Sneha Jaiswal (X | Insta | FB | GoodReads)
“Random Ramblings of a Cartoonist” should’ve probably been the title of this graphic novel, but you’ve got to admit – “Memoirs of a Man in Pajamas” sounds more fun. Written and illustrated by Paco Roca, the memoir is jammed with anecdotal tidbits, travel stories, jokes, opinions that range from extremely hilarious to kinda tedious. If like me, you didn’t know that Paco Roca is a pretty celebrated Spanish cartoonist (which becomes pretty evident in the book), you should read some of his other works before this. Because, “Memoirs of a Man in Pajamas” (original title – Trilogía de un hombre en pijama) seems to be the kind of book that would be more enjoyable to those who are already fans of Paco’s works.
“Memoirs of a Man in Pajamas” starts with Paco Roca humorously portraying his doormat personality. He struggles to say no to anyone, prefers staying at home and avoiding people, and yet is an unabashed people-pleaser. He readily shares his number with random strangers, accepts invitations from anyone who asks him out, and fully embraces the personality of the woman he is dating in a bid to endear himself to them. Paco works from home and stays in his pajamas the whole day, unless he needs to step out for a drink with friends or groceries.
The artwork in the book is lively, cartoonish, and Paco Roca keeps changing the color tones of the panels as the memoir is divided into several little sections, each about a different theme. So from jet-setting around the world for book tours to sitting at home struggling to draw his next comic the whole day, having an argument with his partner over movies, or offering solutions on how to end global poverty, “Memoirs of a Man in Pajamas” offers a vastly divergent set of scenarios. And to protect the identities of his friends features in fun anecdotal snippets, the artist refers to them by their sun-signs. So you’d find out how “Aquarius is a magnet for men who are going through midlife crises” or how his friend “Aries” has an astonishing talent for scoring with women.
While the graphic novel is only 232 pages long, it felt infinitely longer, largely due to the disconnected anecdotes. After a very funny first half, the book begins to slow down and even gets a bit boring towards the end. Yet, because of some quirky and even heartfelt moments in the novel, I didn’t really want “Memoirs of a Man in Pajamas” to end. Besides, the climax felt too abrupt, like being thrown off a movie before the last chapter concludes. Overall, it was a fun book that makes me want to read Paco Roca’s other fiction works.
Rating: 3.5 on 5.
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