Books › You're all just jealous of my jetpack
You're all just jealous of my jetpack
160 pages
A deadpan, delightfully nerdy collision of high literature and sci-fi tropes that feels like sharing an inside joke with your favorite librarian.
What it feels like
Reading this collection feels like wandering through a delightfully absurd library where the Brontë sisters play video games and robots debate the merits of the experimental novel. The pace is brisk, as is the nature of comic strips, but the deadpan delivery and intricate cross-hatching invite you to linger on every panel. It is a masterclass in dry, affectionate satire, wrapping mild existential dread in a cozy, intellectual blanket. The humor relies on a quiet, impeccable timing rather than loud punchlines, making it a deeply comforting read for bibliophiles and writers who do not take themselves too seriously. It perfectly captures the specific joy of being a book nerd, offering a wry, whimsical escape that leaves you chuckling long after you have closed the cover.
- Mood
- whimsical
- cozy
- mildly existential
- intellectual
- Tone
- wry
- deadpan
- affectionate
- satirical
- dry
- Pace
- brisk
- Themes
- literary pretension · the absurdity of modern life · creative struggle · pop culture vs. high art
- The writing
- Minimalist, deadpan dialogue paired with stark, cross-hatched illustrations that deliver punchlines with impeccable timing.
- The arc
- A steady stream of quiet chuckles and knowing nods that culminates in a warm appreciation for the absurdities of the creative life.
- Who it's for
- Bibliophiles, writers, and pop-culture nerds who appreciate dry British humor and literary inside jokes.
About the book
"Dryly hilarious, the comics in You're all just jealous of my jetpack perfectly distill cartoonist Tom Gauld's dark humour, impeccable timing, and distinctinve style, all of which have made his work a popular weekly feature in The Guardian. Unexpected pairings such as the Brontë sisters and video games cross the classic with the contemporary. Gauld gleefully pokes fun at the canon of great authors--Shakespeare, Thoreau, Dickens, and Martin Amis all fall beneath his mighty pen. The real star of the collection, though, is the idea of the novel itself and its many forms, including the difficult novel, the realist novel, the experimental novel, and the never-ending question--is the novel dead? Definitely not for Gauld. Droll literary references abound with piercing observations about human behaviour and whimsical imaginings of the future."--Provided by publisher.
Description from Open Library.
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