Bear meets girl.

Nora has bad luck with men. When she meets an (actual) bear on a hike in the Los Angeles hills, he turns out to be the best romantic partner she’s ever had! He’s considerate, he’s sweet, he takes care of her. But he’s a bear, and winning over her friends and family is difficult. Not to mention he has to hibernate all winter. Can true love conquer all?

Review

A book I didn't even know I needed. Charming and with sly social commentary. I loved this whimsical romance in graphic novella form.

Well drawn. Expressive. Funny. Real. Honestly, the best thing I have read in a long time. I made three other people read it in the last two weeks. 

I loved this whimsical romance in graphic novella form. The conceit is charming the idea of just dating a bear as the other dating isn't going so well. Bright, happy, with emotionial depth. 

I really grinned over the look at dating. My favorite line can't be written here but it made me do a spit take. Friendships are also explored as are horrible morally questionable jobs.

With a hero who is good the heroine's cat. 

But the mirror to what a loving relationship should really be with the kindnesses to who each person is....wonderful.

And there is a cat. With a hero who is good the heroine's cat. Yea! And a HEA!

Nora and her Bear are the best.

My Boyfriend Is a Bear is the story of an unlikely romance between a woman and her bear. This is a sweet graphic novel that is not as perverse as the title may imply. Ribon provides a romance with all the elements you expect: an unlikely couple, a chance encounter, and the mistrust and pressure to evolve for a partner that causes division. Farris’s art is a simple and colorful comic style, but it fits the subject. One way this graphic novel stands out is in its lack of sentimentality. This is a sweet story, but it’s not cloying. It parallels a realistic relationship without losing its heart or trying too hard. Lots to grah here.

The wonderful thing about social media and in particular book discussion forums such as goodreads is the opportunity it offers to the avid reader to discuss and in particular to discover new books, and new authors. Michael Farris Smith was a name that was completely alien to me until a throw away mention made me inquisitive as to the content of his books and the literate style of his prose. By pure chance his novel Desperation Road had been heavily discounted (for a very limited period) on kindle and so with a brave heart and a restless reading soul I reached inside the mind of what I hoped would be a great new discovery and reading experience.

Desperation Road is set in southern USA in the state of Mississippi and as the title would tend to suggest this journey is going to be a long and difficult ride. I had previously read and enjoyed the works of Michael McDowell (southern gothic and a good example the classic Cold Moon over Babylon) and the much revered  Cormac McCarthy with his deeply dark and troubling stories of Southern Outcasts (Child of God) In fact there is one similarity between Child of God and Desperation Road; the central character in both books has just been released from prison. Russell Gaines, after 12 year sentence is returning home to the small town of McComb in the Mississippi Delta. His crime was one of manslaughter and now, having served his time, is hoping that he can be accepted back into the community. There to greet him on his arrival are Walt and Larry who are not best pleased to see the return of the man who killed their brother Jason. At the same time a homeless drug addict, and part time prostitute, Maben is making her way on foot to McComb accompanied by her daughter Annalee. But old habits die hard and Maben is forced to "turn a few tricks" whilst leaving her daughter asleep in a cheap motel. When a local deputy intercepts her, and demands payment in kind, in a fit of rage and anger she shoots him dead. What happens when the world of Russell and Maben collide in a small Southern Town where violence and the threat of death is an everyday occurrence.

This was a tremendous and exciting read and I could really feel the tension and hate that was destined to explode at anytime and usually did. The claustrophobic setting and some great prose made this a novel to be appreciated and devoured in ultra quick time...."Reptiles slither and blackbirds cry as the early light slashes and relieves the quiet night."........"Ripped wide open but alive. Ripped wide open but recovered. Ripped wide open but not wide enough. Lucky, they'd said. A miracle they'd said. Bullshit, he'd said"....."There had been years and years of this. Years of not knowing where she was going or what she was doing or the names of the people she was doing it with."....

Wonderful atmospheric edgy writing not knowing where the violence was going to strike but knowing that it would happen soon. Michael Farris Smith is an author that I shall be reading more off..very soon...Highly highly recommended

I just want to sing the praises for this book. It was so good, so sad, and yet so good.

Russell has just spent the last 11 years in prison and is now coming home. He's just finished his workshop and is on the bus home. He stands up, heads towards the door and stops. Two guys are waiting for him, they aren't friendly. They proceed to beat the crap out of him. They have decided 11 years inside isn't enough punishment. Welcome home.

Maben and her little girl are walking down the freeway. They've been at this for a while, a long while. Longer than Maben would like to count. A man feels sorry for them and picks them up and takes them to the nearest truck stop and gives her $40. She feels rich, she has just doubled her money. They eat dinner and get a room. The first shower and bed they've had in weeks.

Both Maben and Russell know this is their life. They've come to accept it and they try to make the best of it. They are good people. No matter what they try to do, someone always hands them another sh&& can.

They end up together, little do they know that they have a past connection. However, before they discover it, they are already trying to help each other. This is their story. It's a great story, I absolutely loved it. I am already going to say that it will be on my list for best of 2017. There is so much going on. People abusing their power, grown men who won't grow up, revenge, people who need to be in jail walking the streets, it's just crazy some of it. And a lot of it is just one guy. I was so sad to say goodbye to these characters. I really became attached to them, especially Maben and the little girl. She was trying so hard and just couldn't get a break.

This was the second book I have read by this author and I have loved both this one and "Rivers".

Huge thanks to Little, Brown and Company for approving my request and to Net Galley for providing me with a free e-galley in exchange for an honest review.