Analysis: Voice, Tone, and Structure

The structure of this memoir is composed of snippets of events, presented in 9x9 panels format on each page. This presentation works really well for the kind of story Tomine is telling us- wedding preparations takes months and months to work out, so concentrating on small, meaningful moments tells this story effectively. Tomine's clean-cut, still drawing style is also very well suited for the text-heavy, expressions-oriented style of quiet storytelling. He uses mostly close-ups and slight changes in expressions, which is more powerful especially in a simple conversational setting between a couple.

This ties into the voice and tone in Scenes of an Impending Marriage. The voices in this comic are Tomine's own and his wife, Sarah. It's not really told from a first person narrative, but rather third-person looking into the conversations between them. Sarah did ask him to make this comic book as a little window into their world as they were preparing for marriage, so it would be only fair that it would be told from both sides. The tone is mostly lighthearted, especially with the scenes where they're talking to an advisor about the music they want to be played at the wedding. Because of the normal, light tone of the comics, the absurdity of the "ice scream song" and the advisor being annoyed at their refusal to use it is played up more. Although there are more powerful tones, like the strips where they visit the HIV/AIDS charity event, and feel like their problems that have been overwhelming them aren't really problems at all. Overall, this graphic novel is a quiet one but I think the way Tomine conveys the tone and voice really captures how a small comment between lovers may speak volumes. "The little blue book takes us through the usual frustrations of planning a wedding —and executes them in a style looser and freer than Tomine’s usual fare." (Flake) 

More of the interview with Tomine: More Intelligent Life