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Bird In A Cage
Once a sharp, strong-willed and independent woman, Roher's grandmother's life took an unexpected turn when an accident left her with a brain injury, leading to early onset dementia. An unlikely protagonist, grandma was an elderly woman trapped by her deteriorating mind, aging body and the walls around her. This story illuminates the often overlooked narrative of a senior, her complicated history and inner life. Loveable and tragic, she is determined to get back to a familiar place, to be home again. Roher digs deep into her grandmother's personal history, learns to manage her escapes, and tries to create a safe environment for her. Exploring memory, the idea of place, and the power of song to transcend dementia, Bird In a Cage tells the story of one woman's search for home and the strength of family to try and bring her back.
64 pages, Paperback
First published June 8, 2016
60 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
February 20, 2019
Incredibly good! Sad yet funny at times. A very touching remembrance.
July 15, 2016
A moving memoir about Roher's aging grandmother. Another reason why Conundrum Press is putting out some of the most exciting comics today. Wish more people were aware of them. We discussed this book on the podcast, http://comicsalternative.com/episode-....
June 14, 2023
Bird in a Cage is a bittersweet tale of family and identity, and is one of the most touching graphic novels I have ever read. I felt that the story resonated with me powerfully and at times brought tears to my eyes. That’s not to say that Roher’s tale is a dismal one, quite the contrary in fact; Bird in a Cage celebrates the life of a special woman, who is a Grandma, Mum and is at the very heart of her family unit.
When Rebecca Roher’s Grandmother is hit by a car and she suffers a brain injury, it brings on the early on-set of dementia. We see her decline fairly rapidly from that moment onward and it is the love of her family which helps to support her in such a confusing time.
Roher’s illustrations and prose are seemingly simple in portraying the life of her Grandma, yet unbelievably potent in their delivery. The sense of family and the love they feel for their Grandma, and her love for them is so strong, that it’s almost tangible. There will be many times where the urge to ‘aww!’ is too strong to ignore. I can safely say that it struck a chord with me, one I will remember for years to come, and I am certain that it will do the same for many others.
I have observed what it can be like to have an elderly member of the family who loses touch every now and then. Although not one with dementia, it can be a difficult time for those closest to the individual, having to watch the decline of memory and person in one you love and cherish.
Saying that, there is some humor to be taken from their behavior. We are told of her Grandma’s frequent ‘escapes’ where one in particular stood out to me. After much searching from her family and when she is finally found by the police, her honest and yet hilarious explanation of ‘it started to rain, so I waited in the bottle on the other side of road…’ (which is, of course, a bus stop) is utterly amusing, and intensely heartrending.
I could emphasize with Roher’s feelings of nostalgia that comes with the deterioration of one so loved and how her Grandmother’s behavior begins to reflect that of a lost child. The trick is to remember them for the person they were and that is what the family begins to do in Bird in a Cage. We see them rejoicing in the memory of a doting Grandma and Mother, and how those memories bring them even closer together.
Bird in a Cage encourages awareness of those affected by dementia and how the disease can also affect the surrounding family, as well as being a heartfelt and proud tribute of a devoted and loving Grandma. Poignant, striking and compelling, Roher’s tale will leave a deep-rooted and everlasting impression for all those concerned.
When Rebecca Roher’s Grandmother is hit by a car and she suffers a brain injury, it brings on the early on-set of dementia. We see her decline fairly rapidly from that moment onward and it is the love of her family which helps to support her in such a confusing time.
Roher’s illustrations and prose are seemingly simple in portraying the life of her Grandma, yet unbelievably potent in their delivery. The sense of family and the love they feel for their Grandma, and her love for them is so strong, that it’s almost tangible. There will be many times where the urge to ‘aww!’ is too strong to ignore. I can safely say that it struck a chord with me, one I will remember for years to come, and I am certain that it will do the same for many others.
I have observed what it can be like to have an elderly member of the family who loses touch every now and then. Although not one with dementia, it can be a difficult time for those closest to the individual, having to watch the decline of memory and person in one you love and cherish.
Saying that, there is some humor to be taken from their behavior. We are told of her Grandma’s frequent ‘escapes’ where one in particular stood out to me. After much searching from her family and when she is finally found by the police, her honest and yet hilarious explanation of ‘it started to rain, so I waited in the bottle on the other side of road…’ (which is, of course, a bus stop) is utterly amusing, and intensely heartrending.
I could emphasize with Roher’s feelings of nostalgia that comes with the deterioration of one so loved and how her Grandmother’s behavior begins to reflect that of a lost child. The trick is to remember them for the person they were and that is what the family begins to do in Bird in a Cage. We see them rejoicing in the memory of a doting Grandma and Mother, and how those memories bring them even closer together.
Bird in a Cage encourages awareness of those affected by dementia and how the disease can also affect the surrounding family, as well as being a heartfelt and proud tribute of a devoted and loving Grandma. Poignant, striking and compelling, Roher’s tale will leave a deep-rooted and everlasting impression for all those concerned.
August 2, 2020
Her grandmother's story is captivating and dramatic but Rebecca couldn't keep the story focused. She has such respect for her enormous and very insular family tree that it too often shadowed the main character and triple-o bored me.
Throughout generations of inseparability they've aggressively filled out their own tiny island under Pike's Peak. TWO people (her great-grandparents) have THIRTY NINE people below them before you even get to their double-great grandchildren that aren't illustrated and you have to hear about what seems like all of them.
The art is annoyingly hazy-lazy and doesn't benefit from the watercolours slapped on the cover.
That family-math and tight island clustering is pretty creepy and mildly terrifying for this metro guy from a small family.
Throughout generations of inseparability they've aggressively filled out their own tiny island under Pike's Peak. TWO people (her great-grandparents) have THIRTY NINE people below them before you even get to their double-great grandchildren that aren't illustrated and you have to hear about what seems like all of them.
The art is annoyingly hazy-lazy and doesn't benefit from the watercolours slapped on the cover.
That family-math and tight island clustering is pretty creepy and mildly terrifying for this metro guy from a small family.
August 9, 2017
I recently lost my own grandmother to illness. It has been one of the hardest things I have ever gone through. Bird In A Cage really touched me as a portrait of the loss of a grandmother.
The art style felt really warm and personal, almost as if it were a visual journal. It's amazing how good it can feel to learn about a loved one's life when they are about to be ending it. I was especially touched by the shea butter scene and the scene where she sings her You Are My Sunshine.
This is such a touching image in the last days of Roher's grandmother's life. I definitely recommend it, although be prepared for sadness.
The art style felt really warm and personal, almost as if it were a visual journal. It's amazing how good it can feel to learn about a loved one's life when they are about to be ending it. I was especially touched by the shea butter scene and the scene where she sings her You Are My Sunshine.
This is such a touching image in the last days of Roher's grandmother's life. I definitely recommend it, although be prepared for sadness.
February 3, 2018
Looks like a really accomplished artist's sketchbook and reads like a family keepsake or memory book. A huge cast of characters it was occasionally hard to tell apart, but some really nice people, it sounds like. Just not entirely sure why this is a book for public consumption.
February 4, 2018
A very sweet tribute to a grandmother’s life and legacy. The only negative is that the story flipped back and forth between past and present, and it was sometimes hard to follow the switch. Maybe the author/artist could’ve indicated time better. Otherwise, a lovely remembrance.
August 13, 2017
Really enjoyed this book a lot. Very deserving of the "Doug Wright Award" for "Best Book of the Year".
January 2, 2018
Touching, albeit simple in scope and narrative.
April 1, 2019
Bird in a Cage is a touching memoir of a grandmother's final years written through the eyes of her granddaughter. I love Roher's style of drawing. I enjoyed the Toronto/Muskoka connection and felt like I got to know her family personally.
July 22, 2016
Roher has some important things to say about accepting the death of a loved one, but the book is bogged down with her memories of staying at a cottage during the summer. That particularly side narrative unfortunately distracts from the story about her grandmother without adding much to book. Had it been more connected with memories of her grandmother, or even just had more of a purpose than nostalgia, sure, but it watered down what could have been a much more powerful novel. Still worth a read though, and Roher is an artist to watch for.
August 10, 2016
Only two things made this hard to read: the cramped artwork and the subject matter. The latter of those two things is the whole point of the book so I felt sticking with it anyway was important.
Dementia is awful, accidents are awful, so much of dying and the process of can be awful. This family does it's best to stand together, share memories, be there for each other, and face the death of a beloved matriarch with as much grace and dignity as they can for themselves and for Mary.
Dementia is awful, accidents are awful, so much of dying and the process of can be awful. This family does it's best to stand together, share memories, be there for each other, and face the death of a beloved matriarch with as much grace and dignity as they can for themselves and for Mary.
August 16, 2016
Well done juxtaposition of lively memories from the past with the reality of assisted living and final days. Rebecca Roher really brings you into her space of processing her grandmother's death through celebrating her life, then and now. The simple sketches and handwritten text create a lovely, personal feeling.
November 9, 2016
So sweet and touching. Reflecting on her grandmother's life as dementia and old age take her life. One of those incredibly thoughtful and heartwarming, personal tales.
January 16, 2017
At my book club last week my friend talked about how reading on the TTC meant crying more. I cried literally from page one to the end of this deeply personal and beautiful story. It's so lovely.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews