A review by knkoch
Men I Trust by Tommi Parrish
challenging
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Hmmm. I feel the way I did after reading Parrish’s Perfect Hair; this book would benefit from revisiting. It feels at times obscure or opaque, like looking at contemporary art. What do I take from this? What’s the message I want to leave with? It’s not generally clear.
On the one hand, this is more long-form than Perfect Hair, but it felt less straightforward than The Lie and How We Told It, Parrish’s other full-length graphic novel. But maybe that’s because I’ve read The Lie several times. I suppose Men I Trust reminds me most of the black and white portion of The Lie; there’s something there, but it will take some digging and some time for me to really understand.
And maybe it’s less a narrative than a visual emotional portrait of people in a particular place and headspace. There’s much less linear story or straight plot. Parrish’s work is certainly unlike any other I’ve come across, but in a very good way. And of course, the art was flawless.
4/6/23 reread:
Man, a second turn on this was SO useful. There’s so much set-up I didn’t pick up on before, and knowing the ending helped me see all the signs leading to it. This time, the book felt like a masterful exploration of boundaries, codependency, and the unequal give and take to some relationships. Sasha and Eliza made much more sense as two people at different points along the same path, or perhaps the same person but at two points in their life. Almost. But that title is the ultimate coda,
On the one hand, this is more long-form than Perfect Hair, but it felt less straightforward than The Lie and How We Told It, Parrish’s other full-length graphic novel. But maybe that’s because I’ve read The Lie several times. I suppose Men I Trust reminds me most of the black and white portion of The Lie; there’s something there, but it will take some digging and some time for me to really understand.
And maybe it’s less a narrative than a visual emotional portrait of people in a particular place and headspace. There’s much less linear story or straight plot. Parrish’s work is certainly unlike any other I’ve come across, but in a very good way. And of course, the art was flawless.
4/6/23 reread:
Man, a second turn on this was SO useful. There’s so much set-up I didn’t pick up on before, and knowing the ending helped me see all the signs leading to it. This time, the book felt like a masterful exploration of boundaries, codependency, and the unequal give and take to some relationships. Sasha and Eliza made much more sense as two people at different points along the same path, or perhaps the same person but at two points in their life. Almost. But that title is the ultimate coda,
Spoiler
that sense in this that men may be more straightforward in their (dangerous) motives, but women could hurt you just as much while obfuscating their wants. And if Eliza can’t trust Sasha, who’s like an earlier version of herself, perhaps the woman she can’t trust is herself. “Men I trust, but women? Nah.”
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Mental illness, Sexual content, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Alcohol and Alcoholism
One of the main characters is struggling with untreated mental illness and experiencing suicidal ideation. The other is attending Al-Anon meetings and on a sobriety journey.