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Stuff I'm Reading

 Liana Finck has said that she does not draw because of a "talent"--but because she has to. You can sense subtext underneath her little panels: I don't care that this isn't pretty. I don't care that it's not conventionally "accomplished." I'm doing this for myself.


Like many other great artists, Finck feels ill at ease on the planet. She is tired about various inane conversations with regard to parenting. Here is how she describes the situation: Someone will say, "Whoa, ho, ho! It gets easier!" A line leads to the next fellow citizen, who says, "You think this is hard? Just wait till she can WALK!" A line then leads to a next comment: "It gets easier!" Followed by a new observation: "This hardship is NOTHING! Just wait till she can WALK!" And so on. 

Finck generally seems to be telling the truth--not aiming for sentimentality, not aiming for sound bytes. She is good company, at least in her newest book.









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