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crissytrap's review
5.0
This was a great book from a wonderful comic artist. I loved reading about the journey in that format.
brendageeker's review
4.0
I enjoyed reading this book. I didn't love Marchetto's drawing style, though I thought her compositions were very creative and interesting. Despite my initial dislike of her illustrations, her excellent storytelling ability kept me hooked to the end. This book is funny, touching, and empowering. I consider it a success in that I was highly entertained and motivated to take better care of myself.
lauraslibrarycard's review
3.0
New to the graphic novel scene, but enjoyed this story of triumph. I really liked the full-page times when her thoughts just were running and she was able to visually demonstrate very clearly and beautifully what she was feeling.
marinaschulz's review
3.0
I enjoyed this book.
Marisa Marchetto is a fun-loving, fashion crazy cartoonist, who got the earth-shaterring news that she has cancer, while being uninsured. This book is her writing and illustrating her story, often tugging at the heartstrings (what women can't empathize with the fear of having or loosing someone to breast cancer?), completely immersing the reader in Marchetto's journey. I particullarly liked how the author also details how her experience affected her family and friends around her, and, throughout, acknowledges her gratitude for their support.
In addition to being an emotional book, I would also say that it is really very very funny - as funny as a book about cancer can be - filled with fashion tips and trowbacks, references to pop-culture, and methaphores. I really felt that the humour and the fashion references really added to the book, because it really gave the idea that even if Marisa had cancer, it's not like she completely changed personality, and her entire life turned gray and somber - she's a person, not just a "victim", and she'll do the best she can to laugh in cancer's face.
That being said, the pop-culture can be a little tiresome after a while, and it's really dated by 2018. Furthermore, the book really is very fashion/pop oriented, so if you don't like these things, definetly avoid it - the writing style makes me think of something along the likes of Princess Diaries meets Sex and the City. I would nonetheless for sure recommend this book if you have a relative/friend (with a sense of humour) with breast cancer, or if you want to educate a young (10+) year old girl on breast cancer (presumably because someone else in the family has it). I really feel that young girls can benefit from this book as it really does explain cancer in a light hearted and fun way, without in any way minimizing that it is a very serious illness.
Marisa Marchetto is a fun-loving, fashion crazy cartoonist, who got the earth-shaterring news that she has cancer, while being uninsured. This book is her writing and illustrating her story, often tugging at the heartstrings (what women can't empathize with the fear of having or loosing someone to breast cancer?), completely immersing the reader in Marchetto's journey. I particullarly liked how the author also details how her experience affected her family and friends around her, and, throughout, acknowledges her gratitude for their support.
In addition to being an emotional book, I would also say that it is really very very funny - as funny as a book about cancer can be - filled with fashion tips and trowbacks, references to pop-culture, and methaphores. I really felt that the humour and the fashion references really added to the book, because it really gave the idea that even if Marisa had cancer, it's not like she completely changed personality, and her entire life turned gray and somber - she's a person, not just a "victim", and she'll do the best she can to laugh in cancer's face.
That being said, the pop-culture can be a little tiresome after a while, and it's really dated by 2018. Furthermore, the book really is very fashion/pop oriented, so if you don't like these things, definetly avoid it - the writing style makes me think of something along the likes of Princess Diaries meets Sex and the City. I would nonetheless for sure recommend this book if you have a relative/friend (with a sense of humour) with breast cancer, or if you want to educate a young (10+) year old girl on breast cancer (presumably because someone else in the family has it). I really feel that young girls can benefit from this book as it really does explain cancer in a light hearted and fun way, without in any way minimizing that it is a very serious illness.
jenunderhill's review
4.0
I really enjoyed her candidness about the cancer diagnosis and treatment as well as the accompanying emotional roller coaster, but I had a really hard time relating with her high flying New York lifestyle.
electricbloom's review
2.0
Had to read this for my graphic novels class.
I feel like I should have liked this more considering her circumstances. Hell, my mom is a breast cancer survivor and I was like "this is something I can relate too."
It wasn't. It was reeeeeeally hard for me to like Marisa. She was petty, a narcissist, and just had traits I really don't like in a person. I felt bad she had cancer, but she made it seem like she was the only person who had it and her case was the worst. It's all bad. Telling the doctor she would kill herself if she lost her hair? Petty. I'm glad she's better but I'm glad I finished the book so I don't have to listen to her anymore.
The art was awful in my opinion. I didn't like her illustration style at all. The pages were cluttered with words and word bubbles to the point that sometimes I just skimmed many of them because it was just mindless chatter from her friends. It was too busy, too wordy, and poorly drawn.
Glad you're better Marisa, but I'm just not a fan.
I feel like I should have liked this more considering her circumstances. Hell, my mom is a breast cancer survivor and I was like "this is something I can relate too."
It wasn't. It was reeeeeeally hard for me to like Marisa. She was petty, a narcissist, and just had traits I really don't like in a person. I felt bad she had cancer, but she made it seem like she was the only person who had it and her case was the worst. It's all bad. Telling the doctor she would kill herself if she lost her hair? Petty. I'm glad she's better but I'm glad I finished the book so I don't have to listen to her anymore.
The art was awful in my opinion. I didn't like her illustration style at all. The pages were cluttered with words and word bubbles to the point that sometimes I just skimmed many of them because it was just mindless chatter from her friends. It was too busy, too wordy, and poorly drawn.
Glad you're better Marisa, but I'm just not a fan.