
What It Is
"Deliciously drawn (with fragments of collage worked into each page), insightful and bubbling with delight in the process of artistic creation. A+" --Salon How do objects summon memories? What do real images feel like? For decades, these types of questions have permeated the pages of Lynda Barry's compositions, with words attracting pictures and conjuring places through a pen that first and foremost keeps on moving. What It Is demonstrates a tried-and-true creative method that is playful, powerful, and accessible to anyone with an inquisitive wish to write or to remember. Composed of completely new material, each page of Barry's first Drawn & Quarterly book is a full-color collage that is not only a gentle guide to this process but an invigorating example of exactly what it is: "The ordinary is extraordinary."
Reviews

rumbledethumps@rumbledethumps
I didn't get this the first time I read it. But now I do. Barry has created her own genre here, a how-to, comics, memoir, and it's absolutely brilliant. I've picked up a couple of her other books, and want to continue exploring.

Nikki Sojkowski@loveat1stwrite
Some pages were hits, others were misses, but even if the scrapbook memoir isn't your style the second half is a really great writing guide with fantastic prompts.

Sarah Sammis@pussreboots

Mireia@mireiaallende

Eve@vitah89

Elaine Wherry@proofedpudding

Michelle@jackalope

Joshua Line@fictionjunky

Melanie Richards@melanierichards

Amanda Schutz@amandaschutzie

Tiffanie Dang@lovelessdegrees

Lisa Collins@leesuh

Jenny Mikac@jennymikac