As much as I love to read, I find myself with a twice-renewed library book sitting open on my lap, phone in hand, 45 minutes deep into an unintentional, mindless doom-scroll. I know I can’t be the only one who has felt the negative effects of short-form video content on their attention span, especially when it comes to reading. If you’ve found yourself in a similar slump, feeling too distracted to sink into a book, a good graphic novel may be the cure. The short blocks of text, broken up by illustrations, are engaging and easily digestible, perfect to help rebuild your

reading stamina. Graphic novels aren’t everyone’s cup of tea, but if you haven’t picked one up since reading childhood comics, I’d encourage you to give one a try.

Graphic memoirs in particular have become one of my favorite genres. There is something special about seeing an author’s illustrations of themselves and their loved ones, and it’s always fascinating to get a peek into someone else’s world. Here are a few that outshine my algorithm.

“Ducks: Two Years in the Oil Sands” by Kate Beaton. After graduating from art school, a timid

and shy 22-year-old Beaton takes a job working in the Alberta oil sands to pay off her student loans, where she is one of a small handful of women among thousands of men. Misogyny, assault, alcoholism, and mental health issues are common but unacknowledged in the isolated work camps, changing her profoundly in the time she spends there. While this book explores many issues related to the oil mining industry, at its core it is about the people within it and how they are affected by the loneliness and isolation of their work. Beaton tells the stories of even the most unlikable and cruel of characters with empathy and thoughtfulness. This one is complicated, heartbreaking, very human, and will give you things to think about long after you’ve finished.

“The Infinite Wait and Other Stories” by Julia Wertz. This memoir is divided into three parts; “Industry,” which documents her many jobs in the restaurant industry while trying to make it as a comic artist, “The Infinite Wait,” about her experience getting diagnosed with systemic lupus, and “A Strange and Curious Place,” about her love of libraries. This is a hilarious, easy read that combines some heartfelt, beautiful stories with crass, sardonic humor.

“Stitches: A Memoir” by David Small. This memoir is a far cry from the Caldecott Medal-winning children’s books that Small is known for, instead taking us into his dysfunctional upbringing in 1950s Detroit. Small is a sickly child, who is harmed more than helped by his doctor father’s after-hours experimental medical treatments. Every character in his life is bizarre in one way or another. The writing is sparse in this one, making it a quick- but not easy read. The illustrations carry the story, blending fantasy and reality to create the feeling that you’re looking through the eyes of an imaginative child.

“Junji Ito’s Cat Diary: Yon and Mu” by Junji Ito. Ito is famous among horror fans for his body-horror manga, but this memoir chronicles a different, real-life horror Ito is living through himself as a dog person: his fiancée’s decision to adopt two cats. Ito’s typical horror style lends itself well to humor in this book. He sets up scenes full of tension and anticipation, but instead of ending in something shocking and grotesque, they end in his kitty’s silly antics. Cat owners are sure to get a laugh out of these relatable stories.