A return to form。 Slightly neurotic, utterly gorgeous。
Paul,
Previously, I had only read Fun Home。 I realize that I love her work, and now I'm going to read everything of hers that I can find。 Previously, I had only read Fun Home。 I realize that I love her work, and now I'm going to read everything of hers that I can find。 。。。more
Sophie Patrikios,
Perfection
Anne-Marie Chicoine,
J’ai beaucoup aimé! Le livre n’a pas la puissante histoire de Fun Home, mais j’ai aimé qu’il soit plus digeste et agréable que Are You My Mother? Puisqu’un des thèmes de ce mémoire est la créativité et le travail, Bechdel parle un peu du processus d’écriture de ce qui était au départ supposé être « a light, fun memoir about my athletic life that I could bang out quickly », mais qui après une série de deuils et l’élection de 2016 s’est changé en quête du soi, de la transcendance et de l’acceptati J’ai beaucoup aimé! Le livre n’a pas la puissante histoire de Fun Home, mais j’ai aimé qu’il soit plus digeste et agréable que Are You My Mother? Puisqu’un des thèmes de ce mémoire est la créativité et le travail, Bechdel parle un peu du processus d’écriture de ce qui était au départ supposé être « a light, fun memoir about my athletic life that I could bang out quickly », mais qui après une série de deuils et l’élection de 2016 s’est changé en quête du soi, de la transcendance et de l’acceptation de sa mortalité。 Même si j’apprécie l’ambition métaphysique et littéraire de Bechdel, j’ai trouvé ses conclusions assez prévisibles, rien qu’on ne pourrait retrouver dans les doctrines des grandes religions ou des livres de self-help。 C’est aussi un portrait plus complet et plus intime de Bechdel, qui m’a attristée dans ses descriptions de solitude, de perfectionnisme autodestructeur et d’abus de substances。 Je crois que j’aurais préféré lire le plan original du livre léger et humoristique sur le sport qui aurait peut-être su recapturer l’esprit de Dykes to Watch Out For, et mis en lumière ce que je préfère de l’art de cette autrice。 Heureusement, quelques traces en sont restées dans la version ultime: certains moments sont très drôles, les dessins surtout qui sont riches en détails et en blagues subtiles, mais aussi l’excellente introduction auto-dérisoire。 Dans tous les cas c’est toujours un plaisir de retrouver l’univers torturé et neurotique de Bechdel et je recommanderais le livre à coup sûr à ses fans ainsi que ceux dont la vie est aussi gouvernée par le yoga, le ski ou la course。 。。。more
Carol,
I’m a big fan, starting with Dykes To Watch Out For in the paper so many years ago。 Lovely and profound。
Kit,
My favorite book I have read this year so far。 Alison Bechdel's memoir through exercise is fun, relatable, and insightful。 She shows astute knowledge in the way that she links her relationship to her body to the relationship she has with the people and world around her, but it never feels heavy or dense。 The way she talks about her body, too, is refreshing for a female writer in particular。 She is not obsessed with it as a vessel of trauma or as a bauble to show off, but primarily talks about it My favorite book I have read this year so far。 Alison Bechdel's memoir through exercise is fun, relatable, and insightful。 She shows astute knowledge in the way that she links her relationship to her body to the relationship she has with the people and world around her, but it never feels heavy or dense。 The way she talks about her body, too, is refreshing for a female writer in particular。 She is not obsessed with it as a vessel of trauma or as a bauble to show off, but primarily talks about it in terms of what it can do。 The art in the book is also her best yet-- the risks she takes truly pay off。 The weakest parts of her story are her tiebacks to authors of yore。 In particular, I found myself skimming the sections about the Romantic writers。 Nevertheless, these sections do not detract from the memoir as a whole。 Would recommend to anyone who has a body and who has thought about how and why they use and abuse it。 。。。more
Sue,
This book, the most in-depth of the ones she's written, is my favorite of hers。 She traces her life from beginning to the present, relating to authors she's read in her life。 Once again her family is center stage, and once again, she lets her art accompany her story。 I found Alison at her most vulnerable。 This book, the most in-depth of the ones she's written, is my favorite of hers。 She traces her life from beginning to the present, relating to authors she's read in her life。 Once again her family is center stage, and once again, she lets her art accompany her story。 I found Alison at her most vulnerable。 。。。more
Patricia,
Alison Bechdel never lets me down。
Robin,
Bechdel deftly examines her mortality and flaws in this graphic memoir framed around fitness pursuits。 Carefully executed and moving。 Perhaps my favorite Bechdel work。
Elyse Walters,
Alison Bechdel, is one of the few ‘rare-bird-anomalies’ that is a master-mind memoir genius。 Two other female memoir masters that come to mind is Dani Shapiro and Joyce Maynard …。。Each of these lovely female authors have written at least three memoirs each。 Alison Bechdel and Dani Shapiro have written four。 All of these authors are around my age — each are youthful-healthy-looking > thin, strong, and beautiful。 One might find it amazing to simply write ‘one’ memoir about thyself — let alone thre Alison Bechdel, is one of the few ‘rare-bird-anomalies’ that is a master-mind memoir genius。 Two other female memoir masters that come to mind is Dani Shapiro and Joyce Maynard …。。Each of these lovely female authors have written at least three memoirs each。 Alison Bechdel and Dani Shapiro have written four。 All of these authors are around my age — each are youthful-healthy-looking > thin, strong, and beautiful。 One might find it amazing to simply write ‘one’ memoir about thyself — let alone three or four — [still a few years away from seventy years old]。 What’s fascinating is that I, along with many other Alison, Dani, and Joyce fans — don’t tire reading about these women’s lives。 As long as they keep writing books about themselves, I’ll keep reading them。 “The Secret To Superhuman Strength” is Alison Bechdel’s most ambitious memoir — my personal favorite—the one I relate to most。 The ‘colorful’ graphics are a great addition to the comics。 The coloring collaboration comes from Alison’s partner: Holly Rae Taylor。 Physical, historical, literary, and spiritual …。。Alison explores the body-mind-spiritual consciousness connection。 I loved it -It’s embarrassing to say - that other than being a lesbian— the rest of it parallels much of my own life。 I’ve shared before, that I am a late bloomer reader—[I sooooo admire the childhood readers-some of my favorite people in the world are reading-lifers from early childhood]…。I regret that I wasn’t one of them。 I was an child-teen-young adult physical girl - before fitness became a cultural phenomenon。 As a tree climbing, roller skating, skateboarding, water-everything girl, ( swimming, masters swim team, aqua yoga instructor, Watsu Water therapist, Water Dancing), tennis playing, balls of all kinds-( kick, toss, slam: badminton, and ping-pong champion in my day), competitor gymnast, (with enough ribbons and medals to fill a wall), Marathon runner, gym rat, High impact aerobic instructor, every type of yoga class imaginable ( resulting in two shoulder surgeries), downhill skiing (resulted in one spiral fracture & bionic ankle), hiking, rock climbing, Pilates, spin classes, weight training, kettle ball, hiking, biking, rope climbing, head standing, flexy-bendy-Physical Education teacher…。。 yeah…。I was part of the fitness frenzy…。But…。a growing void was missing。 My heart was longing for more quiet reflective introspective human-condition-authentic connections。 Remember EST? Now Landmark? - yeah— I did that too! Today…。The characters in my books ( the ‘make-believe’ friends I carry in my head, fill me with a richness I was craving) I still must move - I still must play outside - be in nature - but once reading got a hold of me, I never looked back。 I literally joined Goodreads months after it’s creation。 Things were so simple in the early days of Goodreads- so ‘few’ of us — compared to now > today it’s an International sensation。 And who knew reading could add to higher quality friendships—socialization—book discussions with other readers is a community benefit。 The biggest transformation-and haha—a joke in my family that nobody, including myself saw coming — was my new discovery of the wonderful world of reading。 I became a passionate reader- only in the last twenty years- (a transformation from the occasional spiritual, nutritional/health, self-growth-self, ‘read-to my children’ reading)…。 over to the dark side: a new found love for storytelling- literary, historical, and contemporary fiction novels!It’s a whole new world when one discovers books as an adult — needing them like the air we breathe。 So —as I’m the first to admit—I went from being an die-hard athlete to a reader in these later adulthood years。 After our daughters were old enough to fly away - I retired from my Physical Ed。 teaching job- I no longer spend six to eight hours a day doing yogaor teaching kids soccer—etc。 No longer a tight-ass ‘strong- as-bull-body’— but I’ve gained other types of strength through reading that I loss from no longer being a lean-mean-muscle-driving-meshuggah machine。 But …。I still love to move! Moderately balanced; obsessive-free。 So for me…this book hit very close to home。 A physical historical personal wonderful joy。 I equally loved this life journey story of fitness, self history, and literary enlightenment—as I did the graphics。 The hardcopy is tactile aesthetically irresistible exquisite。 。。。more
Nikki Karalekas,
A bit of the same from Bechdel。 But as a super fan, I’ll take it。 This is a book about aging, death, oneness, and working out that came at the right time in my life。 Still not buying a peloton, though。
Meghan,
The type of book where immediately when I finished it, I wanted to hand it someone else to read。 I love the literary diversions and the thoughtful panels。
Erin,
This was too relatable for me not to love it。 Certainly also felt called out by some parts…
Verónica Muñiz-Soto,
The secret to Alison Bechdel's writing is her sensitivity to tackle mundane themes in the most touching and sensible ways, to make everything feel like a profound meditation on her study subject。 As with her other memoirs, this one won't let you down。 Her physical journey becomes a journey of the soul, of finding ulterior meaning in the most rudimentary acts of being human: moving your body with the purpose of fulfilling a higher call, to look for immortality in the face of the unavoidable decay The secret to Alison Bechdel's writing is her sensitivity to tackle mundane themes in the most touching and sensible ways, to make everything feel like a profound meditation on her study subject。 As with her other memoirs, this one won't let you down。 Her physical journey becomes a journey of the soul, of finding ulterior meaning in the most rudimentary acts of being human: moving your body with the purpose of fulfilling a higher call, to look for immortality in the face of the unavoidable decay of the body。 This is one of the most lucid and engaging reads in a while。 。。。more
Laura,
I loved this book! Bechdel examines her life through her relationship with work and exercise, breaking it down into the decades of her age。 I preferred it to Fun Home!
Ann Fisher,
I still think of Alison Bechdel as the starving artist who let my sister run Dykes to Watch Out For in her little lesbian newsletter for $25 a year, so I bought the book in that spirit (and also because my sister is coming to visit and I knew she'd want to read it)。 I'd also rate my interest in fitness and various fitness trends as somewhere between 0 and 1 on a ten point scale。 All this is to say I didn't have high expectations。 But I was delighted by this book。 Her drawings are always marvelou I still think of Alison Bechdel as the starving artist who let my sister run Dykes to Watch Out For in her little lesbian newsletter for $25 a year, so I bought the book in that spirit (and also because my sister is coming to visit and I knew she'd want to read it)。 I'd also rate my interest in fitness and various fitness trends as somewhere between 0 and 1 on a ten point scale。 All this is to say I didn't have high expectations。 But I was delighted by this book。 Her drawings are always marvelous (I particularly liked the recurring scenes of sticking her head under a waterfall) but it's the story that drew me in。 I had not anticipated so much (or, in fact any) Wordsworth, Coleridge, Kerouac, and, especially, Margaret Fuller, so it was delightful to get glimpses of their lives and struggles as well。 Highly recommended。 。。。more
Annie,
Originally posted on my blog: Nonstop Reader。 The Secret to Superhuman Strength is an engaging and accessible stream-of-consciousness philosophical memoir by Alison Bechdel。 Released 4th May 2021 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, it's 240 pages and is available in hardcover and ebook formats。 I've been a fan of the author's work for decades and really looked forward to this latest slice-of-life intimate and casual look into her lifelong interest in personal strength, training, and physical fitnes Originally posted on my blog: Nonstop Reader。 The Secret to Superhuman Strength is an engaging and accessible stream-of-consciousness philosophical memoir by Alison Bechdel。 Released 4th May 2021 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, it's 240 pages and is available in hardcover and ebook formats。 I've been a fan of the author's work for decades and really looked forward to this latest slice-of-life intimate and casual look into her lifelong interest in personal strength, training, and physical fitness as it's impacted (mostly) American life in the last 6 decades (with brief forays into previous centuries)。 As always, her personal internal reflection and laser focus are interesting and relevant。The author and I are of an age (she's a couple of years older), but the commercials, programs, and attitudes from media and the lifestyles she highlights are -absolutely- spot on。 There's a palpable honesty in her work in general and this one is no exception。 The artwork is spare, subtle, and expressive; much like her work on Fun Home and DTWOF。 The points she makes discussing fitness are salient and interesting, but it's the side points, the observations she makes about human nature and life in general which are really illuminating。 This would be a good selection for library acquisition, fans of modern memoir/culture commentary, and I can also see it being an appropriate choice for inclusion as support literature for subjects such as gender studies, American culture, sociology, and similar。 Five stars。 She has a lot of relevant things to say and does so in an engaging and honest manner。Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes。 。。。more
Edward Champion,
Ha! I figured that this was going to be a book that polarized people。 But I think that some of the other reviewers here have missed the point。 The art here has been deliberately scaled back to DYKES style -- almost a Transcendentalist act itself (though not without those little details such as bottles of water popping up ever so slightly on the edges just after you pointed out how nobody imbibed water bottles in the '80s) -- in an attempt to offer a more minimalist chronicle of Bechdel's own spi Ha! I figured that this was going to be a book that polarized people。 But I think that some of the other reviewers here have missed the point。 The art here has been deliberately scaled back to DYKES style -- almost a Transcendentalist act itself (though not without those little details such as bottles of water popping up ever so slightly on the edges just after you pointed out how nobody imbibed water bottles in the '80s) -- in an attempt to offer a more minimalist chronicle of Bechdel's own spiritual journey, neatly organized by decades。 Of course, this all became complicated anyway with the asides on Emerson, Fuller, et al。 Because that's the way Bechdel's mind works。 Of the three memoirs Bechdel has produced so far, this one seems to be the one she is most willingly to accept life with all of its curveballs and involutions。 That seems to have gone unremarked by most reviewers and self-professed literary hotshots。 Jack Kerouac, of course, could only find a greater spiritualism through his art, but never in his life。 And I think Bechdel sees Kerouac (much like her own father) as a cautionary tale。 When you're as self-aware as she is, it can sometimes get in the way of living。 When Kerouac climbed the Matterhorn with Gary Snyder, that they had this exchange (contained in THE DHARMA BUMS):"Dammit that yodel of triumph of yours was the most beautiful thing I ever heard in my life。 I wish I had a tape recorder to take it down。""These things aren't made to be heard by the people below。"In other words, how in the hell can you even begin to make sense of the spiritual journey when it's not even meant to be heard? If you approach this memoir in this way, I think you'll enjoy its considerable subtleties。 。。。more
Sally Kenney,
I devoured this book and now I need to reread and savor every drawing。 Like Bill Bryson's book on Des Moines, it captured so much of my own experience: Minneapolis, Jack LaLane, Jane Fonda。 So wonderful。 I devoured this book and now I need to reread and savor every drawing。 Like Bill Bryson's book on Des Moines, it captured so much of my own experience: Minneapolis, Jack LaLane, Jane Fonda。 So wonderful。 。。。more
Michelle Stie,
Going to re-read this one。 Very moving, uncomfortable, funny。。。
Janet,
It's a wonderful book。 It's memoir, I guess? She weaves together her lifelong exercise obsession, the Romantic poets, the Transcendentalists, Jack Kerouac, and Buddhism。 And describes her love affair with L。L。 Bean, and her abandonment of them for Patagonia。 It's complicated! It's a wonderful book。 It's memoir, I guess? She weaves together her lifelong exercise obsession, the Romantic poets, the Transcendentalists, Jack Kerouac, and Buddhism。 And describes her love affair with L。L。 Bean, and her abandonment of them for Patagonia。 It's complicated! 。。。more
Abigail,
I think this came out at the perfect time。 It's about so many things--exercise, relationships, the search for transcendence, the messiness of the self。 I really liked how it fit in with her previous work, as well as with the changing background of current events。 And it's just gorgeous to look at。 I think this came out at the perfect time。 It's about so many things--exercise, relationships, the search for transcendence, the messiness of the self。 I really liked how it fit in with her previous work, as well as with the changing background of current events。 And it's just gorgeous to look at。 。。。more
Sara,
Wow! I loved this book so much more than I expected。 It started out so lightly but then went very deep。 I’ve read a bit of the Dykes cartoon, and I enjoyed and admired Fun Home, but it didn’t seem to be speaking to me。 This book, though also very personal, felt much more expansive。 Do we not all grapple with the same questions: How do we get through life? Is there a way to do it better that everyone else has discovered? How can I get over myself and BE myself? There is a lot to think about。 But Wow! I loved this book so much more than I expected。 It started out so lightly but then went very deep。 I’ve read a bit of the Dykes cartoon, and I enjoyed and admired Fun Home, but it didn’t seem to be speaking to me。 This book, though also very personal, felt much more expansive。 Do we not all grapple with the same questions: How do we get through life? Is there a way to do it better that everyone else has discovered? How can I get over myself and BE myself? There is a lot to think about。 But the book also had laugh-out-loud funny moments, and it is a visual treat。 I really liked how the rigid and precise comic strip storytelling was interspersed with looser watercolor scenes。 10 out of 5 stars。 。。。more
Zibby Owens,
"The Secret to Superhuman Strength" is a memoir about the author's life as an exercise enthusiast, as someone who pursued fitness in many different ways throughout her life。 However, there isn't really a weight-loss component because the author purposely tries to unlink and disconnect exercise from the idea of losing weight。 She explains that exercise should be pleasurable and a positive, fun experience for people。 The book is both a cultural commentary on the exercise industry and a personal jo "The Secret to Superhuman Strength" is a memoir about the author's life as an exercise enthusiast, as someone who pursued fitness in many different ways throughout her life。 However, there isn't really a weight-loss component because the author purposely tries to unlink and disconnect exercise from the idea of losing weight。 She explains that exercise should be pleasurable and a positive, fun experience for people。 The book is both a cultural commentary on the exercise industry and a personal journey in photos。 The author goes from watching Jack LaLanne on TV to getting her first TV in the John FK assassination days to repelling up on a rock-climbing wall。 I love how the author finds all sorts of different ways to see the world through how she sees her body and her exercise routines, including processing her grief and loss。 There's a lot of introspection in the book that's overlaid with working out。 The book also has many illustrations that align with the author's life。 Some of the cartoons are in color, but some of the pages are in black and white, reflecting the changes that are happening in her life at the time。To listen to my interview with the author, go to my podcast at:https://zibbyowens。com/transcript/ali。。。 。。。more
Diane Hernandez,
I loved Fun Home by this author, so I snatched up The Secret to Superhuman Strength posthaste without reading the book synopsis。 Imagine my disappointment when I realized it was about my arch nemesis, exercise。 But it is actually a look at how exercise fads have changed over the years and much more。 I’ll just call it a historical memoir and never mention the E-word again!“We are all careening at speed toward that granite slab。”Did I mention that the book is also about accepting aging? Yes, it ha I loved Fun Home by this author, so I snatched up The Secret to Superhuman Strength posthaste without reading the book synopsis。 Imagine my disappointment when I realized it was about my arch nemesis, exercise。 But it is actually a look at how exercise fads have changed over the years and much more。 I’ll just call it a historical memoir and never mention the E-word again!“We are all careening at speed toward that granite slab。”Did I mention that the book is also about accepting aging? Yes, it has that too。 As with Fun Home, there are multiple layers of plot that would be surprising in a prose novel let alone a graphic memoir。 Also, the Romantic poets are frequently mentioned as well as other famous, and long dead, authors。The fact that this book’s author and I were born within the same year makes the history much more interesting to me than, say, my Millennial daughter。 Most of the short vignettes were familiar from remembering my parents crying at the Kennedy assignation to the Aids crisis。Forget about me。 What about you? Will you enjoy this book? I have kind of mixed feelings about The Secret to Superhuman Strength。 I think it will appeal to others that have seen their fitness journey evolve over the years。 It would also be suitable for readers looking for a completely different memoir about finding spiritual strength in a confusing world。 3。5 stars rounded up to 4 stars!Thanks to Houghton Mifflin Harcourt and NetGalley for a copy in exchange for my honest review。 。。。more
Paula Lyle,
This is a fun history of every fitness trend for the last few decades told through the storytelling gifts of a woman who lived through them。 I can't even imagine how hard she worked through all this。 I loved her journey and the openness with which she tells it。 This is another winner for Ms Bechdel。I received an eARC through NetGalley。 This is a fun history of every fitness trend for the last few decades told through the storytelling gifts of a woman who lived through them。 I can't even imagine how hard she worked through all this。 I loved her journey and the openness with which she tells it。 This is another winner for Ms Bechdel。I received an eARC through NetGalley。 。。。more
Kassie King,
No one is quite as good at digging deep, muddling through the "what-does-it-all-mean-ness" of life and coming out of it with an original and profound take on intensely personal, yet universal lived experiences。 She's done it before with family, but this time Bechdel does a deep dive into her relationship with fitness, though that is purely a springboard for the deeper dive into a higher understanding of the self as part of the whole。 This graphic novel is for everyone who has a body, a mind, is No one is quite as good at digging deep, muddling through the "what-does-it-all-mean-ness" of life and coming out of it with an original and profound take on intensely personal, yet universal lived experiences。 She's done it before with family, but this time Bechdel does a deep dive into her relationship with fitness, though that is purely a springboard for the deeper dive into a higher understanding of the self as part of the whole。 This graphic novel is for everyone who has a body, a mind, is a part of a society, and is looking to connect the dots between all of those things。 。。。more
Sarah,
This book is a look at Bechdel's through the lens of the body。 She talks about not just physical activity, but transcendentalism, romanticism, and Buddhism in her journey to to figure out life and living through the years。 It's a fascinating and beautiful journey。 This book is a look at Bechdel's through the lens of the body。 She talks about not just physical activity, but transcendentalism, romanticism, and Buddhism in her journey to to figure out life and living through the years。 It's a fascinating and beautiful journey。 。。。more
Poptart19 (ren),
3。5 stars Meditations on pushing physical limits, aging, gender, relationships, & searching for transcendence。 I picked this up because I love Alison Bechdel’s other work! I enjoyed this, & the art is great, but it’s more rambling & less focused than her other memoirs。 [What I liked:]•There are so many great details in the art that enhance the text, like every good graphic novel should have。 The full-page spreads of maps, in particular, are wonderful! And I definitely appreciate that the histor 3。5 stars Meditations on pushing physical limits, aging, gender, relationships, & searching for transcendence。 I picked this up because I love Alison Bechdel’s other work! I enjoyed this, & the art is great, but it’s more rambling & less focused than her other memoirs。 [What I liked:]•There are so many great details in the art that enhance the text, like every good graphic novel should have。 The full-page spreads of maps, in particular, are wonderful! And I definitely appreciate that the historical fashion was depicted relatively accurately!•I can definitely identify with a lot of Bechdel’s experiences, especially the creative frustrations, the empowerment & also detriments of physically pushing myself to the limit, insomnia, the frustration of trying to define your identity & feeling like you’re getting nowhere, & the frenzying trap of workaholism。 A lot of things about this book resonated with me。•The narrative is a chronological, decade-by-decade collection of autobiographical anecdotes about Bechdel’s childhood love of nature & physical recreation, and her push to find meaning & transcendence through pushing herself physically & artistically。 That base is supplemented with a meta-layer that follows the artistic & philosophical evolutions of Jack Kerouac, Margaret Fuller, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Samuel Taylor Coleridge, & William Wordsworth, comparing her own experiences with relationships, creative work, love of nature, & life-long searching for transcendence/joy/enlightenment。 It gets very philosophical at times, mainly on the topics of Zen Buddhism & 19th C transcendentalism。 I actually really enjoyed learning about Margaret Fuller & Kerouac; I think seeing how Bechdel connected with their stories added depth to her own。•Bechdel is right about the same age as my parents, so reading the details of her childhood is oddly nostalgic for me in that her memories parallel a lot of what my parents have told me about their own growing up experiences。 Her comments & feelings about living through the last decade (looming climate change, volatile US politics, social justice issues, etc。) I was able to connect with personally。[What I didn’t like as much:]•It took a good 30% of the book in before I really understood what the central themes were, where the narrative was going。•I get that it’s Bechdel’s real life experience, but the last 30% of the book felt repetitive—frustration with the creative process, trying to find transcendence & getting frustrated when it doesn’t come—the same thoughts & feelings rehashed year after year。 Sometimes the pacing dragged。CW: suicide, terminal illness, substance abuse, physical assault, infidelity[I received an ARC ebook copy from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review。 Thank you for the book!] 。。。more
Kimi Loughlin,
This graphic novel really grew on me。 My relationship with it was kind of a roller coaster as it was a new Alison Bechdel so I immediately excited but then the title seemed strange。。。 and then I heard Bechdel and some other booksellers speak about it and how it was about a lifelong relationship to exercise in conjunction with mental health and self discovery and I was IN! I really like how Bechdel pulled it all together。 My favorite part was her own personal journey with exercise and all the fad This graphic novel really grew on me。 My relationship with it was kind of a roller coaster as it was a new Alison Bechdel so I immediately excited but then the title seemed strange。。。 and then I heard Bechdel and some other booksellers speak about it and how it was about a lifelong relationship to exercise in conjunction with mental health and self discovery and I was IN! I really like how Bechdel pulled it all together。 My favorite part was her own personal journey with exercise and all the fads that she gets *really* into。 It was really inspiring and made me want to immediately bike long distances, alpine ski, and hike。 Another favorite part was the historical context Bechdel gave to exercise fads in general。 Though I have a lot of elders in my life, none have really related their own exercise and sport experiences in the context of history。 And because this was a graphic novel, Bechdel is able to show her experience alongside some historical references without really drawing away from the text。 For example that she started running when she was younger during a time that it wasn't that popular。 She ran in just her regular clothes and shoes, no special equipment needed so it was funny how such a market was created out of it (though she does describe the changing athleisure and how it has vastly improved)。 However, there was one item she did need that didn't EXIST yet which was a sports bra! It was still a few years away and was invented by two women who sewed jock straps together to create the jogbra。 I kind of balked at how recent this invention felt when in context of an actual person's life versus just seeing the date。 I also loved Bechdel's examination of her own mental health and work/life balance and how it affects her relationships。 We've read about Bechdel's life before but this new graphic novel felt even more raw and introspective。 I especially loved that her partner Holly helped color it during the pandemic so it feels even more personally connected to Bechdel's life。 While I was intrigued with Bechdel's connecting of exercise and outdoor exploration with the historical figures of Wordsworth, Kerouac, Thoreau, and Margaret Fuller, it was ultimately not my cup of tea。 I think I would have enjoyed it more had the entire novel been about these figures but since I enjoyed Bechdel's personal story so much more, they were just sections I sped read through as I eagerly awaited the next decade of Bechdel's life。 Overall, I really really enjoyed this graphic novel。 It captured my attention a whole lot more than the title lead me to believe and is so relatable to anyone's life (who hasn't had a tumultuous relationship with exercise?)。 Bechdel pontificates why we need another fitness book by a white lady, but this book is so different than that。 It's a vulnerable memoir that focuses on exercise and mental health。 And the visualness of the graphic novel truly adds to it more so than any other format。。 Bechdel is truly the only one who could write this book! 。。。more