process. It's amusing and pretty accurate, from my memory, including conversations such as whether or not to invite X, since we went to his wedding, but he would really be relieved not to be invited, since we aren't that close anymore, so should we invite him as an obligation? Or invite him so that he can make his own decision about attending rather than making the decision for him by not...more
It's cute, it's short, it is probably magnitudes better if you know the couple. Most books that deal with the "trials" of getting married (finding a venue, making a guest list, etc.) seem to run on and on, so by the end of the book, I am happy that the couple is getting married, mainly so I can stop reading about their quibbles. The brevity of the book kept me interested and invested in seeing the couple make it down the aisle.
I loved the art work and simplicity of the style used to illustrate...more
I loved the art work and simplicity of the style used to illustrate...more
This short comic book is made up of brief comic strips Adrian Tomine wrote/drew about his upcoming marriage to his wife Sarah. They take in things like planning for a wedding DJ, sorting out the wedding invites, worrying about what to wear, etc. In short the banal details of planning for such an event.
I love Tomine's work usually but this book (originally done as a party favour for the wedding guests) isn't as interesting as he and his nearest and dearest would like you to think. It's the usual...more
I love Tomine's work usually but this book (originally done as a party favour for the wedding guests) isn't as interesting as he and his nearest and dearest would like you to think. It's the usual...more
It's short, it's adorable, it's Tomine. I have read most everything else Adrian Tomine has written, and this is a much lighter and more personal sketchbook take on his comics.
I recommend it, especially if you are getting married or just got married or helped a friend plan for their wedding. It's a quick read, but do yourself a favor and find a cheap used copy, because I still kind of cringe when I think that I spent like $10 on this little 54-page edition. I don't feel cheated, but I just wish...more
I recommend it, especially if you are getting married or just got married or helped a friend plan for their wedding. It's a quick read, but do yourself a favor and find a cheap used copy, because I still kind of cringe when I think that I spent like $10 on this little 54-page edition. I don't feel cheated, but I just wish...more
I almost forgot I read this. And I just read it like two days ago or something. Basically this book shows you how Adrian Tomine is kind of a jerk, and then punctures all the romance you might have been clinging to about what it would be like to marry that jerk you've always loved so much, even though he is a *jerk*. No sir, jerks of America, you look like you would absolutely suck to get married to.
***I keep trying to cuss less in these reviews for my Mom & Mrs. Holt but it is HARD NOT TO C...more
***I keep trying to cuss less in these reviews for my Mom & Mrs. Holt but it is HARD NOT TO C...more
I have read ALL of Adrian Tomine's graphic novels. I borrowed this one to add to my collection yet I had NO IDEA that it would be so personal. And I LOVED IT.
Adrian is funny, sincere, sweet, and honest. You can see not only the turmoil that planning a wedding puts a couple through but also his response and his fiancee's response. I was literally LAUGHING OUT LOUT through half of it. That was GREAT bc most of Adrian's stuff is serious, or only slightly funny in a dark sort of way, like "for bette...more
Adrian is funny, sincere, sweet, and honest. You can see not only the turmoil that planning a wedding puts a couple through but also his response and his fiancee's response. I was literally LAUGHING OUT LOUT through half of it. That was GREAT bc most of Adrian's stuff is serious, or only slightly funny in a dark sort of way, like "for bette...more
An incredibly adorable look at Tomine's impending marriage. Probably the best wedding favor ever. Glad it got published, since my marriage is impending and there are some pretty laugh out loud funny scenes that ring so true (see: the ongoing quandary of picking a DJ that isn't fucking terrible). Pretty much hits the nail on the head I guess. A cute little escape that made the stress of getting married more manageable because OK, everyone does that and you knew that to begin with but somehow Tomi...more
Short read. Good, but full of first world problems. There was a tiny glimmer of hope when they did something nice for other people, but that was short lived and the self-indulgent nonsense soon continued. I also thought it was very odd that there was a chapter that talked about blending cultural traditions and the reader is told the bride is Irish, but the fact that the groom is Asian is only insinuated until much later in the book. I found that very, very odd. Borderline internalized oppression...more
Technically this could be Tomine's most personal work as it as a straight-up autobiographical chronicle of the travails he and his soon to be bride go through as they prepare for their upcoming wedding. Because this book was originally written as a wedding gift for those in attendance, fans of Tomine's oeuvre may find the lighthearted froth and 'Family Circus' style artwork too light for their liking but nonetheless light Tomine is better than no Tomine at all and fans will still find much to en...more
This is my first time reading any of Adrian's work and while it isn't earth shattering or something that will drastically change the graphic novel world, it was an enjoyable book. Adrian originally created this as a wedding favor for the guests at his wedding and it provides an insightful look into what one couple goes through in planning their wedding. Adrian is often blunt in what he thinks and wants out of his wedding (so his wife to) and together they provide some laughs as they plan their w...more
Tomine's wedding favor made public describes his wedding planning in a series of adorable and hilarious vignettes.
All hail interlibrary loan, for without it, I would not have been able to read this during my lunch break. I loved the window into another couple's wedding planning and the way they worked to keep things in perspective. My favorite panel was the Peanuts-style AUGH. And it emulates my what I hope my planning experience will be -- short, sweet and ending with a hamburger.
All hail interlibrary loan, for without it, I would not have been able to read this during my lunch break. I loved the window into another couple's wedding planning and the way they worked to keep things in perspective. My favorite panel was the Peanuts-style AUGH. And it emulates my what I hope my planning experience will be -- short, sweet and ending with a hamburger.
I adore Adrian Tomine's style but have found his past graphic novels to be depressing or negative, especially in regards to relationships. But finally - a graphic novel with all of the Adrian Tomine visual charm AND happiness! Thanks, bride-to-be!
The book is funny, adorable, Peanuts-inspired with hints of other newspaper comic-charm. I kept thinking I detected a hint of Family Circus or Love Is... and those totally suckered me, just for the overall feel.
Congratulations, Adrian!
The book is funny, adorable, Peanuts-inspired with hints of other newspaper comic-charm. I kept thinking I detected a hint of Family Circus or Love Is... and those totally suckered me, just for the overall feel.
Congratulations, Adrian!
A collection of strips of the stressful, funny, stupid moments involved in wedding planning including: shopping for wedding socks and ties, choosing a DJ, choosing the favors, bonding as a couple through ballroom dancing and eyebrow shaping, choosing a florist and balancing cultural diversity at your wedding. This is a quiet reminder of the love that lies under the surface in truly ridiculous moments of self-induced stress, and also a reminder of why I was so happy I eloped.
I love Adrian Tomine's art and technique, but I've never been a fan of his storytelling. I found Summer Blonde depressing and something about the way he depicts sexual tension and relationships is just... well... really icky to me. Too desperate. But this was different, probably because it's lighter fare. It was funny, cute, and rang oh so true. Reminded me of Mitch Clem's My Stupid Life comics. Do you need to be engaged to really enjoy it? Maybe. But I am, and I did. So there.
Cute little wedding favor - a quick 10-minute read, but endearing for Tomine fans. Has the carefree, tossed-off vibe of his older mini comics. At $10 for a little hardcover, it's yet another stake in the heart of pamplet-based comics culture; even just five years ago, this would have been a $3 mini-comic. Extra galling is the bio on the back - "...best known for his New Yorker covers and the critically-acclaimed graphic novel 'Shortcomings.'" REALLY, Drawn and Quarterly?
Cute, small graphic novel memoir -- should strike chords with anyone who's been involved in wedding planning. I like how Adrian and his wife find themselves becoming "those people" in spite of their best intentions.
Favorite quote:
"Ugh...this entire store is filled with happy, young couples 'registering' for their wedding! Imagine how annoying this would be if you were some lonely, single person who just needed a new bath mat!"
Favorite quote:
"Ugh...this entire store is filled with happy, young couples 'registering' for their wedding! Imagine how annoying this would be if you were some lonely, single person who just needed a new bath mat!"
This captures so many of the reasons I dread having a wedding in a humorous little book. The major tasks are depicted in their own little chapters - from choosing who to invite, a d.j., a reception hall, etc. I particularly liked Adrian's reaction to "registering" - "What a bizarre ritual! It's basically making a list of expensive stuff you expect people to buy for you!" It's funny without being really mean spirited, and the ending is really sweet.
I needed to read this to return it to its owner...who is about to get married! When I first started it I thought I might not finish it because it was bringing up some unpleasant wedding-planning memories but I'm glad I stuck it out because it's funny and showed me the issues me and my hubs faced are universal! A good read for anyone about to be married...read it a few weeks after getting engaged when some of the planning has started.
I read this off the shelf in the store the other week and it's funny enough. It's not ground-breaking or life changing or anything. In fact, it seemed like an extremely normal experience. So it's weird to hear Adrian Tomine and his wife being interviewed on NPR about it, like it's this amazing thing that no one has done before. But it was enjoyable, even for someone not getting married. I hope the book sales pay for their wedding.
One of the strips in this graphic novel suggests this may actually be Tomine's wedding favor, and I think friends and family of Tomine probably enjoyed this more than I did. Having just gone through the wedding rigamarole myself, I can relate to many aspects of this little tome but none of them were especially hilarious, poignant or encapsulating to me. I liked the format and at 50 pages, I was a (mostly) satisfied reader.
I'm not usually a fan of Adrian Tomine's long form graphic novels. I like his shorter works. His art is always good, but this work references Family Circle and Peanuts in style, which add to the humor of wedding planning.
The book is made of short vignettes about wedding preparation. I admit the couple seem slightly pretentious, but book moves briskly and concentrates on their interaction.
The book is made of short vignettes about wedding preparation. I admit the couple seem slightly pretentious, but book moves briskly and concentrates on their interaction.
Very short (it was written to be given out as wedding favors) but cute little comic about planning a wedding which probably only appeals to me because I am planning a wedding. I liked Shortcomings (I like the kind of comics where nothing happens and people just whine a la Ghost World) and so if you like that kind of thing and care anything at all about wedding planning, give this a read!
I can't believe I waited in line for over an hour to meet Tomine at the Strand for this release. What a piece of solipsistic self indulgent, petty, inane, crap. What a shitty little trick to screw me out of money I could've spent on a real book. Adrian would rather pander to the fangirls and release this half assed cliche rip off than put in the work on areal extended narrative.
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Apr 08, 2012 08:58pm