Quiet Girl in a Noisy World: An Introvert's Story

Quiet Girl in a Noisy World: An Introvert's Story is a brilliant autobiography of the introverted author, Debbie Tung, as she learns to negotiate her way in an extrovert's world. She's in graduate school when it starts, working on her dissertation. She enters "adulthood", and lands her first job, while wondering in what direction she should take her life. Each page (or sometimes two) contains its own story, and each story rings true. She starts out filled with self-doubt, and the desire to please others. Most of the time what she'd like best is being home with a hot mug of tea and a good book. Sound familiar?

Tung is honest, self-deprecating and funny. She's also enormously likeable. There's a gradual recognition that she's not alone in show more being an introvert, and she develops a freedom as she finds ways to balance the different parts of her life and how she wants to approach them. I loved every bit of this one. show less

I think Debbie Tung might be in my brain she depicts the way I feel in social situations so well. I would much rather be home reading a book or hanging out with a small amount of people that truly know me. Large gatherings are exhausting. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this graphic novel.

Debbie Tung tells her story, from graduate school to a couple of years later, of learning about who she is and learning to embrace it, in panels showing both humor and awkwardness in situations in which introverts will recognize themselves. I especially loved the scenes with her extrovert husband and how understanding he was of her difference. Though I don't have the same shyness or social anxiety as the author, I could relate to a lot of what she said - like how excited she gets about having nothing to do this weekend (I *might* have done that when a bachelorette party was postponed last weekend due to snow) and brings a book everywhere, even when she know she can't read it. This is a really delightful collection that may appeal to show more readers of Sarah's Scribbles (Adulthood is a Myth and Big Mushy Happy Lump), though the drawing in Quiet Girl is more realistic. show less

I enjoyed this lovely graphic book about how introvert's interact with an extroverted world. Not just a series of comic strips, this lightly and delightfully follows the author on her journey as she learns to accept and honor her needs. This is a great book for introverts wanting to find acceptance as well as some great pointers. My favorite parts of the book highlighted her relationship with her extroverted partner and how he honors who she is and helps to give her what she needs while being able to socialize himself. A wonderful book for anyone who is introverted or who is in a relationship with an introvert. In other words, anyone!

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

I could have used this book twenty-five years ago.

(Full disclosure: I received a free electronic ARC for review through NetGalley.)

Quiet Girl in a Noisy World is a memoir in graphic novel format. Author/illustrator Debbie Tung explores the growing pains of adulthood ... made all the more agonizing and confusing by her introversion. As she struggles to maintain a proper level of sociability - first as a graduate student, then as a member of the workforce - Tung wonders what the heck is wrong with her? When she stumbles upon a personality test online one day, it all clicks: she's not broken, just different.

I have social anxiety; I'm probably an introvert, too. I wasn't exactly sure how much I'd relate to Tung's life but, as it turns out, show more it's like looking in a mirror. Whether it's celebrating the cancellation of a much-dreaded get together, lying awake obsessing over an embarrassing episode that transpired years ago, or spending the remainder of the day napping to recuperate from an hour-long appointment, many of these could be scenes from my own life.

Yet these are pretty common manifestations of social discomfort and malaise, especially in the modern era, where technology often circumvents face-to-face interactions. It's when Tung's more specific weird quirks hit home that my mind was well and truly blown.

Humiliating parent-teacher meetings about your shyness? Check.



(My sixth-grade teacher actually set me up with another girl, on account of we were both so quiet and friendless. Like can you imagine?)

Fantasizing about eloping in order to avoid the public spectacle of a wedding? Check.





(My husband and I did elope, in Las Vegas. The only witness? The secular priest. My mom tried to send some family along and was super-pissed when I begged off.)

Not being able to make a phone call around other people? Yup, I'm afraid so.





Honestly, it just got freaky deaky after a while. It's like she cracked my skull open and was crawling around inside my mess of a brain.

The artwork is sweet and complements the story nicely; the color scheme is a muted grey, which suits the story's melancholy feeling. Topics like this can get real dark, real fast (seriously, just read my journal. Or don't!), and there are some rather depressing panels, but overall it's pretty gentle and forgiving. It's clear that Tung has found a place of acceptance and self-love (or at least understanding), which lends the book a hopeful vibe.

Along with Hyperbole and a Half and the Sarah's Scribbles collections, this is a book that I'll keep on my bedside table and return to in the future, whenever life feels like it's just too much. A must read for introverts, the terminally shy, those with social anxiety - and the people who love them.

http://www.easyvegan.info/2017/12/15/quiet-girl-in-a-noisy-world-by-debbie-tung/ show less

Two weeks ago I read Book Love by Debbie Tung and I adored it. I couldn’t wait to read Quiet Girl in a Noisy World, a beautiful work of Art that depicts the special, demanding nature of the ‘’introverts’’ who have to put up (personally speaking) with a world that likes to talk too much, rarely saying anything meaningful…

Motivated by my own hesitation to ask questions, I learned to ‘’read’’ my students’ eyes. I know when they have difficulties and questions. Unlike my own teachers who used to say that I was too quiet and it wouldn’t do me much good, even if my grades were perfect. Thank you, teachers, I hate you too. You didn’t do much to help, by the way. You sucked big time!

At the age of 20, I realised that I show more shouldn’t have forced myself to interact with toxic people just because we had known eachother since primary school. I decided that I wouldn’t go to parties of people I hated just because all my friends would be there. Thus, I found who my real friends are, the ones who accept me as I am. The ones who respect my wish to stay home with a book instead of going to the cinema (which I hate).

Through the support of people very close to me, I found the strength to participate in group projects and to speak my mind. To firmly stand behind it when I was convinced I was right. To reply to any condescending remarks that sounded like ‘’aren’t you a bit too quiet’’ with a ‘’I’m surprised you noticed, you are awfully loud’’ kind of line that sends any f….to immediate silence.

I cut off potential relationships when I visited houses devoid of books. Houses without souls, occupied by people who were empty. I hate small talk with people I don’t know. However, I can talk for hours with those who are special to me. We ‘’introverts’’ aren't stubbornly unresponsive. It’s just that we prefer to talk to the ones who really matter to us, about subjects that concern us. I will never engage in a discussion about politics, TV, films or fashion. I couldn’t care less. But if there is a discussion about books, sports, History, I forget to stop.

I relived these moments through Tung’s marvelous book. Through her cozy, whimsical illustrations she takes us on a beautiful, heartfelt journey to the unique world of those of us who are traditionally called ‘’introverts’’. I prefer to use the expression ‘’silent thinkers’’. And be proud of it…

My reviews can also be found on https://theopinionatedreaderblog.wordpress.com/ show less

This book is sort of a memoir in comic form. I love how the author neither glorifies introversion nor says its a huge pain. She expresses the pros and cons in a realistic way. It's crazy how I was able to relate to every single page of this book. I had either experienced the same things or could picture myself behaving the same way in the given situation.

-> Taking the seat nearest to the exit - Check
-> Asking questions to the professor after the class is over - Check
-> Being happy about not being invited somewhere - Check
-> Embracing text messages and loathing phone calls - Double Check
-> Loving rain, tea and books - Check
-> Wishing I could be better at talking to people - Check
-> Avoiding crowded places - Check
-> Learning/Thinking by show more myself and not being able to study/brainstorm with others - Check
-> Saying someone is waiting for me when I don't want to be somewhere - Check
-> Not wanting to go somewhere and trying to come up with excuses, but going anyway because of social protocols and then absolutely hating it - Double Check
-> Showing a different side to acquaintances and people who are very close to me - Check
-> Not being able to tolerate small talk - Check
-> Not being able to say no - Check
-> As a child, preferring to read or draw instead of playing with other kids - Check
-> Asking a question if I've been quiet for too long so that people don't think I'm aloof - Check
-> Not wanting to be in the spotlight - Check
-> Watching emotional movies by myself to let out my feelings - Check
-> Occasionally going into hermit mode, thinking about life's meaning and my purpose - Check
-> Thinking that something is fundamentally wrong with me until those 4 magical letters (INFJ) were revealed by personality tests - Check
-> After years of self-criticism, finally accepting everything I am and everything I am not - Hopefully Check

Not sure if all introverts can relate to this completely, but I'm guessing a lot of INFJs can. Highly recommended for introverts and people who have an introvert friend.

Thanks to Andrews McMeel Publishing for giving me a digital Advance Review Copy. I will definitely be purchasing a hard copy when it is published.

P.S. Am I the only one who momentarily wondered why there is a frog on the cover? show less