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Not Funny Ha-Ha: A Handbook for Something Hard
Not Funny Ha-Ha is a bold, slightly wry graphic novel illustrating the lives of two young women from different cultural, family, and financial backgrounds who go through two different abortions (medical and surgical). It follows them through the process of choosing a clinic, reaching out to friends, partners, and/or family, and eventually the procedure(s) itself. It simply shows what happens when a woman goes through it, no questions asked. Despite the fact that so many women and girls have abortions every day, in every city, all around us, it can be a lonely experience. Not Funny Ha-Ha is a little bit technical, a little bit moving, and often funny, in a format uniquely suited to communicate. The book is meant to be a non-judgmental, comforting, even humorous look at what a woman can go through during an abortion. Although the subject matter is heavy, the illustrations are light. The author takes a step back from putting forth any personal opinion whatsoever, simply laying out the events and possible emotional repercussions that could, and often do occur.
148 pages, Hardcover
First published June 1, 2015
10 people are currently reading
1700 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 217 reviews
July 6, 2022
A book with a terrible, completely uninformative title about abortion, which is on other hand usefully technical, and very helpful about the procedural and emotional issues one might face. Another strength of the book is that the author tells the stories of two women who have somewhat different experiences with it, though both were ultimately positive. It's generally an informational text, though, straightforward, useful. The art is just mainly illustrative, though visually pleasing. The book jacket claims it's sometimes light and often funny, which I didn't find to be true, but this is an important book to have, especially now as a majority of Americans support access to legal abortions.
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December 1, 2016The yellow spine and title drew me in as I crawled through the graphic novel section of my library. Then the inside? It’s a guide for going through an abortion. Not in a gross way, not in a political way, not in a harmful way. It’s purely informational, with drawings of two women going through the process (making decision, following through, aftermath). Basically, it’s this: “You ended up in this situation. It’s a hard decision to make, but here are your options. Here’s what to expect, but OH MY GOD WE ARE NOT DOCTORS. Ask your doctor. Best wishes.” Before reading this, there were a lot of questions about abortion I wouldn’t have ever known to ask. So. Recommended reading for all Pro-Choice humans? All in favor, say aye.
— Ashley Holstrom
from The Best Books We Read In October 2016: http://bookriot.com/2016/10/31/riot-r...
— Ashley Holstrom
from The Best Books We Read In October 2016: http://bookriot.com/2016/10/31/riot-r...
August 1, 2015
An honest, unbiased, and shame-free look at the experiences of women who choose to have abortions. As a sex educator, I was so pleased to see information about both medication and surgical abortions provided in an accurate yet accessible way. Thank you, Leah Hayes, for writing and illustrating such an important book!
June 6, 2021
Somehow despite the subtitle and the depiction of a row of serious and anxious women on the cover, I got it in my head that this is was a humor collection of single-page cartoons. You could hear the gears grinding in my head as I shifted directly from second to reverse to accept that it was instead an educational tract about what women should expect if they choose to undergo a medical or surgical abortion due to an unintended pregnancy.
I'm not usually a fan of text heavy graphic novels with uneven hand lettering, but somehow it worked here, drawing me into the emotion and urgency of undergoing a mentally and physically difficult process. Hayes leavens the scary and depressing bits with compassion, simple advice, and a lack of judgement.
It wasn't what I expected, but I was impressed with what I got instead.
I'm not usually a fan of text heavy graphic novels with uneven hand lettering, but somehow it worked here, drawing me into the emotion and urgency of undergoing a mentally and physically difficult process. Hayes leavens the scary and depressing bits with compassion, simple advice, and a lack of judgement.
It wasn't what I expected, but I was impressed with what I got instead.
December 8, 2015
This book is a really good start for talking about abortion in an honest and basic way. It goes through the basics of what a medical and surgical abortion entails, what to expect, what you may be feeling, etc. It skips over all the reasons that one might have to have an abortion, saying that no matter what they are, they are valid.
They did touch on the fact that not everyone has a supportive family, but I felt they should have gone into that a little bit further. The one character in the book who didn't want to tell her family had a very supportive friend, but not everyone has that either. Also, both of the women followed in the book had jobs that they could take days off with no repercussions - it wasn't mentioned at all, but they both were able to stay home and recuperate with no apparent worries about work or other responsibilities. They were both also able to easily find a clinic near them that would provide abortions, and they weren't fake clinics that would try to guilt them into not having abortions, and there weren't any picketers outside with pictures of fetuses on their signs yelling mean things. I know this book was meant to be a specific look at how abortions are carried out and the issues surrounding that, but I still felt that some things shouldn't have been left out. This book could be a great comfort for people who have decided to have an abortion, but for those who can't afford to take time off work there's no mention of how it might look to cope with the bleeding/cramping etc. at work - just one example of a situation that I feel should have been within the scope of this book. I also think it's worth mentioning that sometimes men and genderqueer people choose to have abortions as well.
Hopefully this will just be one book of many that take a compassionate look at the realities of abortion after someone has made the decision to do it, because I think this book would be very helpful to me if I ever made that choice.
They did touch on the fact that not everyone has a supportive family, but I felt they should have gone into that a little bit further. The one character in the book who didn't want to tell her family had a very supportive friend, but not everyone has that either. Also, both of the women followed in the book had jobs that they could take days off with no repercussions - it wasn't mentioned at all, but they both were able to stay home and recuperate with no apparent worries about work or other responsibilities. They were both also able to easily find a clinic near them that would provide abortions, and they weren't fake clinics that would try to guilt them into not having abortions, and there weren't any picketers outside with pictures of fetuses on their signs yelling mean things. I know this book was meant to be a specific look at how abortions are carried out and the issues surrounding that, but I still felt that some things shouldn't have been left out. This book could be a great comfort for people who have decided to have an abortion, but for those who can't afford to take time off work there's no mention of how it might look to cope with the bleeding/cramping etc. at work - just one example of a situation that I feel should have been within the scope of this book. I also think it's worth mentioning that sometimes men and genderqueer people choose to have abortions as well.
Hopefully this will just be one book of many that take a compassionate look at the realities of abortion after someone has made the decision to do it, because I think this book would be very helpful to me if I ever made that choice.
October 4, 2017
I really love the deliberate approach given to the creation of this book.
The subtlety of the cover. The candid voice of the text. The artfulness of the illustrations. The clarity of the layouts. It's approachable. And engaging. And sincere.
This is a book written to demystify the process of getting an abortion. She walks us through two difference scenarios (one at a clinic, one at home), with two different women.
As someone who has never had this experience, and has personally changed my opinion about the practice, everything rang true.
This seems ideal for any high school or middle school library or counseling office. Every Planned Parenthood and women's health clinic. Every academic library with any kind of gender studies or medical program. Every hospital. Every public library, obvs.
I'm so glad it exists.
The subtlety of the cover. The candid voice of the text. The artfulness of the illustrations. The clarity of the layouts. It's approachable. And engaging. And sincere.
This is a book written to demystify the process of getting an abortion. She walks us through two difference scenarios (one at a clinic, one at home), with two different women.
As someone who has never had this experience, and has personally changed my opinion about the practice, everything rang true.
This seems ideal for any high school or middle school library or counseling office. Every Planned Parenthood and women's health clinic. Every academic library with any kind of gender studies or medical program. Every hospital. Every public library, obvs.
I'm so glad it exists.
February 15, 2020
Straightforward and honest. It’s significant that this book exists as part of an open dialogue about an experience that touches more people than we imagine.
September 14, 2016
I appreciate the presence of this book, and that the cover is created in a way that allows people to read it in public and carry it around, even potentially order it online or buy it at a store in the presence of friends, family members etc. without being approached, attacked or shamed. While it is a very strange title, it is also a brilliant one in terms of its protective abilities. "A handbook for something hard." Wow. I am in awe.
The author offers a vision of abortion as something challenging emotionally and physically, but also accessible and manageable. She chooses to represents two people getting abortions as deeply worthy of love and support. A lot of reviewers appreciate the honesty, 'matter-of-factness', and shame-free quality of the book. I do too!
Some complain because it doesn't cover a broader range of experiences or go into detail about potential logistical challenges and dangers (from anti-abortion terrorists, i.e.) but I must say, that shit gets enough media attention and sometimes it is nice to have a book which shows that people's experiences can be okay.
It's been a while since I read this book. I meant to review it a while back and didn't. So, hope I'm remembering it well-enough and very glad it exists.
The author offers a vision of abortion as something challenging emotionally and physically, but also accessible and manageable. She chooses to represents two people getting abortions as deeply worthy of love and support. A lot of reviewers appreciate the honesty, 'matter-of-factness', and shame-free quality of the book. I do too!
Some complain because it doesn't cover a broader range of experiences or go into detail about potential logistical challenges and dangers (from anti-abortion terrorists, i.e.) but I must say, that shit gets enough media attention and sometimes it is nice to have a book which shows that people's experiences can be okay.
It's been a while since I read this book. I meant to review it a while back and didn't. So, hope I'm remembering it well-enough and very glad it exists.
October 6, 2022
Wow! A delicate subject handled with grace and warmth and respect. I heartily agree with Ellen Forney's quote on the back cover likening the book to a conversation with a cool older sister who sits down with you and tells you what's what. So this book deals with abortion. It doesn't address the controversy over when life begins or any of that. That's not what it's for. However, if you've already made the decision to have an abortion, or are even just curious, this book tells you what to expect regarding the actual procedure. It's full of useful advice--how soon do you need to schedule it, for instance--and what exactly happens, depending on whether you go the surgical or medical route--there are ups and downs to both. The book recognizes that it's a touchy subject, and tries to answer any questions you may be too scared or ashamed to ask. Obviously, being male, the question of having an abortion is never going to arise for me, but I still found this book enthralling, warm, and honest. Excellent stuff!
August 3, 2015
I read this book while listening to the Senate debate defunding Planned Parenthood today. It was, well, not "perfect" but the right way to read the book. Hayes' "Not Funny Ha-Ha" is a very simple introduction to medical and surgical abortion that assumes that the decision is personal but, ultimately, one that women make on their own. I appreciated the author's note in the back of the book because she points out that the political debate tends to frame the issue as "what choice will you make?" and then zooms right to the "aftermath" of that decision. "Not Funny Ha-Ha" focuses on what actually happens-- calling clinics, paperwork, confusion and relief.
It's an important book but it is not political. Hayes does not discuss funding, insurance, or Medicare. She does not suggest that access often depends on financial status or that, in some states, patients must look at ultrasounds. This book really is a "best case" scenario for an abortion patient. That isn't a bad thing, but a lot of women encounter many more roadblocks than just what they feel about the procedure. It also means that the book falls short of its promise. This isn't really a guide to something difficult because it avoids the real difficulties of obtaining an abortion if you're in a rural area, are a poor woman, or live in a state with substantial barriers to access.
The drawings are beautiful and the text is easy to read and approachable. This is a good, basic introduction to abortion in the United States. Still, I don't know that I'd recommend it as an advocacy or consciousness-raising tool. It's more of a book for women who might know a bit about abortion but who need clarification on basic terms and processes.
It's an important book but it is not political. Hayes does not discuss funding, insurance, or Medicare. She does not suggest that access often depends on financial status or that, in some states, patients must look at ultrasounds. This book really is a "best case" scenario for an abortion patient. That isn't a bad thing, but a lot of women encounter many more roadblocks than just what they feel about the procedure. It also means that the book falls short of its promise. This isn't really a guide to something difficult because it avoids the real difficulties of obtaining an abortion if you're in a rural area, are a poor woman, or live in a state with substantial barriers to access.
The drawings are beautiful and the text is easy to read and approachable. This is a good, basic introduction to abortion in the United States. Still, I don't know that I'd recommend it as an advocacy or consciousness-raising tool. It's more of a book for women who might know a bit about abortion but who need clarification on basic terms and processes.
December 2, 2015
The subject of abortions, and how to access them, and how they actually work is a very important one. Kudos to this book for tackling that subject, but I feel like the narrative aspect of this story couldn't easily transition from telling the story of the 2 women profiled, and giving facts about the 2 different types of abortions used. Essentially, both women were in the same situation, and they had the same supportive friends and/or relatives, and the only difference was the actual procedure they chose. This book sticks pretty strictly to the where and how of abortion, and doesn't delve into the why and what. The subtitle says it is "A Handbook for Something Hard", and that's pretty much exactly what it is: a nicely illustrated list of what to expect from the procedure itself. But if you're looking for a book that tells a more personal story of what abortions mean to the people who have had them, this probably isn't for you.
November 22, 2015
Not going to sugar coat it.
This is a book about abortion.
This is a graphic about the FACTS and nothing but the facts put in an accessible format.
There is no judgement. There is no political agenda. There is no "you should or shouldn't." It is just an explanation of what happens during the process.
Just as the title says, this really is a "handbook for something hard." It lets you know what to expect, what kinds of things you should plan for if you decide to go through with it.
And something worth noting: This book ultimately explains the process by going through the stories of two characters, "Mary and Lisa." Leah Hayes specifically says at one point: "Since this is a book about what it's like to go through an abortion, we won't get into how or why she got pregnant. For all intents and purposes... it doesn't really matter" and adds as a side note from the character Mary, "Yup! And it's NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS." I'm glad that Leah pointed out that this has nothing to do with anything. We shouldn't be judging these characters. They're here to help us understand the facts.
This is a book everyone should read from both sides of the argument, of all races, colors, creed and genders. If nothing else, it'll make abortion less of a surreal concept and something more concrete.
This is a book about abortion.
This is a graphic about the FACTS and nothing but the facts put in an accessible format.
There is no judgement. There is no political agenda. There is no "you should or shouldn't." It is just an explanation of what happens during the process.
Just as the title says, this really is a "handbook for something hard." It lets you know what to expect, what kinds of things you should plan for if you decide to go through with it.
And something worth noting: This book ultimately explains the process by going through the stories of two characters, "Mary and Lisa." Leah Hayes specifically says at one point: "Since this is a book about what it's like to go through an abortion, we won't get into how or why she got pregnant. For all intents and purposes... it doesn't really matter" and adds as a side note from the character Mary, "Yup! And it's NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS." I'm glad that Leah pointed out that this has nothing to do with anything. We shouldn't be judging these characters. They're here to help us understand the facts.
This is a book everyone should read from both sides of the argument, of all races, colors, creed and genders. If nothing else, it'll make abortion less of a surreal concept and something more concrete.
January 16, 2018
The color and style of this book were initially what drew me in. I appreciated the illustrations of the people, and am a sucker for nice lettering. Once I read the back, I was stunned, intrigued, and hopeful for what this was about to share with me about the reality of abortion.
•
Though it is a traditionally taboo topic, I, myself, have reflected on it quite a bit, and appreciate how kind, accepting, factual, empathic, real, and non-shaming this book is. There is an acceptance to the reality that we are all people, and regardless of the circumstance, or the ‘why’ there is a person behind this decision, that also experiences real emotions and feelings about their experiences. I feel grateful to the author for creating this, and making it so digestible and real. I can imagine feeling so scared, alone, and overwhelmed in that situation, and this book normalizes each step of the experience.
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Regardless of your stance, this felt like an important, real, and honest take on the experience of deciding and having an abortion, and feels important to know and understand.
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5/5 ⭐️
•
Though it is a traditionally taboo topic, I, myself, have reflected on it quite a bit, and appreciate how kind, accepting, factual, empathic, real, and non-shaming this book is. There is an acceptance to the reality that we are all people, and regardless of the circumstance, or the ‘why’ there is a person behind this decision, that also experiences real emotions and feelings about their experiences. I feel grateful to the author for creating this, and making it so digestible and real. I can imagine feeling so scared, alone, and overwhelmed in that situation, and this book normalizes each step of the experience.
•
Regardless of your stance, this felt like an important, real, and honest take on the experience of deciding and having an abortion, and feels important to know and understand.
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5/5 ⭐️
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March 13, 2017Here in Brazil, when we talk about the need for abortion to be legal and all, a lot of people come up with these ridiculous arguments about how women (poor women, they mean) would have an abortion every month, thinking that the medical abortion must be like taking some skittles or what. The process is painful, both physically and emotionally. I have never been through an abortion and also never needed it, and none of my closest friends have, so I actually knew next to nothing about the procedures, but oh my, how can people assume that it's an easy once-a-month process? Really? We all need this book. I wish I could show it to every single woman I know. To the men I know I wish they would read it too, but this is also none of their business, and I think men shouldn't be allowed to have a vote on what we do with out bodies. How can a woman go through this out of necessity or any other reasons and be considered a criminal? This is beyond me.
March 19, 2019
Good topic, and the medium of a comic can be very effective to make difficult subjects, such as abortion, more approachable.
This book gives the basic information about two types of abortion, medical and surgical, from the perspective of two women who underwent the treatment. It gives all the ins and outs of the procedures and for that this is a very useful book to read. No matter what your opinion on abortion is, it never hurts to know more about such a controversial subject before you make up your mind. Although this book felt a bit blank or boring maybe, as if the story itself is not given a lot of information. It would work better as an information booklet than a story. And maybe that is exactly what the book tried to be.
This book gives the basic information about two types of abortion, medical and surgical, from the perspective of two women who underwent the treatment. It gives all the ins and outs of the procedures and for that this is a very useful book to read. No matter what your opinion on abortion is, it never hurts to know more about such a controversial subject before you make up your mind. Although this book felt a bit blank or boring maybe, as if the story itself is not given a lot of information. It would work better as an information booklet than a story. And maybe that is exactly what the book tried to be.
September 6, 2015
This book gets five stars because it is good and also important. There are things I wish it had gone more into, like what to do if you live in an area where it's difficult (or impossible) to get an abortion, or what to do if you can't afford one, but it covered the rest of the process pretty admirably. I liked that the idea seemed to be "there are no wrong decisions, here is what will happen if this happens to be yours". It was very gentle in a way that I think would be helpful if I actually were pregnant and not sure what to do.
June 7, 2022
This book is rather offensive... at one point the author spells "gazillion" with two "z's" and one "l." Couldn't believe my eyes.
Also, and I can't believe I'm writing this, but .
Anyways. Ha ha's aside, you can read this in under an hour and damn, you really should read it. One billion percent if you're about to have an abortion, and some percentage less (but not all that much) if you just want to be more informed and get a glimpse of the process. "Something hard"... no kidding.
Also, and I can't believe I'm writing this, but .
Anyways. Ha ha's aside, you can read this in under an hour and damn, you really should read it. One billion percent if you're about to have an abortion, and some percentage less (but not all that much) if you just want to be more informed and get a glimpse of the process. "Something hard"... no kidding.
August 20, 2015
aw. baby girl don't go alone.
Want to read
September 28, 2015Bonus from banned comics Humble Bundle
November 27, 2019
5 FOR INFORMATION 1 FOR ART WORK
It may sound strange and even a little obvious to some, but it has become apparent to me that you do not have to be a good or even decent artist to write your own graphic novel. I have lost count of the ones I’ve read which have poor to below average drawing in them. Something I have never been able to understand is, if you cannot write text legibly then get someone who can, especially if you are calling yourself an artist and publishing a book that you want others to read or buy.
Hayes addresses a serious enough and worthwhile subject in here, and there is a lot of really useful information that could help many people. She handles this sensitive subject with grace, warmth and compassion, but the art work is really not good at all, the lettering is like scrawling on a toilet cubicle. The author clearly had the best of intentions and this really succeeds in delivering hard facts but it really fails in terms of the art work.
June 9, 2016
I saw a review of this several months ago and had been wanting to read it since. I only know one woman who has had an abortion, and we've never really discussed it. I actually don't know a lot about it as a surgical procedure -- only medical -- and that knowledge comes from the documentary Vessel, which I highly recommend to anyone who is reading this review or this book.
It was a really informative book, aimed at women who are pregnant and having an abortion but don't know much about the procedure(s). I learned a lot from the book, which also does very well at reassuring its reader that the decision is *hers* alone. It suggests telling a trusted person what she is going through in order to have help and support, and encourages the reader to ask questions of their doctor rather than rely on the book or the Internet as a source of information. This seemed a little tedious to me as I was reading, but were I actually in a situation where I was about to have an abortion, the repeated, friendly reminders would probably be rather welcome.
I wished there had been a few more illustrations - there's a lot of written information - and that the tone was a little more upbeat in places. Both women look pretty somber throughout the book, and while I realize that there are heavy emotional components to this decision, I wished that at least one of them was given a story where she felt like she was making the right decision without being *too* tormented by it. Really, though, that's my only complaint.
It was a really informative book, aimed at women who are pregnant and having an abortion but don't know much about the procedure(s). I learned a lot from the book, which also does very well at reassuring its reader that the decision is *hers* alone. It suggests telling a trusted person what she is going through in order to have help and support, and encourages the reader to ask questions of their doctor rather than rely on the book or the Internet as a source of information. This seemed a little tedious to me as I was reading, but were I actually in a situation where I was about to have an abortion, the repeated, friendly reminders would probably be rather welcome.
I wished there had been a few more illustrations - there's a lot of written information - and that the tone was a little more upbeat in places. Both women look pretty somber throughout the book, and while I realize that there are heavy emotional components to this decision, I wished that at least one of them was given a story where she felt like she was making the right decision without being *too* tormented by it. Really, though, that's my only complaint.
December 8, 2015
A better title would be "What to Expect When You Abort." With some preamble, mostly trying to remove a book about abortion from the realm of the political, it jumps right into the ways a medical (i.e. take pills) and surgical (go to a clinic) abortion works: what you're likely to have to do in terms of bureaucracy, what you may experience physically, how you initiate and bring closure to the physical process. It also touches on the emotional experience.
The best audience for the book -- and the one the author envisions -- is the woman who has just decided to get a first-trimester abortion. Unfortunately, that woman is not likely to go to her library or Amazon.com looking for books. And even if she did, she could well be done with the abortion by the time the book arrived in the mail or, in my case, from the library recall.
So the big question this raised for me is, where would you put this book so it gets to its intended audience? Answer: the Internet. Then SEO the heck out of that page so it shows up on page 1 when someone types "abortion" into Google. Oh -- and make it free.
Squabbles: 1) Both women in the book look white. I think one may be intended to be "of color," but it's hard to tell. 2) Both women in the book are women. They're in their 20s. Don't call them "girls."
The best audience for the book -- and the one the author envisions -- is the woman who has just decided to get a first-trimester abortion. Unfortunately, that woman is not likely to go to her library or Amazon.com looking for books. And even if she did, she could well be done with the abortion by the time the book arrived in the mail or, in my case, from the library recall.
So the big question this raised for me is, where would you put this book so it gets to its intended audience? Answer: the Internet. Then SEO the heck out of that page so it shows up on page 1 when someone types "abortion" into Google. Oh -- and make it free.
Squabbles: 1) Both women in the book look white. I think one may be intended to be "of color," but it's hard to tell. 2) Both women in the book are women. They're in their 20s. Don't call them "girls."
March 26, 2021
In 2021 I am trying to read more graphic novels. I picked up a copy of this while browsing the GN section at my local library. This is a short book that talks about abortion. The back of the book says, "Hayes uses the graphic novel format to demystify what can be a very intimidating and often lonely experience." What I appreciated about this book is that its about as non-political and inclusive as can be, considering the topic. The author explains what happens the moment a person elects to have an abortion and gives a step by step guide on what to expect, from making the initial call to a doctor, to feelings the days after. The scenarios provided of two separate women's experiences do not discuss how they got pregnant or why they want an abortion which I think is important. While some people may disapprove, I recommend this book to everyone, because despite all the reasons to push back, abortions have happened, do happen, and will continue to happen. I think this is a good book to read with our daughters and sons, so they can understand that this is something that can happen in our lives or to someone we care about, and how vital it is to be informed and make safe decisions for our bodies and minds. If you have a teenager, this can be a great discussion piece, as its not too long, procedural oriented, and gives lots of space for learning.
November 6, 2015
A very concise and approachable book as to how most abortions work in the US. I thought it did a good job dealing with the topic in a very neutral, even-handed manner. It demystifies the abortion process, however, by trying so hard to be non-political and generalised, I do think some of the potential power of the narrative is lost.
There are two issues I had with the book. While the art was strong, the text setting was rather crude, and the general design of the way the pages were laid out bothered me they were very off center and used a lot of negative space without good reason. While a book about abortion doesn't have to be pretty, I didn't understand the artistic reasons for the messy hand drawn font, or the large amounts of unused space.
Finally, I don't really understand the title! I borrowed the book from the library expecting something more personal or narrative. Not Funny Ha Ha is really just about the procedures and how people may feel. Valuable, but not exactly what I expected, and perhaps not as powerful as it could have been given the fact that the author chose to talk about abortion through the use of characters.
There are two issues I had with the book. While the art was strong, the text setting was rather crude, and the general design of the way the pages were laid out bothered me they were very off center and used a lot of negative space without good reason. While a book about abortion doesn't have to be pretty, I didn't understand the artistic reasons for the messy hand drawn font, or the large amounts of unused space.
Finally, I don't really understand the title! I borrowed the book from the library expecting something more personal or narrative. Not Funny Ha Ha is really just about the procedures and how people may feel. Valuable, but not exactly what I expected, and perhaps not as powerful as it could have been given the fact that the author chose to talk about abortion through the use of characters.
May 21, 2017
Abortion comicssss. There should probably be more of you.
I'm not a huge fan of abortions. In fact I am straight up NOT A FAN.
BUT. I think the telling of these stories is worthwhile, and I know that appreciating that honesty, and striving for greater understanding, doesn't equal complicity. Essentially I seek to understand. And this is moving in that direction. But it's a little too dry and careful. In fact I just read a cartoon in The Nib a couple days ago that....I read this long enough ago, that the Nib cartoon has supplanted it in mind. https://thenib.com/nothing-feels-real...
I'm looking forward to reading that anthology. Striving for understanding. Yep.
I'm not a huge fan of abortions. In fact I am straight up NOT A FAN.
BUT. I think the telling of these stories is worthwhile, and I know that appreciating that honesty, and striving for greater understanding, doesn't equal complicity. Essentially I seek to understand. And this is moving in that direction. But it's a little too dry and careful. In fact I just read a cartoon in The Nib a couple days ago that....I read this long enough ago, that the Nib cartoon has supplanted it in mind. https://thenib.com/nothing-feels-real...
I'm looking forward to reading that anthology. Striving for understanding. Yep.
July 20, 2018
I found this in an article about graphic memoirs, but there was no indication that either story presented here was based on any one individual. In fact, most personal information and specific details of each case were completely removed. This is a purely factual explanation of the two available legal methods of abortion. There is really no entertainment value; it is strictly informational. For that, it is a good read, but even so, the author constantly tells its readers to seek out other sources and speak to professionals. And with the extremely vague title, I'm really not sure what the goal was of writing this book...
July 16, 2022
i decided to revisit this book for the first time since i got it, probably six years ago. i believe this book was my first introduction to the difference between a surgical and medication abortion, and they were described so in-depth while still highlighting the stories of the two women who opted for each procedure. i've learned a lot more about abortion and repro over the years from organizing and work, and there are only a few minor things i would change about the book if i could, but i think it is a powerful and informative read! and the illustrations are lovely!
August 6, 2022
Content notes for incorrectly categorizing abortion as an issue for women and not recognizing that people of all genders can get pregnant and need abortions. Also police security.
Written and illustrated by Leah Hayes, on her website she is described as "an award-winning graphic novelist, illustrator, and musician. Working on both East and West coasts, she is the author of several books, including *Not Funny Ha-Ha,* which was a New York Times Best-Seller and voted one of Forbes Magazine's Top Ten Graphic Novels of 2015. Hayes has taught illustration and graphic novel-writing at Parsons School of Design, Endicott College, and MassArt. She is currently Illustration faculty at Lesley University in Boston, MA."
What kinds of keywords came to mind reading this short book? reproduction, life, depoliticize, and minimalistic.
The summary on goodreads is "Not Funny Ha-Ha is a bold, slightly wry graphic novel illustrating the lives of two young women from different cultural, family, and financial backgrounds who go through two different abortions (medical and surgical). It follows them through the process of choosing a clinic, reaching out to friends, partners, and/or family, and eventually the procedure(s) itself. It simply shows what happens when a woman goes through it, no questions asked. Despite the fact that so many women and girls have abortions every day, in every city, all around us, it can be a lonely experience. Not Funny Ha-Ha is a little bit technical, a little bit moving, and often funny, in a format uniquely suited to communicate. The book is meant to be a non-judgmental, comforting, even humorous look at what a woman can go through during an abortion. Although the subject matter is heavy, the illustrations are light. The author takes a step back from putting forth any personal opinion whatsoever, simply laying out the events and possible emotional repercussions that could, and often do occur."
Moving right along to comment on the writing and art, I can't be but a bit put out by the way they emphasized "The author takes a step back from putting forth any personal opinion whatsoever" which is just annoying. Like, sure, in reading the book I would say that every effort is made to present everything as emotionally neutral as possible. No need to fetishize not expressing personal opinion as there are many drawbacks to that sort of thing as well.
The title is certainly round about, but it also might help increase people's ability to read it around people who might be anti-choice/pro-forced birth.
The distinct art style and colour choices very much match the tone that the writing is setting; with some nice expressive typographical choices.
As I indicated in my content notes section, I did take some issue with the way gender is presented in the book. Mostly it's the dedication "This book is for all girls and women, and for the partners, friends, and family who love them." With the book itself following two women. Which is more then a little bit exclusionary. People of all genders can be at the risk of needing an abortion and people who are not women face the most obstacles to receiving both abortion and pregnancy care, depending on what they want to do. That said, this book was published in 2015; I feel like making these assumptions was a bit less dog whistly at that point. Doing the surface level googling I did not turn up anything that showed Hayes as being either pro-trans or mask off anti-trans. So do feel free to leave a comment if you have a more informed opinion about where she stands. No matter her intention in 2015, we don't live in 2015 anymore so I figured it was worth noting.
Sexuality isn't dealt with explicitly and as the book states openly; Hayes in not interested in outlining how these two women got pregnant as she (rightly in my opinion) doesn't think it should matter. I would say this might be an insertion of personal opinion, but what do I know.
In setting out the focus of this handbook, Hayes makes a choice to present two women, getting each of the two types of abortion; with as few obstacles as possible to really outline the process like any other medical procedure. So while Heyes outlines some of the side effects you might experience (and regularly reminds you to consult a real doctor if you have any questions) besides a nod to the price difference between the two types it does not address any of the issues that may arise from the person seeking an abortion based off their age, class, geographic location, race, gender expression, marital status, legal status and/or disability - not to mention if they are in prison or how many children they already have. I certainly hope we will continue to see more comics about abortion that address these other intersections.
To conclude, while this is the second of the two comics my library has about abortion; it appears I can get one or two more through my local comic shop and this seems like one of those rare points in my life where I should actually buy a book. So we shall see. If you know of any others please feel free to leave a recommendation.
I do think, for what it is, that Not Funny Ha-Ha A Handbook for Something Hard does do some really good things and could very well make a lot of people feel more comfortable about getting an abortion. So I will be rating it four out of five stars.
Written and illustrated by Leah Hayes, on her website she is described as "an award-winning graphic novelist, illustrator, and musician. Working on both East and West coasts, she is the author of several books, including *Not Funny Ha-Ha,* which was a New York Times Best-Seller and voted one of Forbes Magazine's Top Ten Graphic Novels of 2015. Hayes has taught illustration and graphic novel-writing at Parsons School of Design, Endicott College, and MassArt. She is currently Illustration faculty at Lesley University in Boston, MA."
What kinds of keywords came to mind reading this short book? reproduction, life, depoliticize, and minimalistic.
The summary on goodreads is "Not Funny Ha-Ha is a bold, slightly wry graphic novel illustrating the lives of two young women from different cultural, family, and financial backgrounds who go through two different abortions (medical and surgical). It follows them through the process of choosing a clinic, reaching out to friends, partners, and/or family, and eventually the procedure(s) itself. It simply shows what happens when a woman goes through it, no questions asked. Despite the fact that so many women and girls have abortions every day, in every city, all around us, it can be a lonely experience. Not Funny Ha-Ha is a little bit technical, a little bit moving, and often funny, in a format uniquely suited to communicate. The book is meant to be a non-judgmental, comforting, even humorous look at what a woman can go through during an abortion. Although the subject matter is heavy, the illustrations are light. The author takes a step back from putting forth any personal opinion whatsoever, simply laying out the events and possible emotional repercussions that could, and often do occur."
Moving right along to comment on the writing and art, I can't be but a bit put out by the way they emphasized "The author takes a step back from putting forth any personal opinion whatsoever" which is just annoying. Like, sure, in reading the book I would say that every effort is made to present everything as emotionally neutral as possible. No need to fetishize not expressing personal opinion as there are many drawbacks to that sort of thing as well.
The title is certainly round about, but it also might help increase people's ability to read it around people who might be anti-choice/pro-forced birth.
The distinct art style and colour choices very much match the tone that the writing is setting; with some nice expressive typographical choices.
As I indicated in my content notes section, I did take some issue with the way gender is presented in the book. Mostly it's the dedication "This book is for all girls and women, and for the partners, friends, and family who love them." With the book itself following two women. Which is more then a little bit exclusionary. People of all genders can be at the risk of needing an abortion and people who are not women face the most obstacles to receiving both abortion and pregnancy care, depending on what they want to do. That said, this book was published in 2015; I feel like making these assumptions was a bit less dog whistly at that point. Doing the surface level googling I did not turn up anything that showed Hayes as being either pro-trans or mask off anti-trans. So do feel free to leave a comment if you have a more informed opinion about where she stands. No matter her intention in 2015, we don't live in 2015 anymore so I figured it was worth noting.
Sexuality isn't dealt with explicitly and as the book states openly; Hayes in not interested in outlining how these two women got pregnant as she (rightly in my opinion) doesn't think it should matter. I would say this might be an insertion of personal opinion, but what do I know.
In setting out the focus of this handbook, Hayes makes a choice to present two women, getting each of the two types of abortion; with as few obstacles as possible to really outline the process like any other medical procedure. So while Heyes outlines some of the side effects you might experience (and regularly reminds you to consult a real doctor if you have any questions) besides a nod to the price difference between the two types it does not address any of the issues that may arise from the person seeking an abortion based off their age, class, geographic location, race, gender expression, marital status, legal status and/or disability - not to mention if they are in prison or how many children they already have. I certainly hope we will continue to see more comics about abortion that address these other intersections.
To conclude, while this is the second of the two comics my library has about abortion; it appears I can get one or two more through my local comic shop and this seems like one of those rare points in my life where I should actually buy a book. So we shall see. If you know of any others please feel free to leave a recommendation.
I do think, for what it is, that Not Funny Ha-Ha A Handbook for Something Hard does do some really good things and could very well make a lot of people feel more comfortable about getting an abortion. So I will be rating it four out of five stars.
July 31, 2017
I like that this book exists but it was just kinda "meh". I thought there should have been more information. Everything in it you probably could have guessed on your own.
October 31, 2022
This was so cute oh my goodness. In this house we love abortions, and this was a beautiful visual about what it means to go through the experience of having an abortion. While I do recognize that women are the majority of people having abortions, the gendered language was kind of difficult to sit with as a trans guy. I will also say, it doesn’t touch on how abortion is more difficult to access for poor people, or for people who live in places that are more hostile towards abortion access. But for what it is, an informational book on the ins and outs of abortion procedures, this was very well done and I really enjoyed it.
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