The Best Friend I Never Met and Chorus Lines

Yesterday I got a packet from England. It contained two zines, and I read both just now.

The Best Friend I Never Met took my breath away. I have had friendships so intense and full of poetry. I've had best friends like that too. I felt very sad about endings and blown away by the beauty of the writing, all those feelings, and so much physical distance with emotional intimacy.

It made me think of two best friends I have now, both who live far away, and one day will they be a memory?

I like the white space. I wouldn't have done it that way--I would have included tons. I probably would have overwhelmed the reader. But this is done so I'm left hungry for more, which is good.

The haiku zine Chorus Lines is beautiful to behold. I like the pictures of people on the cover, made in red. I like the poems and their immediacy. My favorite is about a baby. Always emotional but never overdone.

I love these zines--you should buy them.

https://www.etsy.com/shop/softskeletons

Miz Issue #1

This is a mental health zine about living with bad depression and anxiety.  The first half is about struggling and shows a progression through time.  Miz tries different medications and gives updates, talks about her relationship with her husband, talks about trying to help herself.

The second half is more theoretical and talks about oppression.  Miz quotes scholarly texts and talks about grad school.

I loved this zine, both halves.  And I forgot to mention the expressive, beautiful, and strange drawings throughout.  They add a lot.  I wish I made zines more like this.

I would like to give you an example of the intelligence of this zine.  I am upset about people talking shit about self-care.  I've heard a lot of that lately, and I am in opposition.

But Miz's analysis made me see the other side more clearly.  I would like to quote an important passage.

"but i also feel like the implication is that there is something wrong with me and with what i have been doing that is causing all my problems.  as if my depression has just arisen from me not taking care of myself my whole life.  i am missing something else though, a part of this puzzle of getting better, another piece of understanding that would let me connect with people over these issues or situate my experience within a broader social context.  i hate feeling as though my problems are entirely my own doing and that it's my personal responsibility to transform myself into the right kind of person."

I find this passage brilliant and giving voice to something very important.

And the whole zine's like this.

Highly recommended for all fans of mental health zines and everyone who likes insight.

https://www.etsy.com/listing/166785274/miz-issue-1-perzine?ref=shop_home_active