Sleepwalk and Other Stories

Writer(s): Adrian Tomine
Artist(s): Adrian Tomine
Publisher: Drawn and Quarterly
ISBN: 978-1896597126
Price: $17.95
Page count: 102
Year Released: 1997
Status: in print
Original Source: Optic Nerve 1-4
Other Collected Edition(s): paperback edition (ISBN 978-1896597126)
Genres: literature; romance/relationships; short stories; slice of life
Recommended for Fans Of: John Cheever; Eric Bogosian's subUrbia
Possible Objectionable Material: brief nudity
If You Like This Book, Try: Caricature
Also in This Series: n/a

Plot Summary
Sleepwalk and Other Stories contains 16 short stories that focus mainly on relationships, and people's chronic inability to communicate effectively. More often than not it's the breakups of relationships that Tomine is most interested in exploring. His couples are frequently emotional strangers to one another, and his protagonists often embody the archetypal Generation X/slacker persona to great effect. Other stories examine brief moments of loneliness and alienation, social terrorism perpetuated by the anonymous, and the disconnect between generations as illustrated by parents and their children or bosses and their employees.

My Own 2 Cents
Sleepwalk is a fairly eclectic mix of stories that nonetheless have a unifying theme. They're just as gloomy as anything the author has written, but their brevity allows for some relief in-between readings. I personally consider Tomine to be one of the most talented creators in the field, and Sleepwalk displays his talents perfectly.