Heartcore
Štěpánka Jislová’s revelatory graphic memoir Heartcore is about feeling unable to form romantic connections.
From a young age, Jislová felt different from other girls. She dealt with her insecurities by pursuing boys, thinking “if I found someone, it meant I wasn’t ugly.” After a number of brief, unfulfilling relationships, she developed a drinking problem. She also entered into a long-term relationship, but neither party felt committed to the other.
Forced to confront the origins of her problems, Jislová recalled a sexual assault when she was a teenager and realized that the incident, along with her troubled history with her father, kept her from forming a proper, loving relationship. A temporary change in point of view is used to probe Jislová’s longtime romantic partner, showing how he was damaged in his own way.
The prose is introspective, sometimes poetic: “With my eyes closed … / nothing seems dangerously close … / … or unbearably far.” Such lines are reinforced by complementary images, as of Jislová’s closed eyes, or are juxtaposed to contrary images, as of two hands almost touching. The art is inventive too: Flowcharts illustrate dysfunctional, destructive relationship cycles. A list of books and additional resources acts as a bridge for those who identify with the problems analyzed in the book.
Heartcore is a searing graphic memoir about sexual assault, the lingering damage it causes, and recovery.
Reviewed by
Peter Dabbene
Disclosure: This article is not an endorsement, but a review. The publisher of this book provided free copies of the book to have their book reviewed by a professional reviewer. No fee was paid by the publisher for this review. Foreword Reviews only recommends books that we love. Foreword Magazine, Inc. is disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
