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Impossible People
Impossible People: A Completely Average Recovery Story | Julia Wertz
3 posts | 2 read | 1 to read
In her keenly observed graphic memoir, Impossible People, celebrated cartoonist Julia Wertz chronicles her haphazard attempts at sobriety and the relentlessly challenging, surprisingly funny, and occasionally absurd cycle of addiction and recovery. Opening at the culmination of a disastrous trip to Puerto Rico, the first page of Impossible People finds Julia standing stupefied in the middle of the jungle beside a rental Jeep she's just crashed. From this moment, the story flashes back to the beginning of her five-year journey towards sobriety that includes group therapy sessions, relapses, an ill-fated relationship, terrible dates, and an unceremonious eviction from her New York City apartment. Far from the typical addiction narrative that follows an upward trajectory from rock bottom to rehab to recovery, Impossible People portrays the lesser told but more common story: That the road to recover is not always linear. With unflinching honesty, Wertz details the arduous, frustrating, and hilarious story of trying and failing and trying again.
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Anna40
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A very honest account of addiction and recovery. Wertz does not sugarcoat. Her main character is lonely, self-deprecating, unsociable and is dating men who treat her terribly. Despite some attempts at comic relief it is overall depressing and sad. But I loved the main character‘s vulnerability and Wertz‘s minimalist artwork, especially when she captures the city or light and shadow.

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jlhammar
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Really enjoyed this graphic memoir. Candid and very funny. Wertz shares her journey from being a young, high-functioning alcoholic and general mess to sober and ready to move on to her next stage in life. Or, as she says, “It‘s about learning how not to be an asshole.”

Megabooks Stacked! 1y
Anna40 I‘m reading this - halfway through it- but I find it very depressing and sad. The guy she dated … and she seems to be very lonely … is it depressing to the end? 1y
jlhammar @Anna40 Things start to turn around for her towards the end and I think you are left with a good feeling as she leaves this chapter of her life behind. 1y
Anna40 Ok! Thanks! I‘ll finish it then 1y
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jlhammar
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A graphic memoir and a movie ready for pick-up today. The film is based on the wonderful Foster by Claire Keegan. #libraryhaul

psalva I just watched this film after reading Foster last month. I felt it was a great adaptation- I hope you enjoy! 2y
jlhammar @psalva That is great to hear. Really looking forward to it! 1y
61 likes2 comments