Starting off the new year with a book that I’ve been meaning to read for ages! I enjoyed the blog, but somehow I have managed to buy three copies of this book in my life and never read it. Finally, my time has come!
Hyperbole and a Half is a series of personal illustrated anecdotes following Allie Brosh’s life. There’s no real narrative arc, but there is a theme of self discovery that permeates through the whole book. It’s light at times, and the addition of the comics interspersed with the text keeps the tone from getting quite as dark or heavy as the subject matter gets at times. The themes of mental health struggles are heavy in this book, including two sections specifically on depression. It’s certainly an enlightening look at it and very relatable at times, where other times it feels more like I gained a better understanding of what other people are going through.
Overall, I really enjoyed it! I don’t know that it was fun and I know any rereading I do of the book will require me to be in a specific state of mind, but it is a worthwhile read and I think one I will eventually come back to again, if only for specific chapters.