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Orange
Teenager Orange's outsized, nihilistic feelings rage and rant thought the massive emptiness she feels is her life, but that changes when she meets Dashu, whose mysterious presence keeps her from ending her own life.
144 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2006
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 106 reviews
July 11, 2017
Timely and thought provoking - a young girl searches for meaning as her world crumbles around her - and suicide seems to be the only answer she can find.
November 28, 2009
Okay I do not know how far down this book was in the list of results after searching for "Orange" but it was not in the first four pages, and only ONE of those listed was actually titled "Orange." WTF, Goodreads?
You might think I'm overreacting. I'm not. Because this comic is stunning. The art is expressive and intense and gorgeous. The narrative itself is loose--I know from experience that translation doesn't always capture the poetry of a work, although I have no way of knowing if that happened here. It is entirely possible it was written pretty much exactly as it's presented; I can see that. It still captures the dark and empty feelings that seem to be especially intense during the teen years for some; a little contradictory--a desperate reaching out on one hand (that might be indicating a belief, or at least hope, that there are reasons to live) and a conviction of isolation and hopelessness on the other. Having found no hope in the normal world, Orange looks for it in a place--a person--even more shattered than herself.
The art makes what could have been quite a dreary (and maybe even unremarkable story, in lesser hands) live and breathe. The pastels, the fluidity, the sense of motion--the book is amazing. I recommend you feast your eyes on this thing as soon as you can.
I cannot convey how upset I am that Benjamin's next book scheduled for English release, "Remember," has been pushed back to Feburary 2010. Damn it.
You might think I'm overreacting. I'm not. Because this comic is stunning. The art is expressive and intense and gorgeous. The narrative itself is loose--I know from experience that translation doesn't always capture the poetry of a work, although I have no way of knowing if that happened here. It is entirely possible it was written pretty much exactly as it's presented; I can see that. It still captures the dark and empty feelings that seem to be especially intense during the teen years for some; a little contradictory--a desperate reaching out on one hand (that might be indicating a belief, or at least hope, that there are reasons to live) and a conviction of isolation and hopelessness on the other. Having found no hope in the normal world, Orange looks for it in a place--a person--even more shattered than herself.
The art makes what could have been quite a dreary (and maybe even unremarkable story, in lesser hands) live and breathe. The pastels, the fluidity, the sense of motion--the book is amazing. I recommend you feast your eyes on this thing as soon as you can.
I cannot convey how upset I am that Benjamin's next book scheduled for English release, "Remember," has been pushed back to Feburary 2010. Damn it.
February 11, 2017
The art in this book is phenomenally beautiful and is its one saving grace. The dialogue is either poorly written, poorly translated, or both. The plot is whisper-thin: Orange is a teenage girl who wants to jump off a building because life is lame and being a teen is hard. The author also makes it clear that Orange has a deep aversion to all things sexual, but gives no reason for including this detail and no background on why the character feels this way. Included as a sort of appendix are more beautiful pictures by the author as well as a few strange, near-suicidal rantings of his own that left me confused and uncomfortable.
In a nutshell, what could have been an excellent story is left undeveloped, causing an odd pairing of transcendent pictures and teen angst that makes Bella look mature and well-adjusted.
Recommend to: Art fans
Don't recommend to: Younger teens, the highly impressionable
In a nutshell, what could have been an excellent story is left undeveloped, causing an odd pairing of transcendent pictures and teen angst that makes Bella look mature and well-adjusted.
Recommend to: Art fans
Don't recommend to: Younger teens, the highly impressionable
September 15, 2015
This graphic novel gets 5 stars for the artwork - the creator uses a fantastic painting style that is both beautiful to look at and quick enough to skim over, which makes the comic very readable (usually I would say I'm not a fan of full colour painted comics as the highly detailed artwork tends to adversely affect the pace of reading and enjoying the story).
Apart from the artwork tho, the plot of this comic couldn't get much more wishy-washy or teen-angsty. The main character is a teen girl who is questioning her existence and relationships with others (as teens usually do), but she is finding no point to her life, so she is constantly trying to buck up the courage to throw herself off a roof.
In the hands of a skilled writer the story could have been a much more poignant or dramatic one, where the reader is drawn into the girl's troubles, told a little about her past or reasons why she might feel like this, or introduced to some characters who help the girl come to terms with herself...but instead we are just hit repeatedly over the head with her random whinings, until a part of us wishes she would just throw herself of the roof and have done with it.
Apart from the artwork tho, the plot of this comic couldn't get much more wishy-washy or teen-angsty. The main character is a teen girl who is questioning her existence and relationships with others (as teens usually do), but she is finding no point to her life, so she is constantly trying to buck up the courage to throw herself off a roof.
In the hands of a skilled writer the story could have been a much more poignant or dramatic one, where the reader is drawn into the girl's troubles, told a little about her past or reasons why she might feel like this, or introduced to some characters who help the girl come to terms with herself...but instead we are just hit repeatedly over the head with her random whinings, until a part of us wishes she would just throw herself of the roof and have done with it.
September 7, 2010
I disagree with others in calling this a plotless art showcase. This is a quiet, haunting trip through a troubled girl's experience and, in my opinion, the fractured, sparse narrative and snail's pacing only serve to amplify the sense of longing and despair. The whole thing is dreamlike, surreal - as it should be. The revelation in her lover's suicide is purposefully skewed, enigmatic. We're not quite sure what she's learned in the end, but we're left with a sense of having been a witness to something powerful. I can't comment much on the accuracy of the translation job, but it reads fine in English the way it is. I don't know of many other books quite like this one, so it definitely made an impression.
May 30, 2009
Exquisitely depressing.
September 2, 2017
I'm giving three stars for the phenomenal artwork alone.
There's a strong resemblance to the art style of Zamzami.
Originally released in Chinese, I appreciated the translator's footnotes in explaining stuff within the local context. Sadly, the dialog and narrative was just all over the place.
Storywise, I don't care about any of the characters featured at all.
The girl most of all was seriously damaged. Far more than that Dashu bloke who jumped to his death.
I just wished Orange would have jumped instead.
There's a strong resemblance to the art style of Zamzami.
Originally released in Chinese, I appreciated the translator's footnotes in explaining stuff within the local context. Sadly, the dialog and narrative was just all over the place.
Storywise, I don't care about any of the characters featured at all.
The girl most of all was seriously damaged. Far more than that Dashu bloke who jumped to his death.
I just wished Orange would have jumped instead.
August 29, 2018
While the art is gorgeous, the story is very depressing. Starts off with suicide and goes through the main character's internal psychological issues. Not really my cup of tea.
July 24, 2014
More reviews (and no fluff) on the blog http://surrealtalvi.wordpress.com/
Orange is a beautiful but ultimately hard to read contemporary stream of consciousness about a teen girl questioning her life. Written by Benjamin Zhang Bin (本杰明), a mainland Chinese Manhua artist and illustrator, this is a rare look at the lives of young Chinese in the city.
The illustrations are quite distinct, unique, and beautiful but with a very strong manhua/manga influence. They are full page and really carry the story - the words are more incidental and definitely play a supporting role in the story.
But this is also a very depressing book about a life being questioned, suicide, and the possibility of redemption. For that reason, I think this is going to divide readers - not only for the nihilism (she hates her nice friends, she hates her nice parents, she hates herself) but also that a life had to be given in order for her to find redemption. This story isn't about the suicide though - it's presented up front in the beginning. Rather, it's about her journey and how one suicide provided the impetus to stop a different one.
This really does scream "artiste" work - a work someone who interjects their own self fully into it and thus fully realizing its pathos. It's also a fascinating look at modern Chinese life - from 'cheap cigarettes' to a desire to not become impure or tainted. Nearly every page is one full artwork - there are very few panels. There are also a lot of small details that can be missed if the book is read quickly; e.g., the girl's name is Orange but the man she meets who dies for her wears an orange shirt - that poignantly ties in at the end with the note that it was always dirty but now was washed. How much you like this book will depend on how much time you devote to the visual aspect, rather than the written word. The pervasive theme is the feeling of being dirty (poignant considering the notorious smog levels of Beijing and other cities) and the need to stay/become clean.
All said, although this isn't a book where art trumps story, the story can be so hard to read that it won't necessarily appeal to many graphic novel readers. But the cover is very representative of the art inside - digitally drawn beautiful works of art (more art than illustration in mind mind).
July 12, 2015
It's more of a 3.7 closer to 4 than just a 3...
January 17, 2017
the artwork is beautiful in a new and unique way, but it doesn't match the story. i had a hard time finding the story line and was often confused because of random dialogue and blurry pictures.
September 8, 2019
Re Read this recently, and am always in awe of how this endearing tale of sadness and loneliness takes you away in it's sea of colors and visuals. The artist truly crafts the most melancholy daydream in his work here.
A must read.
A must read.
December 2, 2017
Complete lack of flow and coherence.
December 27, 2012
Appeal Characteristics: STRIKING ART, Gorgeous colors, suicide, depression, teenage, china, youth culture, issues, dreams, self-identity
A lot of people will have a hard time reading this book. Not because of the distraction of artwork due to it's FANTASTIC-NESS) and not in story layout...it's because the translated story is "hard" to follow...notice it's not impossible, just a bit difficult. Foreign works especially translated poetry works is hard in English...as sometimes the language barrier means we only get a small rough "gist" of what the original meaning might have conveyed. I think of the writing this way..if he was popular enough to mainstream outside his original country...there was something appealing that people felt in his work. I remember in that era (2003-2008) especially in trending Asian culture (rise in anime, graphic novels here, my friends news of happenings in the following of some j-rock/pop groups) when a lot of suicides did get press (internet especially) over many different reasons from bands to grades. This is definitely an advance reader, and one who is open to lots of assumptions. A lot of stuff may seem "lost in translation" but it's easily open to interpretation.
In addition, having a background in the culture being represented is necessary, too. This isn't a typical Korean or Japanese comic. This is not manga nor manhwa...this is manhua: a mainland Chinese culture comic. This works is a "slice of life" in featuring what youth teenagers struggle with. That doesn't mean the "world-wide" appeal isn't there. Some might find it hard to relate too in the story-telling aspect. On the other hand, I find it absolutely fascinating!
Meet Orange. She's this beautiful girl who can't seem to find her purpose in life or even as to what is life all about. She might seem vain, shallow, or even narcissistic, but she's desperately searching for some truth. There is so much snippets of social commentary gleaned that can be discussed in topics ranging from her parents to her friend's life dreams, even her life choices in order to "feel." Enter Dashu an older guy who changes her life...for better or for worse.
The beauty of this novel is that this really depressing story is visually breathtaking. This isn't your "dark, gloomy, gothic, broody" teenagers...but a group of normal kids each trying to desperately navigate between childhood dreams, reality, and adult-like expectations. To capture such a dark subject issue that teens struggle with...and render it with so much beauty is phenomenal. It's is like watching the new Judge Dredd in 3D. Storyline aside, what they did with the artistic visuals was stunningly captivating. That's how Zhang Bin (Benjamin) drawings are. {Plus I read in an interview that he can draw those panels in sometimes less than an hour....THAT'S TALENT!)
My only gripe is I wish I had more access to Chinese manhua. :)
Red Flags: adult situations, language, mild disturbing images
A lot of people will have a hard time reading this book. Not because of the distraction of artwork due to it's FANTASTIC-NESS) and not in story layout...it's because the translated story is "hard" to follow...notice it's not impossible, just a bit difficult. Foreign works especially translated poetry works is hard in English...as sometimes the language barrier means we only get a small rough "gist" of what the original meaning might have conveyed. I think of the writing this way..if he was popular enough to mainstream outside his original country...there was something appealing that people felt in his work. I remember in that era (2003-2008) especially in trending Asian culture (rise in anime, graphic novels here, my friends news of happenings in the following of some j-rock/pop groups) when a lot of suicides did get press (internet especially) over many different reasons from bands to grades. This is definitely an advance reader, and one who is open to lots of assumptions. A lot of stuff may seem "lost in translation" but it's easily open to interpretation.
In addition, having a background in the culture being represented is necessary, too. This isn't a typical Korean or Japanese comic. This is not manga nor manhwa...this is manhua: a mainland Chinese culture comic. This works is a "slice of life" in featuring what youth teenagers struggle with. That doesn't mean the "world-wide" appeal isn't there. Some might find it hard to relate too in the story-telling aspect. On the other hand, I find it absolutely fascinating!
Meet Orange. She's this beautiful girl who can't seem to find her purpose in life or even as to what is life all about. She might seem vain, shallow, or even narcissistic, but she's desperately searching for some truth. There is so much snippets of social commentary gleaned that can be discussed in topics ranging from her parents to her friend's life dreams, even her life choices in order to "feel." Enter Dashu an older guy who changes her life...for better or for worse.
The beauty of this novel is that this really depressing story is visually breathtaking. This isn't your "dark, gloomy, gothic, broody" teenagers...but a group of normal kids each trying to desperately navigate between childhood dreams, reality, and adult-like expectations. To capture such a dark subject issue that teens struggle with...and render it with so much beauty is phenomenal. It's is like watching the new Judge Dredd in 3D. Storyline aside, what they did with the artistic visuals was stunningly captivating. That's how Zhang Bin (Benjamin) drawings are. {Plus I read in an interview that he can draw those panels in sometimes less than an hour....THAT'S TALENT!)
My only gripe is I wish I had more access to Chinese manhua. :)
Red Flags: adult situations, language, mild disturbing images
June 11, 2012
I was familiar with Benjamin's art & usual storyline, so I wasn't really shocked when met with the huge difference between the colorful, joyous panels and the angsty-eventually-tragic plot.
Of course it all starts with Orange, who seems to be dissatisfied, even disgusted, with everything
and everyone. She decides that it's not worth living, so she writes a letter and prepares to jump off a roof. Then Daichi shows up, drunk, dirty, utterly haggard, and she changes her mind. It's really hard to tell her feelings. Honestly I think neither Orange herself knew what she wanted or needed, but it does look like she held some sort of affection for Daichi. Despite her aggressive behavior towards him & the 'poisonous' words she shoots at him everytime they meet, she's always aware of his presence & watches him.
Daichi is another character that causes great confusion. There's absolutely no way you'll be able to read his mind. It's simply impossible. Yet the man looks both strong & vulnerable throughout the manhua. It's as if he's understood his purpose and just waits to fulfill it. Weird, right?
Anyway, I felt this was a really good one. If you're into depressing plots about messed up & confused individuals with suicidal tendencies, it's a read you won't want to miss. I enjoyed deeply both the art & the storyline. I just wished it'd been a little longer...
Of course it all starts with Orange, who seems to be dissatisfied, even disgusted, with everything
and everyone. She decides that it's not worth living, so she writes a letter and prepares to jump off a roof. Then Daichi shows up, drunk, dirty, utterly haggard, and she changes her mind. It's really hard to tell her feelings. Honestly I think neither Orange herself knew what she wanted or needed, but it does look like she held some sort of affection for Daichi. Despite her aggressive behavior towards him & the 'poisonous' words she shoots at him everytime they meet, she's always aware of his presence & watches him.
Daichi is another character that causes great confusion. There's absolutely no way you'll be able to read his mind. It's simply impossible. Yet the man looks both strong & vulnerable throughout the manhua. It's as if he's understood his purpose and just waits to fulfill it. Weird, right?
Anyway, I felt this was a really good one. If you're into depressing plots about messed up & confused individuals with suicidal tendencies, it's a read you won't want to miss. I enjoyed deeply both the art & the storyline. I just wished it'd been a little longer...
August 8, 2010
Ok, so I heard that this Benjamin guy has done some great work, if they are refering to this book, then I will have to call Bull on them.
Let me try to summerize the story. Annoying Chinese girl named orange hates things, dislike her boyfriend becasue he wants to have sex with her and he buys cheap ciggarettes, and she wants to kill herself really bad or something. She meets a drunk idiot, the idiot mutters mindless things that she takes to heart, she eventually indirectly has the guy kill himself because he wants to save her, something he wouldn't do sober, and she cries about it. That is the first 2/3 of the book, the rest is Benjamin (the author) Talking about how awesome this book, and how he was soooooo depressed writing it and wanted to kill himself and waaaaah blah blah blah, i am cool, look at my drawings, waaaaah, lost love and crying and other stupid things that inspired this excuse for a book ect.
Overall, Orange SUCKS The only upside? Art looks good, I mean, if this was not a story but rather an art book? Holy cow 5 stars, but he was trying to make a story... so boo, 1 star. -_-
Let me try to summerize the story. Annoying Chinese girl named orange hates things, dislike her boyfriend becasue he wants to have sex with her and he buys cheap ciggarettes, and she wants to kill herself really bad or something. She meets a drunk idiot, the idiot mutters mindless things that she takes to heart, she eventually indirectly has the guy kill himself because he wants to save her, something he wouldn't do sober, and she cries about it. That is the first 2/3 of the book, the rest is Benjamin (the author) Talking about how awesome this book, and how he was soooooo depressed writing it and wanted to kill himself and waaaaah blah blah blah, i am cool, look at my drawings, waaaaah, lost love and crying and other stupid things that inspired this excuse for a book ect.
Overall, Orange SUCKS The only upside? Art looks good, I mean, if this was not a story but rather an art book? Holy cow 5 stars, but he was trying to make a story... so boo, 1 star. -_-
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 6, 2012
It makes me think of how useless our world is today. Even if we die, our lives are meaningless, a pitiful black stain on humanity. Sure our family and friends will remember us. But if we don't do anything worth remembrance, eventually they will forget too. They will die and forget and after that even they too will become a pitiful memory and be forgotten. We are only a microscopic part of this world. Without me this world would go on, no one would stop and cry for more than an instance, and some even not even that long. This book truly resembles the heart broken lives of some of us with no purpose in our minds. We may be young but what good is that without something to do, feel, or expiriance. What will you do 20 years from now when you see you have enjoyed nor felt nothing. Then our existence will be nothing more than a pitiful memory in this sad and lonely world.
September 19, 2010
Has that elliptical, gappy quality I associate with a lot of translated work, and goes out of its way to describe feelings that Western readers by now find trite... the main character is a pretty, bright high school girl, popular, chased by boys, and yet she feels alone and in despair. I think it's kind of interesting that the book lovingly dwells on all that - it's clearly wish fulfillment on the part of the book's creator, who adds a ton of first-person essay stuff as back matter to the book. I guess this is teen romance in China.
The art is preternaturally masterful - innovative colors, realistic landscapes given a hallucinogenic blur.
It's like manga in the form of a flossed-up motorcycle.
The art is preternaturally masterful - innovative colors, realistic landscapes given a hallucinogenic blur.
It's like manga in the form of a flossed-up motorcycle.
August 26, 2009
Orange is tired of life. She feels like everything sucks and contemplates ending it all. The story is dark and serves as a reminder of how dark life can seem sometimes, how fragile life is and how the things we say and do affect others. It tells the story of someone surrounded by people can still feel totally alone and how we take risks to force ourselves to feel alive. The afterward by the author is a touching self evaluation of his own dealings with depression. The best part of this graphic novel by far is the beautiful artwork that is used to tell the story. All of the panels are drawn using pastels and the beauty of the work offers a stark contrast to the darkness of the story.
August 3, 2013
This was hard to rate on a star basis. The author adds a note at the end of this graphic novel how he had a hard time getting this published due to its depressing subject. And depressing it is. The story was a bit too choppy for me to ever get to know the characters, why they were so depressed and suicidal, how they connected in the story.
This would get five stars if I were to rate it solely on the drawings. They were just gorgeous to look at. I found myself mesmerized at times at how beautiful they were, just staring and staring at them. But this alone could not save the story for me enough to recommend it.
This would get five stars if I were to rate it solely on the drawings. They were just gorgeous to look at. I found myself mesmerized at times at how beautiful they were, just staring and staring at them. But this alone could not save the story for me enough to recommend it.
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April 10, 2011Manhua!!
ah_maz-ing artwork.
Benjamin (aka Bin Zhang aka Benjamin Zhang) is just, wow. Brilliantly colored in expressionist digital painterly-ness, it shimmered and stunned on every page.
I related quite a bit to Dashu's sense of empty loneliness and alienation, but the overall story arc didn't grab me. still very curious to get my hands on some of his other stories.
what *did* grab me was this edition's collection of Benjamin's writings at the end as he talked process, artist's life, stuff he is working on, etc. I love it when artists talk about their process.
ah_maz-ing artwork.
Benjamin (aka Bin Zhang aka Benjamin Zhang) is just, wow. Brilliantly colored in expressionist digital painterly-ness, it shimmered and stunned on every page.
I related quite a bit to Dashu's sense of empty loneliness and alienation, but the overall story arc didn't grab me. still very curious to get my hands on some of his other stories.
what *did* grab me was this edition's collection of Benjamin's writings at the end as he talked process, artist's life, stuff he is working on, etc. I love it when artists talk about their process.
September 8, 2010
I think the comments made that the art is amazing and the story sucks are being unfair. I agree that the story isn't a literrary masterpiece but who expects that? I certainly didn't because I knew that the art would be masterpiece after masterpiece - and as always Benjamin lives up to it (and then some). I spent soooo long admiring the artwork of this book!
It was a very quick read (and I'm a slow reader!)...
It was a very quick read (and I'm a slow reader!)...
September 8, 2010
5+ stars for the unique, stunning art; 3 stars at best for the writing. I'm guessing the language seems lyrically lacking because it's been translated, but it's a sketchy attempt at telling a story that is hard to follow. Still, perhaps that was the intent, since he's trying to capture the mood of an angsty, suicidal teenager drifting through life. Regardless, this one is worth reading just for the pictures. I keep finding myself distractedly staring at them instead of writing this review.
September 9, 2016
BEAUTIFUL.
I have not read a book so moving in forever. For a flimsy graphic novel, I didn't expect so much out of it.
It is not just the art I fell in love with, it is the story. It is so honest. Honest about people. The way this world moves.
I had to read "benjamin"s other book 'Remember' after this. (which I might add... was even better.)
This book is the type to leave you thinking. I'd suggest it- highly.
I have not read a book so moving in forever. For a flimsy graphic novel, I didn't expect so much out of it.
It is not just the art I fell in love with, it is the story. It is so honest. Honest about people. The way this world moves.
I had to read "benjamin"s other book 'Remember' after this. (which I might add... was even better.)
This book is the type to leave you thinking. I'd suggest it- highly.
September 30, 2009
As so many other reviewers have commented: The artwork is stunning: 5 stars. The story is standard teen uber-angst: 3 stars. To be fair: the text is spare and the plot is carried to a great extent by the strength of the artwork. I suspect this graphic novel will be especially appealing to alienated teens and young adults (I'm thankfully a fair number of years past that now.)
June 18, 2012
Orange had the most vivid and expressive illustrations I've ever seen in a comic. A fever dream of adolescence. I loved the section at the end of book where he writes about this book and some of his other illustration work which is included. His tone is deeply confessional and alternately pained and joyful.
July 31, 2013
What made me pick up this book/graphic novel was the cover. It is so beautifully made I just had to take a look at it, and the drawings inside is just as gorgeous and colourful. The story itself is very gloomy, which is also shown in the drawings. Text and picture goes nicely hand in hand :) It is the drawings which makes the book so amazing, though..
March 14, 2016
i give it five stars only for it's artwork which is awesome but the stroy itself was really lacking and i felt like it didn't give much insite to the characters and some of the story didn't make much sense but it was to me worth the 15teen bucks i spent just for the artwork because that's really all the book has going for it
September 7, 2009
Though the story is nothing special--depressed teenager feels isolated and considers suicide--the illustrations are spectacular. Every panel is beautifully painted. They really take the well written but mediocre story and turn it into a work of art.
April 30, 2010
Really beautiful art. A kind of confusing story (at least for me). I will say, though, that I understood it much better this second time around since I've got a bit more experience reading in a graphic format.
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