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Trying Not to Notice
Will Dinski returns with a character study told through a prism of foils, each novel-worthy in their own right.
”Dinski is an astute observer of the human condition, transcribing our fears, anxieties, delusions and desperations in his every line, taking care to remind us of the humor that can be found in one’s ongoing struggle with the myriad impediments inherent in our species" — Joshua W. Cotter, author of Skyscrapers of the Midwest, Driven by Lemons, and Nod Away.
Will Dinski’s long-awaited return to long-form comics following 2010’s Finger Prints sees not only a dramatic shift in style, but approach to storytelling as well. Focusing on the meteoric rise of a stand-up comedian as told by the people in his orbit, Dinski’s ability to create a layered, nuanced narrative is in top form with Trying Not to Notice.
Will Dinski is an illustrator, cartoonist, printmaker, and graphic designer based in Minneapolis, MN. Winner of the Isotope award for excellence in Mini-Comics in 2009, his debut graphic novel, Finger Prints, was published by Top Shelf Productions in 2010. In 2012, Will was awarded the MCBA Jerome Fellowship in order to produce a series of letterpress comics. The past five years have seen a series of smaller releases appear in a variety of places: a pair of comics published by 2dcloud, a piece in the Nashville Review, and most recently a self-published collection of shorts titled Quick and Painless.
”Dinski is an astute observer of the human condition, transcribing our fears, anxieties, delusions and desperations in his every line, taking care to remind us of the humor that can be found in one’s ongoing struggle with the myriad impediments inherent in our species" — Joshua W. Cotter, author of Skyscrapers of the Midwest, Driven by Lemons, and Nod Away.
Will Dinski’s long-awaited return to long-form comics following 2010’s Finger Prints sees not only a dramatic shift in style, but approach to storytelling as well. Focusing on the meteoric rise of a stand-up comedian as told by the people in his orbit, Dinski’s ability to create a layered, nuanced narrative is in top form with Trying Not to Notice.
Will Dinski is an illustrator, cartoonist, printmaker, and graphic designer based in Minneapolis, MN. Winner of the Isotope award for excellence in Mini-Comics in 2009, his debut graphic novel, Finger Prints, was published by Top Shelf Productions in 2010. In 2012, Will was awarded the MCBA Jerome Fellowship in order to produce a series of letterpress comics. The past five years have seen a series of smaller releases appear in a variety of places: a pair of comics published by 2dcloud, a piece in the Nashville Review, and most recently a self-published collection of shorts titled Quick and Painless.
196 pages, Paperback
First published November 15, 2016
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
September 8, 2016
As with other Dinski comics, this is something that needs to be engaged with fully and contemplated. The first time I read this I wasn't certain about the story's mechanisms or trajectory, but then going back through and rereading brought out more of its underpinnings. Rereading all texts is important, of course, but some creator's works just call for more attention than others...and in a good way. And Will Dinski is just such a writer.
December 29, 2023
The book contains a few different stories but each story has the same characters in it. The first story is about a comedian, who seems to just have a bad time overall. He seems to be in a slump and has internal stuff he's bothered by.
The first story can be relatable, it's grounded.
Every story after just gets weirder and weirder. The stories are no longer grounded but somehow still stays kinda relatable. Characters get fired from their jobs, they have doubts about their partners and end up jealous, they get a dream job and find out it's not what they thought.
The characters all stay the same, each story focuses on a different one. But ultimately there is a main character that's effects everyone else's lives.
Overall, the book is just ok. After another read or two I might like it more. But as far as first impressions go, it's just ok.
The first story can be relatable, it's grounded.
Every story after just gets weirder and weirder. The stories are no longer grounded but somehow still stays kinda relatable. Characters get fired from their jobs, they have doubts about their partners and end up jealous, they get a dream job and find out it's not what they thought.
The characters all stay the same, each story focuses on a different one. But ultimately there is a main character that's effects everyone else's lives.
Overall, the book is just ok. After another read or two I might like it more. But as far as first impressions go, it's just ok.
January 9, 2018
I'm gonna be honest about this book, I don't like it but for a very personal (?) question that has to be with all that is happening in Hollywood and all the Louie CK theme, I don´t find that type of characters fun any more and I think they are harmless, this book was wrote before all of this so I can see a past version of myself enjoying it, but now I don't.
July 26, 2024
3.5 stars
December 9, 2016
This is the first long-form comic I've read by Dinski, who is an excellent cartoonist. This story about the meteoric rise of a comedian and a few key people in his orbit is well-crafted and ambiguous, concluding on a tantalizingly open-ended note. It will definitely merit a reread or two, which to me is a key sign of the success of a graphic novel. Dinski challenges his readers to think for themselves, rather than doing it for them. A solid 4 out of 5.
July 2, 2016
Got an advance copy at CAKE. I was drawn in by the art, cartoony, soft around the edges, travels at a nice speedy pace and pleasantly detailed. I was drawn in by Kyle the comedian's story which felt real and raw. You see where the author is going with the intention to show how people's outer lives don't reflect their inner struggles. However, the other three characters aren't as believable, particularly the wife, who has an unbelievable job stalking people to track people's shopping habits for corporations, even her own husband. In an age of big data, Facebook, Amazon - why would this job exist? Because her personal conflict with her work is not enough to really give the character weight, she's crippled as well. The way the main character "tries not to notice" the inner lives of others could have been more pervasive, dramatic. Instead, he comes off as a stable, happy guy who ignores a few negative aspects of his life, rather than outright refusing to engage or neglecting others. The final metaphor doesn't connect.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews