What It Is

When I heard that Lynda Barry, one of my comics artist heroes, had a new book I rushed out to get it. It's big and beautiful and bound with a hardcover that begs to be cherished. I devoured it in a day, but will go back to it many, many times as it's filled with densely collaged images that inspire as well as activities that promote creation of your own. Part philosophical discussion on image making and why we do it, part "how to" on writing or drawing your own stories, it is also sprinkled with autobiographical comics of Barry's own artistic journey.
This is a fantastic book for anyone interested in the process of making art or writing stories. For those too scared to let themselves create, even Barry shares her fears and neurotic tendencies to judge her work, but gives prompts that help those in search of that "strange floating feeling making lines on paper" can only give. She encourages you to just stay in motion, and no need for precious materials - most of this book was made with ink on yellow legal pads and each page is filled with line drawings of sea creatures, birds, extravagant patterns, and images that provide a glimpse into her crazy creative mind, and make you want to go make stuff.
My favorite page is when she posits a hypothetical scenario where you open an old can of pork and beans and a genie offers to release you from your own can. "If a genie offered to free you from a dull, canned life, what would you say?" If you say, Yes please!, then go get this book. It may not instantly make you an award-winning author or acclaimed artist, but it will help you get one step closer to living "out of the can".

I've given five copies of this book (so far) to friends and loved ones. I wish everyone would read this book. The world would be a better place.
It's a great book about creativity, the imagination, self-expression, memoir--authentic and beautiful. You can't help but love Lynda Barry.

I don't think I've ever sat down and read straight through a book of writing exercises. And, at a very basic level, that's what "What It Is" is. And I sat down and read through the whole thing, while taking time to digest it. It's about writing, drawing, images, memory, creativity, a magic cephalopod, and Lynda Barry's life. All done on a yellow legal pad of paper.

This is a great book for anyone who's ever felt stuck writing or drawing (or just in the creative process). Barry's collage work in the first half of the book gets you to ask yourself questions about imagery and memory. The second half has writing exercises and tips for how to make more for yourself. They're excellent and I can't wait to start using them. It's also probably the only time I'll ever cry over instructions for a writing exercise.

If there's anything that takes away from the book, it's that I wanted to see more about Barry's life. The short passages about her childhood and education are very interesting, but take up only a small portion of the book. It's somewhat depressing to hear that her comics became such a source of concern/depression for her, but I can understand that feeling of it becoming work and the pressure to only make "good" art. And I love her moments where she's talking with her husband and thinking of all the stuff she forgets, but goes over conversation she had years ago where she said awful things.

Okay, that's my awkward ending... go read this book.

"What It Is" is one of the most surprisingly encouraging and inspiring books I've come across. Good job, LyndaB!

I love this book and have already bought 3 more as gifts. I'm pretty sure that if I just walk around with this book or sit looking at it in coffeshops, bars and car repair waiting rooms, cool things are going to happen to me, mysterious images, strangers, forgotten childhood toys and monsters will come to visit. How can one book be so practical and so mystical at the same time? I'm so grateful to Lynda Barry and the magic cephalapod for making this book.