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daniellekat's review
challenging
emotional
sad
fast-paced
5.0
So short but each chapter is devastating in its own way. I loved the different art styles and the visual choices for telling each story.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Dysphoria, Rape, Sexual assault, Child abuse, Sexual violence, Sexual harassment, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Stalking, and Misogyny
Moderate: Suicide attempt and Bullying
smashley_rr's review
challenging
reflective
tense
fast-paced
4.25
Real problems of sexual harassments/violence/abuse that occur everyday. I recognize the openness of those willing to share their stories for the creation of this graphic novel. Their vulnerability creates awareness and enacts change toward a more just society.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Sexual harassment
robinks's review
challenging
dark
informative
sad
tense
medium-paced
5.0
Each story is sadly so relatable. The collection was able to illuminate a variety of abusive relationship and interaction dynamics. The tips in the back were also clear and direct.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Sexual violence, Self harm, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual harassment, Misogyny, and Sexism
jmanchester0's review against another edition
5.0
This was so hard to read.
But so, so important.
From the description:
But so, so important.
From the description:
Bringing together the voices of males and females of all ages, the stories in this collective graphic memoir reflect real life experiences of sexual abuse, violence and harassment.
This is the kind of thing that we need to help people understand how truly prevalent abuse is.
It's ugly, and it's gross, so we like to turn a blind eye.
But we can't.
The problem is, those who perpetrate this kind of evil (yes, I said evil) are insidious (yes, I said insidious) and know how to do these things and maintain plausible deniability. They know what to do and how to do it so that they can cover their tracks. So they can make it look completely innocent. And the thing is, we believe them over the people who are living with the shame of experiencing it.
And people who have the responsibility of doing something about it ignore it. I guess we all have the responsibility to do something.
I can't imagine the impact that has on someone's life. I guess you can't unless you've been through it.
If you can read these stories and not hurt for these people, you truly have no heart.
The book ends in some short descriptions of what you can do if you talk to someone who has experienced abuse, if you see it happening, or if you're a survivor.
Read this. If only to get an inkling of what somebody else might have gone through.
Thanks to NetGalley, Jessica Kingsley Publishers, and Singing Dragon for a copy in exchange for an honest review.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, and Sexual violence
oliviaedixon's review against another edition
fast-paced
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism, Sexual assault, and Sexual harassment
jenmaysiereads's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Unrated out of 5 stars.
‘Take It as a Compliment’ consists of twenty vignettes in which men and woman share their stories of abuse, sexual assault and harassment. Reading the stories, which are stark and matter-of-fact in conveying meaning was brutal. The form of a graphic novel leaves no room for the imagination; the stories are depictions of rape and abuse and are immensely difficult to read.
All of the stories in the anthology have been submitted anonymously but I applaud each contributors strength in telling their experiences, each different but connected by a thread of entitlement, betrayal and abuse. The stories in this collection are not unfamiliar but each is upsetting and heartbreaking in their own ways.
The art style is wonderful. The use of colours and shading work excellently to convey meaning and showcase emotion. One particular comic strip includes no dialogue, yet it conjures a distinct feeling of discomfort and fear that I remember all too well from nights I had to walk home alone.
The book is short but it works tirelessly to deconstruct harmful rape myths and victim blaming rhetoric such as “he was just joking”, “what were you wearing”, “maybe I’m too nice”, and “take it as a compliment”. Additionally, I really appreciated that this graphic novel collection included stories from men. I’m personally reading this as part a literary analysis for my thesis on sexual assault which is focused on women, but I nevertheless was really grateful to see from the perspectives of men and have their experiences honoured in the work—their stories are just as important and need to be told.
Books like these are incredibly important and I’m really glad to have read this even if it was immensely difficult to read at times.
‘Take It as a Compliment’ consists of twenty vignettes in which men and woman share their stories of abuse, sexual assault and harassment. Reading the stories, which are stark and matter-of-fact in conveying meaning was brutal. The form of a graphic novel leaves no room for the imagination; the stories are depictions of rape and abuse and are immensely difficult to read.
All of the stories in the anthology have been submitted anonymously but I applaud each contributors strength in telling their experiences, each different but connected by a thread of entitlement, betrayal and abuse. The stories in this collection are not unfamiliar but each is upsetting and heartbreaking in their own ways.
The art style is wonderful. The use of colours and shading work excellently to convey meaning and showcase emotion. One particular comic strip includes no dialogue, yet it conjures a distinct feeling of discomfort and fear that I remember all too well from nights I had to walk home alone.
The book is short but it works tirelessly to deconstruct harmful rape myths and victim blaming rhetoric such as “he was just joking”, “what were you wearing”, “maybe I’m too nice”, and “take it as a compliment”. Additionally, I really appreciated that this graphic novel collection included stories from men. I’m personally reading this as part a literary analysis for my thesis on sexual assault which is focused on women, but I nevertheless was really grateful to see from the perspectives of men and have their experiences honoured in the work—their stories are just as important and need to be told.
Books like these are incredibly important and I’m really glad to have read this even if it was immensely difficult to read at times.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Pedophilia, and Rape
christinanwrth's review
challenging
emotional
informative
medium-paced
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence
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