The Underwater Welder in Around the World in 80 Books

Nov 20, 2012 Nadine in NY Jones rated it it was ok

Shelves: graphic-novels-and-comics, fantasy-and-sci-fi, dick-lit

I didn't really like this one. I didn't care for the story, and I didn't care for the artwork. The story is trite and doesn't add anything fresh. Everyone looks like they are melting, or dying from some disfiguring disease.

I don't think I can talk about the plot without spoilers, so: (view spoiler) I didn't really like this one. I didn't care for the story, and I didn't care for the artwork. The story is trite and doesn't add anything fresh. Everyone looks like they are melting, or dying from some disfiguring disease.

I don't think I can talk about the plot without spoilers, so: (view spoiler)[

1. I'm tired of stories about men who are so traumatized by impending fatherhood that they run away. It's been done too many times in stories, and it happens too often in real life. I was hoping that there would be some real introspection in this book, while he was alone underwater doing his welding schtick, but there was nothing. Like far too many people in real life, he bumbled along, losing himself in an activity so that he didn't have to turn around and face real life, all the while completely unaware of what he was doing and blaming his wife and his mother for his own problems. (How many times does Jack snap "That's not fair!" to his wife? when she's being very fair.) His mother and his wife have no inner life of their own, they exist merely to provide plot points for Jack's story. It's this male-centric storyline that makes this onto my "dick-lit" shelf.

2. The town was depicted as pretty empty and depressing, like it's a ghost town with a population of 20, so when the POOF!MAGIC! happens, and everyone disappears, there isn't a lot of impact, because there already weren't very many people around. If Lemire had shown this town as alive and bustling, the change would have had more impact. Even if Lemire is trying to show this all from Jack's warped POV, and Jack obviously ignores his wife and whatever life she has made for herself, but where are Jack's coworkers?

3. I had read so much hype about this one, I wanted more. There's really very little story here. Jack has his head in the sand, Jack POOFS, Jack realizes his mistake, Jack wakes up. Where's the story? Jack and the Beanstalk had more plot twists and drama than this one!

4. I didn't understand the apparent timeline switch, or whatever it was. Jack's dad disappeared in an apparent drunken diving accident when Jack was 10. The first two times we are told Jack's age and his father's age, Jack is 33, the same age his dad was when Jack was born, and his dad was 43 when he died, this is explicitly spelled out. The next two times we are told Jack's age and his dad's age, Jack is 33, the same age his dad was when he died. Why? I didn't catch any whiff of a hint of a reason, so this just seemed like an editing error.

5. If Jack is just a half hour boat ride away, I assume that means he comes home at night, so why is it such a big deal that he continues working during his wife's ninth month of pregnancy? A half hour commute is pretty standard, and most people - both mothers-to-be and fathers-to-be - continue working through the ninth month, unless there are health issues of course.
(hide spoiler)]

An extra star for the lullaby, which I had never heard before, although it echoed the fantastic Sandra Boynton book that I used to read to my kids, The Going-To-Bed Book (so, either Boynton inspired Lemire, or this is a classic seaman's lullaby that I've just never heard):

The waves are high and the sunset’s red,
So now it’s time to go to bed.

The tide is up and the wind does rip,
But this old ship’ll never tip.

We’re far at sea , days from land,
But if you’re scared just take my hand.

Just hold on tight boy-o-mine,
In my arms you’ll be just fine.

The moon is full, the sea is deep
And we rock and rock and rock to sleep.

...more

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Jul 24, 2022 Tanya rated it really liked it

Shelves: 2022, genre-graphic-novel

Not sure how this book came on my radar of books to consider from the library, but it may have been due to a summer reading challenge and the format being a g tapioca novel. Wow, what a treat. I am much more enamored by the story than the art, but this book has a lot to offer in both areas. All of the internal artwork is done in black and white sketches and my favorite is the cover. Themes of longing, loss, love carry the story through its dark moments to thr brilliant conclusion.

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