49 Reasons Why 2016 Wasn't as Bad as You Think

Unterzakhn

Image by Leela Corman

By Liana Finck December 27, 2016

It took me a moment to appreciate Leela Corman’s brilliant graphic novel, “Unterzakhn” because it’s all things I am not: brassy, polished and containing multiple complex storylines. Leela, forgive me the review I wrote in this newspaper when I was an insecure young person. I’ve been saving Corman’s recent book — a collection of short picture-essays called “We All Wish for Deadly Force” — for a moment when my need to escape into art would outweigh my embarrassment. That moment has come. Thanks, Trump! There are times when we feel we can’t go on living, and then out of the blue someone describes the inexplicable cruelty of the world very sweetly and simply and perceptively, and with lightness. I have a few pages left in this quiet, honest, funny, sensitive book that is about obscene tragedy yet reads like a series of anecdotes and until I finish, I do know that the world will keep spinning. Thank you, Leela!

A message from our CEO & publisher Rachel Fishman Feddersen

I hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, I’d like to ask you to please support the Forward’s award-winning, nonprofit journalism during this critical time.

The coming year promises to be filled with more complex and historic developments. We are entering an era where independent, fact-based Jewish journalism will be more important than ever. We need to be ready for whatever 2025 will bring, and with your help, we can be.

We’ve set a goal to raise $260,000 by December 31. That’s an ambitious goal, but one that will give us the resources we need to invest in the high quality news, opinion, analysis and cultural coverage that isn’t available anywhere else.

If you feel inspired to make an impact, now is the time to give something back. Join us as a member at your most generous level.

— Rachel Fishman Feddersen, Publisher and CEO