I loved this graphic novel.
With simplistic illustrations Williams walks you though her daily routine, opening up about her experience with sexual abuse, alcoholism and becoming a mother.

I feel a bit meh about this. The concept for this graphic memoir is what initially drew me in, but the execution left a lot lacking. Granted, the only other graphic memoir I've read so far was Fun(eral) Home by Alison Bechdel and it's a tough book to live up to, but I just wish that there would have been more attention to detail not only in the drawings but also in the editing process. The repetitive thought processes just irked me after a while. The protagonist wasn't my cup of tea, either. I still don't know if she was supposed to be this unlikable or if it was just me.
All in all, not my favorite but it did turn out to be a fast read, so.

Damn, I really thought I was going to love this. But I’m now halfway through and just can’t bear another 150 pages of it, so it’s a DNF. I thought it was going to be along the lines of Maria Stoian’s ‘Take it as a Compliment’, which I loved. But it’s largely about the protagonist going about her dull morning routine while thinking about the various unpleasant heterosexual men she’s known. Which is... fine I guess? But not something I’m that into.

Basically the point of the book is that (heterosexual) women can choose to be desirable and visible, or undesirable and invisible. Which, again... fine I guess? But the missing phrase here is “TO HETEROSEXUAL MEN”. Desirable TO HETEROSEXUAL MEN or invisible TO HETEROSEXUAL MEN. There are examples in the book where the protagonist talks to or interacts with women but I guess they don’t count? Or the women only talk to her because they desire her? It’s unclear.

There’s also a fair amount of fatphobia, which wouldn’t necessarily be a problem if it was being engaged with and critiqued. But instead the protagonist mentions the worry about overeating because then she will “risk fatness and undesirability”, as if they’re the same thing. And yeah, if you’re going to unpack it and analyse it, fine. But it doesn’t feel right to just say fatphobic shit and then never examine it.

Generally the protagonist is difficult to spend time with because she comes across as very judgemental and pretentious, which again is fine if you’re going to examine that. Occasionally there’s a page like when she fucks over her good friend for a men under a massive picture that says FEMINIST - pages like that suggest some self-reflection or self-critique. But every other time, the judgement and snobbery goes unexamined.

I really wanted to like this, and I think it could have been a very good book with a little more thought and analysis. As it is, I’m going to re-read Take it as a Compliment instead.

The title of this graphic memoir tells exactly what it's about. The author uses her commute to/from work, & her work day....to graphically remember & illustrate her past life....which involves alcohol abuse & sexual abuse. It's not a 'light & airy' read, it deals frankly, openly & graphically with these very serious, heavy subjects. I think she makes a good contribution to the discussion of today's #MeToo movement. I think it's certainly worth reading!
I received an e-ARC of this book from the publisher ABRAMS via NetGalley, in return for reading it & posting my own fair & honest review.

This one is...difficult. There were some really powerful and poignant moments, and then there were statements and sentiments that I vehemently disagree with, and made my skin crawl with discomfort. I'm the last person who wants to police how women tell their stories, but at the same time there's a lot that feels very Cis-Het White Feminist within these pages, and I just can't get on board with how it was presented, or the (misogynistic, fatphobic, homophobic) undertones carried with these words.

I think the style of illustrations were appropriate for the voice. I appreciated the ugliness of them, and the beauty to be found within that. They are graphic, but again, I think that serves it's purpose here.

But, yeah. At the end of it all, I'm just not sure where I sit with Commute.

Thank NetGalley for and advanced copy of Commute in exchange for my honest opinion.

This was the very first graphic novel ARC that I read and the experience was nonetheless interesting.

It took me over 3 hours to be able to download and open the file. I tried so many apps, different devices, different methods but, thankfully I got it. Eventually.

Once I had done that, there was something weird going on with the slides. I had to wait like 5 seconds between slides to be able to pass to the next one which made the experience slower and very tedious.

Talking about the graphic novel, I found some bits of it hard to read. There were many scenes about her drinking or talking about alcohol or doing things while drunk and, as I don't drink, I couldn't relate to them and made me feel a little bit uncomfortable.

Low self-esteem and low self- love is something that we all have gone through. Feeling invisible and unloved is more common than we think, especially if you live in a big city like New York.

I pitied her. I felt so sorry for her. I felt bad for her having these thoughts and for not loving herself a bit more. Instead of enjoying reading this book, I was more like: "Oh no, poor girl", "Oh no, you don't need to do that", "Oh, why?".

The art work was quite good. Simple, in black and white and with some funny draws. The words were big enough and easy to read with appropriate vocabulary.

I understand the need of this book to be out there. I hope it has all worked out well for the author but it was to raw and hard for me.

This book was very interesting. It took me a little while to settle into it and to find the rhythm but once I did, I really enjoyed it. I felt like the beginning of the book was where I struggled to connect with the author the most. I felt like the morning routine section was just to long and detailed. I understood where she was going with it but it was so long that I can see a lot of readers losing interest quickly. Once I got through the beginning part of the book and onto the actual commute part I felt like the book really found it's stride. I feel like this is one of those books that you will either love or be bored by. Overall I feel like this is a great book to read (especially if you are a man) to get a different perspective on what it's like to be a woman just existing in this day and age.

A graphic (literally) raw and emotional memoir about sexual assault, body image and alcoholism.

This book will not be for everyone. It is very much the story of an individual and it is not supposed to encapsulate the struggles of every woman. The art was not beautiful but the stylised drawings made the uncomfortable and unsettling topics tackled in this book all the more effective for the reader.

Abuse is not minimised. Coping mechanisms are discussed openly. Reading this was like meeting Erin Williams and sharing trauma over tea. It starts the conversation. 3 ⭐

Trigger Warnings: rape, sexual abuse, paedophilia, grooming, misogyny, homophobia, aphobia, fatphobia and alcoholism (this is not a conclusive list so please look at the reviews of others to see if this book would be triggering for you)

Preorder Now to receive your copy on October 8th 2019

I found this to be an unsettlingly accurate portrayal of the female experience of the male gaze. By framing it around an ordinary commute on an ordinary day, Williams notes every interaction or experience of the male gaze, and the way these experiences call up memories ir past events in which she’s been objectified or abused. Books like this can be hard to read, but they’re important too. As a memoir, it can only tell her story, not everyone’s, but I think the overarching aim to expose the male gaze and the way shame is used to oppress women is achieved with powerful effect.

Full disclosure: This was provided via Netgalley in return for an honest review.

This was an interesting read, it wasn’t really what I expected from the description but I did enjoy it.

This book covers some really deep and intense feelings and experiences that some people might not feel comfortable, reading about such as sexual assault and rape. Having said this the style of both the language used and the illustrations together make this a really easy and enjoyable read that I would even describe as funny in places, which as I said was pretty much he opposite of what I expected from a book with this subject matter.

It is also written as if it is all just a stream of consciousness journal rather than having a formulated structure which again helps make this a surprisingly quick read as it doesn’t really stop even at what I would loosely refer to as chapter breaks.

This was just a wonderful way of talking about these difficult to talk about subjects without it feeling too pointed however I am pretty sure that it’s a book that most people that describe themselves as feminists will love.

Am I going to read it again, no. Am I going to recommend it to my friends, probably not (unless it’s for a bit of a laugh as some of the frankly hilarious descriptions or the interesting art style). Am I sad that i took what was at max 45 minutes to read this, no, not at all.

Unfortunately there was an error with downloading. It showed illustrations but it wouldn't let me scroll through as smoothly as usual and it kept asking me to close the app.
The few images I did see looked intriguing though

I love graphic novel memoirs because I get to see a life from another person's persepective. I wanted to read this memoir because it hit close to home for me as a survivor of assault. While I did find Williams perspective compelling and the very idea of what women go through just to get on a train/bus/ public transport and get to work was amazing...I did not enjoy how this novel was put together. The artwork, while fast and gesture like was was good, it pulled me out of the narrative and felt disjointed. All graphic novels are different and I enjoy the varying artwork as long as it flows with the story, this did not. Also, the flow of the narrative jumped so quickly I wasn't sure what was happening. Which, could have been point. One minute you're shopping for fruit and the next BOOM you're thinking about your assault. I get that.

A great novel overall.

This was such a poignant graphic novel that as a woman I really appreciate, even if it was a difficult reading. The author points out some difficult truth to accept and made me think about my life also, and trust me life in Italian as a woman is not a walk in the Park also.

Una graphic novel veramente diretta e molto dura rispetto ad argomenti che vengono difficilmente trattati con tanta schiettezza, per esempio il consenso. Non é stata una facile lettura anche perché spesso l'autrice sottolinea delle verità difficili da accettare e mi ha fatto anche ripensare alla mia adolescenza in Italia, che non é stata una passeggiata di salute.

THANKS NETGALLEY FOR THE PREVIEW!

Erin Williams is a writer and illustrator living in New York. She is the author and artist who has produced this wonderful graphic novel. Commute: An Illustrated memoir of female shame.
She uses the daily journey to and from work to highlight what it is to be a woman. The simple act which can become a daily chore for women who can be left uncomfortable by male attention. Lustful stares, inappropriate touching and the whole aspect of being objectified.
Yet the piece of writing is far more than a simple narrative or feminine rant. It is less of a diary and more a cathartic outpouring of emotion, guilt, shame, inappropriate choice, substance abuse, collusion and personal responsibility.
However it conveys with a great deal of openness, graphic drawings, charm and wit, a naked, broken self that needed restoration not just another failed relationship. Here, it seems as though she uses the journey to unpack her failed life. She flits between previous sexual encounters, drunken liaisons and the men who have belittled, abused and damaged her psyche.
It is a chilling read for her honesty and the dark recollections are unsettling.
As a reader you have nowhere to hide, as a male you feel a predator and part of the story that would devalue and cheapen her experiences.

I loved the illustrations and the feeling it was her outpouring of all of herself that arrested your eyes and captured your attention on each speech bubble of her struggle and her reality as a woman.
Her writing is so frank and revealing that you cannot be anything other than engaged in this revelation of skewed values, yet survival in the face of violence and self-destruction.

So the commute can be seen as a metaphor of female reality and oppression, common to all who are seen for their sexuality in the first instance. But it is also the familiar trip to and from work that allows her mind to wander and relate a lifetime of disenfranchisement and where in relationships consent was rarely sought or given. How she has stopped punishing herself in this, why she has stopped listening to the male voices that put her down and how she started to live.

In this vicarial dialogue and record of a life laid bare we feel a shared journey.

It is a difficult read as it is so dark, bleak and candid but it is a journey to wholeness and for that experience alone it is a book that validates.

This is a stream of consciousness of a woman and how she feels she is represented in the world. Part of it is based on her commute back and forth to the office. Part of it is her thoughts on everything around her, and how women are assaulted with the gaze of men.

There is a little too much about <strong>how</strong> she gets ready in the morning. The beginning of the book is a bit drawn out.

<img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-5333" src="https://g2comm.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/commute2.png" alt="" />

<img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-5332" src="https://g2comm.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/commute.png" alt="" />

But once you get past that, and she talks about all things women, about giving birth, about many bad dates, and about the way advertising features women's bodies.

It is a bit of stream of consiouoness about it, and if you can stand reading that way, you might find this enjoyable.

Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.

This was an okay read. The art style was too simplistic for my taste but it was functional for what it was trying to convey. I didn't much care for the flow of the book with all the going back and forth; I understand that this is a storytelling style and this can be well done but I didn't care much for this particular style of execution. There were some stuff I don't agree with (like, boycotting all male authors as if they are all somehow equally privileged and recount the exact same experience, or the implication that all women want to be desired as if the ace spectrum is not a thing at all) but then I suppose her views are shaped by what she has gone through in life. The last half of the book was much better where the author makes several observations and critiques regarding sexism, rape culture and female shame in light of it.

Commute by Erin Williams tore me to shreds as soon as I looked at the first page. The themes of motherhood, femininity, empowerment, and trauma are all explored in this graphic memoir reflecting on women's power over their bodies in public spaces and the experiences that come with that. The hand-written text made the memoir feel like a note written to me in bits and pieces with casual illustration. While dense and intense, the themes explored felt familiar and uncomfortable with poetic verse. I wrote down too many quotes about taking up space and how men have treated women in public spaces to even begin to share with my friends. I really do hope this graphic memoir gives Erin Williams the platform she needs to start a conversation about taking up space and owning it - being fiercely unapologetic.

Warning: There are graphic drawings (just human anatomy but still) that I was not prepared for. You've been warned.

I appreciate what the author was trying to do but I just couldn't relate to much of anything. This is her personal diary basically. I've never had a problem with alcohol. I don't live in the city, I'm not often on the subway, I've never been in much of the situations she's been in. I'm glad to feel invisible in crowds or with strangers, it doesn't make me feel lonely. Maybe because I have someone to go home to, who makes me feel visible and desirable. And that correlation I don't care for. As a woman in public you're either visible and desirable or invisible and not desirable. Nahhh. I think you're pegging all men to being one way and that's not true. Also, apparently being fat means you're not desirable and that's pretty rude and bullshit. And the author is a pretty self-destructive, self-sabotaging person. So most of the book made me sad. For her, for her experiences, for some of the men she dated. Also, I can't get behind "I don't read men." Uhh yeah okay. But if a man said "I don't read women" he would be raked over the coals.

I'm completely hooked by the premise of this book, hence the reason why I requested it in the first place. However, I personally think that the idea was not very well-executed. The pace was dragging and it feels too long at so many points. There were a lot of unnecessary details that don't have any real impact on the plot. I also disagreed with a few lines in this book, but mostly on how it implied that every woman wants to be wanted as if it's a matter of fact. As if the purpose of a woman's existence is to lure man into their way. Lastly, completely subjective, I'm not a fan of the art style. It honestly could be better.

Thank you Abrams ComicArts and NetGalley for providing me with an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

Final Rating — 2/5

Commute is a powerful and painful graphic memoir about sexual violence, rape culture and alcoholism. I found it a difficult read at times given the content and witness the protagonist trying to cope with trauma understandably but very self-destructively. The art really reminded me of David Shrigley, and while I couldn't say I liked it, it definitely made an impact and there's a couple of pages that are still haunting me several weeks after reading. This is the type of book I'd love for lot of men to read to understand what it's like to live constantly under the threat of sexual violence, I think it would be very educational.