Big ideas

by Lynda Barry

Big Ideas

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

126 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1983

About the author

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

Reviews

[Monica · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Lynda Barry. I was reminded of this very old book of hers today—my Aunt Julie sent it to me to help me heal from a dumb break-up. And because my roommate and I were going through a weird toast obsession.

[Greta · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like Lynda's big ideas and primitive drawings and cursive handwriting and funny thoughts. I want to write a book like this.

[Octavia Cade · Rating 3 out of 5]

A collection of short slice-of-life comics about various things from disappointing moments of glory to romantic failures to people who gossip about you when you take the last doughnut, and it's all mildly entertaining, if not as much fun as some of Barry's work. Some of it, sad to say, is a little difficult to read, but perhaps that's a sign of the times - cursive is not so much used these days, when we're all so much more familiar with type, and I do find it slightly irritating to decipher. Mostly, though, it's enjoyable but fairly slight, the kind of thing you can read in a daily newspaper, instantly understand, and then almost as instantly forget about. Nowhere near as enjoyable as The Greatest of Marlys, which remains my favourite of Barry's work I think.

[Laura Henderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read somewhere Lynda Barry met Matt Groening early in undergrad because some mutual friend said that they HAD to meet each other. Wish I was there to see it. Barry's humor in this media surpasses Groening's and is as his hysterical as what he's done with The Simpsons, and I really mean it. If you like John Waters' films and The Far Side and Woody Allen weird-tenderness, (plus a dollop of feminine-nerdy glee), or even if you don't, she's the bomb, and Big Ideas is the tops.

Everyday experiences are rendered as sagas (think "Cathy"...no don't. This stuff's just out of the league). The cartoons are terrifying. You will chuckle smuggly watching funny looking weirdos in awkward life positions, doing really un-graceful and goofy things, until you realize that happened to you just last week, and how did this cartoonist know?! The ensemble cast of Jane and Joe Schmos are touchingly, humanly (grossly?) drawn - there's, like, stubble and funny looking people making out.

If I am anxious or sad or bored or tired or pissed-off or heart-broken or happen to notice it on the shelf and have a half a second I read this book starting with the POODLE WITH A MOWHAWK bit and then opening to any page. My self-identified weirdo flaws are suddenly badges of humaness, and I'm relieved that it's not just me who notices the world is just plain Bizarre.

[J. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not quite as good as he later work, but you can see the seeds if things like Marlys, here. Be warned: the primitive on purpose is beautiful, but off-putting if you're idea of graphic novels is manga-influenced. Fascinating collection of earlier work.

[Tyler · Rating 5 out of 5]

This cover imprinted itself on my mind as a kid.(the 1983 edition)
It feels like wood and brick and my moms short bleached out hair. When she still smoked. When everything was eucalyptus acorns and cats. Thanks for the memories, Lynda Barry.

[Hannah Garden · Rating 5 out of 5]

Remember when I read The Greatest of Marlys and I said listen this Lynda Barry she's got snazz she's got pizazz this kid is goin places well I am pleased to say my prediction really paid off and boy howdy was this another solid gold piece of work. Ok thanks I love you.

[Amelia JMD · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the formative books of my childhood. I bought it for my dad in Seattle when I was in first grade, thinking it was a "regular" comic book, and it totally blew my mind.

[Ciara · Rating 3 out of 5]

why yes. more lynda barry & her comics. nothing more to say than that because i don't remember this book at all. a cover image would perhaps jog my memory.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I learned about what it was going to be like as a woman when I was 9 or 10. I can't believe my mom let me have this book. She didn't look at the back page.