THE STORY OF LEE
VOLUMES 1, 2 and 3
VOLUMES 1, 2 and 3
The Story of Lee Volume 3
Feb 2019
The 3rd volume of our book THE STORY OF LEE arrived with me today from the publisher in America!
I’m very glad to see it. One of the good things about books taking so long to make is that when you received the finished book its often a year or so since you wrote it, so you can read it fresh, almost as if for the first time. I think volume 3 is excellent and the artist, Pirelli, has done a very good job on the art - especially as its her first book!
Thats the last in the series and a good way to wrap up the story of Lee, Matt and the others.
Get the book here:
www.amazon.com/Story-Lee-3/dp/1681121956
https://www.nbmpub.com/comicslit/storyoflee/storyofllee_home.html
Reviews
"With excellent art from much-lauded London-based debutante Piarelle (AKA Pamela Lokhun) taking over from previous illustrators Chie Kutsuwada (volume 1) and Nami Tamura (volume 2), the age-old story unfolds with understated power as the lovers make decisions that will affect everybody and satisfy no one...
Supplemented by a copious Glossary and Notes section defining the specific vagaries of accent and slang whilst offering geographical and historical perspective on the many actual locations depicted, this is a deliciously compelling drama playing with well-established conventions and idioms of romantic fiction and teen soap opera.
With beguiling subtlety, The Story of Lee explores themes of cultural difference, mixed-race-relationships, family and friendship pressures and the often-insurmountable barrier of different childhood experiences and expectations to weave an enchanting tale of independence, interdependence and isolation. Moving and memorable, this is a timeless tale for modern lovers that you really should enjoy." - Win Wiacek, Now Read This
https://www.comicsreview.co.uk/nowreadthis/2019/02/14/the-story-of-lee-volume-3/
"The final black-and-white graphic novel in a complex trilogy set in modern times, The Story of Lee, volume 3 is about two college students: Lee, a young woman from Hong Kong studying in Britain, and Matt, a British native. The two have fallen in deeply love, but they each have different visions for the future. Matt dreams of joining a band and hitting the road, while Lee is focused on obtaining her degree. Is the rift between Lee and Matt irreparable? Another Chinese student takes a romantic interest in Lee, and trouble brews back in Hong Kong when Lee's father becomes unable to work - will Lee have to leave her independent life in the UK to return home and help her mother? An emotionally moving tale with three-dimensional characters, The Story of Lee is highly recommended." - Midwest Book Review
Recent review for Volume 1 and the series in general:
"As The Story of Lee is a character study, considerable artistic sensitivity is needed, and Chie Kusuwada’s deceptively simple looking style provides it. She uses very few lines to create her faces, but they’re emotionally strong. Lee can be shy and deferential, but her inner confidence shines through also, with her concerns and feelings visually conveyed. When using Hong Kong landmarks as background features there’s far greater detail, necessary as the beauty of the place is emphasised when the characters speak. That’s sometimes refreshigly absent as Wilson plots several page sequences without dialogue and Kusuwada showing the cast living in the moment. You can almost hear a musical soundtrack as Lee and Matt travel around together...all three books completing Lee’s story are available from NBM as a package."
- Frank Plowright, Slings and Arrows website
"With excellent art from much-lauded London-based debutante Piarelle (AKA Pamela Lokhun) taking over from previous illustrators Chie Kutsuwada (volume 1) and Nami Tamura (volume 2), the age-old story unfolds with understated power as the lovers make decisions that will affect everybody and satisfy no one...
Supplemented by a copious Glossary and Notes section defining the specific vagaries of accent and slang whilst offering geographical and historical perspective on the many actual locations depicted, this is a deliciously compelling drama playing with well-established conventions and idioms of romantic fiction and teen soap opera.
With beguiling subtlety, The Story of Lee explores themes of cultural difference, mixed-race-relationships, family and friendship pressures and the often-insurmountable barrier of different childhood experiences and expectations to weave an enchanting tale of independence, interdependence and isolation. Moving and memorable, this is a timeless tale for modern lovers that you really should enjoy." - Win Wiacek, Now Read This
https://www.comicsreview.co.uk/nowreadthis/2019/02/14/the-story-of-lee-volume-3/
"The final black-and-white graphic novel in a complex trilogy set in modern times, The Story of Lee, volume 3 is about two college students: Lee, a young woman from Hong Kong studying in Britain, and Matt, a British native. The two have fallen in deeply love, but they each have different visions for the future. Matt dreams of joining a band and hitting the road, while Lee is focused on obtaining her degree. Is the rift between Lee and Matt irreparable? Another Chinese student takes a romantic interest in Lee, and trouble brews back in Hong Kong when Lee's father becomes unable to work - will Lee have to leave her independent life in the UK to return home and help her mother? An emotionally moving tale with three-dimensional characters, The Story of Lee is highly recommended." - Midwest Book Review
Recent review for Volume 1 and the series in general:
"As The Story of Lee is a character study, considerable artistic sensitivity is needed, and Chie Kusuwada’s deceptively simple looking style provides it. She uses very few lines to create her faces, but they’re emotionally strong. Lee can be shy and deferential, but her inner confidence shines through also, with her concerns and feelings visually conveyed. When using Hong Kong landmarks as background features there’s far greater detail, necessary as the beauty of the place is emphasised when the characters speak. That’s sometimes refreshigly absent as Wilson plots several page sequences without dialogue and Kusuwada showing the cast living in the moment. You can almost hear a musical soundtrack as Lee and Matt travel around together...all three books completing Lee’s story are available from NBM as a package."
- Frank Plowright, Slings and Arrows website
COMPLETE SET
As Frank notes above the publisher has made a package of all three volumes together, for a cheaper price than buying them separately. It's bound by a cute wee specially printed band (I want to get one of them myself, but they aint sent me one yet guvnor!):
In the UK get it HERE
Or in the US on lovely 'we always pay our taxes and never abuse any our of staff' AMAZON
As Frank notes above the publisher has made a package of all three volumes together, for a cheaper price than buying them separately. It's bound by a cute wee specially printed band (I want to get one of them myself, but they aint sent me one yet guvnor!):
In the UK get it HERE
Or in the US on lovely 'we always pay our taxes and never abuse any our of staff' AMAZON
The Story of Lee Volume 2
Nov 2015
By Sean Michael Wilson, art by Nami Tamura.
The second installment in the popular series is a cross-cultural partnership melding East and West
"Finally Lee’s dream comes true, as she moves from her native Hong Kong to her dream location of the United Kingdom and with her dream guy, the handsome Matt. But of course, then comes the reality of being in a new country and actually living together, which might not be so easy, especially as Matt’s best friend, Richard, seems more than a little jealous. This second installment in the Story of Lee series beautifully showcases the complications of romance in a graphic novel format."
Specifically its set in Edinburgh, Scotland - my hometown, and features many real places there, just as volume 1 had many real Hong Kong places. There is an appendix at the back explaining more about those real Edinburgh places.
Get the book here:
Vol 2:
http://www.amazon.com/The-Story-Lee-Volume-2/dp/1561639737_
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-story-of-lee-sean-michael-wilson/1121750544?ean=9781561639731
Vol 1:
http://www.amazon.com/Story-Lee-One/dp/1561635944/ref=sr_1_14?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1374460250&sr=1-14
Digital version on Comixology:
https://www.comixology.com/The-Story-of-Lee/comics-series/5241
Some pages from volume 2, where Matt and Lee have some trouble:
Both volumes are also available for digital download on the popular Comixology site, the digital comics site for ipad, iphone, android, etc now has my own book with NBM Publishing on it - The Story of Lee. Just in time for Xmas! You can download the digital version for only $7.99 (a decent price as the paper one costs $11.99). It's my first English language digital book, although I have one out already in Japanese. 150 pages, mature manga story, art by Chie Kutuswada. There is also a 12 page free preview there on Comixology, as a taster. Nice!
https://www.comixology.com/The-Story-of-Lee/comics-series/5241
Of course, for those of you who prefer good old paper, the book is available from NBM, online and at all good books stores (plus a few bad ones).
The University of Edinburgh kindly features our book THE STORY OF LEE in its newsletter this month, including some visuals of scenes that take place in the university itself.
The Story of Lee Volume 1
150 pages, mature manga story,
written by Sean Michael Wilson
art by Chie Kutuswada.
NBM Publications, 2011.
"Lee, living in Hong Kong, meets Matt, a fine young Scot. Their relationship becomes stronger by the day, despite their deep cultural differences. But there is Lee's dad to contend with who views this affair very suspiciously. And there is another contender for Lee's heart, a young Chinese man, whose jealousy takes on twinges of xenophobia. Will Lee and Matt's relationship successfully cross the cultural divide and overcome the negative odds?"
Reviews
"Drawn with the onic faces and screentones manga aficionados cherish, and written with a sensitivity to the passion of first love, The Story of Lee is a story to move any heart." -Teacher Librarian
"Recommended. The cultural tension is beautifuilly written, and the story is told well in the small moments between Lee and Matt."
- Library Media Connection
"There is much here to like. Lee is quite sympathetic and her straightforward romance with Matt is sweet and believable. Readers will look forward to the next volume in this gentle series." -VOYA
"Made me feel warm and fuzzy. [The authors'] familiarity with the turf wars gives this unpretentious East-meets-West, boy-meets girl story an easy, breezy sense of verisimilitude." -Andrew 'Capt. Comics' Smith, Scripps Howard News Service
written by Sean Michael Wilson
art by Chie Kutuswada.
NBM Publications, 2011.
"Lee, living in Hong Kong, meets Matt, a fine young Scot. Their relationship becomes stronger by the day, despite their deep cultural differences. But there is Lee's dad to contend with who views this affair very suspiciously. And there is another contender for Lee's heart, a young Chinese man, whose jealousy takes on twinges of xenophobia. Will Lee and Matt's relationship successfully cross the cultural divide and overcome the negative odds?"
Reviews
"Drawn with the onic faces and screentones manga aficionados cherish, and written with a sensitivity to the passion of first love, The Story of Lee is a story to move any heart." -Teacher Librarian
"Recommended. The cultural tension is beautifuilly written, and the story is told well in the small moments between Lee and Matt."
- Library Media Connection
"There is much here to like. Lee is quite sympathetic and her straightforward romance with Matt is sweet and believable. Readers will look forward to the next volume in this gentle series." -VOYA
"Made me feel warm and fuzzy. [The authors'] familiarity with the turf wars gives this unpretentious East-meets-West, boy-meets girl story an easy, breezy sense of verisimilitude." -Andrew 'Capt. Comics' Smith, Scripps Howard News Service
For anyone who is on the scribd.com service both volume 1 and volume 2 of THE STORY OF LEE are there to be read, as part of your subscription. The Story of Lee vol 1 has been on their system for about a year and has had more than 5,000 views already (Vol 2 is only at 8 views so far, as it just went up there) almost as much as Alan Moore and Eddie Campbell's wonderful book 'From Hell' (a book that is, by the way, mentioned in volume 2 of 'The Story of Lee').
https://www.scribd.com/book/161000731/The-Story-of-Lee-Volume-1
Below are several pages from a favourite scene of mine from the middle of the book,
and right at the bottom the first 20 pages can be read for free.
Some more pages from Vol 1 can be seen here on Scribd: