Hyperbole and A Half
Unfortunate Situations, Flawed Coping Mechanisms, Mayhem, and Other Things That Happened
Book - 2013
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BLAIR NIELSON thinks this title is suitable for between the ages of 13 and 99
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DanniOcean
Apr 07, 2014
Yet another book based on an award-winning blog, Hyperbole and a Half is everything the title describes, wrapped up in a hilariously deranged little package of kindergarten-like drawings mashed up with the angst-driven musings of a twenty-something millennial. Not surprisingly, the musings on her 2, 5, 7 and 13 year-old selves are likely to induce fits of helpless laughter in their familiarity. Surprisingly, her musings on her struggles with depression are uncomfortably candid. The intentionally child-like (yet amazingly emotive) drawings and the fact that these chapters are interspersed with the adventures of simple-dog and helper-dog (read: dumb-dog and dumber-dog) actually make the stark message of depression stand out like a beacon. However the guilty-pleasure derived from reading the other chapters – well-intentioned mom getting kids lost in the wilderness, the sheer illogical kiddie challenge of being as obnoxious as possible, the absurd adventure of being attacked by a goose in one’s own living room – these are pure enjoyment, either from an “it’s funny because it’s true” perspective, or “thank gawd there’s someone more messed up than I am” angle. If there’s one criticism I can give this book is that Ms. Brosh left out one her best-known characters, the Alot. But luckily the Alot can be found in perpetuity on the blog itself, hyperboleandahalf.blogspot.ca. For those who still prefer the weight and heft of the printed page, reserve your copy of Hyperbole and a Half at spl.blibliocommons.ca and enjoy a lot, and even learn a bit.
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Add a CommentI really enjoyed this book and felt at times both tremendously sad and then the next minute was crying with hysterical laughter. How she explains depression really stuck with me, I do not have depression, but so many friends I know suffer from it and her explanation really was eye opening.
Genuinely hilarious and a refreshingly "real" take on mental illness
This is a hilarious memoir in graphic novel form. While Brosh’s artistic technique may seem like a child’s doodling, her witty, offbeat, and self-deprecating tone delivers a level of humor I haven’t experienced in a graphic novel before. I frequently found myself laughing out loud. I especially loved any chapters that featured her lovable "simple dog" and her unruly "helper dog".
Absolutely hilarious. As soon as I finished the book, I went to buy a copy on Amazon. I will pick this book up anytime I'm down as it is guaranteed to make me laugh!
Looking forward to this after reading "What If" from Randall Munroe.
The MS Paint doodles really help the stupid but hilarious stories.
This book provides a touching and witty approach to dealing with the oddities of life and shows that there’s a silver lining in every problem, or at least a laugh. It was a refreshing read that was very down to Earth and easy to relate to, which is what we need in the world. I thoroughly enjoyed it and I would recommend it to anyone, because there is really no specific age range that it is geared towards. This book resonated with me on a very personal level and I’d have no problem reading it again. 5/5 Stars
- @scarletsoldier of the Teen Review Board at the Hamilton Public Library
Many times as I read through this book I found myself in tears from laughing. The author's way of storytelling is easy to connect with, especially if you have anxiety or depression or love grammar.
This graphic novel provides insight into the author's quirky mind. I enjoyed how she utilizes her cartoony art style to delve into serious topics, such as depression. The tone is offbeat and her writing style is candid. I appreciated the author's ability to describe difficult issues in a humorous way.
I didn't know anything about Allie Brosh before reading HYPERBOLE AND A HALF and, while the latter half of the book seemed to be weaker content than the former half, I still enjoyed it a fair bit. I laughed through most of it and related to when she spoke about deeper stuff, like mental illness and the cognitive dissonance resulting from thinking one is a good person without evidence. It is a great book, but I recommend taking it in small quantities in lieu of the rather large gulp I took. I look forward to another compilation of her highly visual, truly entertaining blog entries in the future.