Books: Solutions and Other Problems by Allie Brosh
Like a lot of people from a certain Internet era, I used to read the Hyperbole and a Half site all the time. So I was primed to enjoy this book from the start.
Then again, I didn’t actually enjoy the Hyperbole and a Half book all that much, so I wasn’t sure what to expect from this one.
The short answer is: I did enjoy this book, much more than the first, and pretty much at the same level as I used to enjoy the site. In fact, I laughed so much I cried while reading some of this book, which is what I used to do when reading the site, so… Take from that what you will, but I count it as a sign of the book’s success.
It’s not all laughs and rainbows; Brosh does fly past a few serious topics, themes, and situations. She’s honest about some things that happened to her while still maintaining a certain amount of privacy, which she absolutely deserves. Kudos to her for walking that delicate line so well; it can’t have been easy.
I don’t know if you have to be of a certain age or temperament to “get” it. I’d guess it’s not an age thing since my kids also love her site, and I read most of this book aloud to them, and they loved it, too. Temperament, though… We are a family of weirdos, so maybe that helps in relating to Brosh’s content. Takes one to know one and all that kind of thing.
I definitely recommend this book. It’s a fast read (but remarkably heavy because of the weight of the paper—that’s all my old publishing knowledge squeaking out; I remember manufacturing specs). Easy to pick up and put down, read a little at a time or devour all at once. Like a box of candy, really. Definitely a little something to make 2020 slightly better and brighter. And good for not feeling too alone in the world, either.