Member Reviews

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Collins publisher, Harper Perennial for the ARC provided

When I finished reading, I understand more about what is OCD means for people who has that. How the author describe his childhood life along with the dark shadows that keep haunted him, never knew how desperate and miserable OCD people struggling with it since early life. The books gave voice and images about OCD.

I felt a little bit disturbed with the drawing but I guess that’s how the author wants to share his story through this book along with the drawing. It well represented, dark, raw, every stage of his life with OCD delivered well in every chapter. My favorite one is when he met his therapist. And also I felt this book is a little bit short. not an easy read for those who’s not familiar with this type of genre (graphic novel memoir).

Was this review helpful?

An insightful look into the life and mind of the book’s creator, as he struggles with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. Jason’s heartbreaking struggles with himself, friends, family, and loved ones as he tries new treatments and medications and seeks to understand the thoughts and behaviors that effectively hold him hostage in his own mind and body. Thank you, Jason, for sharing your experience and for offering hope.

Was this review helpful?

As a kindergarten teacher, I’m always looking for books to share with students to help them understand their own world a little better. I was hoping this would give that insight for my “worriers” but unfortunately, it fell short. I felt the examples of fear were too far removed from current children’s interests. I also appreciate an advanced vocabulary but the kids still have to be able to understand. I would be concerned that most kids could not solve for meaning in this book.

Was this review helpful?

I don’t think I have ever felt more seen in a book than with this little illustrated memoir. This is the story of Jason Adam Katzenstein, famed cartoonist and writer, and his struggle with Obsession Compulsive Disorder (“OCD”).

This book makes me want to talk about my OCD, something I only do with very close family, and that, in and of itself, is telling.

Everyone’s experience with OCD varies, but I saw myself in Jason’s story and found his struggles, coping mechanisms, and experience with ERP very true to my own experience, even though our triggers differed.

The art of the book is exceptionally amazing, with Jason’s cartoons throughout its pages, and filled with bits of his other art from different times in his life and in his experience with his OCD. It was fascinating for me, a non-artist, to see how his OCD affected something so personal and important to him as his art.

It’s a beautifully written and illustrated book that should be required reading for people who have loved ones with OCD. If you yourself have OCD and think you can handle reading his experience (it can be very triggering to read about other people’s obsessions and compulsions) I really recommend this for you as well. This is also just a really great book if you want to understand what it’s like to live as someone with OCD.

5/5 stars. Beautifully illustrated and extremely heartfelt. I loved this.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an eArc of this book in exchange for an honest review. My opinions (and experience with OCD) are all my own!

My Goodreads review is live at the below link. The review on my blog, Back Shelf Books, is scheduled to be posted on my blog, Back Shelf Books, on Saturday, March 14th.

Was this review helpful?

Thank you to both Netgalley and the publisher for this book!
It is always nice to read a book where you can see yourself represented. I enjoyed this book because it gave a voice and images to OCD. I was happy to find a book about OCD by someone who knows what is like to live with it. I also enjoyed how it was in graphic novel form, it made it easier to see how OCD effects people. I think if you know someone who has OCD you should read this book to better understand them.

Also posted to Goodreads!

Was this review helpful?

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this book in exchange for an honest review.
I like reading books about personal experiences with mental illnesses. This was a good graphic memoir of OCD. I enjoyed his sense of humor and his honesty.

Was this review helpful?

They say you should never meet your heroes. In this case, if you love the books that Jason has written, is it wrong to hear the story about his mental illness? Does it make his books any worse or better?

If anything, it give you sympathy for what he has had to go through in his life.

<img src="https://g2comm.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/everything-is-an-emergency.png" alt="" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-5607" />

This is the story of Jason's OCD, told in graphic novel format, from start, to hopeful finish. He tells how hard it is to deal with, and what he ultimately did do. It is sad. It is hard and it is repetitive, as he slips back again and again, and loses and moves on.

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

Was this review helpful?

I've followed Jason Adam Katzenstein's work on Instagram and have really enjoyed his perspective and sense of humor. Everything is an Emergency provides a highly personal look into his struggles with obsessive compulsive disorder and efforts to manage it. At points Everything is an Emergency was difficult for me to read because I empathized with Katznstein's struggle to function while dealing with a serious mental illness. But I think Everything is an Emergency gives a clear picture of how OCD can manifest itself and I hope people will read it and stop using OCD as a synonym for being particular about things.

Was this review helpful?

Unsettling, raw, and unflinching are all terms that could be used to describe this book. Cartoonist Jason Katzenstein has struggled with severe OCD from childhood. His graphic memoir explores his experiences with this disease, describing with painful honesty the impact the disease has had on him and those who care and love for him. It's a difficult read, agonizing really, but perhaps one the clearest depictions I've seen of the disorder.

Was this review helpful?

A riveting, raw portrayal of what it is like to live, struggle and thrive despite obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD). The author is frank with his portrayal of what goes on inside his mind, beginning with his earliest anxious memories up until his adulthood. The portrayal of anxiety is perfectly depicted in his drawings, which are humorous and at times stark. I will purchase for my high school library. The only reason I did not give 5 stars was the (sometimes unexpected) curse words. For example, instead of saying he held his bladder all day because he was afraid of public toilets in elementary school, the author writes, "I would hold my piss all day." I don't mind a well-placed curse word, but this seemed unnecessary, even crude. Also there are multiple uses of the F word, and without them, this book could perhaps be a good choice for middle grade.

Was this review helpful?

***Thanks to the publisher and to Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review***
Mental illness is so prevalent in our society and it feels right that there should be more written about it. This author made himself relate-able in a way that seemed completely unique for him. I empathized with a lot he was going through and I think his illustrations only highlighted the feelings and struggles he faced.

Was this review helpful?

This is a great book on inner workings of man that has OCD. He begins having irrational thoughts as a child. Those irrational thoughts have led to compulsions. This book shows how debilitating it can be and some things the author did to feel better.

Was this review helpful?

An interesting look at the author's experience with OCD, starting with his childhood and how he attempted to cope, eventually finding refuge in drawing.

Was this review helpful?