Laughing out loud

“Hyperbole and a Half” proves comical and insightful

The arguably most popular meme from “Hyperbole and a Half”, the “clean all the things” meme was illustrated and created by Allie Brosh.

How do I begin to describe “Hyperbole and a Half?” The obvious words come to mind; funny, heartwarming, clever. But in truth, I found Allie Brosh’s to be more than what those few descriptive adjectives infer.

Brosh is a professional blogger who has captivated audiences with her interactions with the world on her blog “Hyperbole and a Half.” For her novel, she collects her most popular blog moments into what she cleverly titled “Hyperbole and a Half.” She also commented on her website that ten and a half new stories were included. That being said, Brosh uses her iconic, crude (yet realistic) drawings and captivating storytelling to retell glimpses of her life to readers; stories ranging from her embarrassing moments of childhood, to her still embarrassing moments of adulthood.

Her novel and blog have generated much Internet success, to the point where memes were created from her illustrations. The “clean all the things!” meme, arguably the most popular, has had its fair share of attention, reaching its peak usage in December of 2011 (knowyourmeme.com). Brosh’s illustrations greatly supplement her literary comedy, which in turn adds an edge over all other comedy authors.

On a more serious note, while Brosh shares her tasteful comedic tales, she also works to explain her battle with depression to her readers. While she does not make it a main focus of her story, she takes the time to address her personal battle with it. She includes metaphors and similes in order to explain depression to people who do not have to face the daily struggle the illness presents. In the end, Brosh’s brief summary of her eventual victory over depression is highly insightful.

Just as her stories range from her times as a child to her struggles as an adult, the range of the novel’s focus audience does as well; anyone from pre-teens to middle aged adults can read this book and not help but crack a smile at her mesmerizing absurdity (trust me, I know).

Overall, Allie Brosh’s humourous life narratives have an identifiable wit that makes the novel as a whole stand out from the cluttered comedy genre. Offering a quick read for anyone looking to read realistic, truthful, yet joke-filled material, Allie Brosh’s “Hyperbole and a Half” is the perfect fit.