Unlovable 2

Unlovable #2

by Esther Pearl Watson

Loosely based on a teenager’s diary from the 1980s found in a gas-station bathroom, Unlovable is the remarkable story of Tammy Pierce, as filtered through the pen of Los Angeles artist Esther Pearl Watson. This second and concluding volume picks up where the first volume left off (winter break) and finishes Tammy’s tragicomic sophomore year of high school in 1985.Tammy has built a devoted following over the last several years in the pages of BUST magazine, where Unlovable continues to be serialized on the magazine’s back page, and this beautifully produced, day-glo orange and sparkly pink hardcover presents over 400 pages of her sometimes ordinary, sometimes humiliating, often poignant and always hilarious exploits. Her hopes, dreams, agonies and defeats are brought to vivid, comedic life by Watson’s lovingly grotesque drawings, filled with all the ’80s essentials—too much mascara, leg warmers with heels and huge hair, etc.—as well as timeless teen concerns like acne, dandruff, and the opposite sex (or same sex, in some cases).Unlovable is about the rawness of trying to figure out who you are in a very public and humiliating way. Unlovable addresses these mysteries of adolescence through Tammy’s naiveté; girls and women in particular will find much that resonates, but men will also relate to Unlovable’s universal humor and wide cast of characters.In the epic saga that is Unlovable, Tammy finds herself dealing tampons, teasing, crushes, The Smiths, tube socks, facial hair, lice, celibacy, fantasy dream proms, gym showers, skid marks, a secret admirer, prank calls, backstabbers, winter ball, barfing, narcs, breakdancing, hot wheels, glamour shots, roller coasters, Halloween costumes, boogers, boys, boy crazy feelings, biker babes, and even some butt cracks. Tammy’s life isn’t pretty, but it is endlessly charming and hilarious. Unlovable will be handsomely packaged in an irresistibly girly hardcover that would make Tammy proud.

Genres: Graphic Novels, Comics, Humor, Graphic Novels Comics, Fiction, Comic Strips

Hardcover

First published January 1, 2010

Reviews

[Dave Schaafsma · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a second collection of a series of comics done by Watson that are still being featured on the back cover of Bust, and are supposedly based on a 1980's diary found in a gas station bathroom. I don't know why the claimed origin seems suspicious to me, but the story and world feels unfailingly real, painfully humiliating at times in its depiction of small town 80's high school life, where Tammy is fat, unattractive, taken advantage of by her peers, tormented by her little brother, and Boy Crazy about a bunch of losers she finds everywhere. Consistently wincingly hilarious. A kind of guilty pleasure to read, sort of whitebread trailer trash stories that are part of Chris Farley's man from a van down by the river, out of control clueless. John Waters' world. Very funny, and not just mean, though there's not much to empathize about in Tammy and her peers' ((you can't really say friends) lives. Growing up stories many can relate to.

[Peter Monn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just as good as the first! I’ll post a full review on my booktube channel once I finish all three books! http://YouTube.com/peterlikesbooks

[Callie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Now facing an overwhelming desire to listen to The Smiths for three straight days.

[Alexo · Rating 2 out of 5]

I found this book difficult to read, and alternately felt like grimacing / yawning most of the way through. The protagonist is completely unsympathetic; nothing more than a grotesque caricature. I'm not sure what type of reaction the book is aiming to elicit; cringing empathy (difficult considering the other-worldly hideousness of the protagonist) or mean-girl mockery (redundant - the book has already done it). Perhaps I'm just not the correct audience.

[P. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Definitely a Napoleon Dynamite precursor but more endearing. There's a joy about Tammy that can't quite be masked by her teenage judgment against those people she thinks can't help her be cool. Which is why her reading of Kenny Yang bothered me but made sense for her character.

Vol. II gets deeper with social interactions and develops Tammy's sense of self a little more. I think she's becoming independent without knowing it. Or maybe that's wishful thinking.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I recommend this book to everyone. I haven't laughed out loud for funniness for ages. Tammy's exploits are so cute, unaware and hilarious. This book deserves 5 stars because it impels obsession. Tammy may have lost her diary but it was a good cause and everyone should at least read it and enjoy her flourishing personality despite the odds. Well, aside from those dreaded mushrooms...

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tammy's growing on me and things seem to be going better for her lately. I felt like this book was a less dire than the first one. The doomed obsession with Ken Edward Olsen remains the most poignant thread. If K.E.O. sees something in Tammy (as a friend, of course), there must be hope for her yet.

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm so grossed out by poor Tammie Pierce's diary, but love her so! I'm sure if I dug out my old Snoopy diary, I'd find stuff almost as embarrassing (although I never kept a visual record of my farts!)
Too good!

[Suzanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you went to high school in the 1980s this may be the graphic novel for you. I read both volumes and relived much of the 1980s and teen drama. The author/ artist found a diary in a gas station bathroom and decided to illustrate it. So crazy.

[Kirby Rock · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ok this volume was even grosser and more achingly uncomfortable than the first, but there's something weirdly enchanting about Tammy that makes me keep reading these! I love how she is simultaneously so self-conscious and totally lacking in self-awareness.

[Amanda]

Heeeeeelarious.

[Karina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Silly with funny artwork, but that's about it.

[Allie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A favorite quote:
Thrown-down dance off -- I battled Cassie Smallwood and lost. The truth is that people can be both hateful-hoe-bags and good dancers.

[Erin Tuzuner · Rating 4 out of 5]

More of the same Welcome to the Dollhouse tragicomic 80s teen melodrama.

[Dustincecil · Rating 5 out of 5]

will Tammy Pierce every catch a break!?!

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

These are so fun to read.

[Amber Greer · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s cute. The drawings and characters remind me of Adult Swim’s adult cartoon “Mr. Pickles”.

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second volume of the adventures of Tammy, an awkward 80's teen, who's trying figure things out for herself.

This series charms me for several reasons. I thoroughly enjoy the garish drawings mixed with Tammy's personality. She seems like actually a really nice, yet clueless, but also lazy kid. Her friends are total burnouts and Tammy sometimes break dances. Her brother Willis is a jerk and their sibiling altercations are hilarious in a way that really captures the teen in the 80's.

[Christie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was even funnier than the last one! Oh that Tammy!