Dumped (ISBN 1929998414)

The extraordinary in the ordinary:
As the synopsis above mentions, `Dumped' is a story of two people, their unusual attachments to possessions, and the impact of these attachments on their relationships. The title can be read in a number of ways - the ending of a relationship, and/or the jettisoning of material possessions. Heck, it even appears in the title of a book in the story. Watson does a nice job of combining the different potential meanings of the title to create a common theme for the book. Each of the main characters collects something: for Binny, it's old books with handwritten notes and other personal touches. For Debby, it's vintage clothing. Each believes that their artifacts have stories to tell, beyond the obvious qualities that might be seen by a casual observer. Binny and Debby recognize the extraordinary in the ordinary (and even ugly) objects most of us would regard as "old junk". Whether they can do the same in human beings remains to be seen, as it seems each is more interested in tapping into the memories of strangers - as expressed in their old possessions - than in creating their own experiences worth remembering. Can they move beyond this to find love? Read and find out... Watson's spare, economical storytelling shows a full command of the comics vocabulary. The story is expertly paced, never rushed but never lagging. His minimalist linework reduces characters to their emotional essence - he can convey more with two or three lines than many other artists can with a fully-rendered expression. Very pleasing to the eye. `Dumped' was a disarmingly quick read; it can easily be digested in one sitting. Like any good short story, however, it rewards repeat readings. While it doesn't carry the deepest of philosophical messages, it presents a true-to-life picture of everyday people and their relationships, with a nice thematic overlay. I'd never read anything by Andi Watson before, but on the strength of this, I'll be looking for more of his work.