I found myself needing to get past a mildly annoying coyness that comes with the what-is-real-and-what-isn’t territory ... Very funny and very self-deprecating. Bechdel writes wryly about her own inconsistencies ... here’s something charming and funny on practically every page of Spent ... Even this crank knew that whether Spent is a novel or a memoir-ish doesn’t matter. Fictitious or not, the characters face problems that are very real.
Bechdel achieved the alchemy of memoir at its best, making her singular experience so specific and vivid that it became generalizable ... Signs of real-world doom crop up everywhere in Spent, including in Alison’s dreams. Yet as the novel winds down, a palpable calm arrives.
A sharp, hilarious and humane look at social and cultural politics ... Bechdel’s signature wry humor, keen observational skills and masterful storytelling take center stage in Spent. The narrative is driven by richly drawn, down-to-earth characters each with their own hurdles.
Self-deprecating and delightful ... Bechdel takes a gentle approach toward her well-meaning characters, but wields a razor-sharp scalpel when it comes to the indignities of modern life. For Bechdel’s fans, it’s a dream to see her skewer fame with such hilarious precision.
