When I first saw the cover of Quiet Girl in a Noisy World, I was instantly drawn in. I often feel like a “quiet girl in a noisy world” and the illustration could have easily been of me on any given night after my children are asleep. There's nothing like the peace I feel when I'm cuddled up with my book + tea. And for these reasons alone, I couldn't wait to dig into these pages. I was hoping to find bits of myself sprinkled somewhere in the book. And I wasn't disappointed.
Not only are the illustrations adorable, pairing them with Tung’s honest thoughts made me smile and nod my head in agreement. I found myself mumbling "me, too" many times as I flipped the pages. And while I don't believe I am socially awkward, I do identify as an introvert. I enjoy the company of others (a few at the time) and am often exhausted after a lot of social interaction. I felt those moments when she couldn't wait to get home to her books to my core. And as I continued reading, I found that she put words and illustrations to so many moments I had experienced as well. “Someone gets it,” I thought to myself. It’s safe to say I felt right at home in this graphic novel. I’ve even bookmarked the pages that resonated with me the most to revisit later.
There were two things that really stood out to me in this book. One was the way Tung’s husband was so supportive and understanding. The author illustrates how the support of a loved one can help you cope and deal with “life stuff” in such an endearing way. Another was the growth that took place in Tung’s life after she accepted who she really was, quirks and all. After learning she has an INFJ personality type (which happens to be rare and also MY personality type as well), she started seeing everything with different eyes. Instead of allowing her introversion to hinder her, she found ways to interact in ways that worked for her. These things were so reassuring to read about in a graphic novel. There are people that will love you and support you as you are. And you don’t have to use your differences as a crutch, you can use them as strengths to allow you to live life on your terms.
I recommend this read to anyone who is an introvert and has a difficult time interacting with others socially. I also recommend this to anyone who loves an introvert, whether it be friends, family, or a significant other. It illustrates the way our minds operate in such a refreshing, yet lighthearted way. I will be obtaining a physical copy for myself (and a few of my friends) soon. I appreciate you for being so open and honest in your work with us, Debbie Tung. To grab your own copy of Quiet Girl in a Noisy World: An Introvert's Story, click here.
*Thank you to Andrews McMeel Publishing via Netgalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.*
