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Flying Couch
Flying Couch: A Graphic Memoir | Amy Kurzweil
27 posts | 25 read | 37 to read
Flying Couch, Amy Kurzweils debut, tells the stories of three unforgettable women. Amy weaves her own coming-of-age as a young Jewish artist into the narrative of her mother, a therapist, and Bubbe, her grandmother, a World War II survivor who escaped from the Warsaw Ghetto by disguising herself as a gentile. Captivated by Bubbes story, Amy turns to her sketchbooks, teaching herself to draw as a way to cope with what she discovers. Entwining the voices and histories of these three wise, hilarious, and very different women, Amy creates a portrait not only of what it means to be part of a family, but also of how each generation bears the imprint of the past. A retelling of the inherited Holocaust narrative now two generations removed, Flying Couch uses Bubbes real testimony to investigate the legacy of trauma, the magic of family stories, and the meaning of home. With her playful, idiosyncratic sensibility, Amy traces the way our memories and our families shape who we become. The result is this bold illustrated memoir, both an original coming-of-age story and an important entry into the literature of the Holocaust.
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IndoorDame
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Pickpick

The art in this graphic memoir is freestyle, without the panels usually in graphic novels, and it ended up feeling like you were being invited into the author‘s head, like you got a peek at her personal sketchbooks or something. The whole thing felt very authentic. I went into it sort of blind so I hadn‘t realized that a major element is her recounting her grandmother‘s stories from the holocaust, but I thought that element was handled well too.

StayCurious you're reading such a variety of books! 2y
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jb72
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Pickpick

Girl coming of age story. This comic did jump around a lot. But her bubbe story was very interesting. I wish there had been more of it. The mother through the daughter‘s eyes seemed one dimensional, but later on the mother mentions her many facets of life. Overall a good storyline.

The Children‘s Holocaust Museum is mentioned. I‘ve been to the one in Israel. It is absolutely heartbreaking. It‘s almost too much to comprehend.

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Johanna414
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Mehso-so

I liked it, but I didn‘t love it... is had a sort of disjointed feel and I kept getting frustrated with the way she jumped around between timelines and stories. This is a common complaint I have with graphic novels, but I wanted more - more of her story, more of her grandma‘s, more about her relationship with her mother, her pursuit of her art.
I‘ll try to get this in the mail tomorrow or Tuesday! It‘s been fun reading with you all!

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Johanna414
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Found this in my mailbox yesterday! Just in time for a week off of work! #lmpbc @LibrarianRyan @aCleverDuck @rachelm

LibrarianRyan Yeahh. Glad it made it. 4y
Johanna414 @rachelm did this make it back to you yet? 4y
rachelm It did! Thanks! 4y
44 likes3 comments
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LibrarianRyan
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Panpan

🌟2
I wish I would have liked this better. It‘s a story of a young lady, her jewish-ness, her mother, her grandmother, and the Holocaust. At its heart I feel this book wants to be Maus. It even references Maus, but it is such a lackluster comparison.
Amy switches time periods and locations with no notice and it is hard to tell. There is not break.

Full review on GR and LT.

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LibrarianRyan
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Panpan

I finished it but only because it was #LMPBC. Other wise it would have been a DNF.

I‘ll get it in the mail on Monday.

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LibrarianRyan
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Good morning my peeps. I got this last night and I knows it‘s #LMPBC I am just not sure who it‘s from as the package was torn up and wet. So which ever of you sent it, please know it‘s here.

I‘ll get it read and mailed out by Friday.

slategreyskies This looks really good. 4y
rachelm It‘s mine originally and it‘s okay if it got wet. Poor package! 4y
LibrarianRyan @rachelm the book is mostly in good shape. Just some corner damage. So the envelope did it‘s job. 😁 4y
rachelm Perfect! 4y
62 likes4 comments
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rachelm
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Sending out this #groupg #lmpbc pick tomorrow in the mail! Liked it— lots about identity that we inherit and family history that we discover.

LibrarianRyan Cool. 4y
Johanna414 Can‘t wait! I haven‘t even touched mine yet - I‘ve got all of next week off for Thanksgiving so it‘s top of my list. 4y
34 likes2 stack adds2 comments
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rachelm
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My #graphicnovel and #comics shelf at work. That counts as work, right?

LibrarianRyan of course! 5y
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megnews
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Pickpick

Author Amy Kurzweil shares her grandma‘s story of hiding and loss during the Holocaust and the psychological impact on 3 generations as she herself grapples with what her identity means to her. At times sad, at others funny, this #graphicmemoir tells the story of how life goes on, though changed.

Book 49/90 2/2/19

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megnews
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More #mapsinbooks.
University map labels:
-you can‘t park here even though you want to
-decent spot for picnics and/or making out
-bookstore ($!)
😂I already love this author.

Soubhiville How fun! 5y
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megnews
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I love #mapsinbooks. This floor plan has fun labels like:
-living room (good for reading)
-guest room (where dad sleeps when he snores)
-and a million books on the floor.

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Zoe_reads_books
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Pickpick

Not the greatest graphic memoir I‘ve ever read, but enjoyable nonetheless. It follows the lives of the author, her mother, and her grandmother. Most of the book is about the grandmother surviving the holocaust, which I thought were the best parts. I also really like the illustration style. 3/5 ⭐️

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Clwojick
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Sleepy #OscarMeyer is soaking up the fireplace heat while I finish up the last few pages of this graphic memoir. 💗

#graphicnovels #illustrated #artwork #comic #gn #graphic #librarybooks #libraryloans #ilovemylibrary #weekendreading #novemberreads

TricksyTails 👋😻 Hi Oscar! 😘 6y
Texreader Adorable!!! 6y
111 likes2 comments
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Clwojick
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queerbookreader
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Pickpick

Breathtaking graphic memoir showcasing the lives and legacies of three generations of Jewish women. I devoured it in one morning. Highlyyyyy recommend.

I have no idea why the lighting in my room is so purple right now 😱

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Sace
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Mehso-so

The grandmother's story seemed to be the more linear story so it was easier to follow. The rest felt like a jumble to me and it was hard for me to get.

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KCorter
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Pickpick

This story was so wonderful. Granted, I am incredibly biased. I am addicted to graphic memoirs and will enjoy them no matter what because of how much I enjoy that style of storytelling. This one was especially good.

I loved the little details. All of the maps and routes and floorplans (especially of Amy's childhood home) were charming. I will need to add the books from her many bookshelves to my TBR!

This lovely illustration was my favorite.

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emtobiasz
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Breakfast for lunch on the porch and a new graphic memoir from the library 🍳🥑🍞🧀

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libraryfangirly
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Jokila
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Lindy Pretty photo. 😊 7y
Jokila Thanks @Lindy ! ☺️💕 7y
45 likes2 comments
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Erynecki
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I picked up Flying Couch after hearing Amy Kurzweil on The Shmooze: The Yiddish Book Center's Podcast. The graphic novel explores the relationship between the author, her mother, and her grandmother (a Holocaust survivor).

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JewishBookCouncil
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In New York City tonight? Join us at "Ink Bleeds History: Reclaiming and Redrawing the Jewish Image in Comics" TONIGHT (Thursday, November 3) at the Museum of Jewish Heritage to hear graphic authors Amy Kurzweil, Miriam Libicki, Joel Golombeck, Michael Weber, and Eli Valley talk about subverting centuries of antisemitic depictions of Jews in cartoons and #comics by twisting those same art forms to tell their own Jewish narratives! #JewLit

JewishBookCouncil Find out more about tonight's event (and register for free admission) here: http://bit.ly/2bTM5se 7y
45 likes4 stack adds1 comment
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ChristiCraigAuthor
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"Humor is mortar. It binds the bridge between the real and the unimaginable, between all we've lost, and what we can't get rid of." #AmReading

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Lupita.Reads
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Pickpick

I am staring to realize I have a super sweet spot for graphic memoirs that explore establishing your self identity. Especially the ones that dig deep into childhood and your families past to understand what contributes to who you become. Completely recommend this! Definitely one of my favorite graphic novels I've read this year.

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Lupita.Reads
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HAPPY MONDAY! "I'm always mining life for a good story, but all I ever see, I fear is just my own reflection" ??❤️

read_diverse_books Hehe, love it! 8y
47 likes1 stack add2 comments