Posted by Melody on Tuesday, Jan 27, 2015
Roz Chast's graphic memoir of taking care of her ailing parents has captured a lot of hearts in 2014. Can't We Talking About Something More Pleasant? spent 20 weeks on the NPR Hardcover Nonfiction Bestseller list, and made Maureen Corrigan's Favorite Books of 2014. Here at the library, we could barely keep the book on the shelf and saw a surge in interest just after the New Year.
If you itching for more Chast, I have two books for you. 101 Two-Letter Words is a collaboration she did with Stephin Merritt of Magnetic Fields fame. Her expressive illustrations accompany the poems Merritt wrote to honor the 101 two-letter words allowed in Scrabble. With Chast's illustrations and Merritt's clever songwriting abilities, the book is sure to bring a ton of smiles.
Also consider I Only Read It for the Cartoons: The New Yorker's Most Brilliantly Twisted Artists by Richard Gehr. This book collects the profiles of 11 cartoonists and one "Editor with a Horn" (Lee Lorenz). The profile on Roz Chast ("The Exurban Everymom: Roz Chast") elaborates on some of the biographical facts she illustrates in her memoir, as well as describes some very entertaining tidbits of what has shaped her life as a cartoonist. The details present a delightfully earnest look into the autobiographical elements that make her cartoons so relatable. It's a must-read for Chast fans.
Chast also earned the honor of illustrating a Mark Strand poem the 2015 National Poetry Month poster. (Hat tip to Paul Ingram at Prairie Lights for sharing online.)
About the Author
I've been at the library for more than 10 years now, and I still find joy when choosing the best books for our readers. My current reading journey is taking me book by book through different genres. I'm challenging myself to find books that are enough outside my wheelhouse that I'd pass them by on first glance. The genre I'm looking forward to... more
I absolutely loved this book. When I finished it, I had to listen to it again because it grabbed at my heart so much. It is not your average "everything is easy and lovely" romance. There's a lot of angst, self-doubt, longing, jealousy, revelations--so many emotions to get lost in. The characters are both likeable and loath-able--realistic and flawed characters that feel like they could be anyone you know. Oh. And the main characters are hilarious. The book starts out with an explosive reveal, which I don't want to spoil, but it could be triggering to some folks. The book's richness lies in the interwoven stories of the characters in the aftermath of the reveal, that the memories of the "before-times" lay the groundwork for. I read this book a while back and just thinking of it makes me want to pick it up again! (I listened to the audiobook version, which is available on both Libby and hoopla). -Melody