Ellen Forney

In this graphic memoir, author and cartoonist Ellen Forney explores her life with Bipolar I disorder, from her initial diagnosis, through years of mood swings and medications, to hard-won stability. It's a hopeful narrative built not on the common trope of "overcoming" a disability, but of learning to live with it, and even finding some things that are not so bad about it: "For better or worse, bipolar disorder is an important part of who I am and how I think," Forney writes (226). Recommended.

As an artist and someone that was recently diagnosed with depression, I was excited to get ahold of a copy of Ellen’s memoir. It just jumped out at me as one of those books that I just had to read, as it was clear to me she would talk about some of the same things that worried me about starting medication (how it would impact my creativity as an artist namely.) And I wasn't disappointed.

Ellen’s life is an open book. She speaks her mind, is comfortable with her body, has no problem show more sharing it with us, and is a professionally active artist (and a sometimes pot smoker.) But when she was diagnosed with depression/bipolar disorder in her 30’s she’s no longer quite sure of herself. She knows a number of artists have dealt with bipolar/depression, but none of them were really medicated. While she wants to get better she’s also mindful of the fact that she needs to keep her creativity to survive and the meds might hamper that. So what’s a girl to do? Well with the help of her family, friends, and a good therapist she begins making progress with a balance of medication and exercise.

Ellen tells her story like she lives her life, openly and without shame. She shares with us some of her sexual encounters, her pot smoking, the depths of the depression that she fell into, and doesn't hesitate to let us know just what she dealt with during this journey. Its a personal story and the illustrations that accompany it are light with simple black and white line drawings (although drawings from her journal are much more detailed.) It’s a powerful story that will make you think and just may help you figure out your own highs and lows. Highly recommended. show less

Ellen Forney's graphic novel is a rollicking, heart-felt and compelling journey of one woman's experience with bipolar disorder. As an artist, Ellen is hesitant to take medication with the risk of losing her creative abilities. Marbles chronicles Ellen's path through bursts of manic highs and debilitating depression . With the help of a trusted psychiatrist and loyal friends, Ellen is able to reconcile her need for creativity while taking meds which may or may not have detrimental show more consequences. This is an excellent book. It comes to life with wit and humor and her drawings are rendered with the utmost care. Though this book is about bipolar disorder, I think it's also about breaking the chains of mental illness, finding your voice, and, ultimately, claiming a life worth living show less

This really spoke to me -- that terrifying question about whether we as humans need to accept the things we don't like about ourselves in order to keep the things we do like about ourselves, and whether emotional overwhelm (for me) is tied to creativity. Not the same as bi-polar, but the backbone of Ellen's thoughts are profoundly similar. I really apprecaite peopel who can share this frankly about themselves and who can face their fears in a way that lets others do the same.