| | |  | SHOGAKUKAN | Home » » » not simple | | | | | | | Description: | | Complex, powerful, and emotionally wrenching, not simple is a novel told in visual form by one of the most acclaimed creators at work today. Reads R to L (Japanese Style). Ian, a young man with a fractured family history, travels from Australia to England to America in the hope of realizing his dreams and reuniting with his beloved sister. His story unfolds backwards through the framing narrative of Jim, a reporter driven to capture Ian's experiences in a novel: not simple. A story within a story, a book within a book, a tale about the search for family, for an emotional home. | | | Product Details: | | | Author:
| Natsume Ono | | Paperback:
| 320 pages | | Publisher:
| VIZ Media LLC | | Publication Date:
| January 19, 2010 | | Language:
| English | | ISBN:
| 1421532204 | | Product Length:
| 8.21 inches | | Product Width:
| 5.89 inches | | Product Height:
| 0.94 inches | | Product Weight:
| 0.95 pounds | | Package Length:
| 8.1 inches | | Package Width:
| 5.7 inches | | Package Height:
| 1.1 inches | | Package Weight:
| 0.9 pounds | | Average Customer Rating:
|  based on 12 reviews |
| | | | Customer Reviews: | |
Average Customer Review:
 ( 12 customer reviews )
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
11 of 11 found the following review helpful:
 BeautifulMar 08, 2010
By Rayyan
What first attracted me to this book was the illustration on the cover. The art was one of the most unique styles I've seen in a while, and definitely the most unique I've seen on a published comic. The illustrations ended up suiting the story perfectly.
On to the story. The tale is incredibly tragic. It follows the life of young boy named Ian as he unravels his family's past, and the unfortunate truths that surround the family. Ian, however, seems entirely pure and innocent, uncorrupted by the unlucky incidents that befall him. It is written in such a unique manner, and, unlike many works, wasn't even wordy about it. Natsume Ono uses very few words to imply the story, rather than say it directly. I enjoy that style of writing greatly, and "not simple" was a prime example of a great piece using that less wordy style.
Please read this! It was truly beautiful, and I can't stop thinking about it.
4 of 4 found the following review helpful:
superbApr 16, 2010
By conejito asesino
There is very little adult themed manga. Most just ends up being hentai or melodramatic fluff. "Not Simple" is a wonderful surprise. It is an intelligent and emotional story. The art takes a little getting used to but the minimalistic style suits the heavy storyline. The way the writer guides the reader without overtly exploitative artwork or dialogue is masterful. I don't think I've ever seen a manga character convey so much in just one panel. This is not a childrens manga. I'd go as far as to say it's not a teen manga. I'm not ashamed to say a cried at the end. This is a beautiful and powerful piece of art work. It's simply superb.
1 of 1 found the following review helpful:
An amazing find, and really touching.Nov 07, 2010
By Razz
What attracted me to this book, like other reviewers, was the cover. It so... well, simple! The art in this story is simply gorgeous, conveying so much sentiment and emotion in a very original manner. The story itself is dramatic, somewhat tragic, but incredibly sweet all the same! Ian is a character that I'm sure many of us could relate to, and the tale of his life is something that reaches out to the reader and draws them in, making it hard to stop reading until you're finished with it. I highly recommend this to anyone looking for a different take on adult-oriented manga, and anyone looking for a gorgeous art style that matches a superb plot.
1 of 1 found the following review helpful:
An absolutely fantastic piece of graphic fictionOct 23, 2010
By Nathan Hipple
Like others, I picked this book up based off the cover. There's just an undefineable something about it that arrests the eyes. There's something about this art style that, while seemingly so simple, it, as the title claims, is anything but. Each panel is rich with unspoken emotion. And the art is only one half of the whole.
The writing, dialogue and overall plot are all up to the same high standard. It's a fantastic read. Once I finished, I flipped the book back over and began again. You'll want to do the same if you want to catch an entire underbelly of insight still to mine. It's complex, it's depressing, but it's also achingly beautiful at times.
This book is a fantastic example of what can be done with the graphic genre of fiction. A flawless marriage of art and written word that should not be missed out on. The only caveat that I'd list is that this is a book definitely intended for older audiences. It's not for children. That said, you should definitely consider picking this one up the next time you're browsing the stacks.
 Decent, but some minor issues with the structure of the narrativeFeb 13, 2012
By Sibelius
At first glance, with the minimal amount of text and the stark illustrations, this book seems like its going to be a breeze to waft through but appearances can deceive and in this case Natsume Ono's heart-aching tale of an adrift soul weighs heavily from page to page. At times the dis-jointed narrative confounds the reading experience and will exert some mental strain but the intent seems to work when you go back and read through the beginning portion a second time. The illustrations are superb and Ono manages to sustain a grim atmosphere of despair and melancholy throughout.
See all 12 customer reviews on Amazon.com
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