Graphic Novel Review of My Body in Pieces by Marie-Noelle Hébert & Translated by Shelley Tanaka

 

Read for: Requested Review/ Netgalley/ Graphic Novel

Synopsis: "A deeply emotional graphic memoir of a young woman’s struggles with self-esteem and body image issues.

All Marie-Noëlle wants is to be thin and beautiful. She wishes that her thighs were slimmer, that her stomach lay flatter. Maybe then her parents wouldn’t make fun of her eating habits at family dinners, the girls at school wouldn’t call her ugly, and the boy she likes would ask her out. This all-too-relatable memoir follows Marie-Noëlle from childhood to her twenties, as she navigates what it means to be born into a body that doesn’t fall within society’s beauty standards.

When, as a young teen, Marie-Noëlle begins a fitness regime in an effort to change her body, her obsession with her weight and size only grows and she begins having suicidal thoughts. Fortunately for Marie-Noëlle, a friend points her in the direction of therapy, and slowly, she begins to realize that she doesn’t need the approval of others to feel whole.

Marie-Noëlle Hébert’s debut graphic memoir is visually stunning and drawn entirely in graphite pencil, depicting a deeply personal and emotional journey that encourages us to all be ourselves without apology."

My Review: I loved the cover of this book, the illustration style is stunning. I have to admit that I struggled with this book a lot more than I expected. It definitely took on a darker tone than I expected and it didn't really raise up out of it much. I had been expecting throughout the book to find a bit of hope or a bit of a break through in the struggle with body image but we didn't really get that too much. It definitely illustrates the struggle that comes from relationships with our bodies and food and the words of those around us. Is there ever really a time where people come to peace with their bodies or find that body positive attitude? This is definitely a personal struggle for so many and everyone handles it so differently and you can't always tell when someone is struggling so much.

My Rating: While this was a difficult book together emotionally, I do really appreciate the way the author managed to bring to light this often private and personal struggle. I give it a rating of Three Paws.

I received a complimentary copy of this book via Netgalley. The above is my honest review and opinion. 

You can find out more about the author and her books on her Goodreads Page.

My Body in Pieces was just released in April so you can obtain your own copy now in print or digital format from Amazon or Barnes & Noble or you can request it at your local library or bookstore.