And the award for worst dad ever still goes to . . .
Bestselling cartoonist Guy Delisle's The Handbook to Lazy Parenting is a final tribute to the frequently absurd situations that parents find themselves in when raising young children. With expertly comic timing, Delisle deploys his sardonic and self-deprecating humor to craft a series of uproarious punchlines that remind everyone who is ultimately the butt of the joke--him!
Born in Quebec, Canada, Guy Delisle studied animation at Sheridan College. Delisle has worked for numerous animation studios around the world, including CinéGroupe in Montreal.
Drawing from his experience at animation studios in China and North Korea, Delisle's graphic novels Shenzen and Pyongyang depict these two countries from a Westerner's perspective. A third graphic novel, Chroniques Birmanes, recounts his time spent in Myanmar with his wife, a Médecins Sans Frontières administrator.
Delisle is known for his autobiographical comics and cartoons, chronicles of his experiences in different countries he visits on his wife's professional trips, and more recently, amusing cartoon collections of his own bad parenting. This is the third and what appears to be his last book on this topic as his kids have now become teenagers, soon to move beyond that, too, as we know.
Nothing new here, but very relatable stuff since most of us make mistakes, get lazy. When his kids get in trouble in school he knows he should side with the teachers but recalls those times he too idly drew cartoons in school, so sides with the kids. I like one moment where the kids ask Dad to retell one of his Bad Parenting stories and the kids don't find it funny.
This ends with a kind of coda that reveals the underlying sweetness of Delisle, that he actually has loved parenting and his kids. So much fun. What would he have done if he had no kids? Just sat on his butt working constantly. As an older father, that's the way I feel, that I have been given so much from them, that they have kept me off the couch to play with them, they have kept me alive and healthier than I would ever have been. And so much happier.
Dads! A quick, sweet graphic that seems to be the final installment of a trilogy that I was unaware of until now. I enjoyed it and the last page broke my heart a little bit.
Guy Delisle wraps up his "bad dad" series with this fourth collection of cartoons about parenting. It's funny stuff.
I recently complained in my review of Robertsonville Prison that I don't get French humor. I'd obviously forgotten about Delisle. Though, it must be noted that even though he lives in France and publishes in French, he was actually born in Quebec City, Canada, and that may make all the difference.
Somehow I've managed to miss the middle two volumes of this series. I definitely need to track them down.
Última entrega de la serie de cuatro libros sobre anécdotas de la paternidad de Guy Delisle. Este rivaliza con el tercero por el puesto del mejor de la serie, claramente los dos últimos mejoran a los dos primeros. La última historia, y no puedo hacer spoilers, es un puñetazo en el estómago. El libro deja un muy buen sabor de boca. Le pongo cinco estrellas porque la serie me ha terminado pareciendo estupenda, aunque uno a uno no llegue ninguno a "obra maestra". Pero la recomiendo definitivamente a todos los que tenemos hijos.
Y a la cuarta lo consiguió. El mejor volumen , sin duda, de la saga. La mayoría de los gags son certeros, socarrones, con un puntito de mucha mala leche y en ciertos momentos desternillantes. Muy recomendable
I had no idea whatsoever that this is the third in a parenthood trilogy. Now this isn’t exactly a subject I would normally read but Delisle is always really good value and so when I saw his latest offering sitting there for the taking, well I had to and I have to say this was a really enjoyable little read, filled with his tell-tale wit and humour, and there were two or three that triggered deep belly laughs. This would make a great gift for Dad’s or eve Mum’s and anyone who is already a fan of Delisle. You don’t even have to be a parent to enjoy it.
Somme toute c’est quand même très similaire aux trois premier volumes. Je suppose qu’il y a une limite à étirer la sauce avec toujours le même genre d’histoires inspirées de son quotidien. C’est pourquoi ce quatrième volume sera sans doute le dernier. Dans la dernière histoire, Tunnel of Life, le père s’amuse bien avec les enfants dans un parc d’attraction mais se rend compte soudainement que ceux-ci ont grandit (Alice a maintenant 11 ans et Louis 14 ans) et n’ont plus autant le goût du jeu…
À travers cette série (et la plupart de son oeuvre) Delisle réussit le tour de force de raconter des histoires complexe et riches en émotions de façon très succincte et avec un trait de crayon très simple. C’est un livre amusant (et terrifiant à la fois) mais, avec en moyenne deux dessins par page, cela se lit plutôt vite. C’est tout de même une bonne lecture, légère, pour le transport en commun ou la salle d’attente.
There concluding volume of Guy Delisle's User's Guide To Neglectful Parenting, this collection features mostly examples of Guy being a charmingly oblivious dad, doing his best to be a good influence in his childrens' lives. It's as funny and charming as the original collection. But there end packs an emotional wallop that comes out of nowhere but feels totally earned.
I recommend it both for the type of person who loves inspired books about raising children, and people who usually can't stand that kind of thing. Delisle's work is really Next Level.
Delisle, inspirado como siempre, cierra sus guías del mal padre con magníficas historias de miseria parental que, a los que criamos hijos, nos hacen sonreír y hasta carcajear con cierta incomodidad culpable. Al final, con cuatro viñetas gloriosas resume la totalidad de la experiencia paternal en toda su agridulce realidad. Magistral.
Not much different from previous volumes, except for a very nice coda. A very quick read that makes Delisle look like an awful (but still loving and funny) father.
Toujours un plaisir de lire Guy Delisle. Une BD rigolote et touchante, des scènes du quotidien qui prennent la pâte Delisle. Une dernière scène particulièrement émouvante.
Je suis une fan inconditionnelle de Guy Delisle depuis ses chroniques et notre première expatriation. Ce guide est un bijou. À offrir sans modération aux (futurs) pères de famille. On sent le vécu derrière chacune de ces petites histoires. Si je devais en choisir deux ou trois je sélectionnerai la petite souris, le gîte et la pinata :) j’ai d’autant plus adoré l’intégrale que nous l’avons lu ensemble avec mon fils. Un merveilleux moment de partage et de fous rires.
Poniendo la misma reseña para todos los tomos, pues la diferencia entre ellos es mínima: La idea de los cartones es genial: Guy exagera (a veces no tanto) las actitudes que los padres solemos tener cuando no pensamos bien las cosas al momento de educar o atender a los hijos. Me causa curiosidad ver como han cambiado los criterios en menos de 10 años que el libro se hizo, y leo muchos comentarios que encuentran algunas de las situaciones inadecuadas, violentas o de plano sensurables ... pero ESE ES EL OBJETIVO, ser sarcástico acerca de lo mal que puedes llegar a hacer las cosas como padre, pero la gente hoy en día es mucho más sensible con respecto a los pequeños y en vez de reír se angustian. Algunas situaciones son más chistosas que otras, y eso le resta un poco a cada uno de los tomos. Aún así, como padre me identifiqué con muchos de ellos (desafortunadamente), me reí mucho con otros, y entendí las circunstancias de todos ellos. Los disfruté mucho.
Sweet, relatable, funny. Didn't realize this was series and I've just placed a hold on the first one! How refreshing to read funny stories from a parent who is just as lazy as every other parent and also just as loving.
I’ve recommended a couple of graphic novels by Guy Delisle before, including Jerusalem and Pyongyang, but I had no idea he’s been putting out a smaller series of cartoons that can best be described as “honest tales from the front lines of parenting.” I really don’t like the title of the book but if you’re a parent, or married to a parent, who is feeling overspent, overworked, and overtired right now, grab them this book. Little cartoons include tales like when he forgot his daughter in a store, when he interrupted their homework to make them watch something on TV, or when he took over his kid's class field trip with his relentless questions. You will feel seen.
This book is more of a 3.4 out of five stars. I love the simplicity and ease of Delisle's parenting comics. Though I am not a parent, the relationships between parent and child are relatable and comical. These strips were quick to read: I am certain I devoured this book within an hour. Much of the strips are written similar to newspaper strips. Plus, Delisle's style is direct which unfortunately leaves little to no titillation for my mind once I completed the book.
I may have already donated this book. It was a cheeky and quick read, one that I may have been able to enjoy inside a bookstore compared to in the comfort of my apartment.
L’expression "blague à papa" prend ici tout son sens. Au fil des 302 pages (ça peut paraître long mais je l’ai lu d’une traite !), Guy Delisle nous fait pouffer de rire tout bas ou nous esclaffer tout haut avec son humour grinçant. Il transforme des scènes du quotidien en gags savoureux, où le père maladroit devient un vrai personnage comique. Le dessin, épuré et direct, sert parfaitement cette légèreté assumée. Sans chercher à donner de leçons, l’auteur offre une parenthèse rafraîchissante face aux discours trop sérieux sur l’éducation. C’est une lecture qui déculpabilise autant qu’elle amuse, et qui parle avec justesse de la difficulté d’être un "bon" père… tout en préférant en rire.
4 stars... well, the extra star is just because I am such a big fan of Guy Delisle. I was so upset when I missed the opportunity to meet him and get him to sign all my books when he was last in Singapore.
His usual foray is usually rather deep and quite intense.. with this series, he shows the light hearted side of being a parent. Kinda reminds me of everybody loves Raymond...
Guy nos trae otra vuelta de sus vicisitudes. En esta ocasión se torna un poco más profundo y menos juguetón, aunque el humor negro le aflore de vez en vez. A la antesala de la juventud de sus hijes nos preguntamos si habrán más guías o solo tendremos esta colección de guías para volver aunque en el fondo guardemos la esperanza de volvernos a encontrar con otro tomo de sus aventuras con sus ahora adolescentes hijes.