You know what? I've never experienced the instant-connection, love-at-first-sight kind of fated relationship that Tom Beland describes in this title. Haven't been that lucky... yet. But while the romance between the creator and his now-wife Lily is the main plot of this book, the real focus is on an honest, down-to-earth and universal sense of humanity and the absurdity and wonder of life. I see myself in Tom. and in Lily. These aren't characters, they're people, and Beland isn't holding anything back.
Tom travels to Puerto Rico to visit Lily, and he's met with quite a few surprises. There's the heat, Lily's status as a bona fide media star in San Juan, the wonders and dangers of Puerto Rican food, the culture, the history and the natural beauty. And if that weren't overwhelming enough, he meets a multitide of Lily's family members... including her mother and father. Topping it all off is how strong Lily and Tom's feelings are for one another, and how painful the prospect of parting once again will be.
It seems clear from Beland's cartooning style that he started out doing newspaper strip-type artwork. There's a charming and bright simplicity to it; the exaggerations he uses to convey emotion are amusing and charming. But in this issue, he shows there's a lot more to his work than these simpler designs. He brings San Juan to life, and his detailed recreation of an historic fort is stunning. He also manages to covey such realistic humanity in the new characters, notably Lily's parents. I feel as though I could recognize them if I ever bumped into them in person.
Through the story of his relationship with Lily, Beland looks at something even grander: the simple wonder of life. This is a celebration of the quirks that combine to make up the everyday. We all take our lives for granted, never stop to think about how great things are or can be. It's easier to focus on the miserable moments. Beland makes room for those too, but he kisses them and makes them better. He points over to the side and says, "Yeah, that sucks, but look at that. Isn't that amazing?"
What makes it so easy to connect with this book, though, isn't just the optimism. It's Beland's honesty. He says the things that we all leave unsaid. He shares his thoughts and his life with the reader, and it all rings incredibly true. I was amazed to see him even including Lily's anger and hurt regarding her mother here. I can completely relate to her feelings in that instance, and it takes courage for Beland to share that, knowing that those involved will see it as well.
