So proud of my beautiful friend. It's such a pleasure watching Tommi's work change over the years and see them hone in ever-sharper on the particularlSo proud of my beautiful friend. It's such a pleasure watching Tommi's work change over the years and see them hone in ever-sharper on the particularly twisty intimate details that make up so much of their stories.
this story is surprisingly funny, despite taking such a devastating and disturbing trajectory. ...more
People seem to be having a hard time with the slightly listless plot in this one, but I approached this one more as a short story than a novel, and thPeople seem to be having a hard time with the slightly listless plot in this one, but I approached this one more as a short story than a novel, and that helped with my deep enjoyment of the narrative.
The pleasure in this one is in the details– as always, Mariko is so good at picking out the real subtleties of queerness in a way that's often hilarious and touching. She's captured the squirmy intensity of the girls' age range so well. Jillian's art is perfect, surprise surprise....more
i've been fascinated with this story since reading the first instalment several years ago.
probably the well-crafted & extremely tense storyline will gi've been fascinated with this story since reading the first instalment several years ago.
probably the well-crafted & extremely tense storyline will get a lot of airtime in the reviews, but i just want to throw in my appreciation here for conor's excellent command of naturalistic dialogue. it gives the characters so much depth and heightened my investment in the story tenfold.
also, the art is killer. so happy to own this book and revisit it regularly. ...more
started this book feeling intrigued but ambivalent – there was a little more explanation and exposition in the writing than i usually like.
the story started this book feeling intrigued but ambivalent – there was a little more explanation and exposition in the writing than i usually like.
the story swept me up and took over and i spent the second half totally spellbound. this was a sensual treat and i'm quite sad that it's over (although ekwuyasi ended it perfectly). i want more books that deal, as this does, with pleasure as deftly and acutely as they deal with pain and grief. ...more
love the visual humour and the devotion to the comics world in this one <3 i also found the depiction of stale, well-worn intimacy in the domestic rellove the visual humour and the devotion to the comics world in this one <3 i also found the depiction of stale, well-worn intimacy in the domestic relationship to be really beautifully (painfully) done.
i struggle a little with pacing myself through stories that are so thoroughly committed to their focus on the ego of a narcissistic, self-sabotaging dude (thinking too of adrian tomine's latest), but this feels more a matter of taste than anything. as with tomine's 'loneliness of the long distance cartoonist', the humour got me through this. ...more
Helen's work makes me excited about writing, in the moments where i'm losing steam. I laughed aloud a lot reading this book, and found my toes curlingHelen's work makes me excited about writing, in the moments where i'm losing steam. I laughed aloud a lot reading this book, and found my toes curling at some of the more uncomfortably familiar scenarios (Only the Lonely, oh god).
I haven't yet seen The Ends of Gods and Heroes get the mentions it deserves as such a heartbreaker of a piece – young, weird, obsessive friendship in all its specificities is captured so well here and that's so hard to do.
CMM writes magical realism and queer sex and hostility and strange encounters so perfectly. I loved every story but 'Real Women Have Bodies' was a higCMM writes magical realism and queer sex and hostility and strange encounters so perfectly. I loved every story but 'Real Women Have Bodies' was a highlight....more
i had the pleasure of reviewing this for BOMB magazine preceding its release. this book is short and sparse but deeply rewards at the closer look. reai had the pleasure of reviewing this for BOMB magazine preceding its release. this book is short and sparse but deeply rewards at the closer look. read it, and read it again....more