Illustrated Biographies - Medical and mental health - Christchurch City Libraries
1 user likes this
Illustrated stories of people who have faced extreme challenges and health concerns, either as sufferers themselves or as the carers of others. From an artist grappling with Bipolar Disorder to a wife caring for her husband dying from a neurological disease - these graphic novels offer lasting solace and insight. Visually stunning, these novels marry an economy of imagery with sharp and precise prose to sweep you into the resonant realities of another person's story. A Christchurch City Libraries list.
Her diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease in her mid-50s drastically changed not just Midge Leavitt’s life but also that of her family. Midge’s daughter Sarah courageously recounts this upheaval in this memorable graphic memoir. Through her…
Before she turned 30, award-winning cartoonist Ellen Forney discovered she had Bipolar Disorder. This condition created an erratic world which she attempted to stabilise with psychiatric drugs. Using her signature black and white artwork,…
Lou Gehrig’s Disease or ALS melts a person like a candle, gradually weakening the body till it finally ceases to function. This is the reality author-illustrator Marissa Moss had to deal with when her husband was diagnosed with an…
What does it really entail to care for a child with special needs? Graphic novelist Henny Beaumont unflinchingly answers this question in this raw and resonant graphic memoir. In it, she candidly details the challenges of raising her…
In this hilarious but insightful read, popular blogger Allie Brosh collates her life’s fascinating snapshots. Using delightful sketches and amusing anecdotes, she gamely recounts her outlandish childhood, love of dogs, and most…
Tom Hart and his wife suddenly lost their two-year old daughter Rosalie. In this poignant graphic memoir, he bravely explores their loss, grief, and eventual hard-earned peace. Speaking through emotive drawings and prose, Hart unblinkingly…
What does it take to have a child? Beloved comic artist Lucy Knisley spares no details in answering this through her trademark colourful artwork in this illuminating book. Knisley deftly blends well-researched reproductive health facts…
When a palmist debunked her belief that her father died when she was a child, cartoonist Nicole Georges is compelled to examine her life. She revisits her abnormal childhood characterised by her complex relationship with her mother,…
In this sequel to her popular autobiographical manga 'My Lesbian Experience with Loneliness', Nagata Kabi continues to chronicle her quirky life but this time in a slightly darker tone. Her 12 diary entries in this book tackle various…
A true story of desperation, hopelessness and freedom. Christophe André, a Doctors Without Borders administrator, was kidnapped by armed men in the Caucasus region. Told from Christophe's point of view during the three months he was held…
An emotional rollercoaster of unexpected life experiences and the changes we go through physically and emotionally as individuals, couples and families. This is Jennifer Hayden's experience with cancer - the low moments, sweet and funny…
A candid look at living with anxiety and the huge way it shapes our lives and experiences. Ross Murray is a well-known New Zealand comic artist and 'Rufus Marigold' is perhaps his magnum opus. While not strictly a graphic novel biography…
'Sick' documents Ken Dahl's time while severely ill with no details spared. This is an uncomfortable read, full of bleak observations, devastating truths, with grungy watercolour illustrations that amplify the layers of sickness being…
Psychologist Sarah Bargiela offers a deeper look into the world of autistic women in this edifying book. Using three case studies, Bargiela unravels a reality characterised by repetitive behaviour, limited social interaction, extreme…
A vivid portrait of the delightful contemporary artist, Yayoi Kusama. At first a biography of the artist but also a look at struggles with mental health issues - Kusama has struggled with her mental health all her life and the creative…
