What do you think?
Rate this book
My Body Created a Human: A Love Story
This graphic novel–style memoir about the weirdness and wonder of pregnancy and early motherhood is told with humor, frankness, and honesty. The perfect gift for new parents, parents-to-be, or anyone interested in the experience of bringing a new human into today's world.
Emma Ahlqvist's graphic memoir about the birth and early moments of raising her first child is a wry and resonant portrayal of both the challenges and excitement of pregnancy, birth, breastfeeding, and embracing the experience of motherhood. Told through black-and-white drawings and short, frank captions, Ahlqvist considers everything from lactation woes to anxieties about late-stage capitalism and global warming, with drawings centered on the gendered division of labor, her efforts to maintain a professional and artistic life after having a baby, and the genuine rewards of bringing a child into the world.
Unflinching, relatable, and funny, My Body Created a Human portrays the stress and joys of parenthood—without the rose-colored glasses—and invites laughter, empathic nods, and exclamations of "You too?" Organized into thematic chapters like "Postpartum" and "A Mother and an Artist," Ahlqvist's drawings can be enjoyed all at once, or browsed and savored during late-night and early-morning wake-ups.
Emma Ahlqvist's graphic memoir about the birth and early moments of raising her first child is a wry and resonant portrayal of both the challenges and excitement of pregnancy, birth, breastfeeding, and embracing the experience of motherhood. Told through black-and-white drawings and short, frank captions, Ahlqvist considers everything from lactation woes to anxieties about late-stage capitalism and global warming, with drawings centered on the gendered division of labor, her efforts to maintain a professional and artistic life after having a baby, and the genuine rewards of bringing a child into the world.
Unflinching, relatable, and funny, My Body Created a Human portrays the stress and joys of parenthood—without the rose-colored glasses—and invites laughter, empathic nods, and exclamations of "You too?" Organized into thematic chapters like "Postpartum" and "A Mother and an Artist," Ahlqvist's drawings can be enjoyed all at once, or browsed and savored during late-night and early-morning wake-ups.
240 pages, Hardcover
Published September 20, 2022
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 79 reviews
July 11, 2022
I received an advance reader copy of this book to read in exchange for an honest review via netgalley and the publishers.
TRIGGER WARNINGS: abortion, suicide.
My Body Created A Human: A Love Story is an illustrated, graphic novel style book depicting what it is to be a mother for the first time. The author covers many topics in this book such as mixed emotions to having a baby, postpartum, changed within herself inside and out during and after having the baby, working, climate change, breastfeeding and more. I did find there was a few too many naked illustrations through this book than was really necessary and wasn't so sure about climate change being the most important thing to worry about as a new mum as my experience (as a mother of 2) i had far bigger worries, but we are all different and I'm not saying this isn't something to worry about after having a baby. Some parts of this book I found relatable but others were a miss for me personally.
TRIGGER WARNINGS: abortion, suicide.
My Body Created A Human: A Love Story is an illustrated, graphic novel style book depicting what it is to be a mother for the first time. The author covers many topics in this book such as mixed emotions to having a baby, postpartum, changed within herself inside and out during and after having the baby, working, climate change, breastfeeding and more. I did find there was a few too many naked illustrations through this book than was really necessary and wasn't so sure about climate change being the most important thing to worry about as a new mum as my experience (as a mother of 2) i had far bigger worries, but we are all different and I'm not saying this isn't something to worry about after having a baby. Some parts of this book I found relatable but others were a miss for me personally.
February 20, 2024
аааааааААААААААА
1) я хочу ребенка
2) я буду ахуенной мамой
1) я хочу ребенка
2) я буду ахуенной мамой
October 20, 2023
Simple but engaging cartoon musings on being pregnant, giving birth, being a mother, and raising an infant.
For the uninformed or hopelessly prudish: most of the above steps involve nudity, and this author does not shy away from it.
She's also quite a bit fixated on climate change.
FOR REFERENCE:
Contents: 1. There is a baby inside of me. -- 2. Questions. -- 3. Milk. -- 4. Postpartum. -- 5. Someone's Mother. -- 6. Equal Parenting -- 7. A mother and a friend -- 8. A mother and an artist -- 9. Can we have another one? -- Acknowledgments
For the uninformed or hopelessly prudish: most of the above steps involve nudity, and this author does not shy away from it.
She's also quite a bit fixated on climate change.
FOR REFERENCE:
Contents: 1. There is a baby inside of me. -- 2. Questions. -- 3. Milk. -- 4. Postpartum. -- 5. Someone's Mother. -- 6. Equal Parenting -- 7. A mother and a friend -- 8. A mother and an artist -- 9. Can we have another one? -- Acknowledgments
June 1, 2022
“My Body Created a Human: A Love Story” by Emma Ahlqvist is a short, graphic novel-style memoir about the experience of becoming a new mother. It doesn’t give parenting advice (there are plenty of books that attempt that already). It instead gives a glimpse of the highs and lows of being pregnant, giving birth, and taking care of a baby with illustrations and captions.
I appreciate that Ahlqvist discusses and depicts motherhood in realistic way—she talks about her parenting anxiety and frustration and not just about her love of being a mom. However, I feel like I should note that she presents a very specific point of view that will be more relevant to some than others. For example, she has the wonderful fortune of being white in a first-world country and raising children in a two-parent household; she frets about climate change and her and her family’s impact on the environment. And while I agree climate change is an important issue, it’s not exactly top of mind for households dealing with other matters.
That said, I do like that this book exists. I wish more women could share their personal experience as a new parent so we all could feel a little less alone on this motherhood journey.
Thank you to NetGalley and Princeton Architectural Press for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
I appreciate that Ahlqvist discusses and depicts motherhood in realistic way—she talks about her parenting anxiety and frustration and not just about her love of being a mom. However, I feel like I should note that she presents a very specific point of view that will be more relevant to some than others. For example, she has the wonderful fortune of being white in a first-world country and raising children in a two-parent household; she frets about climate change and her and her family’s impact on the environment. And while I agree climate change is an important issue, it’s not exactly top of mind for households dealing with other matters.
That said, I do like that this book exists. I wish more women could share their personal experience as a new parent so we all could feel a little less alone on this motherhood journey.
Thank you to NetGalley and Princeton Architectural Press for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
March 24, 2023
I bought this book at my fav bookstore this last weekend in OKC and I didn’t know I needed this until I read it. :,) I’ve received a lot of.. not kind comments about my body and just a lot of weird things have occurred that I didn’t think would occur while being at work and it’s been very discouraging and making me feel like a bad mom. This book was so beautiful and precious and I just felt heard :,)
April 27, 2023
So relatable... So many one-frame moments that I've experienced myself during pregnancy and the early days of being a mom (the pregnant wide awake in bed stare with the caption advice "Sleep while you can" 😂 and the midnight nursing session looking at partner and thinking "I'm so annoyed at you for sleeping")... And some beautiful and difficult moments I can't wait to experience with my kid. I expect I'll revisit this little graphic novel throughout early parenting days.
June 1, 2022
I’d like to thank netgalley and the publisher for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review. I love graphic novels that are written about the author’s life so I knew I wanted to read this one right away. It’s witty, raw, and an emotional read about the highs and lows, ups and downs of being pregnant and a new mom and how your life changes in even the most minute ways.
July 7, 2022
This book did NOT do it for me. It felt like a scattered stream of consciousness mixed in with a few pen drawings. The author honestly came across as whiny and/or pretentious at various points throughout the book. For example, she says she feels superior to women who don’t breastfeed, but also feels jealous of them because they can just pass off the baby to their partners to bottle feed and she can’t. The author doesn’t at all seem to think of the fact that some mothers would LOVE to breastfeed, but don’t because they’re physically are incapable (rather than out of sheer convenience, as the author seems to imply). She also says she is mad at her partner for sleeping while she has to stay up and breastfeed, but later says that she is jealous of him because he stays at home while she goes to work. She says she is “mad at feminism” because she can’t stay at home with her baby. Once again, the author seems to fail to recognize her own privilege that her child gets to have a stay-at-home parents PERIOD. I wanted this book to be a deep and beautiful and profound look at motherhood, but it ended up mostly being one woman’s complaints with a few “Oh but I’m so happy to be a mom” comments peppered throughout.
March 23, 2023
De eerste duizend dagen, maar dan getekend. Accuraat, me dunkt.
May 13, 2023
⭐️⭐️⭐️/5. this was…wow. such an honest take on pregnancy & parenting and generally being a mom based on the author's own experiences. read this graphic novel in a day - the illustrations are quite visual ((like a baby coming out from the vajayjay all)) so it makes so much sense that its only suitable for adults to read. 🤭
��
it was very interesting to read from a mother's POV, a personal take on both the good & the bad but i was quite annoyed with how judgmental and hurtful it could get, mentioning that she feels superior to women who choose formula instead of breastfeeding….like??? 🥴 i feel like every mother out there are doing the best they can so its important to feel that they are enough and not fall into the motherhood comparison trap.
other than that, i can see how this book can be quite comforting as well as some mothers definitely would be able to relate to the author's experiences as a mother too. generally this was quite a decent quick read but best to also read with an open mind and be aware that every parent is different. 💫 i appreciate how its an easy read for its topic though!!
��
it was very interesting to read from a mother's POV, a personal take on both the good & the bad but i was quite annoyed with how judgmental and hurtful it could get, mentioning that she feels superior to women who choose formula instead of breastfeeding….like??? 🥴 i feel like every mother out there are doing the best they can so its important to feel that they are enough and not fall into the motherhood comparison trap.
other than that, i can see how this book can be quite comforting as well as some mothers definitely would be able to relate to the author's experiences as a mother too. generally this was quite a decent quick read but best to also read with an open mind and be aware that every parent is different. 💫 i appreciate how its an easy read for its topic though!!
May 27, 2023
Relatable and sweet but nothing too thought provoking or emotional.
September 30, 2025
Reading this feels as if there is this giant window into my brain and she documented everything she saw in there and then made into a book. Yet somehow it all came from her brain. Amazing.
March 21, 2026
4.25/5 stars overall ⭐️
I got this as a very thoughtful gift about 3 months postpartum. As I read, I marked all the sentiments I agreed with: it was a lot of pages! This actually captured a lot of feelings I felt while pregnant/as an early parent. I appreciated it immensely for putting words to those thoughts - I can go back and feel validated by the complexity of this very unique life stage. My one gripe was the repeated references of climate change: the topic appears *a lot*, even for someone who has had some of the same concerns. Those moments felt repetitive at a point, and didn’t necessarily match the tone of the rest of the book.
I got this as a very thoughtful gift about 3 months postpartum. As I read, I marked all the sentiments I agreed with: it was a lot of pages! This actually captured a lot of feelings I felt while pregnant/as an early parent. I appreciated it immensely for putting words to those thoughts - I can go back and feel validated by the complexity of this very unique life stage. My one gripe was the repeated references of climate change: the topic appears *a lot*, even for someone who has had some of the same concerns. Those moments felt repetitive at a point, and didn’t necessarily match the tone of the rest of the book.
September 13, 2023
even though i am not a mother and have no intention of ever becoming one, a lot of the ideas and thoughts that emma put into this book really resonated with me. her thoughts about climate change and feminism are pretty much the same as mine, and her experience of guilt regarding both was very relatable for me. i also liked all of the little drawings.
July 5, 2022
A sweet graphic novel about pregnancy and being a new parent, specifically a mom. I liked it a lot and recognized myself in her thoughts and musings. The art fit perfectly to the theme and it's a quick read if you want it to be and a longer read if you want to look up and reflect a bit.
/ Denise
/ Denise
September 14, 2022
Loved re-reading this updated collection with a baby on the way! A true joy.
January 18, 2023
a raw graphic memoir about pregnancy, birth, & motherhood. felt like a voyeur & still found its tender honesty accessible.
January 27, 2023
As a mom, this was really relatable. I’m glad to have read it.
October 26, 2023
There were some very poignant points, then there was the climate change bit, then it got back to more motherhood musings.
March 23, 2023
For when you need a naked reminder of that newborn life and some of the thoughts that creep in
January 21, 2024
This book is spot on with its reflections on motherhood. I totally related and thought the simple graphic style really suited the text. Only issue was that it wasn't particularly compelling as there was nothing driving a narrative as such.
July 24, 2024
So good. So validating - I feel all of these feelings deeply.
April 7, 2024
I really need to start writing down why I put each book on hold at the library. Like, where did I see it? Who recommended it? This is to say, I'm not sure why this charming little graphic novel was on my radar, but I'm in my mid-thirties, and ANOTHER friend told me she is pregnant recently, and I couldn't sleep last night, so I read this book and found it to be very sweet and very relatable (as someone thinking about creating a human, not as someone who has).
It jumps around from thought to thought, but that's how things feel in my head these days, so even that is relatable. Her concerns are certainly middle class: the ethics of bringing a child into a dying world, the small, natural resentments she has toward her partner, the larger ones she feels toward a world that forces her away from her baby, the need for a community in a society that values individualism ... BUT ALSO the joy she feels in slowing down and focusing on one thing, the fun she has seeing the world through her child's eyes, and the relief of letting things go, of caring about less. These are my fears but also my hopes, and it made me feel seen for them to be laid out so unapologetically on the page.
Also, earlier this year, I spent a week reading Daniel Sherrell's Warmth, another compelling and vulnerable memoir. Ahlqvist sums up Warmth in a few pages:
It jumps around from thought to thought, but that's how things feel in my head these days, so even that is relatable. Her concerns are certainly middle class: the ethics of bringing a child into a dying world, the small, natural resentments she has toward her partner, the larger ones she feels toward a world that forces her away from her baby, the need for a community in a society that values individualism ... BUT ALSO the joy she feels in slowing down and focusing on one thing, the fun she has seeing the world through her child's eyes, and the relief of letting things go, of caring about less. These are my fears but also my hopes, and it made me feel seen for them to be laid out so unapologetically on the page.
Also, earlier this year, I spent a week reading Daniel Sherrell's Warmth, another compelling and vulnerable memoir. Ahlqvist sums up Warmth in a few pages:
At some point we will need to have the talk.
When he asks me why I didn't do anything, I will think about all those times I thought about living a life more true to myself, but I was too scared to make a change.
What I will tell my child: I know we ruined this planet for you, but at least I felt very unhappy while I was doing it.
June 2, 2022
Firstly I would like to thank Netgalley and Princeton Architectural Press for sending me an e-arc in return for an honest review.
Emma Ahlqvist builds a beautiful and raw depiction of her experience in giving birth and becoming a new mother. To me as another new mother it was lovely to see how other mothers experiences have been, as my experience with pregnancy and motherhood as been quite different than Ahlqvist. She brings up the questions and worries she went through, and her experience of stressing about climate change, which for me as a new mother has never been the thing I have stressed about, which I do like seeing how her concerns of climate change affected her about bringing her son into the world. One thing that did stand out to me was her comment about how new moms talk always about the difficulties of motherhood, and that is true. Personally though for me, I fall kind of in that category.
Some of the things I would like to address for future readers is one I do recommend if you start reading this graphic novel, expect a lot of nudity, as it does deal with giving birth, change in breast sizes, and breastfeeding. If you are uncomfortable as a reader seeing quite a bit of nudity, then I suggest you don't read it, but do remember it is not sexual at all. Another thing I would like to address is remember this is Ahlqvist's personal experience becoming a new mom, partly it was hard for me to get through the graphic novel as I don't connect with her on a lot of things she experienced. I hated pregnancy, as I was extremely sick all the time, I hated the changes in my body, and I couldn't wait for my son to be born, as pregnancy was an immensely difficult time for me. Becoming a new mom with severe postpartum depression is also another difficultly, so compared to her I have faced a lot of things that are different. So for anyone who is becoming new moms, just remember this is her personal experience, and don't let yourself think you are wrong if you don't have the same experiences, or feel bad because you felt you experienced better.
Emma Ahlqvist builds a beautiful and raw depiction of her experience in giving birth and becoming a new mother. To me as another new mother it was lovely to see how other mothers experiences have been, as my experience with pregnancy and motherhood as been quite different than Ahlqvist. She brings up the questions and worries she went through, and her experience of stressing about climate change, which for me as a new mother has never been the thing I have stressed about, which I do like seeing how her concerns of climate change affected her about bringing her son into the world. One thing that did stand out to me was her comment about how new moms talk always about the difficulties of motherhood, and that is true. Personally though for me, I fall kind of in that category.
Some of the things I would like to address for future readers is one I do recommend if you start reading this graphic novel, expect a lot of nudity, as it does deal with giving birth, change in breast sizes, and breastfeeding. If you are uncomfortable as a reader seeing quite a bit of nudity, then I suggest you don't read it, but do remember it is not sexual at all. Another thing I would like to address is remember this is Ahlqvist's personal experience becoming a new mom, partly it was hard for me to get through the graphic novel as I don't connect with her on a lot of things she experienced. I hated pregnancy, as I was extremely sick all the time, I hated the changes in my body, and I couldn't wait for my son to be born, as pregnancy was an immensely difficult time for me. Becoming a new mom with severe postpartum depression is also another difficultly, so compared to her I have faced a lot of things that are different. So for anyone who is becoming new moms, just remember this is her personal experience, and don't let yourself think you are wrong if you don't have the same experiences, or feel bad because you felt you experienced better.
June 21, 2022
I quite liked this little graphic novel. Using a loose sketching style and a sketch-type font, in “My Body Created a Human,” Ahlqvist attempts to capture the joys and fears of early motherhood. She lays out relatable moments and quandaries in a way that feels super personal but also so universal. She reflects on her own feelings and experiences, and they were so similar to my own, that I found myself nodding along and even laughing out-loud a few times.
Several reviews struggle with the author’s musings on feminism and climate change, but I found myself really relating to those issues. How does one balance being eco-conscious with all the baby gear and the need sometimes just for convenience, particularly when one is a working mom? And how do we navigate the feminist ideal of “having it all” — because I can’t have a full time job and as much time with my kids as I would like. I really related to the section of both being grateful that her partner is a good and involved father but also being jealous that he gets to sleep while she breastfeeds, then he gets to be home with the baby when she goes back to work.
This book does include drawings of the human figure, but these are designed to highlight phenomenons like giving birth, breastfeeding, and the changes the body goes through when growing and nurturing a human. They are not at all meant to be sexy or titillating (although some reviewers seems to miss the sarcasm on the “sexy breastmilk” page). I like how the author is not afraid to discuss the physical and even hormonal changes that pregnancy creates both in a body and in a relationship.
I would recommend this to all moms and moms-to-be as a quick glimpse into the beauty, confusion, struggle, and glory if motherhood.
*** I received a digital advanced copy of this book in order to provide a fair review. Opinions here are my own***
.
Several reviews struggle with the author’s musings on feminism and climate change, but I found myself really relating to those issues. How does one balance being eco-conscious with all the baby gear and the need sometimes just for convenience, particularly when one is a working mom? And how do we navigate the feminist ideal of “having it all” — because I can’t have a full time job and as much time with my kids as I would like. I really related to the section of both being grateful that her partner is a good and involved father but also being jealous that he gets to sleep while she breastfeeds, then he gets to be home with the baby when she goes back to work.
This book does include drawings of the human figure, but these are designed to highlight phenomenons like giving birth, breastfeeding, and the changes the body goes through when growing and nurturing a human. They are not at all meant to be sexy or titillating (although some reviewers seems to miss the sarcasm on the “sexy breastmilk” page). I like how the author is not afraid to discuss the physical and even hormonal changes that pregnancy creates both in a body and in a relationship.
I would recommend this to all moms and moms-to-be as a quick glimpse into the beauty, confusion, struggle, and glory if motherhood.
*** I received a digital advanced copy of this book in order to provide a fair review. Opinions here are my own***
.
July 8, 2024
Breaking the dry spell with a review on a graphic novel-style memoir about pregnancy and motherhood.
For context, I am currently about 14 weeks pregnant and flipping through the pages takes me into the future of what I can expect of my own pregnancy journey. As such, I cannot say that I am able to relate 100% of the narrative yet. I, however, concur wholeheartedly with the author that pregnancy is something one cannot control. That is what makes it scary but also bewildering (THERE IS A BABY GROWING INSIDE OF ME?! AHHH!!!) at the same time.
What I found to be off in the narrative was the element of climate change. Immediately I thought of Greta Thunberg who like the author is Swedish too (coincidence much?). I will be honest to admit that I was put off by the incongruence in the storyline and hence, the low rating. It seems that the author missed the point of pregnancy bliss and is just going into a spiral on climate issues.
The last few pages were much better with the author giving us a peek into the challenges she face and the thoughts that run through her mind. That offered me some perspective on how I should view my pregnancy and how I should be kinder to myself during and after this period, especially when it comes to work productivity where I am basically stuck in a mind fog most of the time. Right now, I am going to savour every bit of my pregnancy and be thankful for this blessing from God.
For context, I am currently about 14 weeks pregnant and flipping through the pages takes me into the future of what I can expect of my own pregnancy journey. As such, I cannot say that I am able to relate 100% of the narrative yet. I, however, concur wholeheartedly with the author that pregnancy is something one cannot control. That is what makes it scary but also bewildering (THERE IS A BABY GROWING INSIDE OF ME?! AHHH!!!) at the same time.
What I found to be off in the narrative was the element of climate change. Immediately I thought of Greta Thunberg who like the author is Swedish too (coincidence much?). I will be honest to admit that I was put off by the incongruence in the storyline and hence, the low rating. It seems that the author missed the point of pregnancy bliss and is just going into a spiral on climate issues.
The last few pages were much better with the author giving us a peek into the challenges she face and the thoughts that run through her mind. That offered me some perspective on how I should view my pregnancy and how I should be kinder to myself during and after this period, especially when it comes to work productivity where I am basically stuck in a mind fog most of the time. Right now, I am going to savour every bit of my pregnancy and be thankful for this blessing from God.
June 16, 2022
I'm sure someone will read this book and enjoy it but for those who are Christian or Conservative and modest - this isn't a book I would go anywhere near.
The art work is meant to be that raw and ugly style that is usually paired with bad poetry books or stories like this that are trying to be 'true'. I didn't mind the art work I know everyone has their preferences but wow was there a lot of nudity. it was distasteful and just unnecessary. Obviously there was a point trying to be made about women's bodies being liberated, feminism, mumbo jumbo timey wimey stuff but at the end of the day it is still unnecessary and did nothing but harm the story. Shock factor isn't everything and doesn't automatically equal liberation, truth and justice it just shows that this is another woke book that in my opinion should be avoided and is forgettable.
FYI I tried to read a few more pages and wasn't impressed. This wasn't a personal story talking about postpartum, hormones high for wanting another kid, it's all stuff that any woman can tell you so literally the only thin this book did that was ...unique? (I use this term losely and not in an endearing way) is being turned on and commenting on the sexiness of getting pregnant, and not wearing braw to squirt her husband with quote: "sexy breast milk spray" which is the entire scene btw and then she goes on talking about stretch marks.
The art work is meant to be that raw and ugly style that is usually paired with bad poetry books or stories like this that are trying to be 'true'. I didn't mind the art work I know everyone has their preferences but wow was there a lot of nudity. it was distasteful and just unnecessary. Obviously there was a point trying to be made about women's bodies being liberated, feminism, mumbo jumbo timey wimey stuff but at the end of the day it is still unnecessary and did nothing but harm the story. Shock factor isn't everything and doesn't automatically equal liberation, truth and justice it just shows that this is another woke book that in my opinion should be avoided and is forgettable.
FYI I tried to read a few more pages and wasn't impressed. This wasn't a personal story talking about postpartum, hormones high for wanting another kid, it's all stuff that any woman can tell you so literally the only thin this book did that was ...unique? (I use this term losely and not in an endearing way) is being turned on and commenting on the sexiness of getting pregnant, and not wearing braw to squirt her husband with quote: "sexy breast milk spray" which is the entire scene btw and then she goes on talking about stretch marks.
June 4, 2022
Thank you to Netgalley and Princeton Architectural Press for sending me an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
My Body Created a Human is a lovely memoir about one women's experience with pregnancy and motherhood told in a graphic novel format. I haven't experienced those things for myself yet (though I hope to in the future) and I'm very interested in the vastly different experiences that women can have with pregnancy and motherhood.
I enjoyed reading about Emma's thoughts and feelings during her experience. It was raw and honest, and though it was only one women's experience, it's a valuable addition to the plethora of written experiences.
The only thing I didn't like about this book was the focus on climate change. I know that this memoir was about a specific person and it's relevant to her, but it felt odd to have it amidst the babies and breasts in the comic strips. I know that I'm worried about a lot of things in preparation for having my family, but climate change isn't near the top of the list. Of course, it's a memoir and that means that it's about Emma's experience and we as readers aren't always going to connect with everything in them. I recommend reading My Body Created a Human (and memoirs in general) to gain insight into the lives of others.
My Body Created a Human is a lovely memoir about one women's experience with pregnancy and motherhood told in a graphic novel format. I haven't experienced those things for myself yet (though I hope to in the future) and I'm very interested in the vastly different experiences that women can have with pregnancy and motherhood.
I enjoyed reading about Emma's thoughts and feelings during her experience. It was raw and honest, and though it was only one women's experience, it's a valuable addition to the plethora of written experiences.
The only thing I didn't like about this book was the focus on climate change. I know that this memoir was about a specific person and it's relevant to her, but it felt odd to have it amidst the babies and breasts in the comic strips. I know that I'm worried about a lot of things in preparation for having my family, but climate change isn't near the top of the list. Of course, it's a memoir and that means that it's about Emma's experience and we as readers aren't always going to connect with everything in them. I recommend reading My Body Created a Human (and memoirs in general) to gain insight into the lives of others.
June 18, 2022
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me a copy of this story in exchange for an honest review!
This graphic novel, at its core, shows the ups and downs of motherhood in a realistic manner. I really did enjoy the narrators realistic take, most stories I find centring pregnancy or child bearing are either super optimistic or super pessimistic and I found this story to be a perfect balance between the two. It was very raw and personal and I can tell the author put a lot of themselves out there for the reader. Some comments in the story rubbed me the wrong way, but again, the author showed the good and the bad and I would assume that goes with some of their previous thoughts/opinions. I wish the writing was different as well, I found the font difficult to read as well as gave the book an overdone mess appearance. But! Overall I enjoyed the story and think that it is an important one for mothers/ anyone in general to read. I believe it gives a realistic stance of pregnancy/children in general - especially with the world we live in today.
This graphic novel, at its core, shows the ups and downs of motherhood in a realistic manner. I really did enjoy the narrators realistic take, most stories I find centring pregnancy or child bearing are either super optimistic or super pessimistic and I found this story to be a perfect balance between the two. It was very raw and personal and I can tell the author put a lot of themselves out there for the reader. Some comments in the story rubbed me the wrong way, but again, the author showed the good and the bad and I would assume that goes with some of their previous thoughts/opinions. I wish the writing was different as well, I found the font difficult to read as well as gave the book an overdone mess appearance. But! Overall I enjoyed the story and think that it is an important one for mothers/ anyone in general to read. I believe it gives a realistic stance of pregnancy/children in general - especially with the world we live in today.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 79 reviews