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Voici le grand retour du dessinateur névrosé et maladroit! Le pauvre Pascal vient de se faire larguer par sa blonde et squatte une chambre chez un couple d’amis. Indifférent au dessin, en manque de sérotonine, incapable de courir à cause d’une entorse lombaire, il retourne sur les chantiers comme apprenti-ferblantier. Bref, l’heure est au bilan.
Pascal a beau faire des plans et vouloir atterrir sur ses pieds, une rencontre fortuite avec une cleptomane de livres transforme notre antihéros en Sherlock Holmes de fortune...
Pascal a beau faire des plans et vouloir atterrir sur ses pieds, une rencontre fortuite avec une cleptomane de livres transforme notre antihéros en Sherlock Holmes de fortune...
112 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2014
About the author
Pascal Girard
34 books75 followersPascal Girard est né à Jonquière en 1981. Dès sa première journée sur les bancs d’école, il remplit de dessins les marges de ses cahiers et agendas. Comme il n’a jamais pu se débarasser de cette bonne habitude, il a naturellement décidé d’en faire son métier. En 2004, il termine un baccalauréat interdisciplinaire en arts à l’Université du Québec à Chicoutimi.
Depuis, il a déménagé à Québec où il mène une double carrière d’illustrateur et d’auteur de bandes dessinées. Ses deux premiers livres Dans un cruchon et Nicolas, se sont partagé le prix Réal-Fillion au Festival de la bande dessinée francophone de Québec en 2006. Il a fait paraître Paresse et Jimmy et le Bigfoot à la Pastèque.
Depuis, il a déménagé à Québec où il mène une double carrière d’illustrateur et d’auteur de bandes dessinées. Ses deux premiers livres Dans un cruchon et Nicolas, se sont partagé le prix Réal-Fillion au Festival de la bande dessinée francophone de Québec en 2006. Il a fait paraître Paresse et Jimmy et le Bigfoot à la Pastèque.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 142 reviews
January 26, 2015
Petty Theft sees cartoonist Pascal Girard in a bad place. He’s nearing 30 and wants to run a marathon to mark the milestone – but during a run one day he smashes his foot against a rock and throws his back out! His girlfriend of 9 years breaks up with him leaving him temporarily homeless and living in the spare room of a married friend with a new baby. He’s also giving up cartooning and thinking of once more taking up a “real job” like construction.
Without the endorphins he gets from running, Pascal falls into a depression and goes looking for books on positive thinking. But while browsing in a bookshop he sees a young woman stealing a book – one of his! – and decides to follow her. So begins an unusual courtship as Pascal tries to figure out what he wants in this light-hearted, comedic slice of life tale.
Maybe it’s because he’s so merciless with his character, depicting himself as this human wreck, constantly prat-falling and saying the wrong thing, misinterpreting situations and so on, but I think Pascal is a very likeable and sympathetic chap. The book is also very much in the vein of modern French comics who do fast-moving, engaging contemporary stories superbly.
There isn’t a whole lot to say about Petty Theft – it’s a straightforward story executed beautifully. Girard doesn’t bother to include scene transitions/establishing shots, trusting the reader to fill in the necessary blanks, and this allows for a swifter, and more subtly sophisticated, narrative.
Girard keeps the disparate elements in his story turning nicely so there’s never a dull moment, and I was interested to see what would happen with the cute klepto and him – will they, won’t they, etc. I smiled a couple times during the book – and I read this straight through in a single sitting which is rare for me - and even genuinely laughed once!
The comedy is at times a little strained – there are only so many times watching Pascal fall over can be amusing – and I thought the imagery of his ex’s giant paper mache head in the corner of his room symbolising his heartbreak was a bit obvious (as was the inevitable throwing away of said head to symbolise overcoming his sadness). But these are small nitpicks – overall the comic is great.
The blurb on the cover calls this a “heavily fictionalised memoir” so I expect Girard moulded the facts into a neat, cohesive narrative for the sake of the reader, and that’s fine; whether knowing every part of it was true or not doesn’t really add or detract from my enjoyment of the story. Also, I wouldn’t say it’s a “romantic comedy”; comedy sure but romance? … Not really. Plus the label has negative connotations (at least, for most guys) – I know if I’d seen it advertised as such beforehand I would have hesitated picking it up!
After this and his last book Reunion, not to mention his moving debut Nicolas, Pascal Girard is quickly turning into one of his generation’s most notable comics creators even if his work isn’t “important” from a literary or stylistic viewpoint. Petty Theft is a charming and entertaining book that will appeal to all fans of quality indie comics and anyone looking for a light, fun read.
Without the endorphins he gets from running, Pascal falls into a depression and goes looking for books on positive thinking. But while browsing in a bookshop he sees a young woman stealing a book – one of his! – and decides to follow her. So begins an unusual courtship as Pascal tries to figure out what he wants in this light-hearted, comedic slice of life tale.
Maybe it’s because he’s so merciless with his character, depicting himself as this human wreck, constantly prat-falling and saying the wrong thing, misinterpreting situations and so on, but I think Pascal is a very likeable and sympathetic chap. The book is also very much in the vein of modern French comics who do fast-moving, engaging contemporary stories superbly.
There isn’t a whole lot to say about Petty Theft – it’s a straightforward story executed beautifully. Girard doesn’t bother to include scene transitions/establishing shots, trusting the reader to fill in the necessary blanks, and this allows for a swifter, and more subtly sophisticated, narrative.
Girard keeps the disparate elements in his story turning nicely so there’s never a dull moment, and I was interested to see what would happen with the cute klepto and him – will they, won’t they, etc. I smiled a couple times during the book – and I read this straight through in a single sitting which is rare for me - and even genuinely laughed once!
The comedy is at times a little strained – there are only so many times watching Pascal fall over can be amusing – and I thought the imagery of his ex’s giant paper mache head in the corner of his room symbolising his heartbreak was a bit obvious (as was the inevitable throwing away of said head to symbolise overcoming his sadness). But these are small nitpicks – overall the comic is great.
The blurb on the cover calls this a “heavily fictionalised memoir” so I expect Girard moulded the facts into a neat, cohesive narrative for the sake of the reader, and that’s fine; whether knowing every part of it was true or not doesn’t really add or detract from my enjoyment of the story. Also, I wouldn’t say it’s a “romantic comedy”; comedy sure but romance? … Not really. Plus the label has negative connotations (at least, for most guys) – I know if I’d seen it advertised as such beforehand I would have hesitated picking it up!
After this and his last book Reunion, not to mention his moving debut Nicolas, Pascal Girard is quickly turning into one of his generation’s most notable comics creators even if his work isn’t “important” from a literary or stylistic viewpoint. Petty Theft is a charming and entertaining book that will appeal to all fans of quality indie comics and anyone looking for a light, fun read.
May 27, 2015
The tyranolibrarian in me is stomping about in fury right now with tinyshort flailing arms and rageful, gnashing teeth.
Don't steal books, people. Especially not because you're a book hoarder! I mean, if you're stealing them because you're poor and they're for the destitute children in your neighborhood who would otherwise never see a book, ever, then maybe I will not eat you after ripping you limb from limb. Maybe I will just take a big bite out of your leg and have done. But this chick? She's gonna get eaten. Messily. RAAAAAAR!
The formerly-single person in me is smirking over the whole dating thing. OMG, I hated dating and I dated several guys like this. Nice enough but so desperate, desperate enough to overlook and forgive stealing and not just stealing but book-stealing. And not just book stealing! Stealing HIS book (he's a comic artist...as evidenced by this book) from a bookstore, essentially robbing him of his living. (not really, but that's the argument against pirating movies and software so I assume it works the same when you steal a book from a bookstore) So much apologizing. So little direction. So much Jell-O spine. There's a place for Jell-O spine and it is not in your own life. Yoga. Yoga is a good place for Jell-O spine. Sometimes. Like during the part where you lie on the floor and breathe to relax. Anyway, all his forgiveness comes from a place of loneliness and desperation so isn't even forgiveness so much as holding out for a lifeline and using someone else's problem to save himself.
The over-40 in me is trying to remember if I was scared of 30, if I was ever so young. Was I? I must have been. I don't think I was, though. That's the power of losing memories - I can fill the gaps with whatever I want and I want to remember me being dauntless in the face of age and perceived need for accomplishment.
In this story, there are bookstores and cafes, forgiving and loving friends, angry people, Greg (people on devices, I mean. I call them all Greg, now), weather, coming to terms with life changes, babies, flowers, running (figuratively and literally), all sorts of everyday life things. It's a lovely, nicely-illustrated, relatable-ish vignette (except for the book-stealing. RAAAAR!) of a bumpy patch of life but, ultimately, not very memorable.
Don't steal books, people. Especially not because you're a book hoarder! I mean, if you're stealing them because you're poor and they're for the destitute children in your neighborhood who would otherwise never see a book, ever, then maybe I will not eat you after ripping you limb from limb. Maybe I will just take a big bite out of your leg and have done. But this chick? She's gonna get eaten. Messily. RAAAAAAR!
The formerly-single person in me is smirking over the whole dating thing. OMG, I hated dating and I dated several guys like this. Nice enough but so desperate, desperate enough to overlook and forgive stealing and not just stealing but book-stealing. And not just book stealing! Stealing HIS book (he's a comic artist...as evidenced by this book) from a bookstore, essentially robbing him of his living. (not really, but that's the argument against pirating movies and software so I assume it works the same when you steal a book from a bookstore) So much apologizing. So little direction. So much Jell-O spine. There's a place for Jell-O spine and it is not in your own life. Yoga. Yoga is a good place for Jell-O spine. Sometimes. Like during the part where you lie on the floor and breathe to relax. Anyway, all his forgiveness comes from a place of loneliness and desperation so isn't even forgiveness so much as holding out for a lifeline and using someone else's problem to save himself.
The over-40 in me is trying to remember if I was scared of 30, if I was ever so young. Was I? I must have been. I don't think I was, though. That's the power of losing memories - I can fill the gaps with whatever I want and I want to remember me being dauntless in the face of age and perceived need for accomplishment.
In this story, there are bookstores and cafes, forgiving and loving friends, angry people, Greg (people on devices, I mean. I call them all Greg, now), weather, coming to terms with life changes, babies, flowers, running (figuratively and literally), all sorts of everyday life things. It's a lovely, nicely-illustrated, relatable-ish vignette (except for the book-stealing. RAAAAR!) of a bumpy patch of life but, ultimately, not very memorable.
May 16, 2016
I really liked this a lot. I'm not even sure at this point how much is true and how much fiction. Doesn't matter. But this is a pretty self-deprecating little story about Pascal's meeting and getting involved with a girl who is a book thief, when he is particularly vulnerable, going through a break up. He actually sees her stealing books from a bookstore he wants to support. And it's not a huge deal (this "petty"), she slips a book in her bag before check out. He knows like him no one has a lot of money. Then, looking at her, he is attracted to her, maybe finds her similarly vulnerable.
Why is this interesting? I don't know, it just works, because it feel so honest and funny. Pascal always apologizes for his feelings and actions, he mystifies his friends by not doing art when he is so good at it, and for doing dangerous sheet metal work when he is physically or psychically ill-equipped and injuring himself all the time.
Petty Theft is very sweet and funny and at the same time sort of pathetic and sad that he likes this kleptomaniac. But he has his own issues, of course. Feels real, nobody's perfect. I don't know, it just works!
Why is this interesting? I don't know, it just works, because it feel so honest and funny. Pascal always apologizes for his feelings and actions, he mystifies his friends by not doing art when he is so good at it, and for doing dangerous sheet metal work when he is physically or psychically ill-equipped and injuring himself all the time.
Petty Theft is very sweet and funny and at the same time sort of pathetic and sad that he likes this kleptomaniac. But he has his own issues, of course. Feels real, nobody's perfect. I don't know, it just works!
April 22, 2017
Short, simple, awkward and funny!
January 15, 2015
Pascal Girard has this really great delicate, trembly, slightly fractured style of drawing here - it's much more careful and deliberate than the more spontaneous renderings in his earlier book, Nicolas (which is highly recommended); his line actually reminds me of that of Mimi Pond's. Girard's a fine cartoonist, with an especially good sense of pace and rhythm. I enjoyed this story, a sort of fragile Romantic Comedy, with the lead (Girard himself) coming across appealingly, if a bit nebbishy. I wonder how much of it is based on real experiences and how much of it is completely fiction?
February 9, 2015
Fairly run-of-the-mill romance/discouraged comic artist story, with the angles that
1. While he's avoiding drawing comics, the artist works in construction
2. He meets his paramour after watching her steal his book
Cute, French. Good, if you like that kind of thing (which I do).
1. While he's avoiding drawing comics, the artist works in construction
2. He meets his paramour after watching her steal his book
Cute, French. Good, if you like that kind of thing (which I do).
July 22, 2022
L'histoire est très banale.
Ce n'est pas mon genre d'illustrations.
Bref, peu de choses m'ont accrochées.
Je suis déçu.
Ce n'est pas mon genre d'illustrations.
Bref, peu de choses m'ont accrochées.
Je suis déçu.
September 13, 2023
Franchement navrée de devoir dire que c’était boff
December 27, 2025
Cute et comique. Malaisant mais drôle. J’aime les commerces de mtl qu’on y voit
July 28, 2014
I'm not sure I'd call this a romantic comedy. It's a bit too realistic for that, a bit too awkward. And, really, where's the romance? Not that I missed it. I would call this a slice of life comic.
Pascal would rather play detective than admit he's primed for a rebound relationship with a girl he saw but didn't meet at a bookstore. After witnessing her shoplift his own book Pascal is both flattered and intrigued. Why is she shoplifting? Why his book? After having a few cups of coffee at the cafe where she works Pascal "bumps" into her at the gym and introduces himself.
They start seeing each other, and each time it seems she finds another book to slip into her bag. Unable to let the theft go unnoticed Pascal goes to unusual lengths to solve the case.
I really enjoyed the artwork and characters from this story. The huge bobblehead of his ex continually popping up with it's haunting, yet hilarious, gaze was truly enthralling. Like Reunion there was a near epic level of awkwardness throughout the story, which kept me on the edge of an embarrassed cringe. The boxes of books were also something I could really empathize with, though I never thought of selling mine.
I kept wondering (and still don't really understand) his motivation in outing her theft. Did he want to save the bookshop? Did he want to keep her out of trouble? Was it just something he needed to correct? I'm really not sure. Maybe it was just something to distract him from the huge face of his longterm no longer girlfriend.
Pascal would rather play detective than admit he's primed for a rebound relationship with a girl he saw but didn't meet at a bookstore. After witnessing her shoplift his own book Pascal is both flattered and intrigued. Why is she shoplifting? Why his book? After having a few cups of coffee at the cafe where she works Pascal "bumps" into her at the gym and introduces himself.
They start seeing each other, and each time it seems she finds another book to slip into her bag. Unable to let the theft go unnoticed Pascal goes to unusual lengths to solve the case.
I really enjoyed the artwork and characters from this story. The huge bobblehead of his ex continually popping up with it's haunting, yet hilarious, gaze was truly enthralling. Like Reunion there was a near epic level of awkwardness throughout the story, which kept me on the edge of an embarrassed cringe. The boxes of books were also something I could really empathize with, though I never thought of selling mine.
I kept wondering (and still don't really understand) his motivation in outing her theft. Did he want to save the bookshop? Did he want to keep her out of trouble? Was it just something he needed to correct? I'm really not sure. Maybe it was just something to distract him from the huge face of his longterm no longer girlfriend.
January 3, 2016
Bonne petite BD, ma première de Pascal Girard en tant que dessinateur ET scénariste.
On raconte la simple histoire d'un jeune homme qui perd sa blonde et, à cause d'une blessure physique, le droit de faire ce qu'il aime le plus : courir. Malgré sa tendance à vouloir se renfermer, il tombe amoureux de cette fameuse « collectionneuse ».
Côté technique, J'ai aimé voir que Girard coupait parfois ces scènes un peu n'importe ou dans la planche, sans crier gare, ce qui pourrait peut-être déstabiliser les novices de la bande dessinée. Je crois que l'ambiance est sa force. Même si c'était scénarisé par un autre, j'étais plongée dans Valentin un peu de la même façon. Lecture d'une traite.
On raconte la simple histoire d'un jeune homme qui perd sa blonde et, à cause d'une blessure physique, le droit de faire ce qu'il aime le plus : courir. Malgré sa tendance à vouloir se renfermer, il tombe amoureux de cette fameuse « collectionneuse ».
Côté technique, J'ai aimé voir que Girard coupait parfois ces scènes un peu n'importe ou dans la planche, sans crier gare, ce qui pourrait peut-être déstabiliser les novices de la bande dessinée. Je crois que l'ambiance est sa force. Même si c'était scénarisé par un autre, j'étais plongée dans Valentin un peu de la même façon. Lecture d'une traite.
April 7, 2017
This was not all that witty or fun, and I'm sure I'll get a lot of flak for saying so. He (Pascal) was kind of pathetic. Yes, I am aware that he was coming off of a bad breakup, but really?? Investigating a theft? The FIRST thing you do is GO TO THE POLICE!!!! DUH!!!! Who cares if you're flattered by her stealing your book??? If you KNOW that the person is doing it and you do NOTHING, I believe that is called aiding and abetting (I'm no cop or lawyer so I may be wrong.) Still, you go to the police. That irked me to no end. I just. No. I didn't like this at all.
August 31, 2014
I'm probably too biased to give an objective review, because I've liked everything Pascal Girard has put out, and I feel like he's a bizzaro Montreal version of myself. Not as funny as Reunion and not as emotionally affecting as Nicolas, but I really enjoyed it and had to read cover to cover in one sitting.
September 25, 2017
Meh. The characters in this book were so unlikeable. The only ones I had any time for were the couple letting Pascal stay with them. Pascal himself just comes across as such a whiney jerk and the woman he's persuing is dishonest and boring.
It's just getting two stars cos at least it's hort and easy to read.
It's just getting two stars cos at least it's hort and easy to read.
May 18, 2025
A fast read. Memoir or fiction? The protagonist is named Pascal, but such a ruse is never definitive.
I suspect the lines between fiction and not is repeatedly crossed, like casually shoplifting.
The result in turns of a neal — it's some sort of combo plate, a little of everything, ultimately not that memorable.
I suspect the lines between fiction and not is repeatedly crossed, like casually shoplifting.
The result in turns of a neal — it's some sort of combo plate, a little of everything, ultimately not that memorable.
July 12, 2016
J'ai été agréablement surprise par cette bande dessinée, elle m'a donné le goût de découvrir le reste de l'oeuvre de Pascal Girard. J'ai bien rigolé !
March 11, 2026
"Petty Theft" captures the frustrations and awkward moments of ordinary life, as well as its surprises. Pascal Girard recounts a portion of his life after a breakup, during a time when he struggles to navigate his depression. Undefined panels and wavy lines evoke a soft, airy, and sometimes anxious energy to the scenes, scenes that often look comfy lined with books, full of leaves, storefronts, or of people in their pastimes. Then out of nowhere, comes a cute kleptomaniac.
April 6, 2025
Assez banale comme lecture. Il n’y a pas vraiment d’intrigue.
April 17, 2026
The ending was meh, but I still enjoyed the story.
November 15, 2022
omg wow I really loved this comic.. it was funny and relatable and downright adorable with its art style too!!
May 16, 2016
The arc of the book, which is autobiographical, focuses on an episode following a breakup - the protagonist (author) somehow throws out his back, and is told he can't run for a while, but he needs to run to feel upbeat/alive. In the course of doing other things that make him happy, such as visiting bookstores, he notices a female who attracts his attention. I won't say more since it would spoil the entire plot, except that the protagonist does eventually find happiness (sort of) - actually, it's a nice book to read since it does end on a hopeful note. The protagonist is back with running - and he does feel inspired/happy again running, and he finds a new love.
The drawing style is low-key, which compliments the seemingly "humdrum" sort of humorously neurotic musings/misadventures of the protagonist. He is both hapless and only human - he is struggling through a intensely stressful period of his life, ripped from the anchorage of his relationship (having been thrown out of his apartment) uninterested in drawing - instead casts around for either another occupation or to return to school - and not even able to feel better running. This is a graphic novel that you can read in a day or two - the drawings are such that the reader can fill in the details, they capture the essentials of scenes at parties, bookstores, on the job, at apartments. There is a lot of information conveyed in these great drawings. The book was originally written in French - the translation is excellent, conveys the conundrums exactly, matching the characters' expressions and so forth. I gave the book 3 stars because the ending - which I will not give away - is rather ironic/ambiguous, perhaps a commentary on the haplessness of the protagonist, although he was a very clever/resourceful fellow all along, the final scene seems inconsistent with his previous savvy. Has love clouded his intellect or objectivity? I'm not sure how the author could have ended the book - if it was going to have a happy ending, if that's what he wanted -- with all problems/issues resolved. Anyway I shall leave it to the reader to decide if the wrap-up is satisfying, or what it means. The reader is sort of left hanging.. maybe that was the point of the ending, to provoke thought about the protagonist.
The drawing style is low-key, which compliments the seemingly "humdrum" sort of humorously neurotic musings/misadventures of the protagonist. He is both hapless and only human - he is struggling through a intensely stressful period of his life, ripped from the anchorage of his relationship (having been thrown out of his apartment) uninterested in drawing - instead casts around for either another occupation or to return to school - and not even able to feel better running. This is a graphic novel that you can read in a day or two - the drawings are such that the reader can fill in the details, they capture the essentials of scenes at parties, bookstores, on the job, at apartments. There is a lot of information conveyed in these great drawings. The book was originally written in French - the translation is excellent, conveys the conundrums exactly, matching the characters' expressions and so forth. I gave the book 3 stars because the ending - which I will not give away - is rather ironic/ambiguous, perhaps a commentary on the haplessness of the protagonist, although he was a very clever/resourceful fellow all along, the final scene seems inconsistent with his previous savvy. Has love clouded his intellect or objectivity? I'm not sure how the author could have ended the book - if it was going to have a happy ending, if that's what he wanted -- with all problems/issues resolved. Anyway I shall leave it to the reader to decide if the wrap-up is satisfying, or what it means. The reader is sort of left hanging.. maybe that was the point of the ending, to provoke thought about the protagonist.
January 8, 2016
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.
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.
June 14, 2023
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.
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.
August 26, 2014
Cartoonist Pascal Girard has recently broken up with a longtime girlfriend, he's living in a spare room, and he hasn't been drawing, so a back injury that will stop him from running is the last straw. To cope, he searches a local bookstore for books on positive thinking and coping with breakups. Instead, he finds out someone has been stealing books, and he actually sees the culprit in the act! Even better, she's a cute young woman and she steals his book. He sees no option but to follow her and figure out why she did it.
This book is cute, Girard's style is sparse, small, and detailed. There's a lot of absurd humor and a bit of Ricky Gervais/Larry David style cringe humor, too, coming from Girard's poor/misunderstood actions. His story is about as wobbly as his art, with little meanderings that don't end up being important. It doesn't come to much of a conclusion, but hey that's real life. I didn't dislike it, but I didn't love it either. It was readable but didn't leave me thinking or wishing for more. I'd probably read more from him.
This book is cute, Girard's style is sparse, small, and detailed. There's a lot of absurd humor and a bit of Ricky Gervais/Larry David style cringe humor, too, coming from Girard's poor/misunderstood actions. His story is about as wobbly as his art, with little meanderings that don't end up being important. It doesn't come to much of a conclusion, but hey that's real life. I didn't dislike it, but I didn't love it either. It was readable but didn't leave me thinking or wishing for more. I'd probably read more from him.
March 9, 2024
Though Girard's work can sometimes be painfully self deprecating this book balances out his autobiographical accident prone, awkward character self with a desire to run, to get over a break up and to catch a book thief he is also romantically interested in. This book is unique ; there isn't anything like this story and it needed to be told. Focusing on a time in the artists life he was NOT doing art and was down on his luck, trying to focus on ANY good he can he becomes obsessed with bringing a book thief at a local bookshop to justice but ; he doesn't do it with any grace or tact and the results are hilarious. This should be adapted into a movie. The drawing is perfection ; the edges of dark shapes are hatched out at the bottom of frames, the images are full of life, crisp and exciting. I am a huge fan of his drawing, always, but in this case, also of the writing.
August 22, 2016
Petty Theft is a cozy, romantic graphic novel with a bit of mystery tied in. Pascal, a cartoonist, has lost his job and been dumped by his long-time girlfriend, and decides to go to a local bookstore to find a book on coping with heartbreak. Once there, he notices a woman shoplifting a book he authored; intrigued, he decides to investigate. The story is cute and awkward, illustrated with beautifully simple black-and-white line drawings. Overall a perfect lazy read for a rainy afternoon, or foggy morning, or other such instance.
September 29, 2016
Really liked the story, a little iffy on the art, but not bad. A little cluttered. Well written above all. Hence the qualifier "literary" on the back cover. Category listed as "Comics & Graphic Novels / Literary." That's kind of a niche niche. But it hits me where I live, it turns out. Looking forward to others by this creator.
May 29, 2014
Pas mal, mais j'ai pas grand chose à dire dessus! Il manquait peut-être un peu de substance, mais j'ai souri à plusieurs reprises, et le trait de crayon de Pascal Girard est toujours agréable dans sa minutie.
June 11, 2014
A charming slice-of-life memoir recounting Girards's courtship of a book thief as he comes to terms with the end of an earlier relationship. Playful, fast-paced, and fun to read. It doesn't matter how much of this book actually is true; it feels true enough.
July 31, 2014
I picked this up at work when I noticed it was a graphic novel about books. I didn't really enjoy it. Pascal was annoying, and sometimes it felt like there was a scene missing from page to page. I was glad when it was over. What a letdown.
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