A review by mercerhanau
Can't We Talk about Something More Pleasant? by Roz Chast
5.0
Fascinating, funny, vulnerable, heartbreaking, and healing. This graphic novel helped me better understand older relatives going through this experience—both the nonagenarians and those in Roz’s caretaking role. So many complicated feelings and family dynamics. There were pieces that felt familiar and uncanny for my family, and I imagine different parts will resonate for anyone who reads it. I shed a few tears, but also laughed.
3/15/2023 addition:
I just read some 1-star reviews and it's so interesting that the majority boil down to "this made me sad!" or "I personally can't relate" or "sounds like a miserable situation!" Well yeah. Grief and trauma and anxiety over the physical and mental decline of loved ones (even with complex relationships) are all 1-star experiences. Roz Chast manages to make meaningful art out of those nuanced, horrible, sometimes bittersweet* pieces of being human. I stand by my five stars.
*[b:Bittersweet: How Sorrow and Longing Make Us Whole|58734811|Bittersweet How Sorrow and Longing Make Us Whole|Susan Cain|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1637095772l/58734811._SY75_.jpg|92445668]
3/15/2023 addition:
I just read some 1-star reviews and it's so interesting that the majority boil down to "this made me sad!" or "I personally can't relate" or "sounds like a miserable situation!" Well yeah. Grief and trauma and anxiety over the physical and mental decline of loved ones (even with complex relationships) are all 1-star experiences. Roz Chast manages to make meaningful art out of those nuanced, horrible, sometimes bittersweet* pieces of being human. I stand by my five stars.
*[b:Bittersweet: How Sorrow and Longing Make Us Whole|58734811|Bittersweet How Sorrow and Longing Make Us Whole|Susan Cain|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1637095772l/58734811._SY75_.jpg|92445668]