The Oatmeal

I cannot, cannot, cannot stress how frigging funny this "comic*" is. I found it while searching for something completely (and I do mean completely different), but sooo happy I found it. In a nutshell, it's the illustrated running biography of Matthew Inman, better known by his comic name, the Oatmeal. But, he's not your typical athlete. When he runs he's chased by a "fat cherub" he calls the Blerch (the little voice in your head that convinces you you're better off sleeping in or eating cake show more or both, maybe even at the same time). And speaking of cake, Inman is not immune to food addiction. He runs so that he can eat "like a fast moving dumpster" (p 18). His words, not mine. See what I mean? Funny. There's more: slaying kraken, being vain, running from Giant Sparrow Bees in the mountains of Japan, tips on running a marathon, even race stickers. And more. Kid you not. I had more laugh-out-loud moments than I knew what to do with. show less

ARC provided by NetGalley

Matthew Inman, AKA The Oatmeal, has become synonymous with becoming a voice for a generation. Creating images that capture why cats are taking over the world, rescuing Tesla’s laboratory and bringing him back to light, and standing up for creators that have had images stolen and making shady lawyers look crazy. Now he brings his focus to running. To exercise. To suffering to get where you want to be.

I have to admit when I saw the description of the book, I honestly show more thought it was....well a bit of a money grab. I mean the original comic inspiration behind the book is great, don’t get me wrong, but how the heck could he write an entire book about it? And...now Inman is making me eat my words. Because the book is again one that we can all relate to. Not of being the super in shape person that makes the rest of the world miserable. But about being that everyday person that struggles with wanting to not be a couch potato, but at the same time not having to get up at 5 in the morning and run and never eating sweet things again. It’s about the struggle to maintain, the struggle to keep going, no matter what it looks like outside or how we feel. Its less about running, but more about the struggle to keep going to meet our own dreams headon. And to inspire us to achieve them.

To Mr. Inman I raise a glass of tea, in thanks for making me eat my words, and for the encouragement, and challenge, of meeting my goals headon. I give the book 4 out of 5 stars. show less

I discovered The Oatmeal during a charity campaign that resulted from creator Matt Inman's internet kerfluffle about an online news aggregator site using his material. After Inman complained, the site owner sent him a letter alleging defamation and demanding $20,000. Inman responded in typical mocking fashion starting a donation campaign on Indiegogo for American Cancer Society and National Wildlife Federation. I started following him out of admiration for someone that had a just cause and show more took it a step higher. (Although this has nothing to do with the book, Goodreads, it does show that authors' behavior can influence reading both positively and negatively).

When he first posted My Dog: The Paradox, I laughed so hard, I cried. Seriously. There's something perfectly twisted about his description of dogs, their bravery, their fears, their obsessions and their devotions.

Part of the endearment is the drawing style, a MS Paint basic shapes in which the dog mostly resembles a snack-size Snickers bar. Recently Matt posted a picture of his drawing style through the years, and his earliest one was photograph quality. You wouldn't know it, but he's actually artistically talented. Of course, it also takes talent to use bug eyes to convey expression, but it's a different kind. The book version of My Dog is nicely colored, substituting color for his finely shaded webcomic greyscale. He first published it in a poster, but when the book version came out, I had to have it.

Inman is a little vulgar, but I confess I find it adds to the humor. Take the "My dog has absolutely zero interest in being clean" page, of a little dog rolling in fresh horse poop. It's facing page? "unless it concerns his testicles." Not only true, but hysterical in the cartoon, which is a chalkboard presumably written by his dog that includes "Today's Agenda: 11 am lick balls. get them sooper clean. 12pm lick balls. even moar clean." Then there's the chain cartoon of the process of a dog eating poop, vomiting, eating it it again, then pooping it out. If you don't believe this actually happens, check a pet store for all the products that are supposed to make poop taste bad. Gross? Absolutely. True? Totally.

Then there's the list of things his dog eats that includes pencils and bees, coupled with a cartoon of a puzzled dog staring at a plate of broccoli. If you have a dog, you know this experience. For instance, my Labrador has to take pills every morning. Won't touch them unless they are concealed in cheese or peanut butter. But the one time I dropped an ibuprofen by her? Gone in 5 seconds (and it required following it with an emetic, since ibuprofen is toxic to dogs).

After making you laugh so hard your muscles hurt, he goes for the gooey center, the enthusiasm dogs have for their human owners, whether we're gone for 4 hours or 4 minutes, and the sadness we have that their lives are so short.

Read it online here: My Dog: The Paradox. But I highly suggest supporting his work in some monetary fashion, because not only is he funny, he's willing to be emotionally and ethically brave. show less

Just the cover and title of this book had me in stitches. The Oatmeal is so absolutely warped in all the very best ways and taking this funny little idea and creating an entire book with this single scenario had me shaking with laughter. Spoiler alert: my favorite panel shows one of the middle aged men (who is a bit rotund in the rest of the book) looking like someone emaciated from being left on a stranded island too long when put in the bathtub. Genius. Buying for all of my dog loving show more friends and family for the holidays.

I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher via netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Thanks! show less