Dancing at the Pity Party
Honest

Dancing at the Pity Party

Tyler Feder2020
Part poignant cancer memoir and part humorous reflection on a motherless life, this debut graphic novel is extraordinarily comforting and engaging. From before her mother's first oncology appointment through the stages of her cancer to the funeral, sitting shiva, and afterward, when she must try to make sense of her life as a motherless daughter, Tyler Feder tells her story in this graphic novel that is full of piercing--but also often funny--details. She shares the important post-death firsts, such as celebrating holidays without her mom, the utter despair of cleaning out her mom's closet, ending old traditions and starting new ones, and the sting of having the "I've got to tell Mom about this" instinct and not being able to act on it. This memoir, bracingly candid and sweetly humorous, is for anyone struggling with loss who just wants someone to get it.
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Reviews

Photo of Jeannette Ordas
Jeannette Ordas@kickpleat
5 stars
Jan 5, 2023

A pretty great graphic novel for anyone who has lost their mother. I didn't have the same relationship with my mom that Tyler had - her's was really wonderful and loving and it shows on every single page. Recommended!

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kendall p@vampreads
5 stars
Aug 11, 2022

Today is 6 months since I lost my mom, monday is my first birthday without her. This was everything I needed.

Photo of aem
aem@anaees
5 stars
Apr 16, 2022

This wasn't my experience of losing my mom when I was still young when it came to the details but the heart and the spirit were precisely the same. Thank you, Tyler, for this beautiful book.

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Krystal @kaysbookshelf
4 stars
Apr 9, 2022

4.5❤️

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Mahogany Skillings@bibliogeekgirl
5 stars
Mar 21, 2022

I loved this title and cried several times while reading. As a member of the Dead Mom club, it resonated. This will be a great title to help those going through the loss of a family member or who already have and need to know someone out there understands.

Photo of Archita Birla
Archita Birla@architaxb
5 stars
Feb 27, 2022

this book is warm, lovely, and obviously sad. i like the way tyler talks about grief in an open and honest way, and i like that the book feels like a love letter to her mom (and all moms everywhere) i've wanted to read this book since it came out, and i am so, so happy to have been able to. i cried a bit, but almost in a comforting way if that makes sense??

Photo of Fiona Coffey
Fiona Coffey@bibliofi
4 stars
Dec 17, 2021

This book is so so good. I loved it!

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Yoomi@angryasiangirlreads
5 stars
Nov 18, 2021

It’s true. There is a special club for people who have lost a parent. ❤️

Photo of Samantha Seeman
Samantha Seeman@modernsamwitch
5 stars
Nov 17, 2021

Wow. This was so heartbreaking, and yet oddly funny? I saw a lot of myself in Tyler, and really enjoyed her wit and sense of humor about the whole thing. I liked how honest she was about her grief, and how even 10+ years after her mom died, she still feels that sadness creep in once in a while. I cannot imagine what her family went through, but I felt their grief. I cried, and I was so very tired after reading this. But it was good, and it clued me in on some pretty important tactics for dealing with grief (whether it be for myself or when a friend might be going through it). I cautiously recommend this to most people, for obvious reasons.

Photo of Jeni Enjaian
Jeni Enjaian@jenienjaian
5 stars
Oct 30, 2021

What an amazing book. Feder opens up about the raw, grief of losing her mother at such a young age, doing so in a way that the reader cannot help but become invested in her story. The format of the book allows Feder to illustrate these complex feelings that words often fall short of describing. I highly recommend this book.

Photo of Max
Max @cozylittlepapers
5 stars
Sep 27, 2021

This book provides a whole new perspective on the grieving process. While it does hit hard, it also talks about remembering the little things. Not only this, but it acknowledges that it’s ok to be sad, even years later after losing someone! The author also seemed to have taken every possible reader into account, including people who are part of different religions than herself, and even acknowledging that if your parents is abusive or bigoted, it’s ok to complain about them (while she explains her jealousy towards people who have moms). Amazing read, and got me to tear up (and I’m not the type to cry over books). The only thing I would have to say to the author in terms of criticism: You like pineapple on your pizza?! HECK NO!!

Photo of Katie Cheng
Katie Cheng@katiec
5 stars
Sep 14, 2021

Tyler is so generous in sharing her experience. In telling us about her mom, Tyler exposes her pain, her love, and her whole self. The book is a gentle invitation that allows us to witness Tyler's personal journey, and through her story, we learn to cope, to comfort, and to live life alongside death. Beautifully told and illustrated—would highly recommend.

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Vibbe@vibbe_ribbe
5 stars
Aug 12, 2024
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fatru tamzil@fatrutamzil
4 stars
Jan 10, 2024
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Julie Kelly@coolstoryjulie808
4.5 stars
Sep 10, 2022
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Analise Amaral@analise_bibliomaniac
5 stars
Apr 8, 2022
Photo of Molly Rae Stacy
Molly Rae Stacy@mollyrae
4 stars
Feb 19, 2022
+1
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Emily Burns@emilymelissabee
5 stars
Jul 3, 2024
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Ryan @ryandoesread
4 stars
Jan 19, 2024
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Arianna@annaira
5 stars
Jan 3, 2024
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Madhuri Kasam@madhuri_reads
4 stars
Sep 4, 2023
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Kelly Wynne@kellywynne
5 stars
Aug 18, 2023
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Anna@annarussett
5 stars
Jul 1, 2023
Photo of Krystyna
Krystyna @adoseofcozy
4 stars
May 15, 2023