Review: The Fire Never Goes Out: A Memoir in Pictures by Noelle Stevenson

Hey all, Dani here.

All things considered, things are going pretty okay for me and mine. I hope that you and yours are getting through this trying time okay as well. In the meantime, I’m just going to try and keep doing what I love to do, and that’s talk about books and other geeky topics. So I hope you are all ready for me to start bringing out even more posts than I’m already doing. Instead of 8 posts a week, it’s looking like I might be doing around 10 posts each week instead. It’s a bit of work, but it gives my mind something to focus on, and I hope that it gives you all something to help distract your minds a bit too.

And if you just need someone to talk to or rant to, it may sound silly but I’m here for you. We’re all in this together. So feel free to reach out to me on Twitter(@DanielleThamasa), Instagram(@danielle.thamasa), or e-mail me at danielle.thamasa@yahoo.com. Oh, and I’m going to try to start posting more photos on Instagram too. I’ve missed being a regular poster there.

Anyway, let’s jump into today’s review.

Book Details

Format: Hardcover

Pages: 208

Publisher: Harper TEEN

Publication Date: March 3, 2020

ISBN: 0062278274 (ISBN13: 9780062278272)

Summary

From Noelle Stevenson, the New York Times bestselling author-illustrator of Nimona, comes a captivating, honest illustrated memoir that finds her turning an important corner in her creative journey—and inviting readers along for the ride.

In a collection of essays and personal mini-comics that span eight years of her young adult life, author-illustrator Noelle Stevenson charts the highs and lows of being a creative human in the world. Whether it’s hearing the wrong name called at her art school graduation ceremony or becoming a National Book Award finalist for her debut graphic novel, Nimona, Noelle captures the little and big moments that make up a real life, with a wit, wisdom, and vulnerability that are all her own.

My Thoughts

Rating: 5 stars

Some of what is in this book I already knew from Noelle’s episode of the web series “Between the Sheets,” but getting to see Noelle’s story told through her art and her writing was an interesting experience. I’m glad I picked this book up.

I first learned about Noelle Stevenson back in 2015, and I picked up her web-series turned graphic novel Nimona–which I definitely recommend by the way. From there I picked up the comic series Lumberjanes, which she was also involved with. And if you don’t know her from either of those two projects, she’s also one of the people behind the She-Ra series on Netflix. I also know her from her guest appearance on “Critical Role.” She’s a pretty cool person and I think her characters and stories are pretty entertaining.

This particular book features a number of new personal mini-comics, as well as her annual blog year-in-review posts. It details the ups and downs, both in little moments and big moments, over the past eight years.

It is a book of growth and creativity, mental health, wit and wisdom, and romantic struggles, as well as the doubt and uncertainty that comes from finishing college and moving out to become your own self-sufficient adult-like person.

There were so many little parts of this book that resonated with me. It was an easy and quick read because of the format, but it was also not-an-easy read because being let in to a person’s struggles with uncertainty and mental health issues can be a deep and dark place. I appreciate Noelle’s willingness to share those parts of herself and her journey with us.

Reading this has reinforced to me that I need to give Nimona a re-read, and then perhaps I should re-read Lumberjanes as well. Plus, you know, I bought the DVD release of the first 3 seasons of the Netflix series “She-Ra and the Princesses of Power,” so I need to watch it sometime.

Where to Get a Copy

You can grab your own copy of this book from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books-a-million, Book Depository, or your local independent bookstore through IndieBound.

You can also check with your local library.