This Beautiful, Ridiculous City - by Kay Sohini (Hardcover)

About the Book

"On her first night in New York City, Kay Sohini sits on the tarmac of JFK Airport making an inventory of everything she's left behind in India: her family, friends, home, and gaslighting ex-boyfriend. In the wake of that untethering she realizes two things: she's finally made it to the city of her literary heroes--Kerouac, Plath, Bechdel--and the trauma she's endured has created gaping holes in her memory. As Kay begins the work of piecing herself back together she discovers the deep sense of belonging that can only be found on the streets of New York City. In the process she falls beautifully, ridiculously in love with the bustling landscape, and realizes that the places we love do not always love us back but can still somehow save us in weird, unexpected ways. At once heartbreaking and uplifting, This Beautiful, Ridiculous City explores the relationship between trauma and truth, displacement and belonging, and what it means to forge a life of one's own"--

Book Synopsis

A vibrant graphic memoir of a woman--an immigrant, a survivor, a writer, a foodie, and, ultimately, an optimist--who rebuilds her life in New York City while recovering from the trauma of an abusive relationship.

"An intimate portrait of the city not only as a place of dreams, but as a vital source for healing and self-discovery."--Nick Sousanis, Eisner Award-winning author of Unflattening

On her first night in New York City, Kay Sohini sits on the tarmac of JFK Airport making an inventory of everything she's left behind in India: her family, friends, home, and gaslighting ex-boyfriend. In the wake of that untethering she realizes two things: she's finally made it to the city of her literary heroes--Kerouac, Plath, Bechdel--and the trauma she's endured has created gaping holes in her memory.

As Kay begins the work of piecing herself back together she discovers the deep sense of belonging that can only be found on the streets of New York City. In the process she falls beautifully, ridiculously in love with the bustling landscape, and realizes that the places we love do not always love us back but can still somehow save us in weird, unexpected ways.

At once heartbreaking and uplifting, This Beautiful, Ridiculous City explores the relationship between trauma and truth, displacement and belonging, and what it means to forge a life of one's own.

Review Quotes

"Visually, This Beautiful, Ridiculous City is a tour de force. . . . By applying her singular and attentive voice and aesthetic to an iconic place, Sohini reminds readers that every representation of New York is a kind of revealing fantasy."--The Washington Post

"This Beautiful, Ridiculous City . . . affirms the enduring power of New York and the power of literature to give people the courage to cross all manner of borders. . . . Through understated language and jolting comics-style images, Sohini tells a vivid, multidimensional New York story of her own."--Maureen Corrigan for NPR's Fresh Air

"A poignant examination of the allures and contradictions of New York."--Shelf Awareness, starred review

"Kay Sohini has composed a gorgeous love letter to New York City. Her delightful drawings of food and the city's architecture, all bathed in sumptuous color, offer an intimate portrait of the city not only as a place of dreams, but as a vital source for healing and self-discovery in this compelling memoir."--Nick Sousanis, Eisner Award-winning author of Unflattening

"This is such a rich book, both visually and narratively. Kay Sohini captures a vivid sense of place through literature, landscape and food, taking us on a journey from the heady suburbs of Calcutta to the New York that has so enchanted her."--Isabel Greenberg, New York Times bestselling author of Glass Town

"Rarely have I seen someone capture a feeling so well--in text or visuals--as Sohini does with New York's beauty, and in building out the emotional landscape for each part of her life through her masterful command of form, flow, and color."--The Associated Press

"Threading multiple stories with assured creative layouts, Kay Sohini weaves a nuanced and deeply personalized portrait of New York City through the lens of literature, cinema, food, personal relationships, and family history."--Eddie Ahn, bestselling author of Advocate

"An intimate insight into an artistic awakening that invigorates hope for finding a home that lays ahead of our dreams, ambitions, and curiosities."--Matt Huynh, Eisner Award-winning artist and creator of Cabramatta

"Part reflective memoir, part family history, part architectural survey, part literary companion, part food blog, part dreamscape, part data-driven political, and cultural critique--this book is all kinds of genius."--MK Czerwiec, Eisner Award-winning editor of Menopause: A Comic Treatment

"Sohini's gorgeous illustrations are, in and of themselves, marvels of bright colors and elegant compositions."--Kirkus Reviews

"Sohini's love of New York and evolving understanding of herself within its powerful context work in concert for a radiant read."--Library Journal

"Sohini's art--drawn over 'twelve or more hours a day for six months straight'--electrifyingly bursts in full color with architecturally meticulous details throughout."--Booklist

"Sohini balances her homeland with her chosen home . . . those equally entranced by the mythology of New York will enjoy themselves."--Publishers Weekly

About the Author

Kay Sohini is a South Asian researcher, writer, and graphic novelist based in New York. She holds a PhD in English from Stony Brook University and her essays and comics have been featured in The Washington Post, The Nib, and more. Her work focuses on utilizing comics in the scholarly examination of healthcare justice, environmental humanities, resisting disinformation, and creating an equitable future for all. This Beautiful, Ridiculous City is her first book.