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Calling Dr. Laura
Calling Dr. Laura: A Graphic Memoir | Nicole J. Georges
23 posts | 37 read | 36 to read
When Nicole Georgeswas two years old, her mother told her that her father wasdead. When she was twenty-three, a psychic told her he was alive.Her half-sister, saddled with guilt, admitsthat the psychic is right and that the whole family has conspired to keep him a secret.Sent into a tailspin about her identity, Nicole turns to radiotalk-show host Dr. Laura Schlessinger for advice. Packedcover-to-coverwith heartfeltand disarming black-and-white illustrations, Calling Dr. Lauratells the story of what happens to you when you are raised in a family of secrets, and what happens to your brain (and heart) when you learn the truth from an unlikely source.Part coming-of-age and part coming-out story, Calling Dr. Lauramarks the arrival ofanexciting andwinning new voice in graphic literature.
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review
IndoorDame
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Mehso-so

The drawing style of this graphic memoir is completely transporting! I felt like I was there. But this is billed as if it‘s going to unpack the psychological ramifications of growing up with deceit woven into the fabric of family life, which I was really interested in. Instead this is mostly meandering background getting you to the point I expected the real story to start at. And no real conclusions are drawn. Ultimately I‘m disappointed. #20in4

Andrew65 Well done 🎄🎄🎄 3mo
UwannaPublishme Gorgeous cover! 😍 3mo
batsy The cover is fabulous! 3mo
IndoorDame @batsy @UwannaPublishme the whole thing is that style, and level of detail, just not in color 3mo
50 likes4 comments
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IndoorDame
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#libraryhaul I haven‘t been well enough to get to the library this year so I‘ve been buying a few more books than usual and mostly just reading what‘s available on Libby and Hoopla. But I combed through my TBR last week and got super excited about some things I could only get physical copies of, so I put in a TON of requests! I don‘t have the energy to make a regular habit of this again, but it‘s a super exciting way to start off the year!

ChaoticMissAdventures So glad you were able to get there. I was very disappointed in my library when they stopped their delivery service they had at the beginning of COVID. It was so helpful for people who were unable to get to the library in person. 3mo
AnnR Wow, quite the library book haul! Definitely made it worth the effort this time around, which is understandable. I hope you enjoy them. 🙂 (I mostly borrow digital books through my library system, too.) 3mo
IndoorDame @ChaoticMissAdventures oddly there really were so many more things that were accessible during COVID. A few of them it makes sense that they reverted cause they were staffed by people who weren‘t doing their regular jobs, but some were just online access that disappeared for no reason. 3mo
Lindy ❤️Sleeping Car Porter❤️ and lots of great graphic novels! 3mo
IndoorDame @Lindy Sleeping Car Porter is the title I‘m starting with from my #AuldLangSpine list. Super excited about it! GNs aren‘t available digitally as often as other titles so I went a little crazy 😜 3mo
63 likes5 comments
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Chelsea.Poole
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Pickpick

I do love a graphic memoir and it‘s been a minute since I‘ve indulged! This one has been on my radar for some time so I‘m happy I finally took the time to read it. Nicole currently lives in Seattle but grew up in Kansas with her mother and a host of father-figures. She was told her real father died but a visit to a psychic leads her down a path to find out more about her family and herself. Great artwork and fabulous storytelling.

GatheringBooks I also enjoyed this graphic novel. Such a pretty book with the design and layout. 💕 11mo
Megabooks This is one of my favorite graphic memoirs! Excellent review! 10mo
82 likes3 stack adds2 comments
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psalva
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Pickpick

This is a vibrant memoir, full of wit, pathos, and beautiful art. The art style conveys the emotional content perfectly. To me, this was about healing from a turbulent childhood. Along the way, Nicole reflects on personal information and secrets, and this seemed to also be a reflection on the author/reader relationship. When it comes down to it, this was so full of heart and I loved it!

jlhammar I really enjoyed this one too! 1y
10 likes1 comment
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vivastory
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Pickpick

I really enjoyed this under the radar graphic memoir about what happens when Georges is informed during a palm reading that her biological father is alive, despite believing he'd passed away from colon cancer while still an infant. The b&w art is crisp & works for the narrative, with some occasionally impressive full page pieces. Full of humor & complicated family dynamic. Recommended for graphic memoir readers & for great sense of place.

Megabooks So glad you liked this too. 3y
79 likes3 stack adds1 comment
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Megabooks
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Pickpick

This is a book about a family secret, but it‘s also about a dysfunctional relationship with her mom (inset #relatable) and how difficulty coming out can affect a queer relationship. It captures a particular moment in time when call in talk radio shows were popular, Dr. Laura, Loveline, etc.

Nicole was told all her life that her father had died when she was a baby. This book shows the slow, seeping fallout when she finds out that‘s a lie.

Cinfhen That cover is fabulous ❤️great review and wonderful choice for #HiddenGem 🙌🏻 3y
Megabooks @Cinfhen thanks friend! Sorry if I‘ve been crabby lately. Things are hard around here. See my comment to Barbara under 3y
Reviewsbylola This cover! 😍 3y
Megabooks @Reviewsbylola this was fantastic. I was so impressed with the artwork and storytelling. Glad Amazon‘s algorithm sent me this gem! 3y
114 likes4 stack adds5 comments
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cathipink
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Pickpick

This was a great snapshot into Nicole's life, and one family thread in particular.

I've really enjoyed graphic novel memoirs - would love any recs people have to share (I've read a few Lucy Knisleys - not for me, Mimi Pond - love, Good Talk by Mira Jacob- love). What are some of your favorite graphic novels?

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shrewandsnail
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Pickpick

I follow Nicole Georges on IG and she's very adorable. I found myself in the Salt Lake City library on an afternoon and chose this book from their graphic novel shelves. It's very cute and makes me think cartooning is probably a good way to cope with the past. I loved the story and all the little side stories.

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charl08
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Loved this graphic memoir: honest look at family dysfunction.

46 likes2 stack adds
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diovival
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#TBRtemptation courtesy of my friend Paige. She would love to be on Litsy but can't because her Windows phone doesn't want her to be great.

saresmoore I‘m mad at different OS app platforms. Why can‘t apps (& ebooks) be universal?! Because money. And maybe also lots of technological nuance that I won‘t even pretend to have the first clue about... 😬 6y
RealLifeReading Love the illustrations! 6y
rubyslippersreads ❤️❤️❤️ that cover! 🐔 6y
diovival @saresmoore Me too! I totally support her decision to dump Windows. 👏🏾 6y
37 likes3 stack adds5 comments
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Gnora
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Pickpick

What do a cartoonist, psychics, chickens, and right-wing conservative talk show hosts all have in common? They are all pieces to the puzzle in the life of Nicole J. Georges. Having been misled about her father for her entire childhood, Nick tries to uncover the truth that would rather stay buried. Stunningly illustrated, this graphic memoir hits home in so many beautiful and heartbreaking ways. #24in48 #graphics #nonfiction

8 likes3 stack adds
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Gnora
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Dr. Laura in the car was my childhood as well. It's weirdly comforting to have someone else in the world share my strange mix of fascination and revulsion for the woman. #24in48

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Gnora
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Got a stack of graphic biographies and I'm ready to roll! 😎 #24in48 #litsyloveslibraries #graphics #nonfiction

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Lacythebookworm
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The deal I've struck with myself this Friday morning - If I grade the stack of research papers, then I get to read a graphic novel. 📚😝

Bambolina_81 Whatever it takes to get through marking...I'm impressed it doesn't involve alcohol (that usually gets me through - as well as the book of course) 😂 7y
Literaryunicorn Book rewards are the best rewards. 7y
Lacythebookworm @Bambolina_81 So true! I was at work so the book reward was all I had on offer 😊 7y
Lacythebookworm @Literaryunicorn Indeed! I'm afraid I may reward myself too often, though 😏😂 7y
105 likes4 stack adds4 comments
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KtShpd
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Reading in bed, sharing a pillow

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Betty
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@skrishna I got several books on I.L.L. from the library from your list. This one is great; enjoyed Embroideries too. Thanks for making out the list!

45 likes1 stack add
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skrishna
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One of the ways I protested this inauguration is writing this list of graphic memoirs and novels that celebrates how women are alike and how we are different. https://www.bustle.com/p/11-graphic-novels-that-celebrate-women-to-read-ahead-of...

BookishMarginalia 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼 7y
Karen_V 👍👍👍 7y
TriniCapini Thank you!! I spend Februarys reading comics and have been trying to make my list for next month. I've read several of these but added a number to my list! 7y
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Chessa Yay! Thank you! ❤️❤️❤️ 7y
Betty Thanks! Saving this list to make ILL requests at the library 7y
melbeautyandbooks 👏🏻 7y
94 likes8 stack adds6 comments
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Gleefulreader
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Isn't this the truth sometimes?

britt_brooke Absolutely! 7y
44 likes1 stack add1 comment
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Jokila
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"I covered up my wound so that Radar would think animals liked me."

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mhippo
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Mehso-so

I'm a little conflicted- this seems to embody the DIY, indie style Georges immersed herself in when she moved to PDX, and her reflections are brave and genuine. On the other hand, it feels unfinished at times and story elements like the Dr. Laura connection are almost forced.

mhippo Maybe I'm comparing it too much to Bechdel's writing on similar themes (family secrets and fractured relationships with parents) which are gutting and intricate... 8y
5 likes1 stack add1 comment
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selectivesnake
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Pickpick

Fantastic graphic memoir. A look at childhood, family, relationships, lies, secrets, and forgiveness. The ending was a bit tragic, but hopeful as well. One of my new favorites.

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selectivesnake

1/3 through this. Graphic memoir about a woman who goes to a palm reader & she tells her that the man she thought was her father is not. Nicole thought her father had died when she was young, now she's questioning if that was actually the truth.

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selectivesnake
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Constantly in a graphic novel mood.