My Depression: A Picture Book (Hardcover)

by Elizabeth Swados (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist
The multitalented Swados is the author of six children's books; three novels, including Flamboyant (1998); and an indelible family memoir, The Four of Us (1991). She is also a musician, director, and composer and the recipient of three Obies, among many other honors. She now presents a zingy cartoon memoir in which she chronicles her struggles with severe depression, a condition made all the more alarming by the fact that both Swados' mother and brother committed suicide. In expressively scribbled drawings and scrawled, to-the-point commentary, Swados charts the course her depression takes and itemizes the symptoms, which range from her insulting her friends to failing to get out of bed. The jangled, even manic energy of her drawings and text plays in effective counterpoint to the "black hole" of depression as Swados' candid, seemingly simple tale conveys a wealth of helpful information and dispels the gloom a bit by making readers laugh. This appealingly casual and upbeat volume is a good choice for readers unwilling to work their way through more substantial tomes. Donna Seaman
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Review
"A startling honest account. . . a surprisingly charming, funny, and poignant illustrated memoir." -- Time Out New York

"With a light touch, Swados draws aside the dark curtain of depression . . . a painfully honest, humorous, helpful, and hopeful story." -- Buffalo News

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 176 pages
• Publisher: Hyperion (April 13, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1401307892
• ISBN-13: 978-1401307899
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 6.1 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #80,135 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars 5 Stars For This 7-Star Book, April 25, 2005

By	Kent Ponder (Albuquerque., NM USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

The in-your-face, simple genius of this book is difficult to describe. I would not have thought a book of captioned cartoons could so powerfully and honestly draw (pun intended) the reader into profound, empathetic understanding of how depression feels as it is lived. If one picture is worth a thousand words, these hundreds of powerful pictures are worth far more than mere words could ever communicate. Everything about this book pulls the reader in, and pulls the reader along, effortlessly and entertainingly.

Additional power is gained in that the presentation is autobiographical, tragically painful in some portions, but exceptionally witty throughout.

If you have ever been depressed, or know anyone who is or has been, please BUY THIS BOOK. I would like to recommend it to all the readers of my study, Mormon Women, Prozac® and Therapy. Reading the book is, quite honestly, genuinely therapeutic.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Simple, poignant, witty, fabulous, June 16, 2005

By	Sheena Gregory (Raleigh, NC) - See all my reviews

I have suffered from depression for years and never has a book been so helpful to me. This lighthearted and unique view of depression cuts right to the heart of things. I could recognize myself in the book all the way through and its simple message of hope was uplifting without being corny. Highly recommended.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Psychologist gives 5 stars, January 9, 2006

By	Debra Moore, Ph.D. (Sacramento, CA United States) - See all my reviews

I highly recommend this unique book. The author, who has suffered from repeated episodes of severe depression, has put her turmoil into line drawings and short captions.

She shows you what depression feels and sounds like - how it affects body, mind, spirit, self image, relationships, and view of life itself.

Her drawings are simple, stark and moving and the accompanying writing blunt, and alternately laugh out loud funny and grimacingly painful.

I would recommend this book to anyone - we all know someone who is or has fought depression, and we owe it to them to understand their experience.

For those who are battling depression, this book will not make glib promises, but will offer gritty affirmation and realistic hope.