Everything in the World

by Lynda Barry

Cartoons offer a satirical look at first dates, male psychology, friendship, parents, singles bars, sexual harassment, personal grooming, and sleeplessness

Genres: Comics, Humor, Comic Strips, Graphic Novels Comics, Fiction

95 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 1986

About the author

Lynda Barry is an American cartoonist and author, perhaps best known for her weekly comic strip Ernie Pook's Comeek.

Reviews

[Octavia Cade · Rating 3 out of 5]

One of the reviews quoted on the back cover of this book says that Lynda Barry is "the chronicler of an entire generation's romantic confusion," and if that doesn't sum up this collection of comic strips, nothing does. It's all very loosely themed around romantic relationships - or, more accurately, disappointing romantic relationships, presumably because they're funnier. There are dreadful dates here, awkward parties, sex therapists, the resentful experience of an insomniac married to an inveterate snorer, body issues, old arguments, creepy bosses... More than anything, it's a series of snapshots, drawn to invite you to cringe and sympathise and laugh at the same time.

It's a fun, quick read, I must say. Quicker than a lot of Barry's other work, if only because the drawings are bigger and there are less words there. She does have a tendency, in some of her books, to cram in a lot of drawings and texts, but this was relatively easy on the eyes, which means I hardly squinted at anything. And now I feel old, having said that, but at least my medicine cabinet doesn't look like the one in here. Small mercies.

[spoon · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought it was fine. I think Barry is less interesting to me when she writes about straight couples, though I think when she writes about straight adult women and their problems solo in a comic w/o the men I like that. but yeah -- overall it's fine. A three b/c I didn't really connect to it, but Barry is amazing and he other stuff is amazing and these comics are solid, esp compared to a lot of other dumb comics that are published. Just not my fav of her work. Love her tho.

[Leah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think I discovered Lynda Barry in 1986 or 1987... huge Ernie Pook Comeeks fan...

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a little harder to read than some of Barry's other stuff because the strips in it are only very loosely connected. It's funny stuff, though, bitter and very '80s but still relevant.

[Marta · Rating 3 out of 5]

A collection of unconnected strips. Very interesting to see this earlier work and see how it would later resolve into the characters and stories she would use later on.