Tanaka-kun is Always Listless

A boy with a permanent sigh and his chin resting on one hand, and a quiet giant who cannot quite ignore him. The premise sounds almost too simple, and the comedy is built on exactly that.The strongest element is the deadpan. The lead's refusal to try is funny in itself, and the story finds gentle comedy in the smallest moments. The friendship between the two leads feels warm, and the contrast between them does much of the work.The weakness is repetition. The gags follow a set pattern, and over 140 chapters the same beats can start to blur. There is little plot momentum, so the book is best read in small doses.If you enjoy laid-back comedy that asks for nothing, this is a comfortable pick. It is quiet, sly and oddly soothing. Expect dry humour, lazy afternoons and a friendship that quietly holds everything together.