Adulthood is a Myth

Sometimes some self-indulgent humour is exactly what the soul needs. Adulting is hard, as the author points out in her cleverly constructed comics - pointing to the comforts that we find in the little things (cozy blankets & snuggle buddies), the foibles of being an introvert in a particularly extroverted world, and in the challenges (both good and bad) of being an artist as case studies that sum up her argument that being an adult is not all it’s cracked up to be. Yet, even while her tone is self-depreciating the reader can sense an underlying streak that is defiant to the judgements of the rest of the world. There’s nothing wrong with making up our own version of adulthood, even if it may seem to hark back to our younger days!

A collection of simply but adorably drawn little comics about such topics as the emotional trials of introverts, the difficulty of getting out of bed, relationship anxieties, menstrual cramps, bookishness, and clothes (both the buying of them and the leaving of them in stinky piles on the floor). It's a complete delight start to finish, and I found many of the feelings and situations depicted so utterly relatable that it was downright painful. But hilariously so.

Why does there appear to be only one of these collections? I want to go out and buy five more of them right now.

Adoro i fumetti di Sarah Anderson! I disegni sono semplici ma molto efficaci, soprattutto adoro le espressioni della protagonista, come per esempio gli occhi che cambiano di dimensione con le emozioni! :) La forza di queste strisce secondo me sta appunto nel raccontare il vissuto quotidiano, specie quello delle donne, in una manciata di vignette, senza peli sulla lingua ma senza volgarità, senza vergogna ma anche con tenerezza. Mi sono ritrovata subito in tutte le situazioni in cui si ritrova anche la protagonista, e aspetto ogni suo nuovo fumetto con piacere perché nel peggiore dei casi mi farà solo sorridere, ma spesso mi fanno ridere e, sì, anche riflettere.
http://www.naufragio.it/iltempodileggere/19496

I am so delighted by this comic collection that I could probably squeal happily forever.

Also.

I feel like I'm the ONLY blogger I know that ever reviews comic collections. That's a whole post in itself, however, and for now I will just say that I'm so happy I picked up Adulthood is a Myth. I've been meaning to for years because every once in a while, I stumble across one of Sarah Andersen's Sarah Scribbles comics and it makes me feel heard.

And it makes me giggle.

Both of these things are important for me in comics.

Sarah Andersen has a simple and yet distinctive way of drawing. She brings her introvert self into a myriad of familiar situations that I find myself just saying, "yup, relate" as I fly through the pages. Many of these comics, of show more course, I've seen online, but others were completely new to me. FOR EXAMPLE. I had no idea that her uterus was a character but honestly that's such a smart choice. I mean of course the uterus is a character I honestly feel like a menstruating person's uterus makes SO MANY decisions for them. So yes. This makes sense.

If you love her comics, Adulthood is a Myth is a sheer delight and definitely a collection I'll reread when I need to laugh a little. Particularly that slightly maniacal "I'm sure I don't know what you mean" kind of laugh. I recommend it highly to any low-key book-loving introvert and chances are, you're already at least in part familiar with Sarah's work. show less

Sarah Andersen's comic scribbles are a blast to read. Funny, engaging and, most of all, relatable to anyone introverted, which I assume a lot of us people on Goodreads most likely are. The author somehow captures the essence of the reading-obsessed, shy and awkward introvert's experience and the struggle of transitioning from youth to adulthood.

Of course, by default, a lot of Adulthood Is a Myth reads like an echo chamber for those of us who already have all these thoughts and worries, but Sarah Andersen does it in such a fun, endearing and engaging way that it becomes hard not to be enamored by her unique style. And yet, the universality of Adulthood Is a Myth ensures that it shouldn't work for introverts only, but also open some show more extroverts' eyes to what people with less outgoing personalities feel and experience. But that's just an introverted reader's theory.



Also, it's a really short and fast-paced read, and the pages will fly by as you immerse yourself in this book. Do yourself a favor and give it a try, everyone. show less

I got this book for my daughter this Christmas. I'd checked out a couple of the cartoons and thought that it was a match for her. And, it seemed like I could read it, too, and then we could talk about it. Bonding with my daughter over a book. How cool is that?

It's a cute, quirky book full of daily comics about an introverted young woman's life and all that that entails. It covers the awkwardness of dating and dealing with people, the simple joy of curling up with a good book, the agonizing pain of conforming to social norms, and the mean-spirited whims of the menstrual cycle.

Being a fellow introvert, I could relate to a lot of the feelings Andersen tried to convey and actually chuckled out loud. It didn't matter that the character was show more easily less than half my age. And I understood the "girl stuff" humor just fine. It didn't matter that my biological hardware is different than hers. I'd recommend it to any dad whose daughter identifies in any way with this book.

My daughter has this book memorized. Last night, I'd give her the set up of one of my particular favorites, and she'd deliver the punchline. Now I'll have to buy the rest of the series. For her, of course. ;) show less

Not Just for Millennials!

(Full disclosure: I received a free e-book for review through NetGalley.)

Are you a special snowflake? Do you love networking to advance your career? Have you never wasted a fresh new day surfing the internet? Ugh. This book is not for you. Please go away.

This book is for the rest of us. These comics document the wasting of entire beautiful weekends on the internet, the unbearable agony of holding hands on the street with a gorgeous guy, dreaming all day of getting home and back into pajamas, and wondering when, exactly, this adulthood thing begins. In other words, the horrors and awkwardness of young modern life.

I'm 37 years old (emphasis on old) and am still waiting for the day when it feels like I've crossed show more over into adulthood. My lack of human kids doesn't help, but you'd think my dog kids (both rescue and foster) would help get me at least halfway there. But I prefer sweatpants to jeans (skirts and slacks, what?), never carry a purse (though will stoop to a tote bag if absolutely necessary, like when begging fistfuls of free sample meds from the dermatologist), and wear sports bras exclusively (but only if I must). Last summer our water got shut off for a day because I didn't realize that the city, in its infinite wisdom (i.e. laziness), had ceased its direct deposit payment plan and now requires all bills to be paid by cash or check. I have a bachelor's degree that's probably too old to mean anything anymore, and am still trying to figure out what I want to do when I grow up with my life.

In short, Sarah Andersen might be a Millennial, but I can still relate to much of what's in Adulthood is a Myth.

Like, any one of these could be an illustration in my (definitely not best-selling) autobiography.

http://www.easyvegan.info/2016/03/04/adulthood-is-a-myth-by-sarah-andersen/

The cartoons are pretty rad, in an understated way, and reminiscent of Hyperbole and a Half (though maybe with less depression and melancholy). If you're not already familiar with Sarah's Scribbles, there's a tumblr you can check out to get the feel for it. Warning: you will find yourself in a bottomless timesuck of the sort that Andersen's likely to write about.

This book would make an excellent gift for a) new college graduates; b) your partner who would rather spend New Year's bingeing on Netflix and takeout than putting on pants/a happy face and venturing out into the world; c) your friend the perpetual man- (or woman-) child; d) anyone who has a pulse.

http://www.easyvegan.info/2016/03/04/adulthood-is-a-myth-by-sarah-andersen/ show less