Welcome to Litsy!

I read this a while ago. It left me feeling that the author tackled a twisted theme using expert storytelling. Building up characters, a family history, and the readers abject horror with a mounting unease. Excellent book. Dissecting a family and generations of trauma that impacted each woman, all inflicted by one man.

I didn't realize this was the same author who did Ghost World. I wasn't a fan of that book, and this didn't really do it for me either. It follows the life of Monica and her steps to uncover the truth about her youth. The art was decent. The story was up and down for me; I didn't love the side stories between chapters. The ending was also unsatisfying; it apparently meant to tie back to the first chapter, but that definitely went over my head.

Usually I like family drama which means we will find unlikable characters, dysfunctional relationships with some funny parts and times to cry and be angry. Yeah, this one has everything of that but not in a good way for me. I felt disconnected with characters and maybe at the end I was interested in how everything would end, touched with the ending. But in general, I didn‘t like it🤷🏽‍♀️2.5/3⭐️

Back in the book drop goes Monica. I‘ve been seeing this graphic novel mentioned in several lists naming it a “must read”. And I‘ve gotta say: I don‘t agree. It‘s too out there for me. Monica‘s search for her parents starts off interestingly enough but the jarring dreams/hallucinations/weird thoughts got to be a bit much. Of course, the illustrations are fabulous, although this isn‘t exactly my favorite style. So-so.

I‘m on a graphic novel kick.
And at baseball practice. Feels like fall here in Southern Ohio! 🍂 ⚾️

Visited a not-my-library library yesterday and checked out a couple graphic novels. I love Lucy Knisley but after getting home I realized I have already read French Milk, so Monica is the only one I‘ll be reading. I always like visiting different libraries to see what they‘ve got going on. 😊

This ARC has been on my TBR shelf for years. It‘s a family drama about 4 siblings who have been waiting for the youngest of them to turn 40 so that they can receive their father‘s inheritance. As the date approaches they find their mother has given most of the money to one of the brothers to bail him out of a sticky situation caused by alcohol and poor decision making.

So much drama, but great flawed characters. I enjoyed this.

No likable characters and plot felt undeveloped.

LOVED this book. Gilbert is not the most comfortable lead, he has many faults but you still end up championing him throughout. He navigates his dysfunctional family the best he can, his love for his brother, Arnie is pure and whilst he struggles to find reasons to stay his loyalty ties him to his family. 5 stars for me

A widowed mother takes her adult children on a cruise. The 4 are not friends & seem to barely know each other. If you are a parent you will recognize the innocent and unintentional rudeness of the adult child. That will carry certain readers a far way, but it‘s not enough. The story is easy to follow with moments of interest, and sometimes even literary reach, but I cannot say it is worth the time unless you are young & have loads of it.