Reviews

Todo es inflamable by Gabrielle Bell

kyfaha's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad medium-paced

4.0

pdxpiney's review against another edition

sad medium-paced

2.75

Daughter lacks morals and insight yet keeps trying to “save” her mother on the other side of the country. Good art though. 

quietjenn's review against another edition

4.0

For me, this is Bell's best work. Not only because it seems to be the most mature and cohesive but also because I think it really benefits from having a subject that is not - or at least not exclusively - Bell herself and navel-gazing.

bethnellvaccaro's review against another edition

4.0

I really loved this book. It does exactly what graphic novels do better than print alone. Show feelings in a way that I can understand. The author's mom and her lifestyle were so interesting, I really want to know more.

juannaranjo's review

4.0

La autora de este cómic recibe una llamada en la que se le informa de que el cobertizo en el que vive su madre ha salido ardiendo, y eso la lleva a hacer un paréntesis en su caótica vida para cruzar el país y tratar de echar una mano a que la mujer se reponga de esta desgracia. Abrir este libro es adentrarse en un mundo en el que impera la precariedad y en el que esta lleva, casi inevitablemente, a la exclusión y a la vida en los márgenes. Las vidas de madre e hija son muy diferentes: una intenta abrirse camino como dibujante en Nueva York, la otra sobrevive aislada de la sociedad y ayudada por la gente de su entorno… pero ambas lidian con la salud mental, los traumas y la incertidumbre.

TODO ES INFLAMABLE es una historia tremendamente auténtica y real. Tanto en el tratamiento descarnado y sin paños calientes que se le da a las protagonistas, como por el tipo de cotidianidad que se describe. Las vidas de estas mujeres transcurren anodinas entre recados, temores, cansancio y modestos planes que suponen una tenue luz de esperanza en unos días que, casi siempre, son grandes nebulosas grisáceas. Y en eso está su grandeza porque, aunque nos empeñemos en mostrar lo contrario en Instagram, es así como transcurren el grueso de nuestras cotidianidades.

Este es el segundo libro de Gabrielle Bell que leo. El primero, CECIL Y JORDAN EN NUEVA YORK, no me convenció porque me resultó demasiado fragmentario y un pelín presuntuoso. Creo que a la autora le sienta mucho mejor el formato de historieta larga a la hora de retratarse a sí misma, a su entorno y, de alguna forma, también a su (nuestra) generación. Muy recomendable.

briface's review against another edition

5.0

I picked up the most recent book by Gabrielle Bell and instantly fell in love with her artwork, anxiety and her sort of eccentric mom. When her mom's house burns down Bell travels from NYC to upstate CA to help. Bell worries about her plants, brings a dish drying rack cross country, and helps her mom order a tiny house.

jeremy_bearimy's review against another edition

3.0

An interesting compilation but very uneven for me. I loved some of the comics but some of the others missed the mark for me. Often the ones I didn't enjoy felt like they ended too abruptly. Others just related events that I didn't find very interesting. However, I appreciated the fact that there was a more cohesive narrative flow in this book than the other Bell book I've read (The Voyeurs).

I also appreciate the fact that she is very open about her struggles with depression and has some very poignant descriptions. I particularly enjoyed the heart-wrenching (and very relatable) "I'm Doing Fine" on p. 7 and the more whimsical "Impediments" on p. 15. Those comics reminded me of Hyperbole and Half's amazing webcomics about depression. If you're interested: https://hyperboleandahalf.blogspot.com/2013/05/depression-part-two.html

sandy27's review

emotional sad slow-paced

3.5

 Es una novela difícil de digerir y creo que no la escogí en el mejor momento, tiene una profundidad que no me esperaba encontrar, y hay que sumergirse en un mundo en el que impera la precariedad y en el que esta lleva, casi inevitablemente, a la exclusión y la vida en los márgenes, se trata de una madre y una hija su relación su situaciones vividas, su vida tan distinta y con detalles que me han hecho reflexionar trata temas que son peliagudos como la salud mental, la precariedad, las relaciones sociales. 

robertrivasplata's review against another edition

4.0

I liked this better than the Voyeurs. It felt more focused, and maybe less bleak. Not sure if it's her writing or her life that took on more focus. Either way, next time I see a book by Bell at the library, I'll pick it up.

michelinaoliverio's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful lighthearted reflective medium-paced

3.75

I enjoyed this graphic novel about the authors year long journey of helping her mom rebuild after a house fire takes everything she owns. Gabrielle Bell is witty, raw, and real (sometimes too real) with her narration. Her illustration style is very sketchy and unique. I loved the colorful frames that did a great job expressing each screen.