Status
Available
Call number
Collection
Publication
Abrams ComicArts (2011), Hardcover, 144 pages
Description
When his best friend, Sara, moves to New York City, Jimmy--who loves science fiction but knows very little about the outside world--works up the courage to travel cross-country by bus to see her, and perhaps change their relationship.
User reviews
LibraryThing member Othemts
This sweet but sad graphic novel tells the story of two friends separated by a continent and their bittersweet reunion. I can relate to the antagonist’s shyness and hopefulness as the world opens before him while his heart is broken.
LibraryThing member librarybrandy
Meh. Shiga's artwork is appealing, even if the story isn't.
LibraryThing member pussreboots
Empire State: A Love Story (or Not) by Jason Shiga is a graphic novel about first love and first heart break and growing up. Jimmy, who looks like an older version of Jimmy from Meanwhile also by Jason Shiga, now works at a library and decides to follow his heart and go to Manhattan. I can only
Like Meanwhile though, Shiga uses color codes to keep two plot threads separate as they intertwine. Blue is present day and red is flashback. The flashbacks show the friendship between Jimmy and Sara developing. She teaches him about coffee and literature. They share walks around Lake Merritt.
But she's a free spirit and in the present day she has realized her dream of working for a publisher. She's in Manhattan and Jimmy is still living at home with his over protective mother. He works at a library in Oakland. He's shown putting protective covers on books and shelving books but it's never stated outright if he's a clerk or a librarian. She has also found a boyfriend and made a life for herself that doesn't include Jimmy in the way he hopes.
While I liked the time travel aspects of Meanwhile, I connected better with Empire State.
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presume that Empire State exists in the vanilla timeline where Jimmy doesn't get sick and doesn't get a chance to destroy the world.Like Meanwhile though, Shiga uses color codes to keep two plot threads separate as they intertwine. Blue is present day and red is flashback. The flashbacks show the friendship between Jimmy and Sara developing. She teaches him about coffee and literature. They share walks around Lake Merritt.
But she's a free spirit and in the present day she has realized her dream of working for a publisher. She's in Manhattan and Jimmy is still living at home with his over protective mother. He works at a library in Oakland. He's shown putting protective covers on books and shelving books but it's never stated outright if he's a clerk or a librarian. She has also found a boyfriend and made a life for herself that doesn't include Jimmy in the way he hopes.
While I liked the time travel aspects of Meanwhile, I connected better with Empire State.
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LibraryThing member Rosa.Mill
Jimmy is a geeky boy working at the library in Oakland. His best friend moves across the country to New York City and Jimmy decides to follow her and proclaim his affection. Unfortunately he doesn't get her letter and ends up alone at the Empire State Building only to find out that Sara, has a
Thought this was cute and exactly the kind of thing that people believe can only happen to them but I think happens all the time.
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boyfriend. Thought this was cute and exactly the kind of thing that people believe can only happen to them but I think happens all the time.
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LibraryThing member Rosa.Mill
Jimmy is a geeky boy working at the library in Oakland. His best friend moves across the country to New York City and Jimmy decides to follow her and proclaim his affection. Unfortunately he doesn't get her letter and ends up alone at the Empire State Building only to find out that Sara, has a
Thought this was cute and exactly the kind of thing that people believe can only happen to them but I think happens all the time.
Show More
boyfriend. Thought this was cute and exactly the kind of thing that people believe can only happen to them but I think happens all the time.
Show Less
LibraryThing member Rosa.Mill
Jimmy is a geeky boy working at the library in Oakland. His best friend moves across the country to New York City and Jimmy decides to follow her and proclaim his affection. Unfortunately he doesn't get her letter and ends up alone at the Empire State Building only to find out that Sara, has a
Thought this was cute and exactly the kind of thing that people believe can only happen to them but I think happens all the time.
Show More
boyfriend. Thought this was cute and exactly the kind of thing that people believe can only happen to them but I think happens all the time.
Show Less
LibraryThing member Rosa.Mill
Jimmy is a geeky boy working at the library in Oakland. His best friend moves across the country to New York City and Jimmy decides to follow her and proclaim his affection. Unfortunately he doesn't get her letter and ends up alone at the Empire State Building only to find out that Sara, has a
Thought this was cute and exactly the kind of thing that people believe can only happen to them but I think happens all the time.
Show More
boyfriend. Thought this was cute and exactly the kind of thing that people believe can only happen to them but I think happens all the time.
Show Less
LibraryThing member Salsabrarian
Jimmy's best friend Sara moves to New York City from Oakland. Realizing what she really means to him, Jimmy decides to bus to New York and meet her at the top of the Empire State Building, a la "Sleepless in Seattle." There's an appealing every-guy ordinariness to Jimmy which makes his gesture
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endearing and bittersweet. The dialog and interaction between Jimmy and Sara has the authentic flow of buddies hanging out. Show Less
LibraryThing member sweetiegherkin
Jimmy has romantic feelings for his friend Sara and when she moves across the country, he decides to follow her.
This is a relatively short book that reads pretty quick, especially given that narration is at a minimum, depending instead of dialogue and wordless illustration panels to tell the story.
This is a relatively short book that reads pretty quick, especially given that narration is at a minimum, depending instead of dialogue and wordless illustration panels to tell the story.
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The characters are kind of "eh" to be honest and the cartoony illustration style is not to my liking (although I must admit I like the monochromatic color schemes). The 'plot,' such as it is, is rather vague and ends a bit up in the air. I can sum up this title best as saying it was mildly entertaining in the moment but mostly this was a forgettable read. Show Less
LibraryThing member Sullywriter
Sweet and funny.
LibraryThing member Shahnareads
Meh...
That's pretty much all I get from this. I like the colour scheme. But I had a hard time figuring out location the main character was in, or if I was reading a flash back or a present situation.
I was a little disappointed when the girl didn't meet him at the Empire State Building.
I wouldn't
That's pretty much all I get from this. I like the colour scheme. But I had a hard time figuring out location the main character was in, or if I was reading a flash back or a present situation.
I was a little disappointed when the girl didn't meet him at the Empire State Building.
I wouldn't
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pay full price for this. I found it at a dollarstore, that's about all its worth. Show Less
LibraryThing member reader1009
Graphic novel. When one friend moves across country, the other friend follows her--but will it end well? Lots of touching and funny moments, and a small glimpse into the work of a public library clerk (though I doubt I've heard anyone but Demco say the word "Mylar" quite that much). Loosely
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inspired by the author's experiences riding a bus across the nation. Show Less
LibraryThing member thisisstephenbetts
A nice book, this. A good read, with some interesting formalist touches. I liked how much space he gives his panels (although that makes the book a quicker read than expected), and how Shiga uses different colouring to indicate different time periods.
Some of the dialogue is very good, particularly
Overall, I wish this had been longer and more developed - what is there is good, but is far too slight to be satisfying.
Some of the dialogue is very good, particularly
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in the first half of the book. And I really liked just how out of place and unsophisticated Shiga manages to make his protagonist - some of the tech stuff was a little painful to read.Overall, I wish this had been longer and more developed - what is there is good, but is far too slight to be satisfying.
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Original publication date
2011-05-12
Physical description
144 p.; 8.31 inches
ISBN
0810997479 / 9780810997479