An illustrated look at living and dating in a patriarchal culture that celebrates men for displaying the bare minimum of human decency, from the creator of the popular Instagram account @AwardsForGoodBoys.
Funny, intelligent, weary ... Though full of the cartoons that populate Lorman’s Instagram, the book resists simply being a pithy ode to the many potholes that exist in the female experience. Lorman writes sensitively about the behaviors that these acts of marginalization often prompt in women, conditioned as we are to make ourselves small. It can get a little uncomfortable when she describes back to you the many ways you’ve taken up the emotional labor for men, but she does so while speaking in the tones of your most sympathetic, self-aware friend. Drawing it all together at the end is an emotionally intelligent and compassionate conclusion to an argument you didn’t even realize that you were reading. The gift of Awards for Good Boys lies in the way it lightly bops you on the head with the clarity you need to see through the madness disguising itself as acceptable.
... accomplishes something more substantial ... Though I’m generally wary about the prospect of an Instagram-turned-book, in this case, the result is an enjoyable read that is quick, yet poignant and nuanced, much like Lorman’s comics ... Lorman has much to offer in the vein of personal experience on these fronts as well ... Lorman isn’t afraid to say the hard thing, even when that means saying she doesn’t have all the answers ... expertly walks the line between superficial and damning. Though Lorman’s analyses of human behavior are smart and well-crafted, her book doesn’t purport to be the ultimate resource on all things feminism. It is what it is, and that self-awareness is something to celebrate.
While Lorman’s illustrations take center stage, the written vignettes add personal background that her fans will appreciate ... Lorman’s Instagram followers will enjoy her commentary on the more subtle side of misogyny.
