This graphic novel mainly set in Portland, OR (also takes place in the Bay area and Philly), gave me insight to eating disorders and body image. Not often a topic of conversation, I know little about what it’s like to grapple with this illness. I’m grateful Lacy Davis shared her story with the world and I hope it helps people in similar positions.

This graphic follows Lacy’s journey with anorexia and eventually bulimia. I know what they are but to be in Lacy’s thoughts while she’s out celebrating with friends staring down a big milkshake, it was so raw and eyeopening. I’m glad to have read this.

I’m also super glad Lacy met and fell in love with Jim Kettner! He is the illustrator of this GN but also a main character and Lacy’s main squeeze! It was very comforting to know Jim supported Lacy and continues to support her because like she says in this book, “I don’t think being recovered is possible. That’s why I will always call myself a person in recovery. Because it’s not over, and it never will be.” ( )

I am reading more graphic novels because they are becoming more and more popular, especially with students. This book is a memoir detailing the author's battle with anorexia and bulima - two very serious eating disorders. She is very honest in her feelings and the causes of her disease as well as how she managed to cope with it. Along the way she was assisted by those who love her and those in a support group. The artwork is wonderful and compliments the story line. It was a wonderful look at a very serious issue and hopefully will help reach those who suffer from eating disorders. ( )

As much as I admire Lacy Davis' bravery in surviving her ordeal and telling her story, I could not get past how much the art irritated me. Seriously, just flipping through the book as I write the review, I feel myself tensing up and becoming unhappy. It's the visual equivalent of fingers on a chalkboard for me.

The character art is just ugly, with unnecessary lines, needlessly exaggerated features, and a distracting pointiness. In a work about eating disorders, I find it annoying that the diversity in body types for side and background characters ranges mostly from thin to fit, with the only prominent obese character in the book outside of an Overeaters Anonymous meeting being the grumpy customer in a coffee shop. And the overuse of gray wash and special effects just make even the emotional high points of Davis' story look murky and depressing. With any other artist, this would probably have been a three-star book for me. ( )

It has been a very long time since I've read a graphic novel. Honestly, I don't even remember what the last one was that I read, but I'm SO glad I came across Ink in Water on NetGalley.

Lacy is brutally honest about her battle with anorexia. She is open about the good and the bad decisions she's made throughout her life and how she is constantly recovering. Those evil thoughts about not being good enough are constantly circling through her mind, but in the end, she has learned how not to be trapped by them. It truly was a beautifully written account of a terrible obsession with food.

There were many parts that were difficult to read, but that unflinching honest story needs to be told. I've never personally had an eating disorder, but I've come close. I've obsessed about calorie counts, carbs, ingredients, and time at the gym. I've dedicated journals and notebooks to tracking my body's intake and output as if it were my job. I've taken countless diet pills and tried my fair share of fad diets, none of which worked. I've felt the emptiness in my stomach and thought that was a good sign.

I no longer do that, but my relationship with food isn't always good, because that is what it is... a relationship. I still eat emotionally and those same thoughts that Lacy describes of being too big still pop into my head. And I would have never written any of that, if it weren't for reading Lacy's novel.

I think we all at some point or another in our lives have those voices in our head. The voices that tell us that we aren't good enough. Lacy is no different from any of us in that aspect. She was just brave enough to share her story with the world.

The illustrations by Kettner are amazing, particularly those showing the chaotic jumble of negative thoughts in Lacy's head. i love that the images are all in black and white and I hope that doesn't change when the novel goes to print. I don't know about you, but my thoughts aren't very colorful when they are negatively focused on my body image. The feelings provoked by the illustrations match those of Lacy's story. And if I'm being honest (which I am), it was the cover illustration that grabbed my attention. It screamed, "Pick me!"

Lacy's story is one that need to be told and I'm glad I've had the pleasure to read it. This novel is for those struggling with an eating disorder, recovering from one, or wanting to better understand the toll an eating disorder takes on everyone involved. It is also for anyone that has ever let those thoughts take control of their lives even for the briefest of moments.

Thank you Lacy for writing your story down. ( )

Facts: I am a fat bearded man. I have been fat for a long time. I carry myself with pride and have come to an understanding with myself that I am good how I am. I can be more healthy and strive towards that, but socially, I am aware of myself and not bothered... For the most part.

While the bearded part didn't come until much later, I was always the "Husky" kid (I hate that term). I remember the first time I stressed about my size. Seventh grade was particularly hard for all the kids my age, new classes in a new school had all kids pushing boundaries and testing the power structures. One particular young lady made a few comments about my t-shirt being pushed out by my belly which embarrassed me greatly. I spent the next year holding my body certain directions so that my belly never touched the front of my shirt visibly, or holding the hem of my shirt. I wasn't fat, just a little early teen chubby. The idea stuck though and my brain was rewired to be conscious of my size and shape.

It is a snowball: One person caused a reaction by me which added to the growing body shame I carried for many years. I owned that shame, kept it under cover and chose not to ever mention it. I remember reading books where characters found unusual diets, tips, and tricks, or even mild disorders as ways to make themselves "better". I admit, I tried a great deal of them. I sometimes wonder how many books folks like myself turned into instruction manuals when the original premise was to inform/scare/warn against.

Good thing for me to fail at I suppose. I sucked at sports and dietary self-harm.

It took a long time to get to the "fuck your opinion" stage of my life, but I am glad I made it here even though I have to talk myself into it sometimes. Now all I have to worry about is the people who cross the street when they see a big bearded dude walking down the sidewalk. I am a teddy beard goddamn it, but one cannot help other folk's triggers.

"Ink in Water: An Illustrated Memoir (or how I kicked anorexia's ass and embraced body positivity)"
Ink in Water: An Illustrated Memoir (Davis - Kettner)
272 pages
New Harbinger Publications
ISBN-10: 1626258317
ISBN-13: 978-1626258310

Okay. That is a mouthful of a title, but mouthful, in this case, is a good thing as it is highly descriptive and shines a spotlight on the topic rather than obscuring it. Written by Lacy J Davis and Illustrated by Jim Kettner, this Graphic Novel memoir covers approximately a 10-year span of time as Lacy moves from confident and rebellious punk to Crossfit lover and guru. The majority of the book follows the dark years in between which are the entire point of this story.

After some commentary from a boyfriend about body size and shape of someone he knows, Lacy interprets the comments as directed towards her, even tangentially. The result is a depressed obsession with dieting, health food, and exercise that could have killed her. She eats very little or very specific foods, then over exercises to burn even more calories. Cardio Catharsis is her favorite medicine. She ends up a walking skeleton and thought everything was fine.

After hearing health concerns from people she trusts and being put on temporary leave from work, Lacy joins Over Eaters Anonymous, and 12 steps through her troubles with others who have a myriad of eating disorders. She deludes herself about her progress, she allows life to deter her from forward motion, she backpedals then moves forward before backpedaling again.

Moving through life like a confused toddler is part of our graceless human condition.

Textually, this book is easily consumed, but the subject matter makes it a little unapproachable. Starting with the cover, the deep details in the subtitle, while serving one descriptive purpose, might also fight against itself with out the help of vocal fans. Advising this is a book about "kicking anorexia's ass" might deter a significant number of people from reading it.

DON'T be that deterred person. Read this then be vocal. The story here is amazing and inspiring. It is presented in a manner which flows well and ensures it is not a chore. Lacy's story is a roller coaster of emotions, and even the parts which might be funny are hard to laugh at. I did cheer once or twice and every time I saw Powell's Books I got a bit happy.

The artwork in this book is phenomenal. Just the right amount of detail where needed, and lacking where it would only distract or be wasted. Some of the most impressive panels were areas where Lacy's brain is on fire, and the smoke and electrical wires are bursting forth into the universe. Interestingly, Kettner plays a key role in the story. As a Graphic Artist, drawing web comics and media, he and Lacy hit it off and he spends a large amount of meta time in the comic along side her in a role of support, understanding, and unconditional love.

This Graphic Novel is highly recommended, end of story.

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Disclosure:
This Graphic Novel was supplied for review purposes by the publisher or author. If the topic of this novel resonates with you, then who gives a rats ass who provided it. ( )