On her first night in New York City, Kay Sohini sits on the tarmac of JFK Airport making an inventory of everything she’s left behind in India: her family, friends, home, and gaslighting ex-boyfriend. In the wake of that untethering she realizes two things: she’s finally made it to the city of her literary heroes—Kerouac, Plath, Bechdel—and the trauma she’s endured has created gaping holes in her memory.
As Kay begins the work of piecing herself back together she discovers the deep sense of belonging that can only be found on the streets of New York City. In the process she falls beautifully, ridiculously in love with the bustling landscape, and realizes that the places we love do not always love us back but can still somehow save us in weird, unexpected ways.
This Beautiful, Ridiculous City, a graphic memoir by Kay Sohini will be pulbished January 28, 2025. Ten Speed Press provided an early galley for review.
From the dedication, Kay reveals that she worked more than full time (twelve or more hours a day) for six months on the drawing for this book. And it truly shows in the end result. Each page is full of vibrant details and gorgeous perspective. The layouts are creative and encourage the reader to fully engage in the flow that only this kind of format can deliver. The colors give off an energy that hums, much like the city that is at the heart of the narrative. Her story is a moving one that touches upon so many themes (family connections, the power of food, surviving an abusive relationship). The choice of presenting all this through a visual medium works extremely well.
Like Kay, from a very young age I too was fascinated by the siren song of the city that does not sleep. Though, I never made it my home (yet), I enjoyed visiting a few times in my twenties and would always welcome any opportunities to do so again. Her memoir manages to capture all of the wonder of New York.
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