2010 Reading #71: Scott Pilgrim's Finest Hour by Bryan Lee O'Malley

[snurri]

Books 1-10.
Books 11-20.
Books 21-30.
Books 31-40.
Books 41-50.
Books 51-60.
Books 61-70.

71. Scott Pilgrim's Finest Hour by Bryan Lee O'Malley. I had to read this before I saw the movie. (I still haven't seen the movie.) What's to say, really, except that it works; the resolution feels organic and not obligatory, and there's just the right aftertaste of uncertainty to the ending. My take on the series from the beginning has been that it's not really about the characters--it's about O'Malley's skewed take on romance and youth and existence at large; basically, if you're down with the video game metaphors and the somewhat antagonistic, borderline incestuous web of friendships-by-default, you're going to love it. It's not about Scott. Scott, to my mind, is a clueless douchebag who coasts on his boyish charm (and homicide). And I think O'Malley has always been aware of that, and acknowledged it, and here he finally addresses it in a way that satisfies without violating the rules of his world. Plus, there are cool fights.

Comments

[timakers.livejournal.com]

Like you, I was unwilling to see the movie until I'd read the books. I found them very satisfying, especially in the end.

[bloodlossgirl.livejournal.com]

I may have to read all the books, then - I'd only read the first one this summer and it didn't really grab me (for your stated "clueless douchebag" reason).

However, I saw the movie last night and it is completely full of WIN.