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saidtheraina's review
4.0
This was the first book I grabbed to read after a long few months of targeted reading for my annual outreach at middle schools. I love Wertz' work, and find her very relatable. It's hefty, so expect this to take more than one sitting. In the style of diary-comics, so don't expect a polished, fully produced Graphic Novel here.
ivanssister's review
3.0
I realized as I was spending a lazy day inside reading this, I looked almost exactly like the author sketches herself while at home.
I pre-ordered this directly from Wertz so in addition to the entire story, she included a few extra sketches. This is a nice compilation of her work, which ranges from humorous moments to a serious look at her life and health.
I pre-ordered this directly from Wertz so in addition to the entire story, she included a few extra sketches. This is a nice compilation of her work, which ranges from humorous moments to a serious look at her life and health.
wanderaven's review
4.0
My excuse for not having discovered The Fart Party comics years ago is that I've just begun exploring comics and graphic novels/memoirs.
No, wait. I'd prefer to blame/credit my sister for sending on her copy of The Infinite Wait a few months ago, which was when I discovered and fell in love with Julia Wertz and her work.
In any case, I'm just so happy that this woman has shown up in my life.
The comics from her first two Fart Party collections (previously out of print) are in here, but there's also random hate mail from random, idiotic people in the internet (and her responses to those complaints - which really don't merit any sort of response). Included are non-Fart Party related comics, her very early pre-FP comics, and an extensive section of sketches from the neighborhoods (especially the tenderloin district in San Francisco) where she has lived. I gather there are fools out there who have accused Wertz's drawings of being crude; the additional inclusions in this collection show her variety of artistic abilities (not that she needs to showcase anything else to justify her thoroughly delightful most-commonly published comic sketches and strips).
The last full length novel I finished was Station Eleven, and I was so affected by that novel that I just naturally stepped back from reading another regular novel for a couple of weeks. I'm happy for the coincidence that Museum arrived the same week, and I expected to quickly devour this very different sort of narrative. But it actually took me much longer to read Museum than I anticipated and that's because well written and illustrated comics and memoirs always need more time and consideration.
She just knows. She knows what it's like to be an introvert, knows the desire to make friends and then hope that those friends don't really expect you to make plans or anything like that. She knows books and their influence on your emotions, knows burritos and their influence on your belly.
No, wait. I'd prefer to blame/credit my sister for sending on her copy of The Infinite Wait a few months ago, which was when I discovered and fell in love with Julia Wertz and her work.
In any case, I'm just so happy that this woman has shown up in my life.
The comics from her first two Fart Party collections (previously out of print) are in here, but there's also random hate mail from random, idiotic people in the internet (and her responses to those complaints - which really don't merit any sort of response). Included are non-Fart Party related comics, her very early pre-FP comics, and an extensive section of sketches from the neighborhoods (especially the tenderloin district in San Francisco) where she has lived. I gather there are fools out there who have accused Wertz's drawings of being crude; the additional inclusions in this collection show her variety of artistic abilities (not that she needs to showcase anything else to justify her thoroughly delightful most-commonly published comic sketches and strips).
The last full length novel I finished was Station Eleven, and I was so affected by that novel that I just naturally stepped back from reading another regular novel for a couple of weeks. I'm happy for the coincidence that Museum arrived the same week, and I expected to quickly devour this very different sort of narrative. But it actually took me much longer to read Museum than I anticipated and that's because well written and illustrated comics and memoirs always need more time and consideration.
She just knows. She knows what it's like to be an introvert, knows the desire to make friends and then hope that those friends don't really expect you to make plans or anything like that. She knows books and their influence on your emotions, knows burritos and their influence on your belly.
sbsterling's review
2.0
I like Julia Wertz an awful lot and I know we would be friends irl if we ever met and it's also true that there are moments when the privilege is grating and, while I appreciate the apology for her older language choices, I respectfully disagree with her decision to not edit it out. Longest sentence ever.
pikasqueaks's review
4.0
I think having read DRINKING AT THE MOVIES probably changes the way Fart Party reads in the long run. It's a lot like reading Marya Hornbacher's MADNESS and finding out what she was dealing with during her writing of WASTED (thought not quite as drastic).
Regardless, I was into it. Julia Wertz is a gem.
Regardless, I was into it. Julia Wertz is a gem.
honeymonster's review
dark
emotional
funny
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
I already have the two Fart Party collections, so I bought this to get my hands on the bonus material, a lot of which I read when it was first published online. My main complaint about The Museum of Mistakes is that most of the text is so small I had to read it with my glasses on my forehead and the book 4 inches from my nose. I do not remember this problem with the previous collections, but maybe I'm just getting old.
kesterbird's review
4.0
I love this book, but outside of a couple of story-based zines included in the collected works section, I'm not sure I love this any more than just Fart Party 1 and 2. I didn't get a whole lot from the suplimental stuff; Wertz is a GREAT storyteller, and single panel drawings don't do her justice. BUT like reading, say, Elizebeth Bishops letters, all these one panel one-offs provide a backstory and insight that are likely of great interest to a number of people, so even if it's not my particular cup of tea, I'm glad it's available.
Also I never woulda seen those zines, and I really like several of them, so ignore me and go get the book.
Also I never woulda seen those zines, and I really like several of them, so ignore me and go get the book.
hamikka's review
4.0
A good mix of humor and insight. It was interesting to see a wide range of work since I started with her later stuff. Some of the comics were so damn tiny that they were painful to read.
otterno11's review
5.0
Museum of Mistakes collects Julia Wertz’s Fart Party mini-comics, zines, and webcomics into one, comprehensive, and hilarious account of the joys, pains, and imperfections of twenty-something life. Of course, on the face of it, a lot daily life is boring, no matter our desire to make it less, but Wertz’s wit and comic timing make even the stories about staying in her apartment all day funny and relatable. I mean, everyone stays in their apartment all day on occasion, and everyone jokes about it, but only a special talent can write a comic about that (and everything else) and make it awesome. The perfect combination of Wertz’s writing and drawing come together to make her work some of the most awesome memoir comics out today. Of course, I also like following up on the various music recommendations hidden in the various comics as well!
One of the most interesting things about the Museum of Mistakes is the insights it provides into the evolution and development of Wertz’s style over the years, from her high school scribblings to her first stabs at writing comics as an actual way to make a living, and how various life events, good, bad, and horrible, affect this continuing evolution. Museum of Mistakes also makes a great companion piece to read along with her collection The Infinite Wait, which fills in some of the gaps only hinted at here. As an armchair aficionado of what people refer to as “urban exploration,” I am very curious to see what Julia Wertz does next.
One of the most interesting things about the Museum of Mistakes is the insights it provides into the evolution and development of Wertz’s style over the years, from her high school scribblings to her first stabs at writing comics as an actual way to make a living, and how various life events, good, bad, and horrible, affect this continuing evolution. Museum of Mistakes also makes a great companion piece to read along with her collection The Infinite Wait, which fills in some of the gaps only hinted at here. As an armchair aficionado of what people refer to as “urban exploration,” I am very curious to see what Julia Wertz does next.
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