Seconds
Ratings130
Average rating4
His art is always enjoyable and the story was interesting, but I much preferred Hazel's character to Katie's. His aim of exploring the hardships of “adult” life would have been better served with a stronger, more likeable protagonist.
This book was really good, a friend recommended it to me and after reading Snotgirl, Vol. 1: Green Hair Don't Care I was convinced it was going to be my next read. I wasn't disappointed, I love the art style, the story is compelling, the world building is awesome, and Katie as a likable yet complex character that can't handle owning up to mistakes or taking responsibility now that she knows that she can get second chances. I LOVE the title of this book because of seconds dealing with having seconds of a meal (Cause Katie is a cook) and seconds of getting second chances. The appropriateness of the title didn't really hit me till I got about half-way through. Great read, I would recommend to YA+ readers. ~Ashley
A very predictable yet captivating story of second chances and unfulfilled dreams.
3.5 stars
I loved the idea behind the story, but the overall execution wasn't exactly my cup of tea. Plus the main protagonist was too unlikable for me, even if I think it was the exact purpose of the graphic novel
Entertaining, but I think the way the author delivered the story is sometimes too in-your-face.
This is a story about Katie – a pretty successful young chef, with a personal life in shambles (are there any chefs in fiction whose extra-kitchen life aren't in shambles?), on the verge of opening her second restaurant while handing over the reins of her first. She's been given a gift – from a source she doesn't understand – to undo the events of one day, to rewrite history – just one, there are rules. After one not-that-terrible-but-certainly-regrettable day, she decides to use it.
Katie's as surprised as the next guy when it works (assuming, of course, the next guy isn't in a work of fiction). And she finds a way to break the rules. And does fixes another bad day, and another, and another and soon she's like the guys in Richard Curtis' (IMHO underrated) About Time, tweaking and massaging the details of the past to make her present perfect.
However, like I said, there are rules. And we all know what happens when you break the rules concerning magic. Or time travel (ask Marty McFly how things were going for him during The Enchantment Under The Sea dance). Now, actually, I thought emotionally and character-wise were richer and more interesting before the wheels come off Katie's machinations, but it's here where things start to count.
If I was a better judge of visual art, I'd have the vocabulary to express this next point. So apologies for that, if I'm confusing here – well, that's what comment boxes are for. I'm not knocking in any way, the penciling here (or in other works) when I think of O'Malley's people as cartoon-y, like children (occasionally very adult looking children) doing very non-childlike things. To me, the artwork here in O'Malley's signature style, isn't a fit the way it was with Scott Pilgrim. There's a darkness to the story, a flavor to it that seems at odds with the art. Which makes the art more effective – these are twisted forces that should happen to people that look like they were drawn by Lan Medina or Peter Gross, not the fun and innocent-ish looking characters we meet in these pages. It's more jarring, unnatural, in O'Malley's hands.
Very entertaining, a good follow-up to his magnum opus – a different direction, feel, and populated by people with a different set of issues. Did I heart this as much as Scott Pilgrim? No. Because it's not the kind of story I prefer. Is there anything wrong with it? No. It's just it didn't strike the same chord with me, mostly because O'Malley was going for a different chord. Worth your time.
This graphic novel was just so fun! Just what I needed to go back on track with my reading.
This story just like Scott Pilgrim has quirky characters and a sense of light-heartness and sincerity. These come mostly in the form of dialogues and how Brian Lee O'Malley draws his characters. Many times the scenes look only like a colored draft. Yet, this doesn't stop the characters' expressions and reactions to instantly put a smile on my face.
The story itself is darker than Scott Pilgrim. Featuring the usual dilemmas of time traveling and messing with choices and timelines.
Nonetheless, just like Scott Pilgrim, I felt that the end of the story fell short and somewhat rushed. We got some sort of “epilogue” and “what happened after”, the problem however, was how fast the story's conflict resolved itself.
It's a pretty book and I'm happy to have it displayed in my bookshelf. I don't deny that I may come to it from time to time, only if just to remember to:
“Have the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference”.
Written by the London Ontario born, Korean-French-Canadian, Bryan Lee O'Malley of Scott Pilgrim fame, it focuses on a chef and reality bending magic mushrooms in a color soaked Canadian manga. It's my wheelhouse.
This was a fun read. It still looks like classic O'Malley, but I definitely like the art in this book more than Scott Pilgrim. The story was interesting, one to which most of us can relate. Everyone wants that second chance, wishes they'd said/not said that one thing that would have changed everything. The main character, Katie, gets MANY of these chances in the form of an odd little mushroom and a quick summary of her mistake.
But like any story of someone messing with time, everything goes pear shaped. Katie gets greedy with her “revisions”, and...well, she kind of breaks time. Best way I can put it, I suppose.
The ending feels kind of rushed and predictable, but it's still a fun story and it's easy on the eyes.
GG, O'Malley. GG
I didn't want to read this at first; some part of me believed that I'd be betraying my love of Scott Pilgrim by reading anything else of Bryan Lee O'Malley. What a mistake that would have been. This has a slightly darker tone than SP, but man, is it good. O'Malley easily expresses complex emotion with deft and wit. Go read this right now.
Impresionante, me ha gustado muchísimo. Pensaba leer hoy un poco y mañana continuar (por eso de que me durara un poco xD) pero no he podido, quería saber que iba a pasar con Katie, lis y Hazel...Me ha dejado con una sonrillisa y con ganas de llorar de bonico que es. Aix, recomendadisimo.
Will it become a classic fan favourite like Scott Pilgrim? Probably not, but it doesn't mean you should skip this book. It's jam-packed with charm and although you won't laugh out loud, you will definitely smile for hours. Also the art is spectacular and full of character.
I LOVED this. Not a perfect book or anything, but–I love it when I can sense authors aging up with me, and this is a perfect late-20s book the way Scott Pilgrim is a perfect early-20s book, I guess? Just sort of on point for my general concerns and sensibilities at this point in time.
I still love O'Malley's art style and his way of adding little jokes into the art. So cute!! I thought about giving this 4 stars and then I remembered how cute the art was and bumped it up to 5.
This was an absolutely beautiful story of love and regret, focused around a young woman named Katie, her restaurant, and magic house spirit that can help you undo your mistakes with a simple bite.