A review by aimmyarrowshigh
All of the Marvels: A Journey to the Ends of the Biggest Story Ever Told by Douglas Wolk

5.0

Wow. I've never felt so seen by a nonfiction narrative before, as someone who is painfully obsessive about things that I love (and it doesn't hurt that right now, that's Marvel). The first three chapters, and the ending appendix, in particular are pinpoint-accurate descriptions of the racing ADHD, obsessive fangirl* mind as it pings from reference to reference, metatext to intertext to intratext, while trying to consume "just one" piece of media. Wolk's secondary focus, on how obsessive love of a piece of media exists ultimately as a vehicle for connection -- to people you meet online or at conventions, to your parent or your child, to other obsessive fans, and to the world at large -- made my heart clench. There's nothing like being able to share why you love what you love with someone else; it's laying your heart bare and saying, this is what I think about myself and about the world, see me in it, here? and being heard. Wolk produced this whole book to say that, and I heard him. I've literally recommended this to everyone I know.

*gender neutral