Hyperbole and a Half

I ran across Hyperbole and a Half, by Allie Brosh, shortly after it was published in 2013. At the time, it seemed like graphic novels were replacing the written word. I have to say I was not a big fan of the genre. The books either had great drawings and boring text or vice versa.

Hyperbole and a Half has brilliantly funny drawings and a clever, intelligent narrative. They work perfectly together, and the book is full of pleasant surprises. Brosh presents the autobiographical stories grouped by page color, making her unique train of thought effortless for the reader to follow.

Her young self character has all the intensity and awkwardness that I remember from my childhood. The cake story is worth the price of admission. Cake.

There is a sequel, Solutions, and Other Problems, published in 2020, and like cake, it makes me very happy. Both books deal with life's difficult situations, including depression and flawed coping strategies. All recognizable and populated by her quirky drawings.

Her relationship and conversations with her dogs, simple dog, and helper dog are painfully close to my own dogship with Wrecks and Monkey. Ever hopeful that interspecies communication will somehow manifest itself, that their wants and needs, her wants and needs will be crystal clear. It is clear there is good intentions...

With rave reviews from Marc Maron, Jenny Lawson and even Bill Gates, this was on many book-of-the-year lists when it was published.