The Secret to Superhuman Strength by Alison Bechdel
- info497179
- Sep 26, 2021
- 1 min read
American cartoonist Bechdel (she of the Bechdel film test fame – does a film have two female characters, do they have names, do they speak to each other about something other than a man; a shocking number do not pass this very low bar) reflects on her life through her obsession with exercise in all its forms in this funny and illuminating graphic memoir. From a childhood wishing she had the muscles of tv strongmen, to discovering running and skiing and jiu-jitsu as mapped through her relationships with her family, her coming out, and long-term relationships and career success.
I greatly enjoyed this as something really fresh and personal. A rare memoir not laced with trauma, Bechdel’s graphic and literary mix situates you in her body and how she experiences the world in a unique and interesting way.
- Erin
Bechdel’s exploration of her life through exercise offers a fascinating lens on personal growth. Her journey reflects a broader commentary on how physicality can shape identity and relationships. The Pokies https://www.contained.sydney/ serve as a metaphor for life's unpredictability, paralleling how exercise can become both a means of escape and a source of self-discovery. Such reflections invite deeper inquiry into the complexities of our pursuits.