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sizrobe's review against another edition
4.0
Mostly slice of life type stuff without much in the way of plot, but still enjoyable enough.
expectopatronums's review against another edition
3.0
This book feels like what having anxiety must be like. Really good art. It really gives me a sense of the neuroticism of the author (if you’re actually reading this I’m joking and I really liked this book!)
kickpleat's review against another edition
4.0
I enjoyed reading this graphic novel which touches on Bell's anxiety (I can relate!) and deals with her struggling yet tenacious mother in Northern California, plus an assortment of oddballs and weirdos she meets along the way.
lucyblack's review against another edition
4.0
I really loved this graphic novel about the author and her mum. It’s a diary style book about various trips Gabrielle Bell takes to see her mum in rural California. I loved the pace and the lack of pretension. It’s clear that Bell tries to be be balanced and honest in her representation of people. Her mum and her seem quite similar and I think in real life I would find them infuriating and intimidating but I loved reading about their small adventures and rambling conversations.
lizshine74's review against another edition
5.0
This book snuck up on me. So honest and vulnerable! The story of this part of Bell’s life for me touches on the heredity of personality and how shared traits can sometimes make connection between people more difficult, not because the connection is not desired, but because of the personalities. This is a paradox that rings true for me. The violence in her childhood emerged strange and sudden and I was left pondering that violence and feeling sorry for Bell, but also reflective of how violence touches so many of us and the cumulative impact of that violence can be profound. In her case, she was a witness to violence more than a victim and most of that violence was perpetrated by animals. Yet, she was a victim, to see what she saw at such a young age. This, of course, made me think about the fragility and vulnerability of children, which is something I think we value less and less in the information age. I was touched by the generosity and kindness of her characters, none of whom were characters who had much to give. These characters were likable and familiar to me. Most of the most generous people I have ever come across are just barely scraping by themselves.