Graphic Novel Review – Solanin by Inio Asano (4/5 stars)

Reading Level: Young Adult
Genre: Graphic Novel/Contemporary Fiction
Length: 432 pages
Publisher: VIZ Media LLC
Release Date: October 21, 2008
ISBN-13: 978-1421523217
Stand Alone or Series: Stand Alone
Source: Gift
Rating: 4/5 stars

“College graduates struggle to cope with the real world. Music offers refuge in this modern manga with an American attitude.

Meiko Inoue is a recent college grad working as an office lady in a job she hates. Her boyfriend Shigeo is permanently crashing at her apartment because his job as a freelance illustrator doesn’t pay enough for rent. And her parents in the country keep sending her boxes of veggies that just rot in her fridge. Straddling the line between her years as a student and the rest of her life, Meiko struggles with the feeling that she’s just not cut out to be a part of the real world.”

I really enjoyed this contemporary fiction new adult graphic novel about 20 somethings trying to make a living in Tokyo.

The illustration is very well done, very detailed, and easy to follow.

The story is engaging and entertaining; the characters are easy to relate to. This book really sucked me in and I read it in one sitting.

There is some very deep and meaningful conversation in here about life, coming of age, and the current state of society. The themes of this story involve chasing your dreams and how lonely people can be even in a big city.

Overall I really enjoyed this; everything about this book is well done. I would recommend to graphic novel fans who enjoy coming-of-age stories or new adult contemporary fiction.

This book goes towards the following reading challenges:
– Goodreads Reading Challenge
– Mount TBR Reading Challenge
– Graphic Novel Reading Challenge