Commute: An Illustrated Memoir of Shame
Erin Williams
An intimate, clever, and ultimately gut-wrenching graphic memoir about the daily decision people must make between being sexualized or being invisible—now in paperback
In Commute, we follow author and illustrator Erin Williams on her daily commute to and from work, punctuated by recollections of sexual encounters as well as memories of her battle with alcoholism, addiction, and recovery. As she moves through the world navigating banal, familiar, and sometimes uncomfortable interactions with the familiar-faced strangers she sees daily, Williams weaves together a riveting collection of flashbacks.
Williams recollections highlight the indefinable moments when lines are crossed and a woman must ask herself if the only way to avoid being objectified is to simply cease drawing any attention to her physical being. She delves into the gray space that lives between consent and assault and tenderly explores the complexity of the shame, guilt, vulnerability, and responsibility attached to both.
Praise for Commute
“This sharp and splendidly drawn memoir will strike a strong chord in the current moment. ” —Publishers Weekly, starred review
“One day’s commute offers time for the author to reflect on sexual predators, alcoholism, and the experiences she understands better now than she did at the time. . . . A catharsis for the author that fits perfectly within a pivotal period for society and culture at large.” —Kirkus Reviews
“This is welcoming, soul-baring, stunningly interconnected, and very discussable.” —Booklist
Neal Bodenheimer was born and raised in New Orleans. In 2009 he opened his first cocktail bar, Cure, on a flood-damaged stretch of Freret Street. Since then he has opened several more bars in New Orleans, including Cane & Table, Bellocq, Vals, and Dauphine’s, which is in Washington D.C. In 2018 Cure won a James Beard Award for “Best Bar Program.” He is the co-chair of the board of directors for the Tales of the Cocktail Foundation, a leader in the global cocktail community committed to educating, advancing, and supporting the hospitality industry around the world. Emily Timberlake is a writer and editor based out of Oakland, California. Previously an editor at Ten Speed Press, Timberlake acquired and edited 12 James Beard and IACP Cookbook Award winners. Her writing has appeared in the Los Angeles Times, San Francisco Chronicle, Punch, TASTE, and more.
Size Guide
×
Trending Now
