Mike Hawthorne

A comic book artist recounts the complicated relationship he had growing up with his single mother, a troubled woman who abused him physically and emotionally.

It's not bad, but there's a heavy-handed shoe metaphor that just doesn't work. Also, like three-quarters of the way through he skips abruptly from being an art-school grad working as a short-order cook in a diner to a successful comic book artist with a wife and three children, and I don't feel this pivot was properly explained, especially in light of all his previous struggles and ongoing turmoil in regards to his mother.

Oh, and he has a major dream sequence near the end of the book. I hate dream sequences, especially in my nonfiction.

Regardless, Hawthorne has my best wishes for a happy future for himself and his family.… (mere)