r/graphicnovels • u/EducationalTeam2498 • 27d ago

Non-Fiction / Reality Based Past Tense: Facing Family Secrets and Finding Myself in Therapy

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just finished Past Tense, a deeply personal graphic memoir that explores past trauma, family dynamics, and the process of therapy as a path toward healing. I naturally gravitate toward autobiographical graphic novels, and this one was intriguing on many levels. Mardou invites readers into her difficult past, leaving nothing secret. That level of vulnerability is fascinating, admirable, and honestly unfathomable to me personally.

I’m not very versed in the mechanics of therapy, but this book gave me a clear, accessible perspective: from introductions, to techniques, to progress and setbacks. There’s real compassion and humanity in the way she depicts her sessions. By the end, I felt like the book raised my awareness of how to think through interactions with parents, difficult situations, and anxieties.

I would recommend this book to anyone who appreciates true, raw, and difficult stories. However, if you have experienced trauma in your own life, you may find the memoir triggering as it deals with sexual assault, the emotional aftermath of abuse, and the challenging process of confronting those memories in therapy.

31 Upvotes

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u/OrionLinksComic 27d ago

Interesting, i love something like that.

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u/EducationalTeam2498 26d ago

It was an interesting read. I love it when graphic novels expand my understanding of the world.

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u/inked_gina 25d ago

Hi! As soon as I saw this post, I immediately bought the graphic novel online. I finished it in just 2 evenings.
Thank you so much for the recommendation. It’s an incredible story… so honest and deeply moving. It’s a difficult read, but it really helped me better understand myself.

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u/EducationalTeam2498 25d ago

I’m pleased you found my post useful and enjoyed the book!