
Heartcore
Stepanka Jislova(Author)
Graphic Mundi (Publisher)
Published on 13. May 2025
Book
Paperback/Softback
240 pages
978-1-63779-090-8 (ISBN)
Description
What is at the core of romantic attachment? Does our upbringing play a part, or is falling in love a magical, uncontrollable process? Are we doomed to repeat the same mistakes over and over, or can we break unhealthy cycles and learn new ways to love?
These are the questions asked in Heartcore, an award-winning graphic memoir from comics creator Stepanka Jislova. In this empowering story of self-discovery, the author reflects on her troubled experiences in dating and love and finally seeks to understand the reasons behind her many toxic relationships. She explores topics such as normative gender roles, online dating and casual sex, alcohol abuse, sexual violence, and the psychology behind interpersonal attachment, all in an engaging graphic-novel format. By confronting her unhealthy behaviors and seeking help to come to terms with her trauma, the author provides an inspiring example of how people can change for the better.
These are the questions asked in Heartcore, an award-winning graphic memoir from comics creator Stepanka Jislova. In this empowering story of self-discovery, the author reflects on her troubled experiences in dating and love and finally seeks to understand the reasons behind her many toxic relationships. She explores topics such as normative gender roles, online dating and casual sex, alcohol abuse, sexual violence, and the psychology behind interpersonal attachment, all in an engaging graphic-novel format. By confronting her unhealthy behaviors and seeking help to come to terms with her trauma, the author provides an inspiring example of how people can change for the better.
Reviews / Votes
"A searing graphic memoir."-Foreword Reviews "An adept memoir ... that chronicles a history of dysfunctional dating with humor and heart."
-Publishers Weekly "Childhood trauma shapes who we are and the choices we make-this book uncovers it with brutal honesty."
-Sophie Lambda, author of So Much for Love: How I Survived a Toxic Relationship
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
United States
Publishing group
Pennsylvania State University Press
Product notice
Paperback (trade)
Dimensions
Height: 235 mm
Width: 165 mm
Thickness: 21 mm
Weight
594 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-63779-090-8 (9781637790908)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Persons
Stepanka Jislova is an award-winning comics artist based in Prague and the cofounder of the Czech branch of Laydeez do Comics, an international organization that promotes female comic artists and their work. Jislova collaborated with Czech writer Tereza Cechova on the 2021 Muriel prize-winning Bez vlasu, later published by Graphic Mundi in English as Bald. Srdcovka (the original Czech edition of Heartcore) received the Muriel Award in three categories in 2024, including the main prize.