This art!! I love Zoe’s art — the mix of styles, the different color palettes, the animal heads. I just loved it all.

Now on to the heavy stuff. It was hard reading a book about a young person who has frequent thoughts of suicide. Mental illness, depression, social anxiety.. it’s all so (wait for it) relatable. I appreciate when a writer shares real experiences.

This depression monster is one of my favorite depictions of depression that I’ve seen yet.

Thank you NetGalley and Image Comics!

Unfortunately I didn't finish this title through no fault of its own, but because the topics covered hit a bit too close too home for me - something that is really a testament to the brilliant storytelling of Zoe Thorogood.

I tried to finish the story by reading in smaller installments, but ultimately ended up dnf-ing the book at around the 60% mark.

'It's lonely at the center if the Earth' is well written and uses some really interesting and complex visual storytelling and does an excellent job at tackling a heavy topic in a honest and intimate way.

This is a book that I would stock in my library as I can see how it might benefit someone else, however I would give it a borrower age rating and have clear content warnings in the front.

This was a very interesting reading experience. I never totally felt like I knew what direction the narrative was taking, and at multiple points, the metanarrative took a very unexpected turn. That is not to say I didn't enjoy the book; I was hooked, unable to step away despite how painful some of the experiences were to stay with. This is a masterfully innovative take on a subgenre that can often become very blase and self-congratulatory.

This was a unique graphic novel. I appreciate the difficult discussion of mental health it presented. The art was engaging and fit the themes of the book well.

A raw, unfiltered look at depression and low self-esteem. Zoe Thorogood decides to record what it's like to be her for six months. This isn't really a memoir. At 23, she hasn't lived much of a life yet. It's more what's it's like to be in her head for a time. Where this excels is the art. She uses a variety of ways to portray herself and others, sometimes all in the same panel. Sometimes there's 5 or 6 different versions of herself in a panel. Often she gives herself a bald, cartoony head as that's how she feels. Don't expect this to go anywhere or to have some kind of resolution. These are the kinds of issues people struggle with their whole life. This is more about seeing someone else's point of view and what it's like for things to not always come easy, but to struggle every day.

This is the first graphic novel I have read it a while and it was a great one to pick up! I love the meme style of some of the panels and the story was very deep. Thorogood is very honest about their deepest fears, issues and the things that torment them. It is a refreshing autobiography that does not hide the ugly, but embraces it instead.

A biographical account of 6 months of the author's life as she prepares this novel to be published.

I can't say this was a bad novel, but it's honestly not a very powerful one.

It gets very meta and talks about itself, which was fine at first, but after a while I started feeling like there was no point in reading a novel about a novel that doesn't know what it's going to be about- and ultimately ends up being about how the author doesn't know what she wanted it to be about??

Look, I understand the artistic process, and I believe anyone should make their art do whatever they want, but unfortunately, this graphic novel did not really work for me. I think the art itself is beautiful even when it's ugly. You can tell the artist is really good at drawing comics. I just feel like at the end of the day, this didn't add any value to my life and I left feeling a bit emptier than when I started.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an e-arc in exchange for my honest review

Zoe Thorogood is an artist, author, creator and one of her main means of output is the graphic novel. But Zoe has some severe issues with self confidence. Over the course of six months, Zoe battles severe depression, the terrifying fear of interacting with others - or worse, opening up to someone - and the only thing that keeps her going is her artwork - even though she's feeling very insecure about it!

I knew nothing about Zoe Thorogood before going into this book, but the idea of an autobiographical graphic novel was really interesting to me. What I didn't know was that it was going to be so depressing.

I don't feel as though this book shares any great perspective on the issues (depression or self-imaging) and is much more a cathartic release for Ms Thorogood. That's great for her, but what does it do for us?

Perhaps readers who are facing similar issues will find this relatable. Sometimes just knowing that someone else has gone through this can be helpful.

The story is incredibly simple. Zoe is depressed. Look how depressed. What can she do about her depression?

The artwork is ... chaotic. There are a few panels within that show that Thorogood is capable of producing graphic novel-worthy work. Look at the cover, for instance. This looks like a style that I would appreciate. But what's inside the covers here is a topsy-turvy mishmash of ideas and styles.

I get it. I really do. It's a strong visualization of what's going on in her head and what's going on in her head is depressing and confusing and not very realistic. But ... wow. Do I need to be subjected to this? (The answer is, "No. I do not.")

Once again, I know people - generally high schoolers - who might totally geek out on this, feeling like Zoe has totally captured what they are feeling. But as an older reader who enjoys a good graphic novel, this is absolutely not for me. I don't think this does a very good service for Ms Thorogood. I'm likely to be skeptical if I see her name on a book.

Looking for a good book? It's Lonely at the Centre of the Earth is an autobiographical graphic novel by Zoe Thorogood that will depress you if you aren't already depressed and possibly confuse you if you are.

I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher, through Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.

This books deals with heavy content & I'm going to say the dreaded relatable word but this book certainly felt it at times. There may not have been a potato in my version but there was a couple situations in the book that were pretty identical alongside the general themes and thoughts.

As the book covers a 6 month time period alongside snippets of the past, the art helps complement this with the different styles used to portray various thoughts & times. The mixed media as well and use of colour really helped certain panels have a bigger impact.

Definitely make sure you're in the right head space to read this but it's well worth a read for the content & art.

*I received an e-arc of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

This was the first thing I've read by Zoe Thorogood, which made it interesting to read about her artistic process and perception of herself as an artist. It reminded me a lot of Marbles by Ellen Forney - if you like that style of editorialized mostly-memoir graphic novel. The art was super cool - but it didn't load great on an iPad, at least as an e-arc, which made it a little difficult to read. I overall enjoyed it however.

3.5 Stars

This was quite unique and I struggle to rate it as it was so personal. I felt her anguish and I enjoyed the artwork. Made me think. I would recommend it.

I loved this so so much.

I laughed and I cried, just so many of my feelings laid out so imperfectly that it was perfect 🫶🏿.

Love Izzy so so much 🥹.

The guy that I'm calling Mr America, really didn't like him. I would pull UP and FIGHT 🤣🤣😭😭.

Zoe Thorogood records a difficult six months of her life in graphic novel form in <i>It’s Lonely at the Centre of the Earth</i>. I loved the way she different styles of drawing different versions of herself and that she bared herself so openly for everyone to see. I, like many people, can see parts of myself in Zoe, and I like that her work helps us to know that we are not alone. I recommend checking this book out!

Many thanks to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this book.

The author/artist shares six months of her life with us in a well-illustrated, quirky, and inventive graphic memoir. She is not a happy young woman, and this book delves heavily into depression and thoughts of suicide. Though it held my interest, I can't say I enjoyed it.

want to thank Netgalley and Zoe for granting me this comic. This autobio comic was a real life view into what depression can truly be for some people. Although the little things bring us joy in life our depression is always with us. I loved the quote “I am not my depression but sometimes it’s comforting to believe that’s all I am.” This comic also takes place during the pandemic in 2020 and was a rough patch for all of us. Again I recommend this book for everyone whether they can relate to the depression or not, she put a comedic spin on it which I relate to because I also use dark humor to mask my mental health as well.

Although I did not enjoy reading this via ebook I think the art was beautiful. I would want a physical version of this book.

Although this book is about anxiety and depression it truly makes you feel seen and not alone. Many of the thoughts that were placed to paper are relatable and I'm sure other people have felt. The art invokes so many emotions and you can't help but admire the madness and the sadness of this book. It is really amazing to see someone so talented to not only make art but to write about their life in such a way.

I’m at a loss for the right words. This book is very intense and very, well, “relatable”. I wanted to write this long profound review of the book, but now I just can’t seem to do that so I’ll leave you with a long word to take up space. supercalifragilisticexpialidocious

beautiful, emotional, and funny at times. zoe is an incredible storyteller and i’m excited to read her future works.

"Life is merely a collection of good and bad experiences loosely held together by the void in between- and that void is your space to mold, a space to harness and create in. Just be careful not to get stuck there."

A metanarrative Slice of Life graphic novel that will appeal to those in their 20s.

Society often portrays your 20s as the best time of your life. However, I really struggled in my 20s, more than I ever did in any other time in my life. I've heard the same for friends of mine. They call it a "second" puberty.
This book captures this tumultuous time.

The story covers:
*Imposter syndrome
*Generational trauma
*Healing your inner child
*Doing drugs
*Doubting yourself
*Dealing with weird "situationships"

Overall I enjoy the plot, voice, and artwork. I think this would have appealed to me more if I was still in that time period of my life and could resonate better with the angst.

**Check content warnings**

"I can't change my brain chemistry, but I can change now I choose to interact with the world around me"

Voted my favorite book of 2022.

I’ve never been particularly drawn to the black-and-white cartoon memoir genre of comics. So I am shocked that two of them top my list for best of the year. The cartoon autobioraphy has a rich heritage. Thorogood’s raw honesty, her abandonment of comics “formalism,” is right at home alongside Harvey Pekar, despite the wildly different worlds the two inhabited. One, a disgruntled middle aged man, the other a 23 year old woman struggling with mental illness. But this is a book that seeks to illuminate the mundane complexity of human life and experience, just as American Splendor did, in its own way.

Lonely at the Centre of the Earth sees Thorogood, hot off the critical success of her first book, The Impending Blindness of Billie Scott, trapped by the pressures of industry expectation and her own insecurities. She decides to document a six month period in her life following a suicidal episode, her first forays back into the world after pandemic quarantine.


What follows is an emotionally resonant and wildly creative book that literally invites readers to join Zoe in creating the book’s meaning and purpose. Thorogood’s supporting cast consists of various versions of herself, a chibi anime version that encourages her to live her artistic dream, the harsh realist, her childhood self, and even the embodiment of her own depression–the Void Creature. The depression avatar looms over Zoe throughout the book, a towering amorphous blob with a haunting grin that is sometimes adorable, sometimes comfort, and sometimes horrific.

Throughout the book, Thorogood plays with the unique nature of comics storytelling, the structure of the page itself, the artifice of narrative the control over time and image. She engages in thrilling mixed media to represent how her own struggles with mental illness feel disocciative. She falls through the air, her body broken into a dozen different styles and media. A grid of nine panels where she asserts her own confidence is interspersed with harsh black panels with LIAR written in large white paint.

Every page is a profound celebration of the power of art, of the potential of comics to tell unique stories in unpredictable ways. Zoe Thorogood has made a profoundly beautiful work of art.