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Friday, August 28, 2009

Books You Got Pictures In My Words: Sunny Side Down

Posted by Paul Constant on Fri, Aug 28, 2009 at 11:27 AM

What's the book? Sunny Side Down: a Collection of Tales of Mere Existence by Lev Yilmaz.

What's it about? It's like Groening's Life in Hell for emo kids. You get the sense that Yilmaz is supposed to be funny, or original, or insightful, but he's just not. It's a stack of safe outsider cliches deep-fat fried in mope-core and served to self-pitying losers. The back jacket says "If you have ever felt like a perpetual square peg in a world of round holes, you have found a kindred spirit." Here's the thing: If you have ever felt like a perpetual square peg in a world of round holes, you are a cliche.

What's the art look like? Like bad, depressed high school doodles. Here's the beginning of a strip:

Do you recommend it? Not to anyone. Read a Life in Hell strip instead, if you must.

Comments (4) RSS

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Did you read the one where he comments on the comparisons to Life in Hell? Yeah, he then goes on to justify himself by comparing Picasso's work to African masks. Aerosmith (agh!) to Zep. And James Dean to Brando.

I think he should have stuck with the Aerosmith-Zep analogy. He was right on with that one. The other ones seem like a really weak attempt to respond and justify himself in a really unfunny way.

Posted by You you you you on August 28, 2009 at 12:08 PM

Thanks for this.

I now know you have no taste whatsoever and I can safely ignore your opinion. Thanks again! :)

Posted by guy on August 28, 2009 at 8:56 PM

"If you have ever felt like a perpetual square peg in a world of round holes, you are a cliche."

Indeed!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rjSijY-Ho…

Posted by FreudianShrimp on August 30, 2009 at 7:49 AM

I dunno, I feel like he's more trying to hold a mirror up to those people who drown in their own self pity, not endorse it. I really liked this video from him...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-76SfgmRC…

Posted by drumanremains on August 31, 2009 at 12:02 AM