I adored Allie Brosh’s Hyperbole and a Half blog, and especially resonated with her cartoons about depression. I picked up Solutions and Other Problems, her second book, in the hopes it would be just as funny and affecting. While it was both of these things at times, overall the book just wasn’t as strong as her previous work.
The book is primarily about funny anecdotes, childhood stories, and wacky takes on things. To be honest, they felt kind of forced and not particularly humorous. They were diverting, but weren’t the best part of the book.
As much as it may seem inappropriate to say, Brosh’s darkest pieces were the best. There is a heartbreaking account that relates Brosh’s sister’s suicide. Brosh has been out of the hospital for a very serious illness when her sister kills herself. Brosh draws pages of memories of her and her little sister. It made me tear up.
Another strong piece centers around Brosh trying to conquer fear by putting herself in a frankly crazy situation. She takes massive amounts of drugs, watches horror movies, then leaves her house in the dark until she ends up in some field tripping hard and afraid of the woods. It’s a strangely moving story, especially the uber driver trying to get her home at dawn.
Another piece I liked was a story about her younger sister’s chaotic friendship with her best friend. This quote really leaped out:
Because that’s intimacy, Buckaroos.
Somebody who understands exactly how weird you are, and you understand exactly how weird they are, and you’re in a sort of mutually beneficial hostage situation.”
The last story was about learning to be your own friend. It was really poignant and showed the patience and effort it takes.
Overall, I appreciated the read. I just wish there were more personal stories versus amusing side trails.