Cartoons for the thinking mama

When I was in high school, an artist friend of mine and I wrote a graphic novel during biology class featuring the adventures of our teacher's prominent nose, thus beginning my love affair with random and edgy hilarity. If you adore the absurd, you are going to love Nicole Chaison's graphic memoir, The Passion of the Hausfrau: Motherhood, Iluminated which is one part memoir, one part modern illuminated manuscript, and all parts brilliant.

The narrative from cartoonist, writer and mom-of-two Chaison is funny enough, but the cartoons that illustrate every page take it to another level. From Chaison's adventures eradicating lice to her description of one of Maine's biggest snowstorms, the Hausfrau adventures borrow from Chaucer, Campbell and Dante. Except instead of the Inferno, we have My Descent into the Realm of the People Who Need to be Severely Punished.

Despite her hausfrauian struggles, Chaison manages to keep her sense of humor and her family intact, never abandoning all hope. It's a good read for mamas ready to lose their cool with parenting. Not that I would know anything about that. -Rita

Get The Passion of the Hausfrau at our affiliate Amazon andr if you're in Maine, check out Nicole Chaison's adaptation of the book into a one-woman play at the Portland Stage Company