Just Act Normal

John McNamee's graphic novel, Just Act Normal, covers much of what many of us experience growing up. It is very humorous and sarcastic. The book forces you to question why everyone is trying to act "normal" and what that even means. McNamee's cartoons are simple in style and easy to read and understand. In some cases, it gives common sayings in life a double meaning. "If you love something, let it go. Then you can follow it and see what it's really up to". This collection will have you chuckling when you read about the ironies of our modern life.

Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to read this wonderful ARC. #JustActNormal #NetGalley

Very quirky find, with bright colourful fresh illustrations that match the satirical humour that explores the fragilities of the human condition whilst highlighting scenarios and situations anyone can relate to within society. Each graphic is unique yet maintains a theme throughout and cleverly interweaves similar characters to explore different aspects such as views on self, world and society.

Just Act Normal by John McNamee is the third collection from this cartoonist, and my introduction to the world of Pie Comics. While the cartoons themselves are quite simplistic, the messaging contained within is sarcastic, dry, and very relatable. Why do we try so hard to be 'normal', and just who defines 'normal' anyway? I certainly understand the appeal of the strip as a running commentary and critique on modern life and human foible, and I appreciate the truth that bears itself out amidst the funny.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Oni Press for the opportunity to read this ARC.

This is the third collection from the author but the first I have read. This book collects together short comics about what it means to be “normal”, in childhood, at work, in love and more.

The artwork is simplistic (which is addressed in a strip of its own) yet effective and the humour is a great blend of sarcastic and oddball. All of them were amusing and several had me laughing out loud! The artist does a great job of mining everyday life for those relatable moments but then taking them a step further to highlight some of the absurdities of modern life.

Enjoyable fun read.

Avid readers of "The Onion," a new book has arrived just for you! If you have been concerned about sibling dynamics, parenting, growing up, dealing with society, self-worth, online shopping, religion, politics, or are just bored and need someone to tell you to read a book, this is the book for you. Peppered with some advice on learning, growing, and adapting, John McNamee dishes out a serving of comedy and absurdity that is much needed in our current climate. Perhaps you have been searching for a way to achieve the "all day feel goods" that doesn't require whiskey and coffee. If so, buy a copy of "Just Act Normal" today. I promise you won't regret it! Bonus: since it takes a little over an hour to read, this is the perfect workday bathroom break companion.

An absurd collection stuffed with sardonic, biting wit. Perfect for crumbling teens and failing adults.

This is a compilation of funny comics. I really enjoyed the humor in this book. Humor about existential dread,love work, nature. It’s geared towards adults, not because it’s inappropriate or anything. The topics are based on adults, such as marriage, aging and work.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an electronic copy to read and review.

This book is hilarious and I cannot wait to buy a physical copy! The cartoon are brief, on point, and so relatable. This will also make a great gift for pretty much any adult.

Review to come Early November to blog/Goodreads.

I received this book from Netgalley in exchange of an honest review.

I was a bit disappointed with the last collection by this artist, but this one was just as fantastic as the first one I read. I laughed so so much while reading this one and I shared plenty with my hubby who was on his PC next to me. He also loves these comics. I am glad that this collection was great again, I have to say throughout reading I was a bit worried, because the previous collection wasn't my thing, but in the end I want to say to myself, don't worry!

Once again it is separated in themes, from coping with childhood to coping with society. Each with respective comics fitting the theme and I just loved it.

We also have a couple of recurring comics and we find out how the artist (if that is really him) started with his art (though his older art didn't approve).

All in all, I cannot wait for the next collection to come out. Can't wait to see what title that one will have (on that note, I loved the title to this collection) and what themes we get.

WTF I JUST READ??????????????????????????? AND I LOVED IT SO MUCH???????????

In a collection of little-comic-short-stories, that involves some bad kids, some philosophical young boys that think a lot about adult stuff, really bad parents, an emo and nihilist kid who dresses in all black, an passive-aggressive sun, ghosts, hats, and the horsemen of getting old, this books made me laugh A LOT.

Really.

The humor is so stupid, just the way I like!!! So do yourself a favor and read this, please.

***Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review***

Hilarious and so, so real to life.

It is a wonderful cartoon collection. Few random and simple lines and it creates a hilarious situation. Each cartoon was funny.
It explores circumstances of life from an extreme perspective of a naughty teenager or kid.
It deals with failures and inconveniences of routine life,. What we call a normal life.
And to fit in it we have to act normal.
A very easy read and highly recommended.

Slowly clawing my way out of that reading slump and getting caught up on all the wonderful titles that publishers and NetGalley have granted me the last few months. I have needed every one of them. Rona, man. It’s a bitch.

Anyway. This collection. Is adorable. And relatable. And exactly what I think we all need right now. This is McNamee’s third collection in conjunction with The Onion, but I do believe it’s my first. Must remedy that, and soon. These absurd comics take a hard look at what it means to be normal, and why that’s all garbage anyway. There is no normal. There is just us, and what we do and how we live.

This collection began back in my day, the early ’00s when we all had flip phones and texted by hitting a number button 4 times to get an S. Those were the days. Once McNamee simplified his illustration style, his entire world opened up to explore any and all subjects he could think about.

It’s amazing what we can do when we readjust our perspective of “good,” or “normal” and just let ourselves create the way we can or want to. I’ve done a lot of that this year, too, and it’s been freeing and enabled me to create a wider variety of art than my previous expectations allowed.

Anyway. This collection. It’s out in November, so if you need a laugh in these wild times like I did, it might thaw your cold, dead heart and make you smile, just a little. It may make you feel seen, and it may resonate with you, and we need more of that right now. Always, but especially right now.

I've known John McNamee's work for a few years, initially reading Pie Comic on GoComics. He stopped posting over there, so I was delighted with I saw this ARC. Dry and sarcastic comics are my kind of comics. I couldn't stop laughing reading this one.

Thanks to Oni Press and NetGalley for providing me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I laughed so hard at this collection and I kept wanting to show my husband the funny ones but I ended up showing him the whole book. Excellent and quick read!

I was not familiar with John McNamee prior to getting this e-ARC, which is a bummer. These comics are definitely my type of humor. Sarcastic, sometimes dark, and relatable for those of us just failing at adulting every day. Some of these were laugh out loud funny, very enjoyable read.

This collection of comics is my first encounter with the world of Pie Comics.
The comic book is divided into sections like "Coping with Childhood", "Coping with Society", "Coping with Work", "Coping with Love", "Coping with the World", "Coping with Yourself". You'll be able to finish reading this collection within an hour. The comics themselves are pithy and witty, and will leave you chuckling for days when you think of random frames. A few of my favourites are: the whiskey and coffee one, the unavailable father one, the time works differently in the office one and many more.
On a more personal note, this comic book resonated with me because I understood that drawing people in comics does not necessarily pre-empt the use of beautiful faces or perfect bodies, even stick figure comics can make you chuckle with glee.
Thank you NetGalley and Oni Press for this wonderful copy!

This was exactly the laughs I needed today. Goofy graphics with sardonic commentary about all the futilities of life that made me laugh out loud so many times. I will be sharing these comics forever. They are equally hopeful and dark... a little like the Peanuts and Calvin Hobbes met and had a comic baby. John McNamee just gets me.

Thanks to Netgalley for a copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

This collection of simply-drawn, single-page comics is really good. I had a few laugh out loud moments. I would definitely recommend this book to friends.