Notes from a Sickbed

by Tessa Brunton

In 2009, Tessa Brunton experienced the first symptoms of myalgic encephalomyelitis (also known as chronic fatigue syndrome). She spent much of the next eight years unwell, in a medical holding pattern, housebound and often alone. In 2017, she found a strategy that helped reduce her symptoms, and soon began creating the first installments of a graphic memoir. Notes from a Sickbed collects previously released and brand-new, unseen comics that recall her experiences with honesty, a pointed wit, and a lively visual imagination.

Genres: Graphic Novels, Memoir, Nonfiction, Comics, Disability, Graphic Novels Comics, Biography

160 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 1, 2022

Reviews

[Aaron Anstett · Rating 5 out of 5]

This caught my eye at the library, and I'm glad it did. Funny, moving, and wildly imaginitive, Brunton's brilliant graphic memoir of her frustrating, debilitating illness should speak to anyone who is, knows, or loves someone ill; has spent any time housebound; ever needed to work within constraints; felt isolated; and/or lives in a body. I also love the art, rich with detail and pattern, illustrative of the life and life circumstances.

[Danielle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Here I am, in the middle of a big fibro flare, and I stumble across this! I haven't read any graphic books so I wasn't sure if it would be my thing but I knew this was a great place to start because I can relate. I'm always looking for new things to get into since I am also stuck with myself for entertainment.

This was really interesting and imaginative and it was kind of relaxing to me since I already didn't feel good so it was meaningful content. My heart goes out to the author who has it even harder. I was interested in the journey and where their mind wandered to.

It's funny and random and I have to say that we are all grateful for the pets by our side through this! I was reminded of that. Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for the chance to review.

[Rod Brown · Rating 2 out of 5]

The author suffers from chronic fatigue syndrome and shares quite a bit about the effects it has had on her in these diary comics, but she also goes off on fanciful tangents about haunting her neighbors, designing homes, and outlining a graphic novel project set in a Disneyland-like amusement park that bored more than informed. The anecdotes skip around a lot, leaving huge gaps about progression of her condition and about the supportive people around her.

It's not a bad book but in the end, I felt more tantalized than satisfied.

Others liked it more than I did; it is listed on the Publishers Weekly 2022 Graphic Novel Critics Poll.

[MK Valentine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley and Lerner Publishing Group for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Honest, heart-wrenching, relatable, Notes from a Sickbed is an incredibly provocative and raw graphic memoir that shows the realities of chronic illness. It follows the author, Tessa Burton, after her life is thrown off the rails when she goes from being relatively able-bodied to not. The strength of this work lies in the vulnerability Burton is willing to put on display for the readers. This is an incredibly important work, and I"m excited to see it go out into the world.

[Marisol · Rating 1 out of 5]

I want to start with the good. I applaud the author for their willingness to show how difficult it is on a person to navigate a chronic illness and the feelings that arise from not being able to participate in "normal" day to day activities. I feel we don't get enough books that discuss what it's like to experience chronic fatigue and illness in honest ways.

Now... The bad. I detested the art style in combination with the wordiness of the novel. If the illustrations had been less busy or if the words had taken precedence then it would have improved my overall feelings towards the novel. However, I was having a hard time even placing what the focus was. While I knew there would be no resolution to Tessa's illness (and there absolutely doesn't need to be one) I felt the abrupt ending hurt the hopefulness that was building as well as pulled me away from the emotions Tessa was experiencing.

[Marissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve been a fan of Tessa’s work for the past several years—her writing is always on point, and her drawing style feels personal and accessible. This graphic memoir is a series of snapshots in Tessa’s experience of chronic illness, which was a beautiful way to share a story that, by nature of the topic, has an awful lot of downtime.

While it is a challenge to write about something while you are still living it, Tessa does so with remarkable perspective. I loved that the book is a mix of actual events interspersed with the truly delightful imaginative ponderings that are a hallmark of Tessa’s work (there’s an illness-conscious dream house and a slew of themed mobile beds, for starters). I appreciated how this book examined health stuff, and creative stuff, and the inevitable intertwinement of the two. The level of detail in the drawings is one of my favorite things about reading Tessa’s comics—there’s always a lot of really great stuff hidden in the pages, and this book is no exception. It feels weird to be like “you will LOVE this book about chronic illness!!” but it is a absolutely a great, thoughtful read.

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

As someone with ME/CFS, this was hard for me to rate. At times she really hits home, especially the second half. Unfortunately I didn’t enjoy her art style and found many pages cluttered and hard to read. That may be a me problem, though. I really appreciate her honesty even when it isn’t nice or perfect. She definitely vocalizes the quiet feelings many chronic-illness patients have.

[Ann (Inky Labyrinth) · Rating 4 out of 5]

The most accurate depiction of chronic illness I've come across, maybe in any media ever.

I think everyone should read this, because it seems mostly no one understands what it's like to be a chronically ill person on a day to day basis.

[Ana · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was at times very triggering as I too have experienced something like the author. Having a chronic illness that sucks up all your energy and that was only endurable through a rationing of “good” days.

Would recommend to anyone who has a friend/family member with an auto-imune illness or any chronic illnesses that keep one housebound, who’d like to understand them better.

[Nancy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I appreciate the author’s vulnerability and honesty as she shared parts of her journey before finally being diagnosed. Being bed bound for so much time over 8 years, her flights of fancy were an easily understood distraction.

You don’t have to have ME (commonly called chronic fatigue syndrome) to relate to this memoir. If you have any kind of chronic illness I think you will get it and appreciate the feeling of not being alone.

Some hard profanity.

[Brenna M. · Rating 3 out of 5]

This graphic novel features a series of vignettes/graphic essays (are graphic essays a thing?) on living with ME and the ways her brain sought escape. From becoming a poltergeist to haunt noisy neighbors, to escaping reality through comic creation, Tessa Brunton lets us peek inside the imagination of an |escape| artist.

I enjoyed seeing the illustrated representation of how it feels to live with a chronic illness, the frustration, the bartering for time, for wellness, the strain on relationships, and feelings of being left behind. In the way the narrator balances herself by resting, waiting for a period of good health and then a grand exertion, I felt the book balances itself by showing us the frustrations of living with ME and then the grand explosion of imagination and creativity for escape. Noisy neighbors? Not if I was a ghost. Bed-bound? Not so 'bound' if my bed could move... I enjoyed these lovely bits of fun and humor and hope in the midst of rough times.

The book as a whole, however, was very confusing. At times we would follow a narrative, with plot shifts and progression and then be launched back into an imagination sidebar. Other times it seemed like we were going to see the character make progress on the mysteries of her illness, only to jump to a different time period and different coping mechanism. It wasn't "bad" necessarily, but it was disjointed, and it made the ending feel veryyy sudden and jarring.

[Lindsay · Rating 5 out of 5]

I adored this graphic novel. It closely represented my own personal journey with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and various other chronic illnesses. I became much more sick around the same age as the author and experienced many of the same thoughts, feelings, and day to day routines. I am going to give this to people in my life so that they can understand me more. This book with bring comfort to those who are chronically ill and should be required reading for anyone who is not.

[Robert · Rating 5 out of 5]

Even though this is about living with a chronic, little-known disease (chronic fatigue syndrome), Tessa Brunton is so witty and talented an artist that she makes her story all kinds of delightful. Her drawings are incredibly detailed (she's very fond of patterns) and the narrative presents all manner of funny flights-of-fancy. So this is just a pleasure to read, as awful as her malady really is. Talk about making the best of the hand you're dealt. Go Tessa!

[Britt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and Lerner Publishing for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own. Tessa Burton’s honesty while coping with a chronic illness is refreshing. Something to keep in mind about this graphic novel is that it offers snippets into Tessa’s life but is not a story with a cohesive and clear storyline. With that being said, the art style and storytelling of these snippets kept me interested.

[Jill · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such an interesting graphic novel. I really enjoyed the author's narration - she was very real and honest about her illness and everything that went with it. She didn't try to sugarcoat it or anything like that. I really liked the story and the artwork was very nice as well. Overall, a great story with fantastic visuals.

[livia · Rating 4 out of 5]

reminded me a lot of my auntie :/

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

While I don't live with a chronic illness like this, I found the ways she described her day to day life so approachable and understandably frustrating.

[Alex Levine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful, eclectic illustrations that wonderfully captured the chaotic trains of thought and confusion. I loved how each chapter not only showed a specific moment in her journey but also seemed to align with with a larger message of accepting a new way of life for the author.

[Ev · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you Net galley for the ARC..

As someone who is disabled and has a chronic illness, I thought I'd really enjoy this. I've spent many days stuck in bed because I didn't have the energy to do much.

But I didn't.

I can't really pinpoint the exact moment I stopped enjoying it. It wasn't because I didn't relate to it, because I did.

If you are disabled/chronically ill, then I think this is very relatable and you'll be able to see yourself in the mc, but other than that it's a hit or miss.

[Rebecca Parten · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Lerner Publishing Group for this advanced reader copy. The opinions expressed are mine alone.

I had high hopes for “Notes From A Sickbed” by Tessa Brunton. The premise was appealing; comics written by someone with a chronic illness. I guess I thought the comics would focus more on her daily life (which they did to some degree). But, I also found some of them confusing. I will say that the actual artwork/drawings were very good. I read this on my iPad so I can only imagine how nice they would look on actual printed paper. Overall I would give this 3 out 5 stars. Perhaps I’m just not a comic person… I’m not sure.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

Memoirs are great things, but the problem is if you follow every little thing you did, they can get tedious. In this case, Tessa, who Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, explains how her days go, and what work she can get done. And most of the time we see her ignore her illness and try to do realistic things, that she finds just aggravates the illness.

The second part goes over how she is imaging a graphic novel she wants to write, and she realizes she needs to go to Disneyland in order to get the feel for where the story takes place. This has plot and intent, and build, and was much more interesting than the first half of the book.

If you want to read about how much she suffered, then this might be an interesting book to read. I found that I only really enjoyed reading the second half.

Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.

[Meghan Lorenc-Shafer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really relatable (though my ME/CFS symptoms are less severe than the author’s). It’s a really honest and real look into what it’s like to have a dynamic disability.

I personally liked the sort of stream-of-consciousness of it (since it’s how your mind tends to work when you’re dealing with brain fog and the disconnect between a mind that is whirring and a body that is holding you back), but I did think it might confuse well people who are reading it. I’d still recommend it though.

[Claire Wrobel · Rating 1 out of 5]

I guess I'm not really sure what the purpose of this was. It's supposedly a graphic memoir, but I learned very little about her life or her condition. I also didn't like the art style, which was crazy busy and usually had a great deal of text. It also ended super suddenly, like she was cut off mid-sentence.

[batlavender · Rating 5 out of 5]

Many thanks to Lerner Publishing Group and Netgalley, who provided me an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book is for people who enjoy slice-of-life stories, whimsical musings, and raw thoughts.

This book is NOT for people who like stories with a clear plot.

I haven’t gotten to read very many ownvoices books by people with chronic illnesses. This makes sense, given how debilitating symptoms like chronic pain and fatigue can be; however, it also means there’s been a gap in my reading up unto this point that’s needed filling. No one book can represent an entire population on its own, but every time I find a new book by a chronically ill author, it feels like I’ve discovered a rare treat. Something I need to savor.

I don’t have ME, but my symptomology does overlap some with Tessa Brunton’s. Her experiences felt familiar – and unfamiliar – in ways I’ve never seen on the printed page.

Don’t go into this book expecting a linear progression of Brunton’s experience “overcoming” her illness – this is more of a look into Brunton’s day to day life living with ME.

Whether or not you have a chronic illness, Brunton’s insights and unique perception of the world make for a compelling read, equal parts funny and heart-wrenching. She effortlessly blends the imagined with accounts of stories from her life to produce a stream-of-consciousness collection that feels a bit like peering into a friend’s diary or finding some interesting doodles tucked away in the pages of a borrowed book.

I found Brunton’s dislike for her able-bodied neighbors particularly compelling – it helped me face some of my own resentment that had been quietly festering away under a veneer of politeness. Likewise, the section about her trip to Disney was familiarly devastating.

I love that this story comes packaged as a short graphic novel – it’s easily accessible to those who tire easily, and in fact, I read it when I was too sick and exhausted to hold my physical book and bother with switching a light on.

Also, there are tons of little easter eggs for eager horror movie fans, which were an absolute pleasure ;)

[Cameron · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and GraphicUniverse for providing me with a free eARC for this book!

Notes from a Sickbed was a beautifully, painfully honest look at living with chronic fatigue. It perfect captures the difficult adjustment period (and often life after the adjustment) that many people with chronic illnesses live through. I also have a chronic fatigue disorder, and I saw so many of my own experiences and emotions reflected in this story. It meant the world to see a story like mine told without the "inspirational" or "tragic" lens that many non-disabled people use while telling stories about disabled people. Brunton perfectly illustrated the daily joys and struggles of many people with chronic fatigue syndrome, the constant balancing act that we must maintain to avoid or postpone flare-ups if we want to attend events. She perfectly describes the real-world application of spoon theory, of saving your energy for something fun while knowing that participating in it will cause pain down the line. Her art style compliments the story, especially the way she draws her range of emotion while coping with her ME. This story was like looking and the mirror, like someone putting their hand on my shoulder and saying "I've been there. I understand, and it's hard. You're not alone."

[Claire · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best graphic novel I've read this year. Tessa Brunton writes/illustrates about her life with ME/CFS (a chronic fatigue syndrome). Even though so much of the book takes place on the couch, we get to go places with her in her head. My favorite comic was probably the one where she just talks about her day-to-day life and what it's like having to ration your energy so carefully. I also liked the "Dark Rides" one a lot.

I have suspected for a few months now that I have long COVID resulting in CFS, which is just beginning to be studied so isn't actually diagnosed (yet?), and so much of this book hit home for me. The frustration of feeling like life is passing you by. That you always have to pay for your "good days" with bad symptoms later on. That you have amazing creative ideas, but no energy to produce them. Much of this book made me emotional, and I will be buying a copy for my own bookshelf, as it meant a great deal to me.

Thank you to NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very Accurate and well done

This is what chronic illness looks like.

Spending most of your days in bed managing your symptoms and sometimes knowingly over doing your activity level just for a taste of the world you have been cut off from.

Sitting in bed all day isn’t a fun vacation sometimes it feels like a slow roll into death it’s never fun and rarely there’s any vacations from home or your symptoms

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great peak into the life of someone with a long-term illness (chronic fatigue syndrome). The art style is beautiful and detailed but not overwhelming. As I read this, I felt like I was seeing her inner thoughts, those personal thoughts that you don't share with others because you don't want to seem silly or mean. The way this comic flowed really kept me engaged and I ended up reading it all in one sitting. I recommend this book to those that know someone going through a long-term illness or disability. It gives great insight and helps to remind us that not everyone experiences life the same way.

I receiver an eARC of this title from Netgalley in return to give an honest review.

[Steph · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book had a lot of amazing things, but I'm going to start with the art. The art was so incredibly unique, and on every page there was many intricate things to look at. I could've spent hours just looking at the art alone. The way it went along with the storyline was also amazing. I think that the color scheme was absolutely perfect with the tone of the book, and that the story was an incredibly important one as well. This isn't just a book about health and illnesses, it's about a very rare one that people need to be more educated on, myself included. This book does a great job of portraying what this author'[s life is like, how she feels, and just how the illness makes her personally feel. It's a very important message.

[Meggie Ramm · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorite illustrators, I will read anything that has Tessa's art in it.