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Complicado
Uma história dentro de uma história, um livro dentro de um livro
Ian, um jovem melancólico com uma história complicada, sai em busca da irmã, partindo da Austrália, passando pela Inglaterra e cruzando a pé vários estados norte-americanos. Seu sonho: reencontrar Kylie e descobrir a verdade sobre sua família, em uma jornada complexa, poderosa e tocante.
Ian, um jovem melancólico com uma história complicada, sai em busca da irmã, partindo da Austrália, passando pela Inglaterra e cruzando a pé vários estados norte-americanos. Seu sonho: reencontrar Kylie e descobrir a verdade sobre sua família, em uma jornada complexa, poderosa e tocante.
320 pages, Paperback
First published October 30, 2006
18 people are currently reading
1265 people want to read
About the author
Natsume Ono
99 books110 followersNatsume Ono (Japanese name: オノ・ナツメ) made her professional debut in 2003 with the webcomic La Quinta Camera. Her subsequent works not simple, Ristorante Paradiso, and Gente (a continuation of Ristorante Paradiso) met with both critical and popular acclaim. In 2009 Ristorante Paradiso was adapted into a TV anime series. Her current series House of Five Leaves (Saraiya Goyou), also adapted into a TV anime series in 2010, is running in IKKI magazine.
(http://www.sigikki.com/creators/natsu...)
She also writes BL under the pen name of basso.
(http://www.sigikki.com/creators/natsu...)
She also writes BL under the pen name of basso.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 185 reviews
March 25, 2018
Bottom panel, page 236... all the review needed:
March 25, 2023
I'm sorry, but this wasn't as heartbreaking and hard-hitting as I had anticipated. Label me heartless or whatever
It has so much depth, but it is a complete waste of promise.
It has so much depth, but it is a complete waste of promise.
October 7, 2017
Not really sure how I feel about this book just yet...so I’m going to sit and marinate on it for a bit.
June 5, 2018
Definetly Not a book I would had read if I knew what was getting my self into,not recommend at all
January 30, 2023
[Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars]
Jan. 24, 2023
Just beware that this story has a lot of trigger warnings, though I won't list it down since it would possibly spoil the story
“What I really want...is to feel the warmth of the people who should be closest to me"
This one-volume manga is such a quick, but definitely not an easy read. Dark, emotional and distressing, it deals with a lot of heavy, messed up topic. Yes, this story is short but definitely a messed up one, And that depressing and tragic vibe has a such great impact, atleast to me. I didn't even realize that this little story can cause a massive heartbreak until I started it.
The story started out where you'll see the end of Ian's story at the prologue and you'll get to backtrack his unfortunate life leading to that moment in the succeeding chapters. Not Simple, a very befitting title, and you'll definitely know once you finish this story. In my opinion, 14 short chapters are enough content for this story to unfold. It's more impactful to me that way.
This line from Jim is the most accurate description of this manga. I don't think recommending this to everyone is an appropriate thing to do but please give it a try. Just don't forget that this has distressing topics and you should read at your own discretion.
ALSO, the art might not be for everyone and personally, it took me half the story to get used to the art style. Just so you know.
[ 2019-2020 READING SPREADSHEETS ]
[ NEW READING SPREADSHEETS ]
Jan. 24, 2023
Just beware that this story has a lot of trigger warnings, though I won't list it down since it would possibly spoil the story
“What I really want...is to feel the warmth of the people who should be closest to me"
This one-volume manga is such a quick, but definitely not an easy read. Dark, emotional and distressing, it deals with a lot of heavy, messed up topic. Yes, this story is short but definitely a messed up one, And that depressing and tragic vibe has a such great impact, atleast to me. I didn't even realize that this little story can cause a massive heartbreak until I started it.
The story started out where you'll see the end of Ian's story at the prologue and you'll get to backtrack his unfortunate life leading to that moment in the succeeding chapters. Not Simple, a very befitting title, and you'll definitely know once you finish this story. In my opinion, 14 short chapters are enough content for this story to unfold. It's more impactful to me that way.
This line from Jim is the most accurate description of this manga. I don't think recommending this to everyone is an appropriate thing to do but please give it a try. Just don't forget that this has distressing topics and you should read at your own discretion.
ALSO, the art might not be for everyone and personally, it took me half the story to get used to the art style. Just so you know.
[ 2019-2020 READING SPREADSHEETS ]
[ NEW READING SPREADSHEETS ]
January 14, 2014
Natsume Ono at her best. She is a master of creating a special kind of atmosphere, and this time her characters and story go extremely well with that talent. "Not Simple" lives up to its title and offers a nuanced story that goes inside its main character's psychology and exposes the complexities of a young mind emerging from the turmoil of uncertainty, trauma and guilt.
The structure of the novel is also quite ambitious; it experiments with the perception of reality and the subjectivity of memory. All in all an impressive read that one won't easily forget.
The structure of the novel is also quite ambitious; it experiments with the perception of reality and the subjectivity of memory. All in all an impressive read that one won't easily forget.
October 24, 2016
Not Simple, a title that fits the description of the story well.
I have always been a fan of works that are depressing in nature. But when I try to revisit a story, it just seems to have a less impact to me. Maybe it’s the realization that the story could have proceeded in a less tragic direction. Some just lack the essence of catharsis, making it feel like the whole story is just a misery fest for the reader. You get overwhelmed the first time but it doesn’t feel special anymore the second time around. However, Not Simple has been a very rare exception to this trend. Even after reading it for the fifth time, it still manages to widen the gaping hole it initially left within me.
The structure of the storyline is like a downward spiral, as it transitions back to the start after you reach the end. There are time skips, emphasizing only the key events while subtle implications of lesser details are still relevant story-wise. We witness the life journey of the protagonist Ian, a boy who comes from a complicated family. His childhood is no ordinary, a constant wreck to the point he’s completely desensitized. You might expect that he’s pessimistic because of his tragic backstory when in fact he’s the opposite. He is an aspiring athletic runner and strives hard for that goal. He eagerly travels across America in search for her sister. He makes a promise to a stranger he met in his journey to see each other again three years later. It’s that sense of optimism and innocence slowly being burned out as the story progresses that makes the story a real downer. Life just seems to be consistently screwing him over, like bashing him with a board sign “Your existence is a mistake”. However, he doesn’t give up easily and seeing him trying to live out his fractured life is such a bittersweet experience. Perhaps his passion for running stems from his desire to reach a destination, a place where he can really call home. In it, he seeks a confirmation that it is alright for him to exist and live with hope for the future.
The idea of broken family ties is portrayed well in the story. The father lives in Australia and the mother lives in London, they are divorced. Her sister jumps between those two areas in addition to America and always gets into trouble for the sake of making ends meet. Ian travels between those places and it symbolizes a family drifting apart, once intact but now in pieces because he was brought up to this world. In order for Ian to reach either of his parents, he needs to travel a great mile to meet them personally. This represents that his relationship with his parents are far from close, not a trace of familial love. There are noticeable efforts to make amends, re-uniting individual ties, but the cruelty of life halts that direction.
One strange thing about this manga is that it tries to be self-aware being a tragic story. Jim’s character seems out of place but he represents the reader, an observer who is given the chance to be involved. Given all he knows about Ian, there reaches a point where he can decide the outcome of the story. Does he merely observe or interfere, as the protagonist gets ultimately swallowed by misery? If he interferes, then there won’t be a tragic finale at all. The world will continue to move without everyone acknowledging Ian’s existence. If he only observes, then we are grateful for him that we get to enjoy this incredibly saddening tale of a wandering Australian boy. Ian even says at one point that Jim is his only friend which can be interpreted as the character’s awareness of the reader’s emotional attachment. Whatever the real author’s intentions are, it crafts the “story within a story” scenario well.
Overall, Not Simple is a haunting tale of hope clouded with misfortune. A conscious effort to be positive amidst the negativity captures the idea that life is indeed unforgiving. There is however a merit in a life of suffering, the ultimate test of what makes a person truly human. There is an option to be either full or void of hope in the face of demise, and seeing how it all leads to a personal decision is an emotional rollercoaster. Raw and unforgettable, Ian’s story is one that appeals universally. Life is what you want it to be, whether you are to be restrained by life’s injustices is ultimately an individual choice. At death’s door, do you think you have led a horrible life? It’s not about who’s got the most difficult life, it’s about how one accepts both the ugliness and beauty of life. A motivational message hidden within a heart-wrenching story, the manga definitely delivers.
I have always been a fan of works that are depressing in nature. But when I try to revisit a story, it just seems to have a less impact to me. Maybe it’s the realization that the story could have proceeded in a less tragic direction. Some just lack the essence of catharsis, making it feel like the whole story is just a misery fest for the reader. You get overwhelmed the first time but it doesn’t feel special anymore the second time around. However, Not Simple has been a very rare exception to this trend. Even after reading it for the fifth time, it still manages to widen the gaping hole it initially left within me.
The structure of the storyline is like a downward spiral, as it transitions back to the start after you reach the end. There are time skips, emphasizing only the key events while subtle implications of lesser details are still relevant story-wise. We witness the life journey of the protagonist Ian, a boy who comes from a complicated family. His childhood is no ordinary, a constant wreck to the point he’s completely desensitized. You might expect that he’s pessimistic because of his tragic backstory when in fact he’s the opposite. He is an aspiring athletic runner and strives hard for that goal. He eagerly travels across America in search for her sister. He makes a promise to a stranger he met in his journey to see each other again three years later. It’s that sense of optimism and innocence slowly being burned out as the story progresses that makes the story a real downer. Life just seems to be consistently screwing him over, like bashing him with a board sign “Your existence is a mistake”. However, he doesn’t give up easily and seeing him trying to live out his fractured life is such a bittersweet experience. Perhaps his passion for running stems from his desire to reach a destination, a place where he can really call home. In it, he seeks a confirmation that it is alright for him to exist and live with hope for the future.
The idea of broken family ties is portrayed well in the story. The father lives in Australia and the mother lives in London, they are divorced. Her sister jumps between those two areas in addition to America and always gets into trouble for the sake of making ends meet. Ian travels between those places and it symbolizes a family drifting apart, once intact but now in pieces because he was brought up to this world. In order for Ian to reach either of his parents, he needs to travel a great mile to meet them personally. This represents that his relationship with his parents are far from close, not a trace of familial love. There are noticeable efforts to make amends, re-uniting individual ties, but the cruelty of life halts that direction.
One strange thing about this manga is that it tries to be self-aware being a tragic story. Jim’s character seems out of place but he represents the reader, an observer who is given the chance to be involved. Given all he knows about Ian, there reaches a point where he can decide the outcome of the story. Does he merely observe or interfere, as the protagonist gets ultimately swallowed by misery? If he interferes, then there won’t be a tragic finale at all. The world will continue to move without everyone acknowledging Ian’s existence. If he only observes, then we are grateful for him that we get to enjoy this incredibly saddening tale of a wandering Australian boy. Ian even says at one point that Jim is his only friend which can be interpreted as the character’s awareness of the reader’s emotional attachment. Whatever the real author’s intentions are, it crafts the “story within a story” scenario well.
Overall, Not Simple is a haunting tale of hope clouded with misfortune. A conscious effort to be positive amidst the negativity captures the idea that life is indeed unforgiving. There is however a merit in a life of suffering, the ultimate test of what makes a person truly human. There is an option to be either full or void of hope in the face of demise, and seeing how it all leads to a personal decision is an emotional rollercoaster. Raw and unforgettable, Ian’s story is one that appeals universally. Life is what you want it to be, whether you are to be restrained by life’s injustices is ultimately an individual choice. At death’s door, do you think you have led a horrible life? It’s not about who’s got the most difficult life, it’s about how one accepts both the ugliness and beauty of life. A motivational message hidden within a heart-wrenching story, the manga definitely delivers.
May 3, 2020
I was surprised to see that some people actually didn't like the manga and called it a 'waste of time'. let me just say, if you have a free hour spend it with this little masterpiece. you probably won't regret it if you try to understand the desires and thoughts of the characters.
September 27, 2018
"You're hard to Grasp. You're not simple"
"A person unclouded by too much thought. Someone who was simply himself and nothing more"
The story of a boy who goes in search of his sister. His life is filled with moments of hope only to be replaced with tragedy.
"A person unclouded by too much thought. Someone who was simply himself and nothing more"
The story of a boy who goes in search of his sister. His life is filled with moments of hope only to be replaced with tragedy.
May 22, 2021
Pretty simple
April 19, 2023
Quando si aspetta unə figlio si tende a proiettare su di lui tutta una serie di nostre fantasie. Come sarà fisicamente? Avrà i capelli ricci come i miei? Avrà gli occhi verdi del padre? E come sarà caratterialmente? Quale sport vorrà praticare? Domande su domande su domande. Sembra tutto un sogno. Poi un giorno accendi la tv e senti che hanno tentato di uccidere una ragazzina attivista. È questo il mondo in cui vogliamo far nascere nostrə figliə? Ed è giusto sperare che sarà unə figliə eccezionale, se poi il rischio è questo?
Miki Yamamoto parla delle aspettative, dei desideri e delle paure più profonde che l’essere genitori comporta. Aspettative, desideri e paure che iniziano ben prima della nascita dellə figliə in questione.
Con uno stile minimal l’autrice centra l’obiettivo e trascina il lettore in un viaggio breve, ma decisamente intenso.
Miki Yamamoto parla delle aspettative, dei desideri e delle paure più profonde che l’essere genitori comporta. Aspettative, desideri e paure che iniziano ben prima della nascita dellə figliə in questione.
Con uno stile minimal l’autrice centra l’obiettivo e trascina il lettore in un viaggio breve, ma decisamente intenso.
May 2, 2014
A mixture of warmth, compassion, and devastating sadness. In many ways a beautiful and challenging book. Several stories entwine to reveal Ian's history and life story. Characters fall in love but not all happiness is destined to last and this story begins at the end. Jim, Kylie, and Ian all feel like very real people and their problems are equally real.
Not Simple is far from a typical story and the title works on several levels.
Not Simple is far from a typical story and the title works on several levels.
December 8, 2012
To be honest, I didn't like the drawing style in its simplicity. But there was something about the eyes that caught my attention. Upon reading, I was at first confused by what appeared to be a non-linear plot. Then the threads of the story started to pull together and I really enjoyed it.
October 6, 2018
Oof. This was a twisted maze of pain and life. Distinct art style that fits the disjointed feeling of the story. I really liked it!
September 7, 2022
Complicado, de Natsume Ono, é o último mangá lançado através do catálogo da editora gaúcha L&PM em sua coleção de pocket books. Como o nome do mangá já diz, é uma história complicada sobre um garoto complicado que se vê enredado e vítima da perversão de seu pai. As coisas que o garoto acaba descobrindo sobre si mesmo são muito chocantes para ele e para o leitor e poderiam ser o enredo de uma novela daquelas bastante melodramáticas. Entretanto, o ritmo e a forma como a artista imprime ao quadrinho transforma o que poderia ser um melodrama barato em algo bastante contundente. Seu traço mais infantil e fofinho que conta uma história com contornos adultos envolvendo prostituição e abuso de menores é um contraste bastante imponente nesta obra. Não é um quadrinho fácil de ler. Não pela sua densidade, mas pelo seu teor. Tanto que comecei a lê-lo meses atrás e só fui concluir ele agora (e também porque ele acabou caindo embaixo da minha cama). De toda forma, Complicado é um mangá diferente e que vale o investimento feito nele.
November 19, 2018
I saw this book at the library, picked it up, and put it back when I saw that the art style is, how should I put it... untraditional. Flash forward an ironic 3 years (what an amazing coincidence) and I have fallen in love with this short work. It’s one of those manga’s I wish I could buy and put on my bookshelf — the only manga I have bought, but unfortunately gave away as a secret Santa present was Solanin — right where all my other favorite books are. Because this is not a manga you can simply read once, as the title suggests, the story is not simple, but it grips you with its amazingly complex characters and, while never directly telling the audience anything (this story is mostly dialogue) you can correctly infer everything that is happening. That was a long winded way to say highly recommend.
August 8, 2024
Natsume Ono is my favorite mangaka and this story makes me love her work even more. Initially, I had mixed feelings about this oneshot. However, it gives me such a visceral reaction to the point where I can't stop thinking about it, which is more than I can say for most of the stuff I've read. The story is told in a nonlinear fashion, jumping between flashbacks and the events leading up to the prologue. The main character has lived a horrible life. I can't stress how much his circumstances and upbringing suck. And yet, he remains hopeful. His unwavering optimism in spite of everything destroys me. I recommend reading this all in one go for maximum impact.
July 25, 2020
I'm a mess. This story is amazing and heartbreaking and I don't know how else to deal with it besides getting others to read it and share in my emotional trauma.
July 29, 2022
TODOS os recursos narrativos dramáticos em uma única história
December 28, 2025
A really dark and bitter story. It was beautiful in a way but not the best thing I’ve ever read and the story seemed forced and confusing at times. 4/5 it was a good read.
April 20, 2026
eu não consumo avaliar quadrinhos, mas eu achei esse tão bom e com tantos plot twists que eu precisei dar 5 estrelas! que história trágica, sério!
February 18, 2018
Not Simple is an experience of hatred, depression and anger that never shows you a single moment of brighter times. The manga starts with the protagonist, Ian, dying a sad and miserable death alone.
Right from the start, as a reader you've been conditioned to never hope for brighter times. The problem I struck with this formula is that because there was never any hope for Ian, the constant twists and turns that ruin his life feel as if they have left much less of an impact than they had the potential to. There were very few moments where I truly felt any of the emotions that the manga was trying to shove down my throat constantly.
The artwork is unique and consistent, but it can be hard to follow sometimes. Often I found that the only defining features of a character was the colour of their hair, which isn't a huge problem considering that there are few characters to focus on. Combined with the fast pace and the incredibly fast passage of time Not Simple can seem like a confusing collection of chapters that could use some work flowing together in a more well balanced manner.
This isn't to say I didn't enjoy Not Simple, I simply believe it had the chance to be a lot more emotionally powerful considering the fantastic and well crafted (yet depressing) plot. I do have to give props to Natsume Ono for writing a depressing manga that shows absolutely no hope. I've never read anything quite like it.
Strong 3 to light 4, Worth a read but not great.
Right from the start, as a reader you've been conditioned to never hope for brighter times. The problem I struck with this formula is that because there was never any hope for Ian, the constant twists and turns that ruin his life feel as if they have left much less of an impact than they had the potential to. There were very few moments where I truly felt any of the emotions that the manga was trying to shove down my throat constantly.
The artwork is unique and consistent, but it can be hard to follow sometimes. Often I found that the only defining features of a character was the colour of their hair, which isn't a huge problem considering that there are few characters to focus on. Combined with the fast pace and the incredibly fast passage of time Not Simple can seem like a confusing collection of chapters that could use some work flowing together in a more well balanced manner.
This isn't to say I didn't enjoy Not Simple, I simply believe it had the chance to be a lot more emotionally powerful considering the fantastic and well crafted (yet depressing) plot. I do have to give props to Natsume Ono for writing a depressing manga that shows absolutely no hope. I've never read anything quite like it.
Strong 3 to light 4, Worth a read but not great.
January 11, 2011
I just couldn't get past the first few pages. I liked the description, but between the Japanese layout ("backwards" to my western eyes) and the illustration style, I only barely started the thing. I'm very irritated, because I really want to get into manga, and I thought that this, as a slightly arty, more realistic take, might be a good gateway piece. But sadly, no.
January 4, 2015
Not Simple is one of the best mangas I've ever read. Its story is about as unique as its art style. It's incredibly touching, which, for a manga, is very rare for me. The plot moves a bit like the wind. Events transpire quickly and sometimes without reason, and you just have to follow along. Regardless, Not Simple is a magnificent story I could read again and again.
October 31, 2016
Way too depressing, somber, and ultimately tragic for my taste. Sure, there's a glimmer of a smile at the end, but did I really want that journey, or was it worth that journey? Hell no. Points for the unique art. It was intriguing to look at, very liquid, flowing and simple.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 23, 2016
Sad and brilliant.
April 2, 2016
Great little graphic novel, sweet and sad. Really fast read, knocked it out at the library while the kids were playing.
May 26, 2021
Esta a muy weird porque daba unos twists que no lo esperabas and la persona tiene una vida de mi*rd que daba 💧 pero bueno un 4.5 🌟 me SoRrrpreDdió.
August 7, 2013
goes straight onto my list of most favourite graphic novels.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 185 reviews