But I Really Wanted to Be an Anthropologist
Motin’s autobiographical comic gives readers a delightful young French woman who works to balance a blogging career, motherhood, and a fancifully romantic partnership. The balancing-act episodes collected here range in length from one page to four, with unpaneled cartoon passages titled in prose (Kids are like alcohol; The magic elevator). The artwork shows actions and expressions with the kind of hyperness one imagines Motin must lead her real daily life, washed in pinks and reds and a bit of violet according to her depicted mood. Words are nicely chosen to show off her essentially optimistic wit (and duly translated to keep the spirit of her humor). It’s easy to sympathize with her, empathize with her husband, and appreciate her cheeky three-year-old as well as share the relief of visits with her girlfriends. Like Lewis Trondheim’s Little Nothings books, albeit with wholly different personalities and concerns, this is an easy collection to enjoy by comics fans and anyone else who wants to make the acquaintance of a goodhearted and youthful thirtysomething. --Francisca Goldsmith