Review: solanin
Good morning, all! I’ve got a busy day ahead, but I wanted to point you to a review I posted last night, just barely making it in time for my self-imposed deadline (I love deadlines) in my Tokidoki Daylight column at Comics Should Be Good, for Viz Media’s Eisner-nominated manga solanin.
I really liked this manga, but you know reading over my review again this morning… well, I think I said a lot of things I don’t actually believe. Heh. Because the truth is, I still do believe in following wild dreams. I don’t think adulthood is about accepting mediocrity and resigning yourself to a lifetime of meaningless jobs. I think maybe the only difference between me and the twenty-somethings in solanin is that I know it isn’t that simple. I know you sometimes have to endure the job you hate (or maybe find one you hate just a little less) in order to do the work and take the time required to pursue larger dreams. I know that letting go of the dreams of my youth isn’t the same thing as letting go of dreams in general–it’s just making room for new ones. I think it’s possible for dreams that appear crazy or unrealistic on the surface to actually be completely feasible as long as you’re willing to put in the work. And I don’t believe that we only have one chance in life to get things right, but that these chances turn up over and over again, ready to help us fulfill new dreams.
I guess I still believe that greatness is possible, and that I suppose I’m still clinging to my youthful notion that I was meant to contribute something meaningful to this world. I suppose that could be unrealistic, but I’ve never regretting believing it.
In any case… solanin. It is a beautiful manga with a lot to say, and I’d recommend it to pretty much anyone, and particularly to fans of western comics who I think might find it more palatable than a lot of other manga. Also, since it was just nominated for an Eisner, it’s a great time to encourage folks to pick this up! Enjoy. :)
April 17th, 2009 at 7:51 am
Oddly, I’ve been reading two books this week concerning dreams (the kind we envision and the ones we have when we are sleeping.) Randy Pausch in The Last Lecture talks all about pursuing your dream always. He was a child at heart throughout his short life, and he never gave up on his dreams. And, Robert Moss in The Secret History of Dreaming writes fascinatingly about our night dream world – and it’s place throughout history – but with our day dreaming, too. I keep thinking we function best if we always have dreams to follow. Some of them won’t be realized, but they can be changed and replaced throughout our lifetime. The ones that didn’t turn out to be the way I expected have often led to unexpected delight as long as I don’t narrow my expected outcome too much. Perhaps the people who feel they are failures often are ones who remain upset if their dreams don’t turn out JUST as they had envisioned.
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Melinda Beasi Reply:
April 17th, 2009 at 9:29 am
Honestly, I would have no purpose in life without dreams. You know me. If I’m not striving for something meaningful, I’m not doing anything at all. I’ve never been able to accept that I should settle for less. You also know that my dreams change and shift all the time. I think I learned that part from you and dad–not to get too concerned with a specific outcome.
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April 17th, 2009 at 11:09 am
I have a message for Michelle, too, that I didn’t think I should post on Comics Should Be Good. No, Michelle, don’t give up writing reviews! BUT, it warmed a mother’s heart (and made me smile) to read your lovely words of praise for Melinda. I’ve been smiling all morning. Thanks.
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