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A review by nibs
The Secret to Superhuman Strength by Alison Bechdel
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.
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 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.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcoholism and Drug use