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geekwayne's review against another edition
5.0
'Ink in Water: An Illustrated Memoir (Or, How I Kicked Anorexia's Ass and Embraced Body Positivity' by Lacy J. Davis with art by Jim Kettner is the true story of Lacy's eating disorder.
At the beginning of the story, Lacy lives in Portland. She has a relationship with a guy there. When it goes away, Lacy is left feeling like she was inadequate. This leads her to question her body size. She begins questioning all her food and exercising maniacally. Through the help of a friend, she ends up going to an Overeater's Anonymous group. What follows is her journey through the 12 steps and beyond.
It's funny and sad and told in the exact kind of honest way that could be really helpful to other people. Lacy doesn't brag about overcoming. She doesn't hide the shame and guilt. There is real tragedy in the story and real hope. Jim (Kett-Nerd) Kettner's art is a good mix for the story. I really, really liked this one.
I received a review copy of this graphic novel from New Harbinger Publications, Inc. and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this wonderful graphic novel.
At the beginning of the story, Lacy lives in Portland. She has a relationship with a guy there. When it goes away, Lacy is left feeling like she was inadequate. This leads her to question her body size. She begins questioning all her food and exercising maniacally. Through the help of a friend, she ends up going to an Overeater's Anonymous group. What follows is her journey through the 12 steps and beyond.
It's funny and sad and told in the exact kind of honest way that could be really helpful to other people. Lacy doesn't brag about overcoming. She doesn't hide the shame and guilt. There is real tragedy in the story and real hope. Jim (Kett-Nerd) Kettner's art is a good mix for the story. I really, really liked this one.
I received a review copy of this graphic novel from New Harbinger Publications, Inc. and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this wonderful graphic novel.
rebeccaariss's review against another edition
5.0
"Be sad. Like, really fucking sad. Just cry a bunch and then get mad at how societal pressure is making you cry. Get so, so mad. Listen to Bikini Kill. Maybe start a band and funnel all your sad and mad into it. Sad and mad can be great. They have power."
I LOVED THIS BOOK.
I had recently read another graphic novel about EDs and honestly they were both wonderful. I found this one a little more relatable in terms of the character.
I love that she's a vegan living a rad punk lifestyle. The punk culture aspects of this book were fun to read. I love that she maintains that veganism is an ethical choice and supports that veganism is healthy (fighting the unfortunate misconception that all vegans have eating disorders, are unhealthy/weak, etc). I love that she's bisexual and proud of it. I love that she doesn't care about beauty norms (re: rad punk lifestyle). I love that she reflects on the things she learned through her partners... and that she recognizes that you don't have to be "recovered" in order to be in a romantic relationship (in fact - she emphasizes that recovery is a forever process).
I would happily read this again. A wonderful, hopeful story.
Thank you, Lacy, for your vulnerability and your art.
One final thought: I appreciate that the author didn't sugar coat OA and 12-step programs in general. She didn't hesitate to critique the religious (and cult-like?) aspects of such groups (fear of God, fear of death if members leave the group, rhetoric around fear in general). She also did not hesitate to explain how the group helped her, even as a critically thinking and intelligent participant.
My understanding from what she has written is that 12-step programs don't work for everyone... Sometimes they can actually play into the need for control that often goes along with EDs. As in: as long as members are moving up the steps in the program, they are moving towards recovery. But the line between sickness and recovery wasn't so clear for Lacy. Not in the same way that someone who attends AA or NA can draw a clear line between being sober and using. With drugs and alcohol, you either use or you don't. With eating disorders, though? We all have a warped relationship with our bodies and with food. We're inundated with so much bullshit media that we struggle to differentiate between our own thoughts and what is subconsciously (or consciously) there because of the body-shaming culture that we live in. So disordered thinking can be extremely difficult to recognize and manage. The line between sickness and recovery becomes a bit blurry.
Lacy also includes a brief page where she explains how to recover from an eating disorder (the quote above is an excerpt from this page) as well as reference to her blog, which I will definitely be visiting.
I would love to read more by this author. I just have nothing bad to say about this book!!!
I LOVED THIS BOOK.
I had recently read another graphic novel about EDs and honestly they were both wonderful. I found this one a little more relatable in terms of the character.
I love that she's a vegan living a rad punk lifestyle. The punk culture aspects of this book were fun to read. I love that she maintains that veganism is an ethical choice and supports that veganism is healthy (fighting the unfortunate misconception that all vegans have eating disorders, are unhealthy/weak, etc). I love that she's bisexual and proud of it. I love that she doesn't care about beauty norms (re: rad punk lifestyle). I love that she reflects on the things she learned through her partners... and that she recognizes that you don't have to be "recovered" in order to be in a romantic relationship (in fact - she emphasizes that recovery is a forever process).
I would happily read this again. A wonderful, hopeful story.
Thank you, Lacy, for your vulnerability and your art.
One final thought: I appreciate that the author didn't sugar coat OA and 12-step programs in general. She didn't hesitate to critique the religious (and cult-like?) aspects of such groups (fear of God, fear of death if members leave the group, rhetoric around fear in general). She also did not hesitate to explain how the group helped her, even as a critically thinking and intelligent participant.
My understanding from what she has written is that 12-step programs don't work for everyone... Sometimes they can actually play into the need for control that often goes along with EDs. As in: as long as members are moving up the steps in the program, they are moving towards recovery. But the line between sickness and recovery wasn't so clear for Lacy. Not in the same way that someone who attends AA or NA can draw a clear line between being sober and using. With drugs and alcohol, you either use or you don't. With eating disorders, though? We all have a warped relationship with our bodies and with food. We're inundated with so much bullshit media that we struggle to differentiate between our own thoughts and what is subconsciously (or consciously) there because of the body-shaming culture that we live in. So disordered thinking can be extremely difficult to recognize and manage. The line between sickness and recovery becomes a bit blurry.
Lacy also includes a brief page where she explains how to recover from an eating disorder (the quote above is an excerpt from this page) as well as reference to her blog, which I will definitely be visiting.
I would love to read more by this author. I just have nothing bad to say about this book!!!
bookslut007's review against another edition
5.0
Brilliant. I think the best thing about this book is the author never mentions specific weights. Even in the drawings of scales there's no numbers. As a mostly recovered anorexic who is still easily triggered, I really appreciated that! Great book.. Awesome art.. Awesome story and an awesome chick! Thank you for sharing your inspiring story with the world!
rdyourbookcase's review against another edition
5.0
I enjoyed the art in Ink in Water in addition to the story. I learned a ton about body image and anorexia from this book. The author really did a great job explaining everything. One thing that I noticed about the art was that the illustrations of the author weren’t as flattering as I thought they could be. Was this a reflection on how the author saw herself, or just me overanalyzing? Regardless, Ms. Davis clearly went through a lot in her life and I’m glad she shared it with the world in this book. I hope to read more books by her.
(Also, I’m pretty sure that Ms. Davis’s co-author was the guy she met in the book and I wish they would have directly stated whether or not this was the case!)
(Also, I’m pretty sure that Ms. Davis’s co-author was the guy she met in the book and I wish they would have directly stated whether or not this was the case!)
ashleyholstrom's review against another edition
4.0
I have not been able to stop thinking about this book. Amid a breakup, Lacy J. Davis has a passing thought: am I not small enough to be loved? Thus begins her derailment into the land of disordered eating and overexercising. Ink in Water is her journey back toward wellness with numerous setbacks and a riot grrrl attitude. Jim Kettner’s black-and-white illustrations are visceral.
From 9 Emotionally Devastating Mental Illness Graphic Memoirs at Book Riot.
From 9 Emotionally Devastating Mental Illness Graphic Memoirs at Book Riot.
mereoshop's review against another edition
5.0
This one hit me HARD. I think any women who has ever had a negative thought about her body (um that might be all of us) should read this book. It won't take you long, but the impact will be lasting.
cj82487's review against another edition
5.0
It has been a very long time since I've read a graphic novel. Honestly, I don't even remember what the last one was that I read, but I'm SO glad I came across Ink in Water on NetGalley.
Lacy is brutally honest about her battle with anorexia. She is open about the good and the bad decisions she's made throughout her life and how she is constantly recovering. Those evil thoughts about not being good enough are constantly circling through her mind, but in the end, she has learned how not to be trapped by them. It truly was a beautifully written account of a terrible obsession with food.
There were many parts that were difficult to read, but that unflinching honest story needs to be told. I've never personally had an eating disorder, but I've come close. I've obsessed about calorie counts, carbs, ingredients, and time at the gym. I've dedicated journals and notebooks to tracking my body's intake and output as if it were my job. I've taken countless diet pills and tried my fair share of fad diets, none of which worked. I've felt the emptiness in my stomach and thought that was a good sign.
I no longer do that, but my relationship with food isn't always good, because that is what it is... a relationship. I still eat emotionally and those same thoughts that Lacy describes of being too big still pop into my head. And I would have never written any of that, if it weren't for reading Lacy's novel.
I think we all at some point or another in our lives have those voices in our head. The voices that tell us that we aren't good enough. Lacy is no different from any of us in that aspect. She was just brave enough to share her story with the world.
The illustrations by Kettner are amazing, particularly those showing the chaotic jumble of negative thoughts in Lacy's head. i love that the images are all in black and white and I hope that doesn't change when the novel goes to print. I don't know about you, but my thoughts aren't very colorful when they are negatively focused on my body image. The feelings provoked by the illustrations match those of Lacy's story. And if I'm being honest (which I am), it was the cover illustration that grabbed my attention. It screamed, "Pick me!"
Lacy's story is one that need to be told and I'm glad I've had the pleasure to read it. This novel is for those struggling with an eating disorder, recovering from one, or wanting to better understand the toll an eating disorder takes on everyone involved. It is also for anyone that has ever let those thoughts take control of their lives even for the briefest of moments.
Thank you Lacy for writing your story down.
Lacy is brutally honest about her battle with anorexia. She is open about the good and the bad decisions she's made throughout her life and how she is constantly recovering. Those evil thoughts about not being good enough are constantly circling through her mind, but in the end, she has learned how not to be trapped by them. It truly was a beautifully written account of a terrible obsession with food.
There were many parts that were difficult to read, but that unflinching honest story needs to be told. I've never personally had an eating disorder, but I've come close. I've obsessed about calorie counts, carbs, ingredients, and time at the gym. I've dedicated journals and notebooks to tracking my body's intake and output as if it were my job. I've taken countless diet pills and tried my fair share of fad diets, none of which worked. I've felt the emptiness in my stomach and thought that was a good sign.
I no longer do that, but my relationship with food isn't always good, because that is what it is... a relationship. I still eat emotionally and those same thoughts that Lacy describes of being too big still pop into my head. And I would have never written any of that, if it weren't for reading Lacy's novel.
I think we all at some point or another in our lives have those voices in our head. The voices that tell us that we aren't good enough. Lacy is no different from any of us in that aspect. She was just brave enough to share her story with the world.
The illustrations by Kettner are amazing, particularly those showing the chaotic jumble of negative thoughts in Lacy's head. i love that the images are all in black and white and I hope that doesn't change when the novel goes to print. I don't know about you, but my thoughts aren't very colorful when they are negatively focused on my body image. The feelings provoked by the illustrations match those of Lacy's story. And if I'm being honest (which I am), it was the cover illustration that grabbed my attention. It screamed, "Pick me!"
Lacy's story is one that need to be told and I'm glad I've had the pleasure to read it. This novel is for those struggling with an eating disorder, recovering from one, or wanting to better understand the toll an eating disorder takes on everyone involved. It is also for anyone that has ever let those thoughts take control of their lives even for the briefest of moments.
Thank you Lacy for writing your story down.
jugglingpup's review against another edition
5.0
To see more reviews check out MI Book Reviews.
I got an ARC in return for an honest review on NetGalley.
I have to say that I requested this mainly because of the cover. I loved the art style. The subject hit close to home and I really appreciated the existence of the comic. I was just hoping that I would love reading it so I could brag to everyone that I read it and that they should too.
Thankfully, I loved this book. I loved how open and honest the author was. This had to be some painful art to make. I felt both like a voyeur and a confidant. There was a subtle switch when I felt the author had let me in. It was an amazing feeling and I can’t tell if it was intentional or not. No matter the intentions, it was an incredible read and one I will recommend again and again (and again).
The voice was so raw and natural. It felt like a real conversation and it felt authentic. There are very few things I hate worse in books than a fake sounding memoir or stand point theory. They grate me. This is your story, it should should like you really experienced it. This book delivered pain, hope, despair, and so much. I loved how the artist drew her head when the thoughts started to take over. It was so visual and powerful.
I can’t say enough amazing things about this book. I can’t do this book justice with anything I say. Read it.
I got an ARC in return for an honest review on NetGalley.
I have to say that I requested this mainly because of the cover. I loved the art style. The subject hit close to home and I really appreciated the existence of the comic. I was just hoping that I would love reading it so I could brag to everyone that I read it and that they should too.
Thankfully, I loved this book. I loved how open and honest the author was. This had to be some painful art to make. I felt both like a voyeur and a confidant. There was a subtle switch when I felt the author had let me in. It was an amazing feeling and I can’t tell if it was intentional or not. No matter the intentions, it was an incredible read and one I will recommend again and again (and again).
The voice was so raw and natural. It felt like a real conversation and it felt authentic. There are very few things I hate worse in books than a fake sounding memoir or stand point theory. They grate me. This is your story, it should should like you really experienced it. This book delivered pain, hope, despair, and so much. I loved how the artist drew her head when the thoughts started to take over. It was so visual and powerful.
I can’t say enough amazing things about this book. I can’t do this book justice with anything I say. Read it.
theinkwyrm's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
4.0
A truly lovely memoir about EDs and recovery. The art style wasn’t my personal favorite, but you can definitely see how it fits the Davis’ upbringing and personality.
sadiecass's review against another edition
5.0
Wow. Powerful stuff. I really liked the grit in the images to match with the story itself. It was dark, sometimes messy, and ever evolving.
Intense read. I found myself fighting tears in a spot or two.
*Received via netgalley. All opinions are my own.
Intense read. I found myself fighting tears in a spot or two.
*Received via netgalley. All opinions are my own.