A year-long monthly blog for the New York Times, titled the Principles of uncertainty, was the genesis of this unusual graphic memoir by Maira Kalman. Known for creating illustrated books for both children and grown-ups, Kalman applies her off-centred, observational eye to catalogue her random encounters flaneur like as she walks through life and New York city. A travelogue, personal narrative and documentary rolled into one, the unstructured Matisse like colourful illustrations are whimsical, touching, expressive and speak of the daily experience of the human condition and her understanding of its simplicity and complexity.

Kalman, Maira. The principles of uncertainty, New York : Penguin, 2009.

 

 

http://workrepository.com/work_pages/maira_kalman/index.html

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/17/books/review/Levy-t.html

http://www.mairakalman.com/books/

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Hyperbole and a half, the much loved blog from Alison Brosh, has its’ own cult following and is here drawn and expanded upon in this colourful, confessional, vulnerable, hilarious and intense graphic memoir. Arranged as a collection of personal essays, the choppy styling is best sipped, not binged. Her deceptively childlike scrawl resonates with self-deprecating humour as does her relationship with her idiotic dogs, serving as a counterpoint to the depths of her depression. In sharing with the reader valuable insights of what it is like to be in that space, Brosh champions the little bit of weird in all of us as we can’t help but laugh along. 

Brosh, Allie. Hyperbole and a half: unfortunate situations, flawed coping mechanisms, mayhem, and other things that happened, New York : Simon &​ Schuster, 2013.

http://hyperboleandahalf.blogspot.com.au/

https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/allie-brosh/hyperbole-and-a-half-unfortunate/

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The best we could do is Thi Bui’s beautifully rendered investigation into her heritage when the birth of her own child raises emotional questions of displacement, identity and parental responsibility. She seeks to understand as an adult her own parent’s lives and the personal and political histories that led to their fleeing South Vietnam in 1976 with children in tow. The struggle to adapt to this new way of life, the painful loss of their homeland and the intergenerational effects of displacement are stunningly illuminated by the author/artist in this touching personal tale of identity, family and home.

Bui, Thi. The Best We Could Do : An illustrated memoir,  New York : Abrams Comicarts, 2017.

http://www.abramsbooks.com/thebestwecoulddo/

https://www.publishersweekly.com/978-1-4197-1877-9

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Drinking at the movies is Julia Wertz’ memoir and therapy session, sharing with the reader the trials and tribulations of a twenty-something recently moved to Brooklyn, who is in daily contact with the crazy characters of NYC. Her cynical and humorous take on trying to adapt, grow up and kick her own life defeating taste for whisky is delivered with an entertaining self-deprecating humour in simplistic b&w drawings. Acknowledge, identify , empathise with or simply laugh at her exploits, this tale is of a personal evolution and not merely gags from a loser. With an introduction by Janeane Garafolo.
Wertz, Julia. Drinking at the movies, Toronto, Canada : Koyama Press, 2015.
City of Sydney libraries : GM WERT


http://koyamapress.com/projects/drinking-at-the-movies/
http://www.comicsbeat.com/review-julia-wertzs-thoughtful-and-healing-style-of-self-deprecation/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+comicsbeat%2FpJEF+%28The+Beat%29

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Diagnosed with bipolar disorder near her 30^th birthday, Ellen wrestles with the boundary between her creativity and her condition. Fearful that pharmaceuticals will destroy her creativity, she strives for balance, conversationally reflecting on the enjoyable highs yet abysmal lows and deftly using illustration to graphically communicate her states of mind. This in turns humorous romp and informative delve into clinical aspects of the disease explores the concept of the artist as madman. Like a diary of her therapy, the reader is carried through to her conclusion that there is reward in persisting with the process.
Forney, Ellen.  Marbles: mania, depression, Michelangelo & me, London : Robinson, 2013.

http://www.tcj.com/reviews/marbles/

https://www.littlebrown.co.uk/books/detail.page?

isbn=9781472106896

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Turning Japanese is the third instalment in the graphic memoirs of MariNaomi, an American Japanese woman seeking to understand her Asian cultural heritage. Growing up in small town Mill Valley California, in 1995 she moves to San Jose to work in hostess bars for Japanese expats thinking that this will assist in her language skills and inform her sense of cultural heritage which takes her on to Tokyo. MariNaomi uses sparse brush drawn cartoon style images to economically communicate her sense of otherness and to illustrate her journey to seek an understanding of the cultural limbo which she inhabits.
MariNaomi, Turning Japanese : A graphic memoir,  Minneapolis, MN. : 2dcloud, 2016.

http://marinaomi.com/turningjapanese.html
http://www.nyjournalofbooks.com/book-review/turning-japanese-MariNaomi

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Ulli Lust takes us on a wild ride through the summer of 1984 when she and her pal Edi decide to hitch their way across Italy from their home town of Vienna. This anarchic trip of forested border crossings, jail time and pan-handling conjures the dark side of rebellious youth and their punk lifestyle in an unromanticised yet non-judgemental way. The author invites us to consider issues of gender roles, misogyny, sexuality and consent in this, her adrenaline filled chronicle. Energetic illustrations and the gritty use of sickly green colouration launch this multi award winning graphic memoir upon the senses.
Lust, Ulli. Today is the Last Day of the Rest of Your Life, Seattle, WA : Fantagraphics, 2013.

http://www.fantagraphics.com/todayisthelastday/
https://journalwomenwriters.wordpress.com/2013/11/18/today-is-the-last-day-of-the-rest-of-your-life-by-ulli-lust/

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Alison Bechdel grew up in small town Beech Creek Pennsylvania in the 70’s in the ‘Fun Home’, the nickname for the family funeral parlour business. This funny, contemplative memoir is made more accessible by the minimally coloured, intimate illustrations. Her narration chronicles the literary obsessions that are the main medium of communication between herself & her distant father. The secrets and artifice maintained by her father, & the flight to new liberties and social consciousness available to Alison, fill this multi award winning graphic novel with her personal struggle & unresolved demons in this sometimes dark yet rewarding family portrait.

Bechdel, Alison. Fun home : A family tragicomic,  Boston : Houghton Mifflin, 2006.

City of Sydney library : GN BECH

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/06/18/books/review/18wilsey.html
http://www.hmhco.com/shop/books/Fun-Home/9780618871711#ProductInfo

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As a staff cartoonist for the New Yorker, Roz Chast is well versed in graphically ommunicating the comical and the ridiculous in everyday life with her signature scratchy line style. She applies her wit to the aging and eventual demise of her own parents in this four colour graphic memoir Can't We Talk about Something More Pleasant?, their repeated response to any attempts to confront these uncomfortable truths. This painfully humorous take on a situation we may all someday face and her understandable frustration at the eccentricities of her parents is relieved by humour in this darkly comic bestseller.
Chast, Roz. Can't We Talk about Something More Pleasant? : A Memoir,  New York, NY : Bloomsbury, 2016.

City of Sydney libraries: 741.56973 CHAS

http://www.abc.net.au/tv/firsttuesday/s4284837.htm

http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/books/reviews/cant-we-talk-about-something-more-pleasant-by-roz-chast-book-review-9549052.html

http://www.bloomsbury.com/au/cant-we-talk-about-something-more-pleasant-9781620406380/

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An afternoon in her grandmother’s parlour in 1990’s Tehran sees the young Marjane listening in to the important women in her life discuss life, love, marriage and of course sex. This bittersweet graphic novel memoir is a humorous, poignant telling of tales and sharing of secrets that reveal an inner view of women’s lives in Iranian society. Illustrated by the author in a striking b&w cartoon style, this at times bawdy tale from the life of the best-selling author Marjane Satrapi is an enjoyable reminiscence and reflection on life’s experience that women everywhere will identify with at times, lament at others and yet definitely raise a hearty smile at.
Satrapi, Marjane. Embroideries, New York : London : Jonathan Cape, 2008.
City of Sydney libraries: 305.40955 SATR

from the film persepolis, too good to not include!

https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/marjane-satrapi/embroideries/ 

http://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/160889/embroideries-by-marjane-satrapi/