Concise and thoughtful graphic memoir by a queer biracial woman who’s diagnosed with breast cancer at age 25. I appreciated Kimiko Tobimatsu’s honestyConcise and thoughtful graphic memoir by a queer biracial woman who’s diagnosed with breast cancer at age 25. I appreciated Kimiko Tobimatsu’s honesty in this memoir, writing about meaningful and important topics such as not forcing people to think about the positive and instead giving them space to honor their sadness, how cancer recovery narratives often center white straight people, and how physical, mental, and relational health intersect with one another. The combination of illustrations and her narrative helped provide a sense of realness to how Tobimatsu coped with her illness in her day-to-day life. I hope this book will augment the empathy people have for those struggling with cancer and related conditions, especially people who aren’t often highlighted in these narratives.
The concision of this graphic novel was an interesting strength and maybe drawback? I wanted a little more self-reflection about, for example, the role of race or being mixed race and how that affected Tobimatsu’s experience. Especially how racial dynamics intersected with gender dynamics within her family to influence communication. However, I recognize she may have wanted to keep it short and sweet on purpose. I’m curious what my Philly book club will think of this one....more
I liked this graphic memoir about a queer Wuhanese American’s coming of age. Laura Gao portrays her journey to self-acceptance, especially pertaining I liked this graphic memoir about a queer Wuhanese American’s coming of age. Laura Gao portrays her journey to self-acceptance, especially pertaining to her racial identity after growing up in a predominantly white town. I appreciated Gao’s honesty about confronting her internalized racism, in particular when she moved from Texas to Philadelphia for college. She doesn’t sacrifice complexity in this memoir either; she writes and draws with honesty in relation to her complex dynamic with her father. At the same time, her story exemplifies the importance of embracing and loving oneself and one’s roots, and it’s wonderful that she’s able to honor her heritage and her parents even if her relationship with her father isn’t 100% perfect.
This felt like an easy read, though not in a negative way. For some reason I wanted a bit more punch, though perhaps that would’ve detracted from Gao’s story. Either way, an enjoyable graphic novel that Asian immigrants to the United States may relate to....more
I felt moved by this gripping and sad graphic novel about Valerie Chu, a teenager struggling with an eating disorder. I thought Victoria Ying did an eI felt moved by this gripping and sad graphic novel about Valerie Chu, a teenager struggling with an eating disorder. I thought Victoria Ying did an excellent job of portraying how an eating disorder can narrow your worldview and make it so fixated on weight, calories, and restriction. Ying’s illustrations showcased Valerie’s emotions well, like her self-loathing and her difficulty breaking free from her disordered eating. I thought Ying did a great job too of portraying Valerie’s relationship with her mother. Ying definitely showed that Valerie’s mother’s behavior was toxic, while also highlighting the complexity of putting up boundaries with someone, still having them in your life, all while knowing they won’t change.
Valerie is a super fatphobic character and takes her fatphobia out on her best friend, so watch out for that going into the book if that’ll activate you. Ying does highlight this fatphobia as horrible and toxic.
Overall, I give this book four stars for its accurate and emotionally resonant portrayal of disordered eating. I think the novel could have gone deeper in certain areas, such as the issue of wanting boys/men to like your appearance, intergenerational trauma, perhaps some general deepening of Valerie’s character. However, given the graphic novel format, I feel like it told a meaningful story that I imagine will resonate with people who’ve had difficult relationships with their mothers or with food. I appreciate Ying ending the graphic novel on a note of hope....more
Powerful graphic memoir about a Black man recounting his childhood and coming of age as he decides whether to give The Talk to his own son. I liked thPowerful graphic memoir about a Black man recounting his childhood and coming of age as he decides whether to give The Talk to his own son. I liked the honesty in which Darrin Bell portrayed his racialized experiences growing up and the range of emotions they instilled within him. I found certain moments particularly moving, such as when a white female college professor accused him of plagiarism without any evidence solely based on her own anti-Black bias, when he owned up to the Islamophobia he perpetuated after 9/11, and in his struggle to decide how to tell his own son about the realities of racism in the United States.
In the first half of the graphic memoir, I felt that there were moments where plot event after plot event occurred and I wanted a bit more reflection or more information about Bell’s internal reactions to things. Still, though, I found this a candid book that raises important questions pertaining to race, racism, and parenting....more
I thought this graphic novel was cute! I liked the affirming though not simplistic themes of communication across culture and language barriers in famI thought this graphic novel was cute! I liked the affirming though not simplistic themes of communication across culture and language barriers in families, queerness, and the use of narratives and fairytales to process big feelings. I most appreciate how Trung Le Nguyen avoided the stereotype of Asian American parents as intrinsically homophobic or socially conservative. I wanted more substance from the story itself, like a richer or more textured plot and character development, though I respect what Nguyen pulled off. Reading this made me nostalgic for my perhaps favorite young adult graphic novel, the super queer and friendship-oriented Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up With Me by Mariko Tamaki, as well as for one of my first favorite gay young adult novels Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe (which I read and reviewed over a decade ago now, wow)!...more
I thought this was cute and basic! I found the artwork believable and effective in conveying the characters’ emotions, and the will they or won’t theyI thought this was cute and basic! I found the artwork believable and effective in conveying the characters’ emotions, and the will they or won’t they was entertaining. I read this book because some of my research students recommended it to me; I can perhaps see why people find comfort in it, as it portrays gay/bi/queer characters in a pretty relaxed and non-super-traumatic way.
Not sure if it’s just me though I also found the book a bit simplistic (which is maybe the point?). With other graphic novels I’ve read (most recently Hungry Ghost, though I also loved Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up With Me from a few years ago), the authors can fit in multiple complex storylines, whereas with this book it felt almost entirely focused on just the characters’ romantic plot. Maybe I’m also accustomed to the gay young-adult novels of my own youth that had (in my opinion) richer plots and characterizations, such as Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe, Gives Light, and Picture Us in the Light. Maybe the future books in the series build the complexity. I’m not sure if I’ll check out future installments, we’ll see!...more
A sorrowful and hopeful graphic novel that follows two women on a road trip through West Texas, both struggling to process and move past their respectA sorrowful and hopeful graphic novel that follows two women on a road trip through West Texas, both struggling to process and move past their respective traumas and grief. Not much happens in this story plot-wise, which gives space for Bea and Lou’s quiet and caring interactions to take center stage. Their friendship felt like the softly shining center of Are You Listening?, how they learn to trust one another despite their painful pasts and their stress on the trip. At its strongest, Are You Listening? serves as a poignant exemplar of the power of sharing your heart with another person, no matter how shameful or scary that sharing may feel. The artwork adds an element of eeriness and beauty to the story.
By the end of the book I found myself wanting more: a little more depth in Bea and Lou’s friendship, a little more backstory, a little more processing of their experiences. Yet I so appreciate Are You Listening? for what it does offer, and I applaud Tillie Walden’s sensitive handling of a plotline related to sexual assault. Looking forward to reading more of Walden’s work in the future and I feel grateful for a graphic novel that highlights the healing capacity of friendship, an undervalued form of relationship in contemporary society....more
Love the angsty, nostalgic vibe of this graphic novel. Skim follows Skim, a girl in high school who practices witchcraft and thinks a lot about life aLove the angsty, nostalgic vibe of this graphic novel. Skim follows Skim, a girl in high school who practices witchcraft and thinks a lot about life and death. She’s sad a lot, perhaps depressed, and that’s where Mariko and Jillian Tamaki draw strength in this graphic novel – the way they capture this sadness with intimacy, poignancy, and subtlety. I know I had an emo phase as a preteen and had lots of angsty moments throughout my teen years (and I still have those moments, lol) and this book helped bring me back to those emotions. Jillian Tamaki illustrates this angst well, with sweeping yet detailed black and white drawings that show how lonely Skim feels in her life. The Tamaki sisters incorporate a range of important themes, like sexuality, suicide, and isolation with a fine touch, while focusing in on Skim’s heart and how these themes affect her, both immensely and tangentially.
Despite enjoying the subtlety of the novel, I wanted a stronger plot as well as more of a progression of Skim’s character leading toward the story’s end. The story felt fragmented to me, and while on one hand I can see the appeal of that fragmentation – it’s very slice of life, a bare and uninterrupted look into an angsty teen’s life – I found it difficult to stay engaged in the story or invested in the characters with not much happening. Toward the end of the book, I felt unsure about if Skim had grown, or what changes had manifested within herself or her life or anywhere. Again, perhaps this more meandering plot was the point of the book, but I wanted more character growth or clear meaning.
A unique graphic novel I’d recommend to those searching for a slice of authentic teen angst. Mariko Tamaki later wrote Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up with Me, one of my absolute favorite books and graphic novels of all time, so perhaps that represents growth as a writer (or just my mediocre taste preventing me from liking Skim all that much). Excited to read more of her work in the future, as both graphic novels contain an emotional authenticity I really appreciate....more
I enjoyed reading this memoir about Maia Kobabe’s journey of navigating eir gender landscape and accepting eir genderqueerness and eir asexual and aroI enjoyed reading this memoir about Maia Kobabe’s journey of navigating eir gender landscape and accepting eir genderqueerness and eir asexual and aromantic identities. I liked how e captured the messiness of the process, about how e had to try out different types of clothes, relationships, etc. until e figured out what worked best for em. E shared the difficult parts of the process *and* the joyful parts, such as finding community who loved em for em and coming to a place of self-acceptance and self-knowledge. Given the horrid transphobic garbage happening in the United States right now, having written and published this memoir is unfortunately an act of courage.
On the note of the widespread bans on this book… honestly I don’t even really want to get into it because I’m in the home stretch of my residency, planning a move, and dealing with a gay crush, but I’ll just say: how cruel do you have to be to hate people for living as their authentic selves?? The hate Maia Kobabe is receiving for living as eir authentic self in particular feels so unnecessary and bigoted. It’s interesting (and by interesting, I mean disappointing and disgusting) how wedded people can be to their own fixed, rigid notions of gender, sexual orientation, and attraction. If you want to be cisgender and romantic and allosexual, you can do that in your own life and leave trans, aro, and ace communities alone....more
I turn 24 this Saturday and this book feels like the best early birthday present ever. I cried for five minutes in my office at work after I finished I turn 24 this Saturday and this book feels like the best early birthday present ever. I cried for five minutes in my office at work after I finished it. The book's themes of toxic relationships and healthy ones, self-worth and what we seek when we lack it, and the painful wisdom of growing up all resonated with me to my very core. The gorgeous black, white, and pink illustrations helped immerse me in the story as well.
Backing up, the story follows Freddy Riley, a high school student who's dating Laura Dean, the most popular girl in school. Laura Dean, with her confidence, charisma, and good looks, seems like Freddy's dream girl. The only issue with their relationship: Laura Dean may not treat Freddy all that well. With the help of her best friend Doodle, Freddy searches for guidance from Seek-Her, a mysterious medium, as well as Anna Vice, an advice columnist. But as Freddy's relationship with Laura Dean gets more intense in all the wrong ways, Freddy finds herself still going back to Laura Dean, even at the cost of her friendship with Doodle. Freddy will have to look both deep within herself as well as outside to those who can see her relationship with Laura Dean with more clarity, so she can choose what will work best for her heart and the hearts of those she cares about.
I love how this graphic novel portrays love: unhealthy love, love that dissipates between friends, and love that reemerges when one puts in the effort. The story itself is super simple, no huge or intricate plot twists at all. Yet the earnest characterization and the high quality of the illustrations made the emotions evoked by Freddy's journey run so deep. I really felt like I felt everything Freddy felt: the desire for Laura Dean even when it hurt Freddy herself, the guilt Freddy experienced when she realized how she herself messed up, and the eventual victory of the story's ending. My heart feels so full of warmth when I think about how young people will have access to this book's excellent messages about toxic relationships and what it takes to act as a caring, considerate friend.
I came across this book right when I needed to. Though it's a young-adult read, the themes and emotions are universal: the strength of longing and desire, the importance of communication in relationships, and what it takes to let go of people who stop you from loving yourself. As I approach 24, I'm still learning and reminding myself to focus my love and my heart on people who give to me as much as I give to them. With its queer representation, immense compassion, and deeply meaningful message, Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up with Me has skyrocketed to the top of my favorite 2019 reads....more
I love the vulnerability of this graphic novel. It strikes me as a more self-reflective and self-focused version of Alison Bechdel's Fun Home; whereasI love the vulnerability of this graphic novel. It strikes me as a more self-reflective and self-focused version of Alison Bechdel's Fun Home; whereas Bechdel pulls apart the underlying mechanisms of her family, Nagata Kabi shines a light on the inner-workings of her own mind. Kabi addresses a wide range of important topics, including her sexuality, depression, eating disorders, family strife, and her feeling of not belonging anywhere. The combination of words and images draws you into the moment with her and gives her story an extra touch of authenticity and realism. I most appreciate how Kabi discusses the difficulty of her struggles as well as how she recovered from them, walking us through how she navigated her sexuality and reclaimed her self-worth.
A quick and worthwhile read. Would recommend to anyone interested in LGBTQ experiences, portrayals of mental illness, and high-quality graphic novels. It does get graphic - such as by portraying nudity - and that artistic detail only adds to the quality of the story....more
Such an important and empathetic graphic memoir about Thi Bui's journey to understand her Vietnamese family and their immigration to the United StatesSuch an important and empathetic graphic memoir about Thi Bui's journey to understand her Vietnamese family and their immigration to the United States from South Vietnam. The Best We Could Do begins with Bui's foray into motherhood and how it reminds her of her mother's story and sacrifices. To cultivate a deeper comprehension of her family's past, she interviews her parents, travels back to Vietnam, and spends tons of time learning about the history of the war and her family's place within it. These experiences help her create this moving, cinematic memoir that highlights her family's daring escape from a war-torn country, as well as their struggles to build new lives for themselves in the United States. She captures themes of displacement, intergenerational trauma, and how culture influences the ways we express or do not express our love for one another.
I appreciate The Best We Could Do so much for shedding light on an under-discussed lived experience. As a Vietnamese American who was born and raised in the United States, I learned about the Vietnam War in a sterilized, non-personal way in my history classes. Thus, I so love that Bui shows in beautiful imagery and meticulous detail the emotional, relational effects of the war. Holding this book felt like holding a work of art that someone spent hundreds and hundreds of hours creating. Bui's heartfelt compassion for her family's journey from Vietnam to the US shines in these pages, both through the amazing artwork and the research she did to put together his nuanced narrative.
Overall, I would recommend The Best We Could Do to anyone interested in history, the Vietnamese American experience, or graphic memoirs. Reading this book made me reflect on my own family - both of my parents came to the United States as adolescents - in challenging, meaningful ways. The educational curriculum in the US often erases the experiences of racism and discrimination we have experienced and continue to experience, so I appreciate Bui shedding light on those instances too. While I wish Bui had also touched on how she and her family have dealt with intergenerational trauma since coming to the US, perhaps that will serve as the foundation of her next highly-necessary book....more
You know, I can see why people rave about this series. I don’t usually feel drawn to or particularly compelled by visual artwork, though the illustratYou know, I can see why people rave about this series. I don’t usually feel drawn to or particularly compelled by visual artwork, though the illustrations in this graphic novel impressed me – each one vividly captured a character’s emotion or provided illuminating detail about a character or their background. Despite the book’s brevity, its action sequences entertained me and the artwork really did help the world feel alive. There’s gore and sex depicted though not in a way that came across as gratuitous, at least to me.
A bit curious about what people think in terms of whether I should get the next volume. While I’m giving this four stars based on my gut reaction, I’m not really attached to any of the characters yet and central or deeper themes feel absent or just in the nascent stages of development. I am curious about where the story will go though....more
A moving memoir about Marjane Satrapi’s experience as a young girl growing up during the Islamic Revolution in Iran. I enjoyed a lot of the themes in A moving memoir about Marjane Satrapi’s experience as a young girl growing up during the Islamic Revolution in Iran. I enjoyed a lot of the themes in Persepolis, including the power of political activism and staying true to your values, the perniciousness and pervasiveness of sexism, and the destabilizing effects of war on family and community. Satrapi’s vulnerable sharing about her rough period with mental health – when she moved to Austria and then moved back – felt like a compelling account of how immigration and acculturative stress can disrupt the psyche. The most riveting part of Persepolis centered on Satrapi’s own voice. From her childhood to her early adulthood as a woman, she acted in alignment with her convictions and spoke out even if her beliefs defied societal norms. A courageous woman and journey, detours she took and all....more
Any book that makes depression a humorous subject without glamorizing or trivializing it deserves an award. Allie Brosh's chapters on mental illness, Any book that makes depression a humorous subject without glamorizing or trivializing it deserves an award. Allie Brosh's chapters on mental illness, motivations, and thoughts and feelings all made me laugh out loud. The combination of crude drawings and self-deprecating insight just took my breath away (in the form of giggles).
Overall, I would have given Hyperbole and a Half a higher rating if I found stories about dogs or geese funny. While not a life-changing or deep read, this book showcases Brosh's talent in storytelling and in comedy. Would recommend to fans of graphic novels and lighthearted humor....more
A graphic novel with a wonderful overarching message about identity and a solid representation of Asian-American characters. In American Born Chinese,A graphic novel with a wonderful overarching message about identity and a solid representation of Asian-American characters. In American Born Chinese, Gene Luen Yang details the story of Jin Wang, the only Chinese-American at his new school. Yang intertwines Jin's struggle with the tale of Chin-Kee (say this name aloud), the ultimate negative Chinese stereotype, as well as the legend of the Monkey King, one of the most famous Chinese fables. These three plots come together in an unexpected way to conclude the novel with a bang.
Yang does a great job of deconstructing stereotypes about Asian-Americans by tackling them head on. He delves into Wang's emotions and his vulnerability as an insecure outsider when compared to his peers. He highlights the pressures to assimilate to the predominate culture, even at the cost of one's individuality. Though I found the twist at the end of the book abrupt and a bit too absurd, I appreciated how Yang kept the focus on the intricacies of Asian-American identity in a humorous, accessible way.
Recommended to those interested in graphic novels or stories featuring diverse characters. A three star read I would still encourage others to check out, in particular to those searching for something different and fun. ...more
A graphic novel memoir about a girl who grows up with a repressed, homosexual father and later comes out as a lesbian, only to have her dad die a few A graphic novel memoir about a girl who grows up with a repressed, homosexual father and later comes out as a lesbian, only to have her dad die a few days later - how different. In Fun Home Bechdel illustrates and writes about living in a dysfunctional, Victorian house, and she includes an abundance of literary references within a nonlinear format. But she focuses this seven-year effort on her father, a man who displays enough complexity to evoke sympathy despite his darker sides.
I almost never read graphic novels, and I did not expect the psychological tour de force of Fun Home at all. Through detailed and impressive graphics Bechdel delineates her coming of age, a journey filled with uncomfortable experiences and nuanced life lessons. The amount of retrieval and introspection this work must have required of her amazes me. It delves into imperfect parents, fluid sexuality, and the messy quality of the human psyche overall. It serves as one of the most standout books on the college syllabi given to me thus far.
Highly recommended for fans of unique - and I mean it when I say unique, not just as a throwaway adjective - memoirs told through an unusual medium. Even if you usually avoid pictures, I'd pick this one up, if only to try it out for a chapter or two....more
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