Love, Loss, and What I Wore

by Ilene Beckerman

I had high expectations for this little book. More than one person told me how much they loved it. In truth, Beckerman’s illustrated “memoir” left me cold.

With spare prose and drawings to match, Ms. Beckerman tells her story with the help of the clothes she wore. And others wore. Yes, that’s right—some of the clothes aren’t even worn by the author.

As for loss, yes, the author experienced them in her life. But she glosses over them in a way that makes them seem trivial. Hardly losses at all.

If I could re-title this book, I would call it, “Clothes I Like to Describe and Draw.” Because that’s what this book really is. Nothing more.

9/18/14