Pascal lost his job and his girlfriend, and as if that's not bad enough, he then injures his back so he can't run anymore to burn off stress. Though he's desperate for the endorphin high, and unable to return to drawing cartoons, he decides to immerse himself in books, hoping the escape will help him forget his woes.

At a favorite bookstore, he sees a woman picking up one of his books--and then steal it. He learns the bookstore has had several thefts recently. Is she the thief? And why? Why did she choose his book to steal? Flattered, Pascal turns amateur detective, seeking answers and a distraction.

Exploring how break-ups can ruin your life for a while, the complexity of relationships from friendship to romance, and describing a cascade of failures, the book has a fatalistic sense of humor to it. Like real life, some questions don't have answers, and some compromises don't pay off, and not all endings are neat.

Sort of funny sometimes, always (usually?) at the expense of the narrator (the author). Not my kind of humour.

Pascal is having hard time. He recently got out of a long term relationship, and screwed up his back running. So no one loves him, he can't run to take advantage of endorphins, he's imposing on a friend because he has no place to live, and his creative career has stalled. Eventually he gets a somewhat unrewarding job in construction, and loiters in a book store on occasion. One day he sees an attractive woman shoplifting one of his books! He makes it his mission to tail her and investigate her crime, but of course he falls for her. How will he ever fix everything?!

The art is simple line drawings, so not "pretty", but effective - it feels more like reading a comic strip in the newspaper. It's funny in parts, and awkward in more parts. Not awkward like the images and words don't work, just awkward because Pascal is...awkward and make some awkward life choices and says some awkward thing. In the end, there's some resolution and a sort of happy ending.

So did it change my mind about graphic novels? Um. No. It wasn't a waste of time, instead was a somewhat enjoyable read, well, quick anyways. But, like so many graphic novels I've read, I felt a bit disappointed in the ending. It just seemed a bit too neat, rushed maybe, forced? Regardless I'd recommend it to graphic novel fans who are looking for a light hearted, not deep, and quick read.

This was a fast and enjoyable read. I say this having chosen to read this book in french because it is the language it was originally written and I don't really get to read that much in french (which I think is mostly for lack of trying, but oh well). There were some words I wasn't acquainted with, but the illustrations and the context (plus google translate) helped me with this issue.

I must admit I'm not very knowledgeable on illustrated books, this one being the second I read, but I enjoyed very much the illustrations. I especially loved when the author illustrated the main character in his room with the lights off, reading or thinking with a lamp on. The simplicity of his drawing to show darkness and light made me love his illustrations.

This said, I must admit that I expected more from this story. The whole premise was very captivating, but the story didn't quite fulfil everything I expected from it. Added to this is the fact that I didn't really like the ending. I find it was a bit abrupt and left you wanting more of an explanation on what it is she really does, and why. Also, and this could be just how I see things, but I found their (the main characters') final interactions a bit weird/abrupt, which confused me at moments.

Even with these observations, I think this was a very good book, specially the illustrations and how he organised and presented the different situations depicted.

3 stars if the ending was supposed to show he was completely terrible at making good decisions. If not, nothing really happened and he book is just ok.

A semi-autobiographical comic with a sketchy ink style about a bookish, clumsy shy guy who has self-confidence issues and bumbles with women.

This also describes 8,000 books from the graphic novel days from 2000 to present but just sorta lump this one in there too. You can read it in one sitting, it's fine.

Charming little read about flawed people and the messes we get ourselves into. Pascal is terrifyingly cringe worthy at his attempts to move on after a breakup. Winding up on a friends couch, working menial labor, and becoming enchanted with a petty thief who steals a copy of his book, all of them little slices of the banal misery he’s living on though in the moment.