Graphic Novels

I read It’s So Magic by Lynda Barry and this book is wild. It’s like if someone dumped their childhood brain straight into a comic. Honestly, reading it felt more like flipping through someone’s scrapbook or zine than a regular book, which I think is the point. It’s not clean or polished—it's messy, handwritten, all over the place—and that’s what makes it hit harder. You feel everything.

Graphic novels are honestly their own kind of technology. Not like iPhones or laptops, but in the way they tell stories through a mix of drawings and words. It’s not just about reading—it’s about seeing tone, pacing, and emotion. The way Barry stacks text, draws little hearts, scribbles notes in the margins—it feels like you’re inside her head.

One part that stuck out was when the characters were full-on loving life, like even old gum in the street looked beautiful. It was funny but also kinda sad? Because you know that joy isn’t gonna last. That moment hit way harder because of how she drew it—hearts everywhere, motion lines, them dancing like weirdos. I loved it.

I really enjoyed and appreciated the whole look and message of this graphic novel. It’s not trying to be perfect—it’s just real. The way it’s drawn, the chaotic energy, the weird humor, all of it made the story feel super personal. It reminded me that art doesn’t have to be clean to be powerful—it just has to feel true.

Barry’s style turns nostalgia into a storytelling tool. You’re not just reading about being a kid, you're feeling it. That’s the magic. Graphic novels like this do something no regular book can—they make you feel like you're remembering something that maybe never even happened to you.