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Getting Married and Other Mistakes
Accomplished comic artist Barbara Slate--who has been called "titanically talented" by Stan Lee and her work "emphatically of our time" by the New York Times-- lets it all out in a savagely funny and emotionally honest fictional narrative, told in a series of hilarious panels.
After having been a good girl and following her mother’s advice to snag a husband before she became a twenty-something spinster, Barbara Slate realized that her Mr. Right was actually Mr. Wrong and that she was living her life according to everyone’s rules but her own. After twelve years of an unblissful marriage, she made her escape.
Now this accomplished comic artist lets it all out in a savagely funny and emotionally honest fictional narrative. Jo, her stand-in protagonist, is a successful wedding photographer (of all things) who has been dumped by her husband and desperately needs to get on with her life. She follows her friends’ advice to get laid, see a shrink, go out more, and live a little. Nothing works. Eventually she realizes that she must stop listening to what everybody else tells her and follow her own voice instead.
Jo’s struggle with female guilt and her quest for self-awareness, told in a series of hilarious panels, is the perfect book for any woman needing to take back control of her life, or remembering when she did.
"A must-read for any woman who has ever been cheated on, owned a Barbie, or once believed their mother's version of ‘happily ever after’. Skip the pity party and buy this book!” —Josie Brown, author, Secret Lives of Husbands and Wives and The Housewife Assassin's Handbook
After having been a good girl and following her mother’s advice to snag a husband before she became a twenty-something spinster, Barbara Slate realized that her Mr. Right was actually Mr. Wrong and that she was living her life according to everyone’s rules but her own. After twelve years of an unblissful marriage, she made her escape.
Now this accomplished comic artist lets it all out in a savagely funny and emotionally honest fictional narrative. Jo, her stand-in protagonist, is a successful wedding photographer (of all things) who has been dumped by her husband and desperately needs to get on with her life. She follows her friends’ advice to get laid, see a shrink, go out more, and live a little. Nothing works. Eventually she realizes that she must stop listening to what everybody else tells her and follow her own voice instead.
Jo’s struggle with female guilt and her quest for self-awareness, told in a series of hilarious panels, is the perfect book for any woman needing to take back control of her life, or remembering when she did.
"A must-read for any woman who has ever been cheated on, owned a Barbie, or once believed their mother's version of ‘happily ever after’. Skip the pity party and buy this book!” —Josie Brown, author, Secret Lives of Husbands and Wives and The Housewife Assassin's Handbook
160 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2012
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
June 13, 2012
Getting Married and other mistakes could be subtitled The Story of the Sad Bride.
Every girl dreams of being a bride or does she? Is this the dream wished for her by others?
Barbara Slate attacks this question head on in her woeful and yet funny, sometimes quirky fictional narrative turns out to be all too true. Slate's vehicle to finding her own voice when her husband leaves her is drawn for our eyes quite clearly in this excellent graphic novel.
Whether you're divorced, happily married, or single, there's something to love about Slate's character Jo. I might have cried, I really laughed and I was definitely touched by this crafty gem of a book.
Every girl dreams of being a bride or does she? Is this the dream wished for her by others?
Barbara Slate attacks this question head on in her woeful and yet funny, sometimes quirky fictional narrative turns out to be all too true. Slate's vehicle to finding her own voice when her husband leaves her is drawn for our eyes quite clearly in this excellent graphic novel.
Whether you're divorced, happily married, or single, there's something to love about Slate's character Jo. I might have cried, I really laughed and I was definitely touched by this crafty gem of a book.
October 25, 2013
Enjoyable. This adult graphic novel's format really falls some where between comic strip and really long picture book. The story is about a woman who finds herself lost and depressed when her husband of 7 years leaves her. However her emotional distress does not stem from her cheating husband's absence, she doesn't miss him. Instead, she finds that she doesn't know why she married him in the first place.
It is a journey of self-discovery, the reader is taken to various moment's in the protagonist's life and meets an assortment of influential characters, most notably her overbearing shallow mother.
There is plenty of humor and while the title might suggest the message of the book to be anti-marriage that is not the case. Really the message is to not be influenced by family or friends when making decisions that should be made by listening to your own SELF.
This book read like a memoir but is fictional although inspired by the author's own life. As a reader you make an instant connection with the main character and it feels like she is speaking directly to you.
However, I think the author's intent is to create something empowering, and it might be to some but I was not one of them. I could sympathize with the character but her experiences were not my own creating a bit of a disconnect that made the author's message less powerful.
It is a journey of self-discovery, the reader is taken to various moment's in the protagonist's life and meets an assortment of influential characters, most notably her overbearing shallow mother.
There is plenty of humor and while the title might suggest the message of the book to be anti-marriage that is not the case. Really the message is to not be influenced by family or friends when making decisions that should be made by listening to your own SELF.
This book read like a memoir but is fictional although inspired by the author's own life. As a reader you make an instant connection with the main character and it feels like she is speaking directly to you.
However, I think the author's intent is to create something empowering, and it might be to some but I was not one of them. I could sympathize with the character but her experiences were not my own creating a bit of a disconnect that made the author's message less powerful.
September 1, 2012
Jo was married for 7 years, when her husband John left her for another woman, Candy. Finding herself alone, she struggles to find her voice, and follows the advice of friends to start therapy. Why did she get married in the first place? Was it to please her mother, who nagged her about becoming an old maid? Was it to satisfy society's expectations? Was it because everyone else was doing it? Slate's illustrations are simple, bright and provide a tight, cohesive story about Jo's transition to her new life. Fast read, can finish in an hour.
January 18, 2019
As a pre-digital ex-denizen of "the darkroom" I find it very hard to believe that great photographers were photo-lab customers unless they functioned as large scale printers as well. I'll assume she cross-checked and is correct but many going to the same one is just preposterous.
The greatness of darkroom photography comes from developing (with all the rest of the jazz) the film yourself!!! The reason I don't go back is because digital is like cheating to me and the old way is too inconvenient and expensive now.
The greatness of darkroom photography comes from developing (with all the rest of the jazz) the film yourself!!! The reason I don't go back is because digital is like cheating to me and the old way is too inconvenient and expensive now.
July 12, 2017
Slate's retelling of her divorce from her first marriage, and the journey this took her on emotionally. A graphic novel is the perfect venue for Slate to delve into topics like "am I even upset my marriage ended?" "Why did I get married in the first place." It even touches on subjects like a societal push to be married and the types of suitors we choose. I found it to be relatable and a sweet look at the emotions we all have when someone leaves us, even if we weren't happy to begin with.
May 6, 2017
Colorful story about finding oneself
This vibrant graphic novel tells the story of an artist raised on the myth of marriage who seeks and finds her own voice. It's a fun and often surprising read with beautiful and bold illustrations.
This vibrant graphic novel tells the story of an artist raised on the myth of marriage who seeks and finds her own voice. It's a fun and often surprising read with beautiful and bold illustrations.
December 24, 2017
It was an interesting story. I do admit it was a weird decision for me to read on Christmas eve. I may have enjoyed it more if I had read it during a more seasonable time.
August 9, 2022
Somewhat interesting, but hard to relate to. I wonder how many people rush into a marriage for the wrong reasons, and how many of those are actually able to make it work with such flawed foundations.
April 29, 2013
Deceptively simple self-discovery with humor and rich meaning.
I have to say I picked this up at random just for a laugh and was amazingly surprised. Sometimes you find things that are fun and powerful just by chance, and that makes life interesting.
A woman goes through a divorce and finds both balance and her artistic calling during the ordeal. It's a pretty standard story that's been done to death over and over to infinity, but that doesn't mean you can't give it a fresh coat of paint now and then.
There's symbolism and weirdness galore. The cockroach that stands for the unstoppable force of doom in her life. Her whacky friends and their mutual quest for the perfect therapist. A photography hobby that always seems to revolve around weddings--the gal her husband left her for even wants her to shoot her upcoming wedding. Life is tough in Manhattan!
There's flashbacks to childhood as our protagonist reexamines her life and relationships to men during her formative experiences. Her mother is an overwhelming force of horror who will stop at nothing to marry her to the perfect man--and guess who she married the last time she did as her mother said? Mother is so excited about a future ex-husband she has them lined up for blocks for our heroine!
It's humorous, but also madness at the same time. The degree to which people in upward mobility land strive to achieve their status landmarks and keep from going insane. It's an eye opener, and worth studying here--relevant because these are the people with the privilege and ability to make changes in the world, and they are busy trying to maintain their image while eating each others' brains.
Scary, isn't it?
But fear not, one can find one's balance in the dance of chaos. All it takes is a little sexual adventure to release all that pent up puritan energy and you can start to get in touch with your vulgar side enough to gain the strength needed to escape New York.
I have to admit I'm a sucker for the artist finding their center types of stories. If it can happen to her, then it can happen all along the watchtower at any time, to anyone, and that's a subversive message worth listening to. That the protagonist's ultimate revelation is unexpectedly banal grounds her out as a human being--she is a sacrifice just like every other bride of the monster. It's sad, and right on, just the way a balancing out truth can be.
I can't relate personally to this specific setting, but I totally grok with the character and her inner thoughts. The situation that resolves has got some gold in it. Worth checking out and giving a whirl.
I have to say I picked this up at random just for a laugh and was amazingly surprised. Sometimes you find things that are fun and powerful just by chance, and that makes life interesting.
A woman goes through a divorce and finds both balance and her artistic calling during the ordeal. It's a pretty standard story that's been done to death over and over to infinity, but that doesn't mean you can't give it a fresh coat of paint now and then.
There's symbolism and weirdness galore. The cockroach that stands for the unstoppable force of doom in her life. Her whacky friends and their mutual quest for the perfect therapist. A photography hobby that always seems to revolve around weddings--the gal her husband left her for even wants her to shoot her upcoming wedding. Life is tough in Manhattan!
There's flashbacks to childhood as our protagonist reexamines her life and relationships to men during her formative experiences. Her mother is an overwhelming force of horror who will stop at nothing to marry her to the perfect man--and guess who she married the last time she did as her mother said? Mother is so excited about a future ex-husband she has them lined up for blocks for our heroine!
It's humorous, but also madness at the same time. The degree to which people in upward mobility land strive to achieve their status landmarks and keep from going insane. It's an eye opener, and worth studying here--relevant because these are the people with the privilege and ability to make changes in the world, and they are busy trying to maintain their image while eating each others' brains.
Scary, isn't it?
But fear not, one can find one's balance in the dance of chaos. All it takes is a little sexual adventure to release all that pent up puritan energy and you can start to get in touch with your vulgar side enough to gain the strength needed to escape New York.
I have to admit I'm a sucker for the artist finding their center types of stories. If it can happen to her, then it can happen all along the watchtower at any time, to anyone, and that's a subversive message worth listening to. That the protagonist's ultimate revelation is unexpectedly banal grounds her out as a human being--she is a sacrifice just like every other bride of the monster. It's sad, and right on, just the way a balancing out truth can be.
I can't relate personally to this specific setting, but I totally grok with the character and her inner thoughts. The situation that resolves has got some gold in it. Worth checking out and giving a whirl.
November 16, 2015
In Barbara Slate’s Getting Married and Other Mistakes, Slate tells the story of how the narrator becomes obsessed with photographs of sad brides. Looking over her own failed marriage, she asks herself why she married, and looks into the imagined lives of the brides within the pictures, making up for them failures from the very beginning of their nuptials.
I picked the book off the shelf because it was shortly before I married, and the title piqued my curiosity. As the story unfolds, the finger is pointed at her mother, who clearly does not understand that self-esteem can be find outside of a marriage. She takes the advice of various friends who she takes to be more knowledgeable about relationships than herself, to find only disaster. As she begins to see the other side of her depression and sadness, she begins to learn what she wants, and not what others want for her.
While marriage is still told as a fairy tale, and women have a lot more stake in a marriage than men, both socially and in terms of self-worth, the book does not tell a story that I have not heard before. While this is not a surprise—what story has not already been told? The problem is that Slate does not manage to use a voice that I have not heard before.
But, one of the truisms of the book is that one should not marry simply to marry, but because there is a deep and lasting connection with the other person, something on which to build a life.
I picked the book off the shelf because it was shortly before I married, and the title piqued my curiosity. As the story unfolds, the finger is pointed at her mother, who clearly does not understand that self-esteem can be find outside of a marriage. She takes the advice of various friends who she takes to be more knowledgeable about relationships than herself, to find only disaster. As she begins to see the other side of her depression and sadness, she begins to learn what she wants, and not what others want for her.
While marriage is still told as a fairy tale, and women have a lot more stake in a marriage than men, both socially and in terms of self-worth, the book does not tell a story that I have not heard before. While this is not a surprise—what story has not already been told? The problem is that Slate does not manage to use a voice that I have not heard before.
But, one of the truisms of the book is that one should not marry simply to marry, but because there is a deep and lasting connection with the other person, something on which to build a life.
August 10, 2016
This is a memoir graphic novel about Barbara Slate (a photographer/artist) finding herself again after her marriage ends due to her husbands lengthy extra-marital affair. This book also looks at the idea that marriage is the be all and end all that was imprinted on her from a young age by her mother.
The story was interesting if a little bit predictable. If you've ever read/watched something about someone who is trying to find themselves after a break up you will know where this story is headed. I never really felt that emotionally connected to the narrator which prohibited the emotional resonance i felt towards the story. Perhaps I would have felt more connected to the story if it had covered a longer time period in the writer/protagonists life.
I did like the brief moments of almost magical realism where she was talking to some of the sad brides from her wedding photo shoots.
The art, I'm sorry to say really wasn't my cup of tea I would have really liked if photographs were mixed with the art but that wasn't the case.
Rating 2/5
The story was interesting if a little bit predictable. If you've ever read/watched something about someone who is trying to find themselves after a break up you will know where this story is headed. I never really felt that emotionally connected to the narrator which prohibited the emotional resonance i felt towards the story. Perhaps I would have felt more connected to the story if it had covered a longer time period in the writer/protagonists life.
I did like the brief moments of almost magical realism where she was talking to some of the sad brides from her wedding photo shoots.
The art, I'm sorry to say really wasn't my cup of tea I would have really liked if photographs were mixed with the art but that wasn't the case.
Rating 2/5
April 18, 2016
Jo Hudson feels just like the sad brides that photographs. This graphic novel explores why her marriage comes to an end. She goes though a depression and spends a lot of time in bed, remembering her first boyfriends. She later begins to go to her friends and a number of psychologists for answers. However, what she eventually finds is that the only voice she needs to hear is her own, which she has suppressed all her life.
I liked this graphic novel a lot. Although Jo spends much of the story feeling depressed and confused, by the end of the book, she transforms into an empowered woman. She learns to trust herself and she goes after the job and the man that will make her happy.
While many of the comic panels contain speech bubbles, much of the story is told through the narration that appears alongside the illustrations. Slate’s semi-autobiographical story is entertaining and insightful. It's a great story for anyone feeling lost.
I liked this graphic novel a lot. Although Jo spends much of the story feeling depressed and confused, by the end of the book, she transforms into an empowered woman. She learns to trust herself and she goes after the job and the man that will make her happy.
While many of the comic panels contain speech bubbles, much of the story is told through the narration that appears alongside the illustrations. Slate’s semi-autobiographical story is entertaining and insightful. It's a great story for anyone feeling lost.
August 19, 2012
When wedding photographer Jo Hudson's husband announces that he is leaving her for his girlfriend Candy, yes that is her real name, it sends her in a deep depression. To find her way out, Jo must take some time to find herself, her voice, and her way. An introspective piece on why we do what we do for love, lust, and appearances. Humorous and thoughtful.
June 25, 2014
This book was funny and was really quick to read! Like, when you're reading all these books that make you think, this is a really good break from them I guess. I wanna read some more of her work!
September 24, 2015
Eh, it was a quick read. The plot was pretty basic. I wasn't really crazy about the illustration. I gave it two stars only because she swore a few times. I hate to give a crappy review, but the cover deceived me. I always judge a book by it's cover; this time I was burned.
July 20, 2012
Read our review here:
http://www.bookbloggingbeauties.blogs...
http://www.bookbloggingbeauties.blogs...
June 6, 2012
A -very- fast read. It's not as funny as I thought it was going to be-- but I may be biased by being happily married. I'm glad that she found her own voice. And much appreciate her artist's eye.
August 6, 2012
Thought it was going funny. It was not. But it was interesting nonetheless. Not representative of my own experience I don't think.
January 30, 2013
Entertaining but the drawing style and the time skips put me off.
April 22, 2013
Even though the story of how Jo's marriage fell apart was very different than mine, the general feelings and experience were very relatable.
May 2, 2015
She's a genius pertinent to our time. Should be read by our entire generation and taught in psychology classes!
October 26, 2013
This is a cute, quick read. I met Barbara at a panel discussion on diversity in comics and she was pretty great. The story of this book is semi-autobiographical, fun, and interesting to read.
January 2, 2014
Well, she's no Alison Bechdel. It was probably unfair to expect she would be.
February 19, 2015
Hilarious, cute and meaningful. I'm glad she finally learned something about herself and even more glad that she intrinsically implored upon me to learn about myself as well.
July 22, 2016
سخيف ولكن يعكس معضلة كثير من البنات ولذا
relevant
relevant
September 18, 2020
A fun tale of what happens when you get married for the wrong reasons
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews