I am going through a box of books from my teenage years. This was a formative book for me; everything that described othering and angst and masculine pain was, though. Probably this was the first biography I’ve ever read. Somewhat funny, now that know just how suspect this narrative is. Which is why I won’t reread it.

I’d rather move to a different book to read about Jim, if at all. Growing older is a process of, hopefully, becoming disenchanted with the tortured artist narrative, toxic masculinity, and assholes, in general.

One of the first books I ever read that shook me. We read this in junior high, and I remember that it had just come off the banned books list and it was controversial because the family was suing the publishers, or something like that?

They made us read it because they thought it’d scare us off drugs. And, for me, it worked. Though, to be honest, I hadn’t been interested in the first place but the school was in a poor area of the city, so I guess they thought most kids were going to come into contact with them soon, or already had. I remember wondering if a) this was actually a true story, because it seemed weird having some entries gotten from trash bags and things. And b) if they’d really used this without the permission of the family, that it was a horrible thing to do.

“You were the sun, and I was crashing into you. I’d wake every morning and think, ‘This will end in flames.’”

This book is a good book. Although very aware of itself, which I usually don’t like. There is more than enough here to shove that into a corner. Thoroughly enjoyable.

Interesting concept that, I think, successfully encapsulates the different “versions” of Molly as she takes care of her kids by herself and tries to somehow meet her own needs as well as those of her children.

It has Black Matter vibes but in some ways was more interesting to me because it married the concept of alternate selves to something more relatable while also completely alien to me as a single man. I’ve heard friends describe motherhood in a lot of different ways and I think this book was so interesting to me because at times it describes a lot of them, just with a different, strange approach.

Great conclusion. Previously I was annoyed with the cliffhanger, which feels strung out and padded. Admittedly, this issue does have some filler too—but it has such a satisfying couple of twists that I didn’t care. The climax and method of resolution is a chef kiss moment and while there is a climax, it still feels more interesting and less of a Deus ex machina than most every other superhero comic I can think of, within the same niche as this (the super powered, cosmic powered, Uber supers, etc.).

Really liked the prose work and structure here. Insightful and dynamic relationship between mother and daughter, very much coloured by poverty and family dynamics. Short, sweet, doesn’t overstay it’s welcome. Astute observations peppered throughout. Will continue with the next, at some point.