Ordinary Victories: What is Precious is the strangely captivating sequel to Manu Larcenet’s Ordinary Victories from 2005. It tells the story of a particular time in one man’s life from a first-person perspective that covers the suicide of narrator’s father, the publishing of his photography, and the birth of his daughter.

The protagonist, Marco, struggles with anxiety and a lonely mother while trying to save the working lives of a group of shipyard workers through his photography. The story is simplistic in topic, but it uses sophisticated storytelling methods.

Throughout the entirety of the book, there lies a sense of heightened realism that is worked on thoroughly by the cartoon art. Characters with very real sensibilities and traits are drawn roughly and loosely. They are then made to move through a difficult and harsh world--think Peanuts or Tin Tin with a much more somber tone.

The truth is, however, that I didn’t get into the title until about one quarter of the way in. What is Precious opens with the aftermath of Marco’s father’s suicide. The story is depressing and nearly overwhelming at first. It took some determination to press forward. However, the reward I came to about half way through--when Marco and his girlfriend have a daughter--made my trek well worth it.

From that moment forward, this wonderful addition heightens the story to a level of “intimately charming.” The moments Marco shares with his daughter are wonderful, and they managed to put a smile on my face nearly every time. He deals with fatherhood in a way unlike any other I’ve seen in a book in some time. He is distant yet loving, and quiet yet passionate about what his daughter does and how she lives. In a life filled with such tragedy and hardship, the daughter is what pulls Marco through and makes his life worth living.

There are some things that I nearly wanted to walk away from. The book tries to be increasingly relevant and political during its run, and perhaps my problems lie in the fact that I do not share the same social culture or history as the writer.

As tourism moves into Marco’s hometown, he strives to save an ailing shipyard from closing. He does so by photographing protests and trying to sell them to his newspaper as a good story. His hopes of uniting the people against tourism and corporate pressures are dashed by the newspaper’s editor as he deems the story worthless and uninteresting.

While it works well as a plot device, this moment in What is Precious is one that I do not closely identify with--but that’s how this book survives, by moments of identification. It is how the book falters as well since I just didn’t align with this moment.

All that said, I can recommend Ordinary Victories: What is Precious to those looking for a moment away from their own lives. The story comes with the ability to draw readers in and then impress with defining panels that make the tale wonderful.

There is a moment when Marco realizes that his father took joy in the miniscule details in life; in this moment, the concept of the Ordinary Victory comes driving through and plays on everyone’s innate tendency to focus on small victories in life. It is the birth of a child and the love of another that make life worth living, and these truths are what Marco deals with throughout this wonderful tale.

Ordinary Victories: What is Precious is anything but ordinary, and those looking to smile should pick it up.

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