Plot Summary

Jimmy Corrigan: The Smartest Kid on Earth

Chris Ware
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Jimmy Corrigan: The Smartest Kid on Earth

Fiction | Graphic Novel/Book | Adult | Published in 2000

Book Brief

Chris Ware

Jimmy Corrigan: The Smartest Kid on Earth

Fiction | Graphic Novel/Book | Adult | Published in 2000
Book Details
Pages

380

Format

Graphic Novel/Book • Fiction

Setting

Chicago, Illinois • 1990s

Publication Year

2000

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

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Super Short Summary

Jimmy Corrigan: The Smartest Kid on Earth by Chris Ware is a graphic novel following Jimmy Corrigan, a reclusive and socially awkward middle-aged man who meets his estranged father for the first time in a fictional Michigan town. As they interact, Jimmy's idealizations about his father crumble, revealing generational patterns of loneliness and trauma, explored through non-linear timelines and minimal text. Themes of childhood abuse, isolation, and emotional trauma are present in the book.

Melancholic

Contemplative

Nostalgic

Mysterious

Reviews & Readership

4.2

24,723 ratings

75%

Loved it

15%

Mixed feelings

10%

Not a fan

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Review Roundup

Jimmy Corrigan: The Smartest Kid on Earth by Chris Ware is a visually compelling graphic novel, praised for its detailed artwork and intricate storytelling. However, some readers find its narrative style and pacing challenging. While emotionally resonant for many, its melancholy tone may not appeal to everyone. Overall, it's a thought-provoking read with mixed reception.

Who should read this

Who Should Read Jimmy Corrigan: The Smartest Kid on Earth?

Readers who appreciate graphic novels with deep emotional complexity and intricate illustrations would enjoy Jimmy Corrigan: The Smartest Kid on Earth by Chris Ware. Fans of Art Spiegelman's Maus and Alison Bechdel's Fun Home will find this poignant, multilayered exploration of loneliness and family history compelling.

4.2

24,723 ratings

75%

Loved it

15%

Mixed feelings

10%

Not a fan

Book Details
Pages

380

Format

Graphic Novel/Book • Fiction

Setting

Chicago, Illinois • 1990s

Publication Year

2000

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

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