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The Hospital Suite
Poetic musings on illness and the art of getting by from a mini-comics master
The Hospital Suite is a landmark work by the celebrated cartoonist and small-press legend John Porcellino—an autobiographical collection detailing his struggles with illness in the 1990s and early 2000s.
In 1997, John began to have severe stomach pain. He soon found out he needed emergency surgery to remove a benign tumor from his small intestine. In the wake of the surgery, he had numerous health complications that led to a flare-up of his preexisting tendencies toward anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorder. The Hospital Suite is Porcellino’s response to these experiences—simply told stories drawn in the honest, heart-wrenching style of his much-loved King-Cat mini-comics. His gift for spare yet eloquent candor makes The Hospital Suite an intimate portrayal of one person’s experiences that is also intensely relatable.
Porcellino’s work is lauded for its universality and quiet, clear-eyed contemplation of everyday life. The Hospital Suite is a testimony to this subtle strength, making his struggles with the medical system and its consequences for his mental health accessible and engaging.
The Hospital Suite is a landmark work by the celebrated cartoonist and small-press legend John Porcellino—an autobiographical collection detailing his struggles with illness in the 1990s and early 2000s.
In 1997, John began to have severe stomach pain. He soon found out he needed emergency surgery to remove a benign tumor from his small intestine. In the wake of the surgery, he had numerous health complications that led to a flare-up of his preexisting tendencies toward anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorder. The Hospital Suite is Porcellino’s response to these experiences—simply told stories drawn in the honest, heart-wrenching style of his much-loved King-Cat mini-comics. His gift for spare yet eloquent candor makes The Hospital Suite an intimate portrayal of one person’s experiences that is also intensely relatable.
Porcellino’s work is lauded for its universality and quiet, clear-eyed contemplation of everyday life. The Hospital Suite is a testimony to this subtle strength, making his struggles with the medical system and its consequences for his mental health accessible and engaging.
264 pages, Paperback
First published September 23, 2014
4 people are currently reading
1437 people want to read
About the author
John Porcellino
55 books211 followersJOHN PORCELLINO was born in Chicago, in 1968, and has been writing, drawing, and publishing minicomics, comics, and graphic novels for over twenty-five years. His celebrated self-published series
King-Cat Comics
, begun in 1989, has inspired a generation of cartoonists.
Diary of a Mosquito Abatement Man
, a collection of King-Cat stories about Porcellino’s experiences as a pest control worker, won an Ignatz Award in 2005, and
Perfect Example
, first published in 2000, chronicles his struggles with depression as a teenager.
Thoreau at Walden
is a poetic expression of the great philosopher’s experience and ideals, and
King-Cat Classix
and
Map of My Heart
, published by Drawn and Quarterly, comprise the first two volumes of a comprehensive King-Cat history.
According to cartoonist Chris Ware, "John Porcellino's comics distill, in just a few lines and words, the feeling of simply being alive."
According to cartoonist Chris Ware, "John Porcellino's comics distill, in just a few lines and words, the feeling of simply being alive."
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 169 reviews
March 7, 2016
This felt like reading Epileptic all over again.
At first, I was engrossed with a story of chronic illness and the way family reacts to it - enough so that I could ignore the bad art. Then things took a turn for the worse.
After the halfway point, the book shifted from being something you could give to a friend with a "Look! You're not alone!" awkward smile into "Look! Doctors are to blame for everything!"
This was also the point where it shifted from being about maybe-Crohn's to OCD and pyroluria (one of those diseases you pay talk show hosts to "learn" that you have even though it's not recognized by the medical community.)
Like the Epileptic graphic novel, the MC here has a poorly-understood, chronic condition. And like Epileptic, questionable medical and cult choices are made while disregarding everything science has to say because of course you're going to do anything to fix this. As in, "let's lie about all the pills we're taking," "let's ignore the placebo effect," "let's not follow medication directions, then blame the doctors," etc.
I'm sure this all sounds like victim blaming, but I think the book's overall attitude (and reliance on self diagnoses) contributes to a poisonous attitude surrounding mental health issues.
At first, I was engrossed with a story of chronic illness and the way family reacts to it - enough so that I could ignore the bad art. Then things took a turn for the worse.
After the halfway point, the book shifted from being something you could give to a friend with a "Look! You're not alone!" awkward smile into "Look! Doctors are to blame for everything!"
This was also the point where it shifted from being about maybe-Crohn's to OCD and pyroluria (one of those diseases you pay talk show hosts to "learn" that you have even though it's not recognized by the medical community.)
Like the Epileptic graphic novel, the MC here has a poorly-understood, chronic condition. And like Epileptic, questionable medical and cult choices are made while disregarding everything science has to say because of course you're going to do anything to fix this. As in, "let's lie about all the pills we're taking," "let's ignore the placebo effect," "let's not follow medication directions, then blame the doctors," etc.
I'm sure this all sounds like victim blaming, but I think the book's overall attitude (and reliance on self diagnoses) contributes to a poisonous attitude surrounding mental health issues.
December 21, 2014
Porecellino has a really messed up body and mind and doesn't mind our knowing it. This graphic memoir tells the long story of what would appear to be multiple chemical imbalances that have almost completely devastated his life, creating numerous physical problems, and also mental problems, all of which he fearlessly shares with us in his simple, straightforward, clean-line way. This is long, longer than it needs to be for this reader, though with its simplicity you can read it quickly. That simplicity in the drawing adds to the sense of honesty, of complete self-disclosure. I think anyone who has suffered depression, been crippled by OCD, anxiety AND all the physical ailments Porcellino has had will relate to it very well and gain some comfort from it. After all, he has gone through all this (and all the job/marriage/other relationship issues that come with all of the above).. and he STILL keeps writing comics… I think that's a service to all of us that he shares his challenges with others who have similar issues. Maybe it's the Buddhism and the comics that have most helped him survive.
July 30, 2014
I read this book with tears streaming down my face. If you are prone to depression, have had any kind of mysterious illness or medical mystery, have seen a loved one suffer through medical treatment, or are simply a compassionate person, expect this one to hit you hard. Especially the eponymous story.
I have always loved the work of John P. and the deceptive simplicity of his work.
His work is so relatable; Reading it, he feels like a long lost friend.
And maybe it's that feeling of knowing him through the years -- combined with his perfect pitch story telling and simple, effective line work -- that affected me so much.
These stories are united by hospital visits, psychological issues, allergies, pain. Things that hurt just to read about.
It's a beautiful autobiographical graphic memoir (MariNaomi tells me this is the preferred terminology for non fiction comics) told in shorter vignettes about true helplessness, illness and depression; striving to find solace in simplicity, in religion, in acceptance, in self-imposed rules; change and recurrent themes in life.
"I guess I just need to act as if I'm going to survive." p.75
"Maisie… don't forget -- whatever happens -- my whole heart loves your whole heart…" to his cat. p. 78
I have always loved the work of John P. and the deceptive simplicity of his work.
His work is so relatable; Reading it, he feels like a long lost friend.
And maybe it's that feeling of knowing him through the years -- combined with his perfect pitch story telling and simple, effective line work -- that affected me so much.
These stories are united by hospital visits, psychological issues, allergies, pain. Things that hurt just to read about.
It's a beautiful autobiographical graphic memoir (MariNaomi tells me this is the preferred terminology for non fiction comics) told in shorter vignettes about true helplessness, illness and depression; striving to find solace in simplicity, in religion, in acceptance, in self-imposed rules; change and recurrent themes in life.
"I guess I just need to act as if I'm going to survive." p.75
"Maisie… don't forget -- whatever happens -- my whole heart loves your whole heart…" to his cat. p. 78
July 8, 2015
The loosely interweaving stories in this book seem to me a meditation on time, love and illness, and maybe even a meditation on meditation. Porcellino shows us a strange connectedness of moments across a landscape of troubled years that gradually come together in the form of a greater awareness until Porcellino is able to take definitive action on his own behalf. That is a relief. For a long time, he struggles to find helpful, meaningful medical care, and to make sense of his own experiences, and everything that might ground him tends to collapse, either because he holds it too tight or withdraws entirely. I don't know that this book is uplifting, but it's brave and honest and I'm pretty sure it is a gift of hope. If there is an underlying message it might be something along these lines: to be awake and alive is no easy thing, but if we listen closely, we can hear the textured, miracle music of that journey.
June 30, 2015
Every few years D + Q puts out another book by John Porcellino and the world seems like a better place to me. My full review on tcj.com: http://www.tcj.com/reviews/the-hospit...
December 18, 2015
John Porcellino writes the long-running comic zine King Cat and has published numerous book-length collections and graphic novels. In his past stories he has often alluded to the various physical and mental health issues he's struggled with since the late 1990s. This book chronicles these issues in three parts, each of which focuses on one thread of his health history. While John's comics are almost always autobiographical to some degree, this book contains the most intimately personal work he's published so far. He lays bare all the pain and torment he's experienced, and the detrimental effects it's had on his personal life. But it is not only a dark story. Through a self-styled combination of naturopathic and allopathic therapies, coupled with a steady devotion to Zen Buddhism, John has since gotten to a much healthier place. His book can now hopefully serve as an inspiration to others who are facing health issues that at times appear insurmountable. It's also a fine achievement for a cartoonist and writer now working at the peak of his creativity.
October 24, 2017
"The Hospital Suite" is a series of inter-related stories about the author's battles with both physical and mental illnesses over the course of many years, while balancing his cartooning career and relationships. The art style is simple but expressive -- black and white line drawings, hand-lettered -- which adds to the personal feel of Porcellino's experiences. The art did frustrate me sometimes, however, such as how the author draws himself in a variety of different styles and looks throughout, so there's an overall lack of identity. (Maybe that's intentional?) Porcellino's ability to struggle on through many illnesses and conditions to continue working on his art is admirable; it's also fascinating to see how his spiritual side gave him the insight to keep pushing forward in the face of horrible circumstances, especially when things looked darkest.
The stories gave me a much better understanding of OCD and related mental health challenges. We joke about people having OCD about things lining up properly, but here, Porcellino shows the impact of completely irrational thought processes that can't be silenced or ignored -- particularly at his most stressful times of his life.
It was painful for me to read parts of the narrative where Porcellino veers off from effective treatment regimens or doctor's appointments. I know from family experience about how draining it is to have unexplained health issues, but I felt frustrated sometimes with how he addressed his symptoms and conditions -- particularly when he ends up walking out on a visit to a doctor who has very realistic concerns about the effects of the pesticides the author was exposed to in a previous job. That part made me want to yell at the author; he even includes a footnote that this isn't a choice he'd advise for anyone else.
Finally, I wish that the narrative was a bit more linear; the sections on his physical health and mental health follow two different narrative tracks, sometimes overlapping, but sometimes the details don't seem to line up (such as where he's living at certain points in his life, or when certain conditions worsened.) There also seems to be an assumption here that the reader is familiar with his other biographical works, which takes away from the self-contained nature of these stories. I'm intrigued, though, to go back and explore his previous works and learn more about the life of this artist who fought on through health issues that I couldn't comprehend experiencing myself.
The stories gave me a much better understanding of OCD and related mental health challenges. We joke about people having OCD about things lining up properly, but here, Porcellino shows the impact of completely irrational thought processes that can't be silenced or ignored -- particularly at his most stressful times of his life.
It was painful for me to read parts of the narrative where Porcellino veers off from effective treatment regimens or doctor's appointments. I know from family experience about how draining it is to have unexplained health issues, but I felt frustrated sometimes with how he addressed his symptoms and conditions -- particularly when he ends up walking out on a visit to a doctor who has very realistic concerns about the effects of the pesticides the author was exposed to in a previous job. That part made me want to yell at the author; he even includes a footnote that this isn't a choice he'd advise for anyone else.
Finally, I wish that the narrative was a bit more linear; the sections on his physical health and mental health follow two different narrative tracks, sometimes overlapping, but sometimes the details don't seem to line up (such as where he's living at certain points in his life, or when certain conditions worsened.) There also seems to be an assumption here that the reader is familiar with his other biographical works, which takes away from the self-contained nature of these stories. I'm intrigued, though, to go back and explore his previous works and learn more about the life of this artist who fought on through health issues that I couldn't comprehend experiencing myself.
December 22, 2017
I feel like the review from Hannah on this page sums up my thoughts about this pretty well.
"At first, I was engrossed with a story of chronic illness and the way family reacts to it - enough so that I could ignore the bad art. Then things took a turn for the worse.
After the halfway point, the book shifted from being something you could give to a friend with a "Look! You're not alone!" awkward smile into 'Look! Doctors are to blame for everything!' "
The character spends most of the time complaining about how horrible his illnesses and life is, but very little time seriously trying to figure out what the problem is and take steps to fix it. As someone with two chronic illnesses I don't want to sound like I am judging or blaming him for having these conditions, figuring these things out and working with them is hard and takes time and can be infuriating. But, there is literally a part in this book when a doctor tells the character what he thinks the problem might be and the character just says he is tired of seeing doctors and opts not to get tested for the issue. However, he spends lots of time looking up possible diseases or conditions that he could have, without trying to confirm them. Also, there is another point where he bemoans that he is completely on his own, yet he did have doctors trying to work with him and he just decided to leave their care, without giving much explanation as to why. Again, I know how judgmental this sounds, but it was very hard to feel engaged with a character like this, especially as someone who has worked very hard to identify and work within the parameters of chronic disorders.
"At first, I was engrossed with a story of chronic illness and the way family reacts to it - enough so that I could ignore the bad art. Then things took a turn for the worse.
After the halfway point, the book shifted from being something you could give to a friend with a "Look! You're not alone!" awkward smile into 'Look! Doctors are to blame for everything!' "
The character spends most of the time complaining about how horrible his illnesses and life is, but very little time seriously trying to figure out what the problem is and take steps to fix it. As someone with two chronic illnesses I don't want to sound like I am judging or blaming him for having these conditions, figuring these things out and working with them is hard and takes time and can be infuriating. But, there is literally a part in this book when a doctor tells the character what he thinks the problem might be and the character just says he is tired of seeing doctors and opts not to get tested for the issue. However, he spends lots of time looking up possible diseases or conditions that he could have, without trying to confirm them. Also, there is another point where he bemoans that he is completely on his own, yet he did have doctors trying to work with him and he just decided to leave their care, without giving much explanation as to why. Again, I know how judgmental this sounds, but it was very hard to feel engaged with a character like this, especially as someone who has worked very hard to identify and work within the parameters of chronic disorders.
March 29, 2021
Because cartoonist John Porcellino is so honest and truthful about his personal shortcomings and health issues in this book, I feel a little like I’m kicking a hurt puppy just by saying anything negative about it. But despite the book’s brutal honesty, I felt like I was reading a narcissist’s confession rather than a story about hard-earned self-awareness. The cartooning is emotionally expressive and is clearly the result of many, many years’ fine tuning. But I kept wanting just a little more from his stories.
Porcellino (or at least his cartoon version of himself) is absolutely and painfully self-conscious, but he is never self-aware. And maybe that’s the point. Maybe that’s why he continues to produce autobiographical work. He’s out to achieve self-awareness. But at the same time, that means that any individual volume is missing something important as a standalone narrative. I don’t expect a neat resolution from good stories, but I do expect some sense of an ending or goal—even if it’s never reached.
I really dig what Porcellino has done and continues to do for the comics community. He’s an advocate for upcoming talent, for getting comics into more people’s hands, and for showing people that self-publishing is a sustainable model. I just wish I liked this book more.
Porcellino (or at least his cartoon version of himself) is absolutely and painfully self-conscious, but he is never self-aware. And maybe that’s the point. Maybe that’s why he continues to produce autobiographical work. He’s out to achieve self-awareness. But at the same time, that means that any individual volume is missing something important as a standalone narrative. I don’t expect a neat resolution from good stories, but I do expect some sense of an ending or goal—even if it’s never reached.
I really dig what Porcellino has done and continues to do for the comics community. He’s an advocate for upcoming talent, for getting comics into more people’s hands, and for showing people that self-publishing is a sustainable model. I just wish I liked this book more.
June 3, 2015
Several different pieces about the author's experiences with bodily dysfunction. While totally educational (for someone who hasn't had a lot of medical treatment), the constant physical pain was rather overwhelming (which, don't get me wrong, I totally get was probably how it felt to live these stories).
I found myself reflecting on how Porcellino works at all - I think I would have appreciated a little more context to his life. Was he ill from childhood? Or was all of this sudden? I feel like the experience would feel different depending on your personal norm.
His line drawings feel very much like something straight from the brain onto the page, like they could come from a sketchbook.
I wonder if my experience of this would be different if I'd read something else that he'd written. I feel like there's an assumption that one is familiar with his work.
I think my favorite part was the selection of Anxiety Comics at the end, where he shows what it's like to live with anxiety problems from the inside.
I found myself reflecting on how Porcellino works at all - I think I would have appreciated a little more context to his life. Was he ill from childhood? Or was all of this sudden? I feel like the experience would feel different depending on your personal norm.
His line drawings feel very much like something straight from the brain onto the page, like they could come from a sketchbook.
I wonder if my experience of this would be different if I'd read something else that he'd written. I feel like there's an assumption that one is familiar with his work.
I think my favorite part was the selection of Anxiety Comics at the end, where he shows what it's like to live with anxiety problems from the inside.
February 7, 2015
A powerful reminder why John P. is a comics master.
July 25, 2016
A series of three stories that, together, produce a moving glimpse into the multiple health issues facing John Porcellino from several years back.
February 23, 2018
Une bande dessinée magnifique qui explore avec vérité et profondeur les obsessions humaines.
Un puissant exercice autobiographique.
(lu en français sous le titre "Chroniques cliniques".
Un puissant exercice autobiographique.
(lu en français sous le titre "Chroniques cliniques".
December 18, 2019
He is very open about his physical and mental problems. Inspiring.
October 7, 2025
Not my type of graphic novel, but it was good and sweet. Happy for him.
June 4, 2017
This reminded me in a way of Stitches, but only in that both are graphic memoirs about physical ailments that I have great reservations about. I disliked Stitches more than I disliked this, but I definitely had some issues with The Hospital Suite, even though my final thoughts are mixed.
The art was awful. I don't usually say that about graphic novels, because I can usually see how other people would be into it, but this was so sloppy and basic. It almost, in a way, reminded me of the art in It's Such a Beautiful Day in how simple it was, but the film was much more profound than this book was.
I feel like the sections could have been ordered better: it jumps from his time in the hospital to his mental illness (out of chronological order), then jumps to his anti-meds period. And while I greatly related to his sections on mental illness (depression, anxiety, OCD, etc.), even to the point that some of the compulsions that he was running through were things that I do in my daily life, I thought he was insufferable.
And from someone who relates to him, I get it. I get why people do certain things, and how it feels like mental illness is out of your control, and that mental illness is running the person, rather than being a person with mental illness. That said, I empathized more with his girlfriend (who was barely developed) when she reacted to the changes in him. I wish I sympathized with him, but I don't. I don't feel for all of the time he spent trying to "authentically" fix himself. I might have sympathized with the time he spent in the hospital, but by the end of the book, I wasn't thinking about that. The lack of cohesion throughout the memoir meant that while I thought the beginning was alright, it wasn't that relevant at the end.
When I finished the book, I was leaning towards 3 stars, because I was like, "hey, I get it, I've been there." After thinking about it, I was more angry about this than I originally thought - what relatability I enjoyed in my read was lost in the way Porcellino wrote his story and the attitude that he held towards the possible solutions in his life. Others might enjoy this more than I did, but I genuinely hope the author's writing is stronger in his comics than in his own life story.
The art was awful. I don't usually say that about graphic novels, because I can usually see how other people would be into it, but this was so sloppy and basic. It almost, in a way, reminded me of the art in It's Such a Beautiful Day in how simple it was, but the film was much more profound than this book was.
I feel like the sections could have been ordered better: it jumps from his time in the hospital to his mental illness (out of chronological order), then jumps to his anti-meds period. And while I greatly related to his sections on mental illness (depression, anxiety, OCD, etc.), even to the point that some of the compulsions that he was running through were things that I do in my daily life, I thought he was insufferable.
And from someone who relates to him, I get it. I get why people do certain things, and how it feels like mental illness is out of your control, and that mental illness is running the person, rather than being a person with mental illness. That said, I empathized more with his girlfriend (who was barely developed) when she reacted to the changes in him. I wish I sympathized with him, but I don't. I don't feel for all of the time he spent trying to "authentically" fix himself. I might have sympathized with the time he spent in the hospital, but by the end of the book, I wasn't thinking about that. The lack of cohesion throughout the memoir meant that while I thought the beginning was alright, it wasn't that relevant at the end.
When I finished the book, I was leaning towards 3 stars, because I was like, "hey, I get it, I've been there." After thinking about it, I was more angry about this than I originally thought - what relatability I enjoyed in my read was lost in the way Porcellino wrote his story and the attitude that he held towards the possible solutions in his life. Others might enjoy this more than I did, but I genuinely hope the author's writing is stronger in his comics than in his own life story.
January 15, 2024
this is an odd book and a quick read.
parts of it (the health issues, hospitalization/hospital experiences) were fascinating and relatable; other parts were a little hokey for my liking (tipping into religion (catholocism and zen buddhism) and alternative alternative medicine, pretty extra alternative). to each their own, and if things porcellino tried helped well... bless his heart.
the book isn't just about the author's failing body and struggling mind, but also the ways in which he felt his life was also failing - his relationships, his lack of socialization (*very* pre-pandemic), employment as a comic artist and health food store employee, etc.
one of the struggles for me with this book - as a person with chronic illness and just an all around messed up body - happened with porcellino who, desperate for relief and answers turns to quackery and away from science. i have first-hand experience with 'hurry up and wait', sitting in limbo waiting for answers, or surgery, or results, or to be told we just aren't sure. being on the healthcare conveyor belt is exhausting, resilience is challenged, and strength eventually becomes next to non-existent. so i understand desperation, especially when one feels so monumentally shitty and deeply in pain 100% of the time, with no relief in sight. i struggle with the thought of someone else in dire circumstances taking a page from porcellino's book and doing their own research into alternative therapies and practitioners then choosing that over science and medicine.
i really don't want to crap on the guy for trying to get well - he did what he needed to do. but it's not going to be the right path for most.
porcellino has a simplistic illustration style, and he is a wordy illustrator. (if that makes any sense? he's a chatty cathy as my grandma would say.) so... i dunno. i appreciated the work, and using this illustrated memoir style to tell a sicklit story, but I didn't love it.
parts of it (the health issues, hospitalization/hospital experiences) were fascinating and relatable; other parts were a little hokey for my liking (tipping into religion (catholocism and zen buddhism) and alternative alternative medicine, pretty extra alternative). to each their own, and if things porcellino tried helped well... bless his heart.
the book isn't just about the author's failing body and struggling mind, but also the ways in which he felt his life was also failing - his relationships, his lack of socialization (*very* pre-pandemic), employment as a comic artist and health food store employee, etc.
one of the struggles for me with this book - as a person with chronic illness and just an all around messed up body - happened with porcellino who, desperate for relief and answers turns to quackery and away from science. i have first-hand experience with 'hurry up and wait', sitting in limbo waiting for answers, or surgery, or results, or to be told we just aren't sure. being on the healthcare conveyor belt is exhausting, resilience is challenged, and strength eventually becomes next to non-existent. so i understand desperation, especially when one feels so monumentally shitty and deeply in pain 100% of the time, with no relief in sight. i struggle with the thought of someone else in dire circumstances taking a page from porcellino's book and doing their own research into alternative therapies and practitioners then choosing that over science and medicine.
i really don't want to crap on the guy for trying to get well - he did what he needed to do. but it's not going to be the right path for most.
porcellino has a simplistic illustration style, and he is a wordy illustrator. (if that makes any sense? he's a chatty cathy as my grandma would say.) so... i dunno. i appreciated the work, and using this illustrated memoir style to tell a sicklit story, but I didn't love it.
Read
December 15, 2014I've decided to try a new thing here on Goodreads. Basically, unless I think something is a 5 or a 1, I won't be giving it a star rating.
There are a couple reasons, and I'll list them here in the interest of full disclosure:
First and foremost, I'll be putting in a proposal to Boss Fight Books, and I'm hoping to interview the publisher for LitReactor. And while I still want to talk about some of the contents, I'm not going to tear apart a book from a publisher I'm going to try and work for/with. I guess you could view this as the death of my honesty, but I don't see it that way at all. I think this is me being honest about how it's impossible for me to be objective in this situation, and I'm proud to be able to tell you and be upfront about it. My objectivity is pretty questionable when I'm reviewing a small press I want to work for, and I think I'll better serve everyone by being honest about it.
Second, for me personally, I think the star system doesn't really work. I can only tell you what I thought of something, but I think I'd rather use my words in the space provided than just click a star. It's just too easy to make a snap judgment and give something a two-star rating, when really it might deserve more. And while that doesn't matter much to me, it probably really sucks for the author.
Now, all that said, I'm still going to 5-star and 1-star stuff. The reason being, 5-star books deserve 5-star attention. If I give something 5 stars, it's because I think it's truly great. And I'm not too generous with those. I've got 87 5-star ratings on here, which amounts to 8% of the books I've starred.
Also, 1-star reviews will still be happening. Because I believe in that too.
So cheers to a new system, and we'll see how it goes.
There are a couple reasons, and I'll list them here in the interest of full disclosure:
First and foremost, I'll be putting in a proposal to Boss Fight Books, and I'm hoping to interview the publisher for LitReactor. And while I still want to talk about some of the contents, I'm not going to tear apart a book from a publisher I'm going to try and work for/with. I guess you could view this as the death of my honesty, but I don't see it that way at all. I think this is me being honest about how it's impossible for me to be objective in this situation, and I'm proud to be able to tell you and be upfront about it. My objectivity is pretty questionable when I'm reviewing a small press I want to work for, and I think I'll better serve everyone by being honest about it.
Second, for me personally, I think the star system doesn't really work. I can only tell you what I thought of something, but I think I'd rather use my words in the space provided than just click a star. It's just too easy to make a snap judgment and give something a two-star rating, when really it might deserve more. And while that doesn't matter much to me, it probably really sucks for the author.
Now, all that said, I'm still going to 5-star and 1-star stuff. The reason being, 5-star books deserve 5-star attention. If I give something 5 stars, it's because I think it's truly great. And I'm not too generous with those. I've got 87 5-star ratings on here, which amounts to 8% of the books I've starred.
Also, 1-star reviews will still be happening. Because I believe in that too.
So cheers to a new system, and we'll see how it goes.
May 11, 2015
Let's just get this out of the way: "The Hospital Suite" is a comics masterpiece, destined to join the pantheon of Greatest Ever graphic novels alongside "Blankets" and "Maus" and "Bone." After nearly thirty years of creating comics, John Porcellino has crafted his best work yet. It's funny, heartbreaking, honest, and, ultimately, uplifting.
"The Hospital Suite" is a series of three loosely connected stories chronicling Porcellino's long struggle with complex health issues, both physical (hypersensitive hearing, an intestinal tumor) and mental (severe depression, advanced OCD). It's a harrowing account but what struck me most about the book was how, in the face of extreme pain, uncertainty, and even death, Porcellino handles it all with enviable grace; as his health and relationships collapse, he radiates a calm acceptance that was incredibly moving. I'd like to think that under similar circumstances I'd have the same serene disposition but, honestly, I doubt I could rise to his level. This is also the best drawing Porcellino has ever done; decades of honing his minimalist style in "King-Cat Comics" has given his panels an effortless-looking simplicity and a gentle flow. I can't say enough good things about this book.
"The Hospital Suite" is a tremendous achievement, turning pain into a truly remarkable piece of art. The literary world (not just the medium of comics) needs more voices like Porcellino's: raw, eloquent, and hopeful. Some people believe that suffering reveals a person's true nature and, if that's true, Porcellino is a unique and beautiful soul, guiding others towards peace with his incredible comics.
"The Hospital Suite" is a series of three loosely connected stories chronicling Porcellino's long struggle with complex health issues, both physical (hypersensitive hearing, an intestinal tumor) and mental (severe depression, advanced OCD). It's a harrowing account but what struck me most about the book was how, in the face of extreme pain, uncertainty, and even death, Porcellino handles it all with enviable grace; as his health and relationships collapse, he radiates a calm acceptance that was incredibly moving. I'd like to think that under similar circumstances I'd have the same serene disposition but, honestly, I doubt I could rise to his level. This is also the best drawing Porcellino has ever done; decades of honing his minimalist style in "King-Cat Comics" has given his panels an effortless-looking simplicity and a gentle flow. I can't say enough good things about this book.
"The Hospital Suite" is a tremendous achievement, turning pain into a truly remarkable piece of art. The literary world (not just the medium of comics) needs more voices like Porcellino's: raw, eloquent, and hopeful. Some people believe that suffering reveals a person's true nature and, if that's true, Porcellino is a unique and beautiful soul, guiding others towards peace with his incredible comics.
August 3, 2015
Hosptial Suite, John Porcellino's collection of autobiographic comics dealing with his health, is what Sylvia Plath and Vincent Van Gogh's child might have drawn had he grown up in the mid-20th Century Illinois and listened to punk.
Deeply personal, I now feel like I know Porcellino like I now my closest friends and family. Actually, I got to meet Porcellino at last year's CAKE festival when he did a reading at Quimby's Book Store. I had poked through Hosptial Suite, but hadn't given it close attention. When I finished, I remember having shook his hand, which, having read the book more thoroughly now, I realize was a really big accomplishment for him and rather poignant considering the last page of the book.
Actually, I interviewed Porcellino regarding his feelings on punk and comics before reading this and I never would have imagined his autobiographic work would go into such detail about the difficult struggles he has faced with crippling OCD, anxiety and depression. He was remarkably affable, at least in email form. Maybe that is a testament to his control over his disorders.
Regardless, the book is amazing. The minimalist art is stark and lends to the feelings of isolation and loneliness. Procellino's text is crisp and straightforward, like a Hemingway novel. Allie Brosh has gotten a lot of well-deserved attention for Hyberbole and a Half, her own exploration of some difficult moments in her life, and Porcellino's work would sit nicely on the shelf nearby.
Deeply personal, I now feel like I know Porcellino like I now my closest friends and family. Actually, I got to meet Porcellino at last year's CAKE festival when he did a reading at Quimby's Book Store. I had poked through Hosptial Suite, but hadn't given it close attention. When I finished, I remember having shook his hand, which, having read the book more thoroughly now, I realize was a really big accomplishment for him and rather poignant considering the last page of the book.
Actually, I interviewed Porcellino regarding his feelings on punk and comics before reading this and I never would have imagined his autobiographic work would go into such detail about the difficult struggles he has faced with crippling OCD, anxiety and depression. He was remarkably affable, at least in email form. Maybe that is a testament to his control over his disorders.
Regardless, the book is amazing. The minimalist art is stark and lends to the feelings of isolation and loneliness. Procellino's text is crisp and straightforward, like a Hemingway novel. Allie Brosh has gotten a lot of well-deserved attention for Hyberbole and a Half, her own exploration of some difficult moments in her life, and Porcellino's work would sit nicely on the shelf nearby.
November 15, 2015
I read this in one day. Loved it.
This is a graphic memoir focusing on the author's experiences with illnesses. He has mysterious and severe gut pain, which turns out to be a tumor (non cancerous) requiring surgery. He loses a lot of weight and has trouble gaining it back. Eventually, though natural and alternative medicine, he starts to feel better physically, but then his old problems with anxiety and OCD act up, causing problems with his marriage. There are some intense descriptions in here including self-harm, thoughts of suicide, OCD symptoms, and food issues, which some readers will no doubt want to avoid or approach with caution.
I loved the no-nonsense honesty of this book. Porcellino doesn't have a lot of regard for his doctors, who misdiagnose him and don't show him much compassion. He furthers his studies with Buddhism and finds comfort in koans. Especially stark for me were panels depicting experiences of pain and mental illness, successfully using simple line drawings to show tension and pain.
What I continually admire from graphic memoirists is their ability to be so forthright about their experiences. Body, mind, soul, relationships are laid out on the page for all to see. I wonder if the simple cartoon format works as a distancing mechanism for the author.
Highly recommended.
This is a graphic memoir focusing on the author's experiences with illnesses. He has mysterious and severe gut pain, which turns out to be a tumor (non cancerous) requiring surgery. He loses a lot of weight and has trouble gaining it back. Eventually, though natural and alternative medicine, he starts to feel better physically, but then his old problems with anxiety and OCD act up, causing problems with his marriage. There are some intense descriptions in here including self-harm, thoughts of suicide, OCD symptoms, and food issues, which some readers will no doubt want to avoid or approach with caution.
I loved the no-nonsense honesty of this book. Porcellino doesn't have a lot of regard for his doctors, who misdiagnose him and don't show him much compassion. He furthers his studies with Buddhism and finds comfort in koans. Especially stark for me were panels depicting experiences of pain and mental illness, successfully using simple line drawings to show tension and pain.
What I continually admire from graphic memoirists is their ability to be so forthright about their experiences. Body, mind, soul, relationships are laid out on the page for all to see. I wonder if the simple cartoon format works as a distancing mechanism for the author.
Highly recommended.
December 30, 2017
FINALLY. A book (memoir or otherwise) which deals with mental illness in a way that I can understand and relate to - from beginning to end. Porcellino's graphic autobiography intrigued me when I heard about it because a) I've always been afraid of hospitals and could understand his anxiety and b) I suffered from some severe OCD tendencies and anxieties myself through much of my adolescence and into high school. This memoir was honest, open, and unapologetic. Porcellino described his experiences matter-of-factly and didn't apologize for not being OK at the end of it all. I think that's the thing that irks me most about mental illness these days. Too many people present this illusion that you can "get over it" entirely, when that's not the case. Sure, you might not need counselling every week your whole life, but chances are you're going to need a hand every once in a while. Too many people seem to think that if you still need that support after your "crisis" is over you're weak somehow, or never really got help, or something else stupid like that. As a someone thriving with depression and anxiety, I loved Porcellino's approach to his disease. He wasn't always the victim and didn't claim to be hard done by. Instead, he was self aware and tried as best he could to seek help and love himself, and I think that's incredible.
January 19, 2015
Oh JP. You're the man. In this volume, Porcellino gets a bit deeper into the stories behind his stories, his mystery and misery in physical illness and in OCD. He's so good at expressing his fragility without ....being angsty about it? No, he's still angsty, but it feels like he's holding back and baring his soul at once, and for me there's a glorious tension about it. And the way he draws! So light and (deliberately?)amateurish, but at the same time, so clean and such a sense of how he's using all the empty space to make things feel a certain way -- it feels so subconscious, so natural, but also... I guess I just feel like he's a glorious paradox and this is a great example of that. I hope someday he'll pour his whole soul out into one book, but if this is as close as we ever get, that's ok. Also, there are some sweet cats in this one. :)
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October 8, 2014John Porcellino is one of my few real heroes. His self-published King-Cat Comix have been a part of my life for about twenty years, and I never cease to marvel at the way John P. can create a story, a mood, a work of art with such economy.
Usually, John P. focuses on how small details can open up into larger meditations on life. His work is auto-biographical, but he doesn't make a spectacle of himself. Longtime fans knew that he had health problems and a divorce in the late 1990s, but he hadn't written about them until now.
This new book has most of the familiar hallmarks of King-Cat--the pets, the humor, the self-consciousness--but in the service of a more high-stakes story, a series of serious health problems that land John in the hospital and send him from one doctor to another in a search for some of the root causes of his illness.
Usually, John P. focuses on how small details can open up into larger meditations on life. His work is auto-biographical, but he doesn't make a spectacle of himself. Longtime fans knew that he had health problems and a divorce in the late 1990s, but he hadn't written about them until now.
This new book has most of the familiar hallmarks of King-Cat--the pets, the humor, the self-consciousness--but in the service of a more high-stakes story, a series of serious health problems that land John in the hospital and send him from one doctor to another in a search for some of the root causes of his illness.
December 21, 2014
Porcellino depicts a period of turmoil in his life. In the first piece he's sick, the doctors can't figure out what's wrong, and he ends up having surgery. As he recovers and moves from Denver to Chicago, his marriage falls apart. In the last piece, he dives into his mental health problems - generalized anxiety, depression, and obsessive compulsive tendencies. This latter piece is the strongest. Porcellino does a great job of relaying his experiences as a person with a mental illness. He describes the frustration of knowing he's not well, the inability to stop his compulsive behavior, and his repeated searches to get better through a variety of means - dietary, naturopathic, talk therapy, exposure response prevention therapy, and medication. The artwork is simple and the storytelling is straightforward. Overall, a compelling memoir. 3.5 out 5
January 27, 2015
I'm a big fan of Porcellino's minimalism and his lyrical takes on nature and being. This volume has less of the emphasis on nature and more of a focus on his health issues, including several discussions of his OCD and anxiety. My wife compared it to Ellen Forney's Marbles: Mania, Depression, Michelangelo and Me, but where Forney attempts to put her bipolar issues into the wider context of creativity, Porcellino makes his journey almost entirely internal. It's a sometime frightening trip (with many attempts at different cures), but still with the lightness of tone that Porcellino excels at.
November 12, 2017
First of i want to say I don't agree with everything in this book, however I don't have to cause this is a story about someone's life-journey and therefore not about agreement but sharing insight to his life and how he went through the event of becoming sick, needing emergency surgery and how illness affected him.
It really shows throughout the books the ups and downs with diagnosis, misdiagnosis and how disease and illness can affect relationships around you.
his meeting with the dreaded "Void" breakups and heartache, anxiety and treatment it all felt relatable and very raw.
The art is in black and white very simplistic as if it meant to not create a distraction from the story it self.
I was debating if it was a 3,5 or a 4 but settled on a 4 as it did affect me.
It really shows throughout the books the ups and downs with diagnosis, misdiagnosis and how disease and illness can affect relationships around you.
his meeting with the dreaded "Void" breakups and heartache, anxiety and treatment it all felt relatable and very raw.
The art is in black and white very simplistic as if it meant to not create a distraction from the story it self.
I was debating if it was a 3,5 or a 4 but settled on a 4 as it did affect me.
November 19, 2016
This is really something. Porcellino's deceptively simple drawings belie a deep mind at work here, as he takes the reader through a several-year-odyssey of ill-health, both mental and physical. While I hate to use this word for its Hallmark-ian implications, his tale is ultimately an inspirational one, as his commitment to his craft combined with a religious faith that can best be described as fear of the Old Testament God combined with a Buddhist outlook anchored in meditation pulls him through some truly Job-like suffering. Another reminder that, whether you prefer "comic" or "graphic novel," great literature is ultimately what we are working with here.
May 22, 2015
Simple, elegant line drawing expressed the pain the author felt in this medical memoir. I know that personal medical issues do not always have a happy ending, but I felt the story was unsatisfying. The author turned to Western medicine only when he was desperate, and frequently undid the gains by ending treatment early and trying to get new diagnoses from natural health practitioners. I have not walked in his shoes and I'm sure he knew what made him feel best for symptom management. But I found it a hard read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 7, 2017
Damn, OCD is a bitch. I never understood just how bad it was. I know depression. We've been introduced, thank you very much. But, OCD...I thought it was just a lot of hand-washing. It's so much more. John Porcellino somehow made me experience OCD through simple line drawings. John's been through hell and lived to tell the tale. He's had more than just OCD. He's had severe, unexplained medical issues, a hearing issue (normal sounds are too loud), depression, you name it. And he keeps drawing through it all. Amazing.
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