Crenshaw's Books & Decks

Hyperbole and a Half is an hyper-real hyperbolic hyper-witty memoir by Allie Brosh, in which she narrates some episodes related to her childhood, her beloved dogs' behaviour and her adult self.

I loved this book. I was expecting it to be hilarious, as this seems to be the adjective that most people use to describe it. I have found it more witty than anything else, although, sometimes, I have caught myself laughing out loud. The book is a terrific reflection on human nature and on canine nature. My favourite episodes were depression-2, which is heart-breaking but very true, the God of Cake, Lost in the Woods (which can be read also metaphorically), and The Parrot. Personally, I feel connected and identified with some of the things she mentions in Thoughts and Feelings, and Identity 1 (I don't think it is unnecessarily self-deprecating, I think it reflects how must humans are, we are something, want to be another, we bulls*** ourselves, we believe what were are not, and, sometimes, like in Brosh's case, we are aware of it).

Brosh has an incredible talent to reflect on anything that is happening in her life with both sense of humour and depth. That is why she is able to connect with so many people about issues like identity or depression. I love that her dog love is not "smothering", and she treats and speaks of dogs as if they were... animals not just puppets or "kids"!

This is an illustrated graphic  book, in which both the text and the vignettes are important. Sometimes the vignettes illustrate what the author says, in other occasions they add details or depth to the narration. The style of the illustration is voluntary childish regarding the drawing of the human characters, while her dogs and the backgrounds are detailed and well drawn. Sometimes, the same vignette serves to illustrate two different moments, with just the text added, while others it is repeated to show perplexity, and in others minor details are changed for effect. Each chapter has a a different background colour and text colour, which seems to fit the story perfectly, and it is beautiful.

Don't let yourself fool by the illustration style. The book is far from superficial. And it is a terrific memoir.