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A review by crystalstarrlight
Hyperbole and a Half by Allie Brosh
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
4.0
Bullet Review:
REREAD: God, the portions on depression are spot on! I don't know that I actually laughed much, but I totally related to more than one portion of this.
Full Review:
Once again, why did I choose to reread a book I read nearly 8 years ago instead of going through my massive TBR Mountain? Well, someone happened to like my previous review, and when I looked back on this book, I remembered clearly the Depression parts. As I reread my old review (which was pretty lackluster and pathetic - sorry for that, kind people who have liked my review!), I noted that I finished it in 2 days. So being mildly competitive and coming out of the Year that was 2020 that made me lose what little grasp of reality, I decided to finish this in a day. Which I basically did. And which basically makes me amazing. (This is why Allie Brosh and I are basically the same person - we brag to ourselves about our very pathetic accomplishments. No offense meant, Allie.)
If I had to determine what makes Allie Brosh stand out from most other humor books is 1) the bad drawings and 2) her frank discussions on depression and her character. Her discussions of what depression was like as well as her being a mediocre person who dreamed herself the most generous, put-together adult (who regularly recycled) were the best parts of the book - I completely saw myself in her 3 sections on depression at multiple stages of my adult life, ranging from college to just last year, and I also related to when she talked about aspiring to be a Good Person, but mostly being an OK to shitty person who does shitty things.
I won't say this book had me in stitches, but it was humorous, especially the sections where the drawings augment the story and there aren't massive sections of text. The sections about the dogs was kinda cringe, especially given that the r-word is tossed around quite frequently for one of her poor dogs that isn't the sharpest tool in the shed. Even in 2013, using the r-word or "simple" wouldn't have been OK. That said, there were a few places that got a chuckle out of me - trying to convince her dogs not to eat bees for example or her young self begging her mom for cake.
For people who wonder what it is like to have depression, I think this is one of the best descriptors of it. Without the drawings, I don't think this would really stand out of 90% of humor books, and if you don't like swearing, don't pick this up!
Initially I rated this 5-stars; I can't really rate it that way anymore, but it's still a high 4-stars. Enjoyable read, if you like bad drawings and swearing.
Old Review:
Somehow, in the New Year's Shuffle, I neglected to review this book. Well, a week into the New Year, I will remedy this with a short review, as I don't think I could write a full length review that would do this book justice.
I found out about this book while whining about the atrocious books that got voted onto the Goodreads 2013 Choice Awards (seriously, how the hell did Katy Evans of "REAL" fame get nominated as "Debut Author"?!). I mentioned that AT LEAST Neil Gaiman won for Fantasy (there is hope for the world), when others *cough*JaneWillow Ashley Jeanette*cough* chimed in about how pleased they were that Allie Brosh won her category with "Hyperbole and a Half".
That did it. I had to read this book. Only I had a problem: my 2014 goal was not to buy any new books, but to read the ones I already owned. Solution? Use Christmas money and buy before January 1st!! (Brilliant move, right?)
I think I finished this book in two days. OK, that seems a long time, but really, it was probably two sittings, nestled between lots of naps (Vicodin makes me extremely sleepy). I couldn't put it down (unless, of course, the Vicodin kicked in and sent me to Hushaby Mountain). It was funny; it was heart-breakingly real (the sections on depression); it was everything I had been hoping for in Me Talk Pretty One Day but didn't get.
Best use of Christmas money. Best breaking of my 2014 rule. Now excuse me while I go check out her blog and see what today's post is.
REREAD: God, the portions on depression are spot on! I don't know that I actually laughed much, but I totally related to more than one portion of this.
Full Review:
Once again, why did I choose to reread a book I read nearly 8 years ago instead of going through my massive TBR Mountain? Well, someone happened to like my previous review, and when I looked back on this book, I remembered clearly the Depression parts. As I reread my old review (which was pretty lackluster and pathetic - sorry for that, kind people who have liked my review!), I noted that I finished it in 2 days. So being mildly competitive and coming out of the Year that was 2020 that made me lose what little grasp of reality, I decided to finish this in a day. Which I basically did. And which basically makes me amazing. (This is why Allie Brosh and I are basically the same person - we brag to ourselves about our very pathetic accomplishments. No offense meant, Allie.)
If I had to determine what makes Allie Brosh stand out from most other humor books is 1) the bad drawings and 2) her frank discussions on depression and her character. Her discussions of what depression was like as well as her being a mediocre person who dreamed herself the most generous, put-together adult (who regularly recycled) were the best parts of the book - I completely saw myself in her 3 sections on depression at multiple stages of my adult life, ranging from college to just last year, and I also related to when she talked about aspiring to be a Good Person, but mostly being an OK to shitty person who does shitty things.
I won't say this book had me in stitches, but it was humorous, especially the sections where the drawings augment the story and there aren't massive sections of text. The sections about the dogs was kinda cringe, especially given that the r-word is tossed around quite frequently for one of her poor dogs that isn't the sharpest tool in the shed. Even in 2013, using the r-word or "simple" wouldn't have been OK. That said, there were a few places that got a chuckle out of me - trying to convince her dogs not to eat bees for example or her young self begging her mom for cake.
For people who wonder what it is like to have depression, I think this is one of the best descriptors of it. Without the drawings, I don't think this would really stand out of 90% of humor books, and if you don't like swearing, don't pick this up!
Initially I rated this 5-stars; I can't really rate it that way anymore, but it's still a high 4-stars. Enjoyable read, if you like bad drawings and swearing.
Old Review:
Somehow, in the New Year's Shuffle, I neglected to review this book. Well, a week into the New Year, I will remedy this with a short review, as I don't think I could write a full length review that would do this book justice.
I found out about this book while whining about the atrocious books that got voted onto the Goodreads 2013 Choice Awards (seriously, how the hell did Katy Evans of "REAL" fame get nominated as "Debut Author"?!). I mentioned that AT LEAST Neil Gaiman won for Fantasy (there is hope for the world), when others *cough*JaneWillow Ashley Jeanette*cough* chimed in about how pleased they were that Allie Brosh won her category with "Hyperbole and a Half".
That did it. I had to read this book. Only I had a problem: my 2014 goal was not to buy any new books, but to read the ones I already owned. Solution? Use Christmas money and buy before January 1st!! (Brilliant move, right?)
I think I finished this book in two days. OK, that seems a long time, but really, it was probably two sittings, nestled between lots of naps (Vicodin makes me extremely sleepy). I couldn't put it down (unless, of course, the Vicodin kicked in and sent me to Hushaby Mountain). It was funny; it was heart-breakingly real (the sections on depression); it was everything I had been hoping for in Me Talk Pretty One Day but didn't get.
Best use of Christmas money. Best breaking of my 2014 rule. Now excuse me while I go check out her blog and see what today's post is.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism and Mental illness