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Becoming Unbecoming
Becoming Unbecoming | Una
A devastating personal account of gender violence told in graphic-novel form, set against the backdrop of the 1970s Yorkshire Ripper man-hunt. Its 1977 and Una is twelve. A serial murderer is at large in West Yorkshire and the police are struggling to solve the case despite spending more than two million man-hours hunting the killer and interviewing the man himself no less than nine times. As this national news story unfolds around her, Una finds herself on the receiving end of a series of violent acts for which she feels she is to blame. Through image and text Becoming Unbecoming explores what it means to grow up in a culture where male violence goes unpunished and unquestioned. With the benefit of hindsight Una explores her experience, wonders if anything has really changed and challenges a global culture that demands that the victims of violence pay its cost.
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KathyWheeler
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Pickpick

This was a difficult to read memoir that discusses the trauma inflicted on girls who survive sexual assault at a young age. It‘s combined with the author‘s story of coming of age in the time of the Yorkshire Ripper and notes how women and girls were routinely ignored in that case. I loved some of the art, especially the outdoor scenes.

IndoorDame I read this one this month too. Powerful! 2y
KathyWheeler @IndoorDame It was your post that inspired me to read this. Thanks for posting about it as I‘d otherwise probably wouldn‘t have heard of it. 2y
IndoorDame @KathyWheeler glad you decided to read it. I think it deserves more exposure. 2y
29 likes1 stack add3 comments
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IndoorDame
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Pickpick

Published under the pseudonym Una, this account of sexual and gender violence stretches from the 70s into the 00ts and includes both personal details from the author‘s life and an overview of the broader political/societal backdrop she grew up in. It is told with a combination of comics, expressive art, and media clippings. This was really well done, but so difficult to read! #PopSugar2022ABookWithAPalindromicTitle #Booked2022TitleRepeatsItself

charl08 Agreed - hardly a light read, but a memorable, thought-provoking one. 2y
jlhammar Yes, agree, this is fantastic graphic novel/memoir! So powerful. I feel like it hasn't gotten as much attention as it deserves (at least here in the US). 2y
Cinfhen Great review and fabulous choice for #Booked2022 2y
54 likes1 stack add3 comments
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booklover3258
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Pickpick

For my book review, visit my YouTube Vlog at:

https://youtu.be/pB3tVW8A3T8

Enjoy!

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Julsmarshall
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Pickpick

My goodness, what a powerful, haunting graphic novel about the shame and blame that women experience due to male violence and societal misogyny. The art is unique, spare, and evocative and, on more than one page, took my breath away. #ReadHarder2020 #challenge #Booked2020 #13 @Cinfhen @4thhouseontheleft @BarbaraTheBibliophage

Cinfhen Looks incredible ❤️ 4y
50 likes1 stack add1 comment
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Krisjericho
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Mehso-so

This is an important topic, but I wish the author would have picked a trajectory and gone with it. Is it about her personal traumatic experiences, the Yorkshire Ripper, or lists of facts and figures about sexism and sexual assault? The landscape art is beautiful; I didn‘t find the art of people as effective. Some books could have combined all of these things seamlessly, but I don‘t feel this one does.

40 likes1 stack add
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Stephaniereads1
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Pickpick

Although this is a hard read it is an important one. It focuses on victim blaming and society‘s views on violence against women. It set in 1070s but you can still hear the same comments today. The author focuses on her own experiences with abuse but also on the 1970s jack the Ripper who would have been caught so much earlier if the police had listened to the victims instead of deciding they were just prostitutes and loose women.

Weaponxgirl They have a programme on the ripper on iplayer atm that is really good. It focuses on the attitudes of the time period and the women rather than the killer. It was a great change of pace from most true crime. The police were just bloody awful! I own this and I will bump it up my tbr, thanks! 6y
54 likes1 stack add2 comments
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Stephaniereads1
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Trying this graphic novel. I liked the cover.

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Stephaniereads1
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1. Becoming, Unbecoming
2. The Great Alone
3. The Princess and the FanGirl
#weekendreads @rachelsbrittain

ShyBookOwl So excited for The Princess and the Fangirl! 6y
Lovesbooks87 Can't wait for The Princess and the Fangirl either. So excited that it will be one of the books in my mailbox on Tuesday!!! 6y
Stephaniereads1 Me too I loved Geekerella!!! What else do you have coming? 6y
Stephaniereads1 Me too I loved Geekerella!!! What else do you have coming? 6y
58 likes4 comments
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TheBookkeepersApprentice
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Fourth book done for @DeweysReadathon ! I‘m going to at least try to start a fifth. My stalwart and adorable reading companion is already asleep 🐶😴

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vamp
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#qoute📝📒📑
#qouteoftheday🧞‍♀️

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MaGoose
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Finished these books for the #bookaweek challenge. 🤓😊

@TheReadingMermaid

BeansPage Great job! 😃 6y
21 likes1 comment
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Mirazzles
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I am not even half way through this book and it‘s already extremely powerful. I just don‘t have words. #bibliophile #memoir #graphicnovel

10 likes3 stack adds
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pgh.femme
Mehso-so

This graphic feminist memoir of a sexual abuse survivor coming of age during the era of the Yorkshire Ripper seemed to be right up my alley. However, something about this didn‘t work for me that I can‘t quite name. The final drawings were amazing and moving though. I think perhaps someone who reads more graphic books will like this more than I did.

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sissiforbooks
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#becomingunbecoming #una
Questa graphic novel è una meraviglia!
Tratta della violenza di genere e della consapevolezza dell'essere vittima.

StillLookingForCarmenSanDiego Welcome to Litsy 👋😁 6y
5 likes1 stack add1 comment
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Notafraidofwords
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Pickpick

This is a graphic novel about a young girl struggling to pick up the pieces after sexual assault. It is painful to read how Una‘s life got smaller and smaller as she struggles to understand her silence, the triggers she avoids and the people around her who prioritize “perfect” victims. I used this for my bookriot challenge- read a comic illustrated and written by the same person. However, I recommend for everyone to read. TW: sexual assault.

Alicia I didn‘t even realize it was a graphic novel. This looks so intense but very good. 7y
brownekr This is an all-time best book for me. I don't know if I can ever reread it, though... 7y
Notafraidofwords @Alicia it‘s intense. But there‘s periods of educational theories which breaks up the heartbreak if that makes sense. 7y
Notafraidofwords @brownekr I wouldn‘t be able to. I really broke for her. 7y
90 likes15 stack adds4 comments
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Clwojick
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I am honestly so sore today, and I think I'm coming down with the flu. I had the day off and planned on reading all day long, but I've had a hard time getting comfortable. I've stuck to graphic novels, as they're quick and easy. 👌 Hoping to get one more in tonight., so I'm starting this one. It's been on my TBR for a while.

TaciturnWhenReading Bummer! Hope you feel better soon. 7y
ElishaLovesBooks Feel better!! 7y
ScientistSam Hope you feel better soon! 7y
See All 18 Comments
Librarybelle Feel better! 7y
WarpedSweetness Ugh! I hope you feel better soon! 7y
UrsulaMonarch Hope you feel better- I thought this book was great and/but brutal so I hope it is ok for your current state!! 7y
Tamra 😞 I hope not! 7y
LeahBergen Blah. That sucks. ☹️ 7y
robinb Feel better soon! 7y
Eggs May you improve soon😊😍 7y
megt Feel better soon! 7y
SassyBookworm Get well soon!!! 🤒🤧 7y
Crystalblu You must get better, Star Wars is on Thursday! ;) 7y
TricksyTails Hope you feel better soon! I've been under the weather too. It sucks! Hugs and wishes for speedy recovery! 😊♥️ 7y
tpixie Get well fast!! 7y
AmyG Feel better! 7y
minkyb Feel better. 7y
94 likes4 stack adds18 comments
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UrsulaMonarch
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Pickpick
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UrsulaMonarch
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There are lots of interesting graphic choices in this book, but my two favorites are the paper dolls and the trees

18 likes2 stack adds
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thereadingowlvina
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Pickpick
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Erin01
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MoniqueChristine
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Pickpick

As a memoir and a comic, Una's style is very unique and artistic. While visually a bit off-putting, it fits well with the story she tells, because its a subject matter that can be difficult to read.

As Una tells her story of sexual abuse, she ties it into the broader picture of society. Using statistic, research, and personal experience, she brings voice to the destructive behavior the world takes towards half its population.

#30Comics30Days

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MoniqueChristine
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Why are women angry?

'35.8% of all sexual assaults are carried out on 12 to 17 year-olds. 82% of these victimized juveniles are females. 21.8% of rapes of females are gang rapes. 92% of Native American girls say they have been forced to have sex while on a date. 346,830 rapes and sexual assaults of women and girls were reported in the US in 2012. In a society where only 2% of rapists are convicted'

That's why we are so mad.

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Cortg
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Pickpick

This graphic novel is the story of a young girl growing up between the ages of 10 and 16 as she tries to deal with a rape at a young age, she also watches the story of women beaten and murdered by a serial killer during this time. This is an intense book!

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BooksAtNight
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#BookAndBreakfast Usually I'm too frazzled in the morning to sit down and read. But today I'm trying to slow down and enjoy the first hours of my day. Eating spaghetti for breakfast because I can and tackling this graphic novel!

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RowReads1
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Keyoung
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#booksandtreats A beer, a gelato pop and a fairly harrowing graphic memoir about sexual violence against women. #riotgrams

15 likes1 stack add
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Hollyg113
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"Girls had to be sexy, but not too sexy and, although the rate at which girls grew was completely beyond their control, they had to be careful not to let their breasts and thighs alarm people"

9 likes1 stack add
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Jokila
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Pickpick

A heartbreaking examination of the impact of rape culture. Una was repeatedly made a victim of sexual assault at the same time that a serial killer who targeted women was at large in Yorkshire. The media's victim-blaming and the slut-shaming she witnessed among her classmates made sure she withdrew, and never received any help -- until she found feminist Joan Smith. A chilling personal account of one hidden cost of patriarchy.

47 likes3 stack adds
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alibrarianslibrary
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Pickpick

The blurb is completely accurate. This memoir/info book *is* unflinching and heartbreaking because, while this is about a historical British case, attitudes about violence against women haven't changed much since the 70s. It is still taboo, it is still avoided and ignored and rationalized. And that needs to change.

18 likes2 stack adds
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alibrarianslibrary
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This is so heartbreaking but so realistic, unfortunately.

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Violarama
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Pickpick

Using the Yorkshire Ripper as a touchstone, this comic skillfully moves from personal trauma to probing questions about a society that accepts misogyny and violence against women. Una is just as comfortable using silence and poetic images as she is statistics and history to fight against complacency and victim-shaming, toward listening.

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Lindy
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Pickpick

Una's personal experience with rape and slut shaming as a child, combined with a look at the culture of sexual violence and misogyny that was all around as she grew up in Yorkshire in the 1970s, documented in a variety of styles of artwork. Powerful.

32 likes2 stack adds
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Lindy
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Change takes time, I hear you say. We've had a few thousand years. How much longer before we are rid of this dead weight?

30 likes1 stack add
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wanderaven
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Una's representation of misogyny. This graphic memoir is difficult and wonderful and extremely important. If you can get your hands on a copy, I highly recommend it.

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SoniaC
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Pickpick

A beautifully done powerful graphic novel. This book takes an unflinching look at sexual violence against girls and women at how there power and voices get stolen and their trauma responses work against them. The imagines are beautiful at points and disturbing at others. This book might be triggering for some but I definitely recommend it. Your heart will ache for Una as she struggles to live with fear and pain she can't even understand.

BookishFeminist I'll have to check this out. Thanks so much for the rec! 8y
SoniaC @BookishFeminist I really think this one would speak to you. 8y
keelymorgan I'm wanting to branch into graphic novels! Thanks for the recommendation. 8y
See All 6 Comments
SoniaC @keelymorgan this was my second and I loved it. 8y
keelymorgan @SoniaC what was your first?! 8y
SoniaC @keelymorgan Blankets by Craig Thompson also highly recommend it. 8y
43 likes5 stack adds6 comments
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SoniaC
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So much emotion in this graphic novel.

Lizpixie This is my life 8y
SoniaC @Lizpixie I think we all have moments where we feel this way. 8y
42 likes1 stack add2 comments
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SoniaC
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"This is how I found out I had something called a reputation that I was supposed to have been looking after. I didn't even get a good look at it before it was gone." This book!!!

57 likes1 stack add
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SoniaC
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Back at the bookstore after telling myself I did not need this right now and that it can wait. Proof I have no self control. I've already well exceeded my book budget for the month. At least I'm in good company.

RinaBrahmbhattBarot Hey @SoniaC join our #BookSwap club :-) 8y
SoniaC @MyBookSwapClub sounds interesting tell me more 😊 8y
RinaBrahmbhattBarot If you are on Twitter/FB do connect. We meet up in/around #London and do postal #BookSwap 8y
See All 8 Comments
SoniaC @MyBookSwapClub in both ill find you guys now. I'm in California so probably no London met ups as absolutely dreamy as that sounds but hey we got postal service over here and as long as a douche bag tyrant doesn't win on 11/8 it should keep working 😂😂😂 8y
RinaBrahmbhattBarot Postal service it is @SoniaC absolutely with you that certain tyrant won't win #Presidential election! I'm in #NYC currently, if I travel to #CA I'll let you know :-) 8y
SoniaC @MyBookSwapClub definitely and I'll do the same if I get to visit the east coast. Can't wait for the election to be over and my anxiety to decrease! 8y
Twocougs I'm always part of your club. Let us know what you think! 8y
SoniaC @Twocougs I am reading it now and it is so powerful. 8y
44 likes4 stack adds8 comments
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Rinna
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Pickpick

Endearing story of survivorship. I wanna give this graphic novel to all my feminist friends.

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OntheShelfBooks
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Powerful, Affecting and strangely beautiful

3 likes1 stack add