Was She Pretty?

About this book

A SINGULAR EXPLORATION OF MODERN LOVE AND ALL ITS DEMONS IN WORDS AND DRAWINGS In this brilliant gem of a book artist/writer Leanne Shapton weaves together a voyeuristic tale of love and life through epigrammatic vignettes and sleek line drawings. Entire relationships are encapsulated in a few stingingly perfect lines: "Colleen was Walters ex-girlfriend from med school. She loved to dance with men at weddings." Pricking our insecurities Shapton introduces us to Kim whose ex "kept a drawerful of love letters in a kitchen drawer . . . She would stare at it while she cooked." And Bens ex "a physiotherapist for the U.S. mens and womens Olympic swim teams. She wore small white shorts year-round." Fascinated by her own jealousy Shapton interviewed acquaintances about their anxieties and peccadilloes and the result is a book of surpassing originality: one of those unusual books that comes along to delight us all like An Exaltation of Larks or Love Loss and What I Wore or Griffin and Sabine. Was She Pretty? can also share the shelf with the work of the legendary William Steig whose early psychologically revealing work inspired Shapton. An unflinching observer of human behavior she invites us to peer into the hearts and minds of her characterswhile reminding us that we shouldnt be surprised if we see ourselves staring right back.