An open, honest, and vulnerable memoir-ish book, with vignettes of the "demons" that still sometimes haunt her.

After first not getting her and being put off by her illustration style, I now love Lynda Barry. I almost wrote, "I now get..." but I'm not sure I do. I just know that I can't get enough of her instructional comics memoirs, or whatever other genre she flirts with but doesn't quite fall into. She is utterly unique, and I want to read everything she's written. ( )

What a great book! A collection of short illustrated stories, really about the stuff that plagues us and weighs us down. They never head in the direction you think they will but always end up somewhere complete and satisfying. If you love to be in the company of someone who doesn't quite think like anyone else, Lynda Barry is a magnificent host. ( )

Cool art, sad stories (mostly). ( )

This book was good--not brilliant, but really solid work. I particularly love how she breaks one of the cardinal rules of memoir (it shouldn't be therapeutic) and then celebrates that she did ("Writing this was SO therapeutic!"). I also love how she breaks another cardinal rule of memoir and just makes stuff up for the sake of a good story (From now on, I'm planning to use her term "autobifictionalography" in response to everyone who asks if my fiction is based on my own life).

Some funny stuff, some heartbreaking stuff, and a few pieces that didn't quite go far enough, I thought. But overall, great work--I'm definitely going to keep my eyes open for more of her work.
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Semi-autobiographical graphic novel of Lynda Barry's childhood in Seattle (98144 zip code!). Touching, funny, bittersweet and aching. Memorable chapters: Lynda loses her magic and her best friend Ev; being intrigued by the smells of people's houses; missing a lost stuffed toy or blanket; adopting an abused dog.