Beth Evans

This is a comic collection of short panel daily affirmations. This is another one of those where I think as one collection the book loses half of its meaning and is much better read a panel a day. It’s not so much funny as endearing with how the characters are reminded of each other through the day or how they let them know I’m thinking of them or lets them know that it’s OK to be grumpy because they are loved anyway. Overall, I think this is well done but I also think it’s too much of a good thing. I would rather read this in a daily comic then in a collection.… (más)

Real Rating: 2.5* of five

I confess: I added this because Rob, my Young Gentleman Caller, is having some issues that this book addresses. I'd hoped that it would offer some gentle guidance.

Was I ever misreading the room.

I got an angry blast for being condescending and insulting his taste, coupled with a scathing take-down of its wibbly wobbly thinking about what constitutes dating, when to get theraputic help, and deafening silence on some significant issues I'm sternly enjoined not to discuss at all in public. So not so much on the guidance, then.

What led to this problem for him is the author's "sappy" sentimentality, which I put down to the generational divide and my distaste for the entire "you go girl! you got this" cheerleading thing. It looks like that might be less generational than gender based...Rob's roommate rolled his eyes so hard he saw his brain, I was instructed to say since I introduced them to that phrase and they constantly seek opportunities to use it (to my ill-disguised pride).

It's too bad. I'd hoped for a net positive result. I can't give it the requested one star, though, because I'm utterly charmed by the artwork. (Another point where we differed, he hated it.) My point being, please exercise gender bias in making this purchase as a gift. While I didn't loathe it, two males in the target population who disagree on many, many aesthetic things united in their dislike for it.… (más)