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lizzycatslibrary's review against another edition
2.0
This should be called how to represent oneself as a tortured artist and pretend not to care about anything while criticizing everything. P.S. Look at all these places I went and people I knew! Isn't it great? Isn't my art great? Look how my art changes the world because I am in fact awesome. I think most chapters ended with... we drank until we couldn't see (blank). Boo.
therealkathryn's review against another edition
3.0
I was struck by how dedicated Molly Crabapple has been to her art, she describes herself as always drawing and working on art. Her illustrations in this are lovely, and show more feeling than the generally dispassionate writing. Even the interesting experiences that she documents (e.g., Occupy) get superficial treatment, and there was no reflection for example on her working at an extremely exclusive club then later attending and supporting Occupy (or if there was I missed it). I bought this because I read an enthusiastic review - I'd recommend this only for serious fans of hers.
audaciaray's review against another edition
4.0
Wow. There are so many different things for me to say about this book. It was an odd reading experience because Molly is a peer I have a lot of respect for, and during a chunk of years she writes about we traveled in nearby circles (full disclosure, I make a brief appearance in the book). We had slightly different experiences of the same time period but I loved seeing the early 2000s NYC through her eyes. The main thing I've been chewing on in the days since I finished reading the book is the prominence of girl loves and inspiring female artist peers in the book, it's worth the read just for the writing about those relationships - but really it's also so so much more.
moonpie's review against another edition
3.0
I generally read memoirs or biographies by or about people who are very much NOT ME, poets/writers/artists, professional comedians, soldiers, chefs, actors; in that regard, Drawing Blood is familiar territory for me. I don't have the temperament, talent, or really any inclination to be Molly Crabapple. Her life sounds like a lot of work, and I'm very lazy.
As for the rest of it . . . I don't know. I have about eight tabs related to Crabapple's work and life open right now, because despite the fact that I just finished an ENTIRE BOOK about her life, I still don't feel like I "know" Crabapple, not even in the sense of knowing someone through their words.
Aside from some more diary-like childhood/teenager-hood talk of "shyness" etc. that seems contradicted by the content of the rest of the book and the fact that her network of friends, acquaintances, and business associates is so large I'd need a flowchart or an annotated cast of characters to keep them straight, the text lands closer to a career overview than an in-depth autobiography. Maybe that's why. Maybe "Molly Crabapple" is a persona, a construct, and the sometimes-shallow effect is intentional. Or it might just be that she's done a lot and wanted to cover it all in this book, so she didn't have time or space to get too far into what makes her tick. Whatever the reason, I enjoyed reading the stories in Drawing Blood; it's just that in hindsight I feel like the person behind the stories is a little slippery.
Moving on: this is an illustrated memoir, which is awesome. I originally heard of Crabapple through a set of illustrations she did for BPAL, but I hadn't seen much of her other work. I liked having easy access to her illustrations while reading her stories, even though it turns out her stuff isn't really my style. Despite not clicking with most of her artwork, I LOVED reading about her "Shell Game" exhibition toward the back of the book. She more or less describes the creation process for a few of the paintings, accompanied by copies of them; this was my favorite part of the whole book. I'm sure I should probably find the sexy parts more interesting but nah.
I think people who are more into the world of burlesque, or have heard of the Box, or know more about Crabapple/NYC's alternative art scene than I did going in -- those readers would get a lot more out of Drawing Blood. I liked it well enough, and I want to read more about "Shell Game," but as a memoir it felt more like flash than substance to me.
*************
P.S. This has nothing to do with the meat of the book or my enjoyment thereof but I cackled when I read the advance praise on the back of the hardcover I'd borrowed from the library because this book, by someone who describes herself as a feminist multiple times, has five blurbs from dudes on the back. A couple of them are dudes I know/like but still: five blurbs, all dudes.
As for the rest of it . . . I don't know. I have about eight tabs related to Crabapple's work and life open right now, because despite the fact that I just finished an ENTIRE BOOK about her life, I still don't feel like I "know" Crabapple, not even in the sense of knowing someone through their words.
Aside from some more diary-like childhood/teenager-hood talk of "shyness" etc. that seems contradicted by the content of the rest of the book and the fact that her network of friends, acquaintances, and business associates is so large I'd need a flowchart or an annotated cast of characters to keep them straight, the text lands closer to a career overview than an in-depth autobiography. Maybe that's why. Maybe "Molly Crabapple" is a persona, a construct, and the sometimes-shallow effect is intentional. Or it might just be that she's done a lot and wanted to cover it all in this book, so she didn't have time or space to get too far into what makes her tick. Whatever the reason, I enjoyed reading the stories in Drawing Blood; it's just that in hindsight I feel like the person behind the stories is a little slippery.
Moving on: this is an illustrated memoir, which is awesome. I originally heard of Crabapple through a set of illustrations she did for BPAL, but I hadn't seen much of her other work. I liked having easy access to her illustrations while reading her stories, even though it turns out her stuff isn't really my style. Despite not clicking with most of her artwork, I LOVED reading about her "Shell Game" exhibition toward the back of the book. She more or less describes the creation process for a few of the paintings, accompanied by copies of them; this was my favorite part of the whole book. I'm sure I should probably find the sexy parts more interesting but nah.
I think people who are more into the world of burlesque, or have heard of the Box, or know more about Crabapple/NYC's alternative art scene than I did going in -- those readers would get a lot more out of Drawing Blood. I liked it well enough, and I want to read more about "Shell Game," but as a memoir it felt more like flash than substance to me.
*************
P.S. This has nothing to do with the meat of the book or my enjoyment thereof but I cackled when I read the advance praise on the back of the hardcover I'd borrowed from the library because this book, by someone who describes herself as a feminist multiple times, has five blurbs from dudes on the back. A couple of them are dudes I know/like but still: five blurbs, all dudes.
hm_reads's review against another edition
4.25
I have been a fan of Molly Crapabble's work (writing and art) since she began publishing on VICE. I picked up this book on a whim in a bookstore in Brooklyn because it had been on my list since weeks before its release, because I spotted a signed copy, and because the day I went into the store was the same day that a ton of kids were in the store for a children's story reading or something and I wanted to find a reliable author and get out with something enlightening as fast as possible.
I could not have anticipated this work even if I had taken a lot more thought and time to consider which book I would read next more. Molly has an incredible story and I was surprised to find just how much her voice is one that I can fully understand and feel for all that is being said. I have not at all had the same trajectory or path as Molly has, but I was thrilled to learn that we shared several methods in our art/interviews on current events. It was affirming to hear of her struggle for success in the art world, and inspiring to read of her many adventures.
Really looking forward to reading what Crabapple writes next and know that my reading of her next article will be so much further enhanced by this beautiful text (and gorgeous accompanying images).
I could not have anticipated this work even if I had taken a lot more thought and time to consider which book I would read next more. Molly has an incredible story and I was surprised to find just how much her voice is one that I can fully understand and feel for all that is being said. I have not at all had the same trajectory or path as Molly has, but I was thrilled to learn that we shared several methods in our art/interviews on current events. It was affirming to hear of her struggle for success in the art world, and inspiring to read of her many adventures.
Really looking forward to reading what Crabapple writes next and know that my reading of her next article will be so much further enhanced by this beautiful text (and gorgeous accompanying images).
latesha's review against another edition
2.0
I’m gonna be honest, this is actually a DNF for me. I picked up the book because I thought it would be cool to read about an artist. But first of all, her drawing style in the book is not exactly like the style on the cover. Then, the content of the book has less to do with her art and more to do with everything else she did? Honestly, I just couldn’t bring myself to care about any of her life story. I read half the book, and it only covered like 3 years of her life, even though I knew there was like a good 10 more years to go until present day. I had to DNF it to move on with things that actually interest me.
pbobrit's review against another edition
4.0
I'd not heard of Molly Crabapple before picking up this book, but flicking through the illustrations in this book, I knew I had seen some of her work in articles I'd read. This is an engaging and very well written memoir. The author is amazingly accomplished and has already packed in a lot into her relatively young life. I enjoyed observing her evolution both as an artist and as a writer of journalism. She writing in a very engaging style and the addition of a good number of her illustrations (which are amazing) enhances the experience. I would definitely recommend this.
aldoojeda's review against another edition
4.0
I remember the time I saw a drawing by Molly Crabapple that read "It Don't Gitmo Better Than This" and the editorial that accompanied it. I knew about the existence of this artist before, but that piece make me pay a lot more attention to her work. I've had Drawing Blood in my shelf for some time now, and after I started it I had to stop reading it shortly after. I'm glad I picked it back again.
In the first part of the book Molly tells the difficulties she had as a women, trying to live in New York and as an artist. But later, she accepts her own privilege at various protests. The whole book is inspirational, but reading it now leaves you with a bittersweet taste. More than 10 years have passed since Occupy Wallsteet (a big part of the book centers around her expirience of the movement) and nothing has really changed. Still, I leave with this quote:
"Radicals often suspect beauty of corruption. Uptight fuckers though they sometimes are, they're right in one thing: art alone cannot change the world. Pens can't take on swords, let alone Predator drones. But as disappointment and violence spread, the antidote is a generosity that the best art can still inspire".
It's time to create art that inspires generosity.
In the first part of the book Molly tells the difficulties she had as a women, trying to live in New York and as an artist. But later, she accepts her own privilege at various protests. The whole book is inspirational, but reading it now leaves you with a bittersweet taste. More than 10 years have passed since Occupy Wallsteet (a big part of the book centers around her expirience of the movement) and nothing has really changed. Still, I leave with this quote:
"Radicals often suspect beauty of corruption. Uptight fuckers though they sometimes are, they're right in one thing: art alone cannot change the world. Pens can't take on swords, let alone Predator drones. But as disappointment and violence spread, the antidote is a generosity that the best art can still inspire".
It's time to create art that inspires generosity.
periodicreader's review against another edition
4.0
Loved. This. I only knew of Molly Crabapple and her art from poking around on a few of the twitter feeds that I used to regularly stalk. She seemed to be artsy and "alternative" and very much alive. This book kind of proved all of that. She tells her story through words as well as her own artwork that is plastered throughout the pages. It was interesting and made me wish that we could be best friends. Molly Crabapple is important and should be way more famous. In an alternate universe where the media cares more about what you are saying, she would be.
ginath13's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars. While I was initially drawn to this book because of the artists time in Guantanamo Bay, Syria, and other politically charged environments and I find her artwork interesting and unique, I felt it spent too much time, like 2/3rds of the book, on subject matters I didn’t much care about, her time in the world of burlesque and too much time on Simon Hammerstein crass cabaret lounge where the rich and famous went to piss away their money.