Review of Hyperbole and a Half

Brosh, Allie. 2013. Hyperbole and a half: unfortunate situations, flawed coping mechanisms, mayhem, and other things that happened. Simon and Schuster.
http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/ 866857550

Because I live under a middle-aged rock, I didn’t know about the Hyperbole and a Half blog until I heard Allie Brosh speaking on "Fresh Air" (NPR? I know, right?). The interview focused mostly on her struggles with depression, which is why I originally added this to my reading list. And then I read it, and holy cow, I cracked up.

It’s not often my husband turns to me while I’m reading in bed and tells me to quiet down. But with *every single chapter* of Hyperbole and a Half, that’s what he did because I was laughing so much. I just loved every story Brosh told and the way she told it. I could relate to more stories than I care to admit to, especially the Simple Dog and Helper Dog stories… I have a similar dog myself.

Hey, ladies...

The text of Hyperbole and a Half is good—it’s conversational and personal, and it gets the reader engaged in the story. But the art is what sets this book apart from all others. With just a few simple lines, Brosh conveys exactly what her crudely drawn characters are feeling—panic, mischievousness, exasperation, even depression. Each one hits spot on.

The real sad part about all of this is that Brosh doesn’t seem to be updating her website since the around the time the book was released; October 2013 is the last post. Maybe she’s working on another book? Let’s hope so!