The Good Times Are Killing Me: A Novel - Softcover

Barry, Lynda

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0941104222 ISBN 13: 9780941104227

Publisher: Perennial, 1988

Synopsis

Relates the struggles of Edna Arkins and her family to stay together in a world of bigotry and betrayal, a struggle made easier for Edna by her love of music

About this title

Review:

Readers of alternative weeklies will be familiar with Lynda Barry's work from her long-running comic strip, Ernie Pook's Comeek. Similarly, The Good Times Are Killing Me focuses on the surprisingly complex emotional world of children. It is the story of a neighborhood going through the throes of integration and white flight as seen through the eyes of young Edna Arkins. Edna forms an unlikely friendship with Bonna Willis, a girl with a talent for "ass beating." Edna is white and Bonna is black, and from the start there are pressures from both sides against their friendship. As always, Barry is an impeccable observer of the way kids think and talk--several passages are certain to bring memories of intense schoolyard negotiations rushing back. Barry's artwork comes into play as well--each chapter is punctuated with slightly more painterly versions of her characteristically raw drawing style. By turns funny and moving, The Good Times Are Killing Me is an immensely satisfying read. --Ali Davis

About the Author:

Lynda Barry has worked as a painter, cartoonist, writer, illustrator, playwright, editor, commentator and teacher and found they are very much alike. She is the Chazen Family Distinguished Chair in Art and Discovery Fellow at the University of Wisconsin-Madison where she is also an Assistant Professor of Interdisciplinary Creativity in their Image Lab.

About this edition

• Publisher: Perennial
• Publication date: 1988
• ISBN 10: 0941104222
• ISBN 13: 9780941104227
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 119