by Allie Brosh
Graphic memoir has rapidly become one of my favorite genres. Brosh is a queen of the genre, having published Hyperbole and a Half as well as a follow-up, Solutions and Other Problems. Her artistic style is super quirky and blends perfectly with the self-deprecating humor and psychological self-analysis in Brosh’s writing. The reader meets her dogs, her parents, and her boyfriend, but few other characters appear: you’re spending most of your time inside Brosh’s mind as she tries to figure out how to cope with adulthood, depression, and other weighty topics. Somehow she manages to be hilarious – you’re laughing with her, but your heart is also breaking.
Likes: I love her drawings – her artistic style is unlike anyone else’s. The balance between laugh-out-loud bits and dark, raw emotion is amazing. Her personality jumps off the page. This is a fast read but it sticks with you. And if you like dogs, this book has two amazing canine characters.
Dislikes: really nothing. But if you don’t do weird or quirky, you’ll want to give this one a pass.
FYI: mental illness, suicidal ideation, and coping with depression are major themes.
Liz Helfrich 