Reviews tagging 'Alcoholism'

The Secret to Superhuman Strength by Alison Bechdel

12 reviews

starduststyx's review against another edition

reflective medium-paced

3.5

This felt like a really beautiful visual essay meshed with personal experiences. I was shocked when it ended since it felt like there was still a bit more to come. Books can end abruptly just like life and after reading something so focused on loss and escaping death I too feel a little less scared about the inevitable. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death of parent and Death

Minor: Alcoholism

kaimetcalfe's review against another edition

challenging emotional informative reflective slow-paced

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Alcoholism, Death of parent, and Suicide

Moderate: Drug use

Minor: Infidelity

lily1304's review against another edition

reflective slow-paced

4.5

I had difficulty explaining to anyone what this book is about, exactly. But it's engrossing, a beautiful combination of silly and serious.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Alcohol, Alcoholism, and Drug use

Minor: Death and Suicide

eloiserw's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional reflective slow-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death and Alcoholism

clarabooksit's review against another edition

funny reflective slow-paced

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, and Grief

Moderate: Infidelity and Death of parent

Minor: Suicide, Animal death, and Sexual harassment

karolinaz's review against another edition

dark emotional funny hopeful informative reflective medium-paced

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Terminal illness, Death, Addiction, Body horror, Car accident, Mental illness, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Cancer, Death of parent, Medical content, and Panic attacks/disorders

Moderate: Drug abuse, Cultural appropriation, Animal death, Infidelity, Misogyny, Drug use, Alcoholism, Suicide, and Homophobia

nibs's review against another edition

4.0

I read this as the December pick for a Queer Literature Book Club. I read Fun Home in the lead up to get some more context on Bechdel's life. 

When I started it, the introductory bit's focus on exercise threw me off. But once it go more memoir-y again, I got really into it. All this pondering of the self, bodies, connectedness. 

It was a really good book for a bookclub. We discussed so many details that I didn't notice reading myself. 

- The grayscale double spread between each chapter and what that signifies. 
- The beautiful collaboration between Alison and Holly in making this book. Bechdel allowing her to help with the colouring a signifier of how she is finally letting other people in re: her work
- The climbing wall page reflects the story of the whole book. 
- The 12-step exercise thing also encapsulates the whole book.
- This idea of Bechdel as a trustworthy author, despite her unreliableness.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Alcoholism and Drug use

octaviomart's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful reflective tense medium-paced

4.5

A memoir of exercising that’s better than it sounds

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Death of parent, Alcoholism, and Alcohol

cada's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful tense medium-paced

4.25

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Alcoholism and Death of parent

Minor: Suicide

claire_builds_a_stair's review against another edition

dark funny reflective slow-paced

3.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Alcoholism