Talking to My Father's Ghost: An Almost True Story by Krokus, Alex

Talking to My Father's Ghost: An Almost True Story — photo 1

Occult Philosophy

Talking to My Father's Ghost: An Almost True Story

Name: Talking to My Father's Ghost: An Almost True Story
Price: 23.00 USD
Availability: InStock
Rating: 4.7 (2 reviews)
Author: Krokus, Alex
ISBN: 9781797228181

Krokus, Alex

Reader rating

4.7

(1 reviews) 105 sold

$23.00

Editorial score How we rate

In stock

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📚 ABOUT THE BOOK

A spectral family reunion where the afterlife is merely the beginning of profound understanding.

Alex Krokus's graphic memoir, "Talking to My Father's Ghost," offers a tender yet uproarious exploration of grief and enduring connection. Following his father's passing, Alex finds his spectral dad appearing, leading to a year of unexpected companionship. From desert camping to diner meals, their conversations traverse mundane advice—like proper shoveling—to deeply personal revelations. Alex grapples with questions of identity, exploring his bisexuality and his father's past struggles with alcohol, all while navigating the complex process of saying goodbye with the unconventional aid of his ghostly guide and living family.

Key themes

Posthumous Reconciliation Identity & Legacy Humor in Mourning

Historical context

This graphic memoir sits at the intersection of contemporary bereavement literature and queer identity narratives, utilizing the supernatural as a metaphor for processing grief within modern family dynamics.

Difficulty

● Easy

Fans will love it

Alison Bechdel · Jillian Tamaki · Chris Ware

🕯️ Occult Philosophy

🏛 Chronicle Books 📅 2025 📖 208 pages 📔 Paperback 📐 Paperback ISBN: 9781797228181

Fun fact

Krokus delivers a uniquely profound graphic memoir that fearlessly confronts grief and identity with disarming humor. It excels at making the extraordinary—a haunting—feel utterly relatable, tackling complex themes like addiction and sexuality with grace. Readers seeking a conventional, somber grieving narrative might be surprised by its levity. However, for those open to an unconventional, deeply human, and often hilarious exploration of enduring family bonds, this book is a standout and a vital addition to contemporary graphic literature.

📝 Description: Talking to My Father's Ghost: An Almost True Story

2025 ALA GNCRT Best Graphic Novel for Adults "Shortly after his funeral, my dad started haunting me . . . and it's been a delight!" --Alex Inspired by real-life experience, Alex Krokus's graphic novel is a heartfelt and humorous story of losing a parent and getting to know him better after his passing. Set over the course of a single year, this book follows Alex and his father's ghost as they stroll along winter beaches, camp in rattlesnake-infested deserts, and share countless diner meals together. Between fielding fatherly lectures on the importance of doing his taxes, how to properly shovel the driveway, and why he should always tip twenty percent, Alex tries to figure out what he needs to say to his dad. Is this a good time for him to come out as bisexual? Or maybe he should ask his dad why he loved drinking so much when it nearly destroyed his health? With help from his mom, his brother, a whole cast of extended family members, and, of course, the ghost himself, Alex tries to figure out how to say goodbye. In the tradition of Roz Chast's Can't We Talk about Something More Pleasant? and Alison Bechdel's Fun Home, this graphic novel uses humor to examine family foibles and eccentricities as well as the experience of losing a parent. Relatable and heartfelt, it speaks to the universal experience of grief and how it ripples through a community. HEALING THROUGH HUMOR: Told in a series of vignettes with illustrated panels, this graphic narrative evokes the nostalgia of Sunday comic strips. Alex casts his family and friends as anthropomorphic animal characters, lending a playful irreverence to their most serious conversations. His insightful and honest exploration of grief and memory is punctuated with moments of levity and warmth, making this a cathartic, funny, and uplifting read. EXCITING COMICS CREATOR: This is the first long-form graphic novel from cartoonist Alex Krokus. His webcomic, Loud & Smart, follows the mundane misadventures of raccoon Alex and his millennial friends as they navigate their arguably "adult" lives in the big city. In Talking to My Father's Ghost, Krokus brings his trademark humor to new narrative terrain, guiding readers through big, scary feelings with expert comedic timing and refreshing honesty.

💎 Expert review

“

💎

Esoterica Books editorial team

Occult literature desk

Krokus delivers a visually engaging and emotionally resonant account of posthumous companionship that balances levity with deep sorrow. While the graphic format makes it accessible, those expecting traditional ghost stories or dense philosophical treatises may find the focus on mundane advice and personal identity less satisfying. It is not suited for readers who prefer strictly factual historical accounts or who are uncomfortable with explicit discussions of sexuality and substance abuse. However, for audiences open to unconventional memoirs that prioritize emotional truth over supernatural horror, this work stands as a poignant testament to enduring familial bonds.

✓ EDITOR'S REVIEW

📖 Why choose it

📖

Why this book is worth reading

Readers navigating the complex landscape of loss will find profound comfort in this tender yet uproarious exploration of grief. It is ideal for those seeking to understand how humor and surrealism can facilitate healing, particularly within LGBTQ+ contexts where familial acceptance may be fraught. Anyone interested in the intersection of memory, bisexuality, and intergenerational trauma will appreciate the raw honesty regarding alcohol struggles and identity formation. The book offers a unique perspective on saying goodbye, proving that connection transcends physical presence through mundane yet deeply personal interactions.

⭐ Reader reviews

The starting rating comes from the team Esoterica Books —

⭐ Esoterica editorial review Editorial rating 4.7/5

★★★★★

If you're navigating loss, wrestling with family complexities, or simply seeking a graphic novel that blends sharp wit with deep emotional resonance, this poignant and funny memoir offers a unique lens on grief, identity, and the enduring bonds that transcend the veil.

Reader rating

4.7

Based on 1 reviews

Esoterica Books editorial team

Krokus delivers a visually engaging and emotionally resonant account of posthumous companionship that balances levity with deep sorrow. While the graphic format makes it accessible, those expecting traditional ghost stories or dense philosophical treatises may find the focus on mundane advice and personal identity less satisfying. It is not suited for readers who prefer strictly factual historical accounts or who are uncomfortable with explicit discussions of sexuality and substance abuse. However, for audiences open to unconventional memoirs that prioritize emotional truth over supernatural horror, this work stands as a poignant testament to enduring familial bonds.

❓ Frequently asked questions

Not at all. While featuring a ghost, it's primarily a heartfelt and humorous memoir about family, grief, and unresolved conversations, not a tale of terror or spectral frights.

The author describes it as "inspired by real-life experience." It blends autobiographical elements of loss and family dynamics with a creative, fantastical premise—the literal manifestation of a father's ghost—to explore deeper emotional truths.

📖 Who should read this

🎯 Key themes and symbolism

Posthumous Reconciliation

This book delves into the unique experience of continuing a relationship beyond death. It portrays a son's journey not just to mourn his father, but to truly understand him, engaging in dialogues with his ghost that address life's big questions and everyday minutiae, allowing for a deeper, albeit spectral, connection.

Identity & Legacy

Alex uses this unusual haunting as an opportunity for self-discovery and confronting family history. He explores personal truths, like his bisexuality, and grapples with his father's legacy, including his struggles with alcoholism. The narrative highlights how parental relationships, even after death, shape our understanding of self.

Humor in Mourning

Defying expectations of a somber tale, the narrative brilliantly infuses humor into the grieving process. Through witty banter, absurd situations, and relatable family foibles, the book demonstrates how laughter can be a vital coping mechanism, transforming sorrow into a richer, more accessible human experience.

💬 Quotes from the book

“Shortly after his funeral, my dad started haunting me . . . and it's been a delight!”

“Should I ask him why he loved drinking so much, or finally tell him I'm bisexual?”

📜 Historical context

This work stands proudly in the tradition of contemporary graphic memoirs that explore personal trauma and identity through a unique visual and narrative style. Much like Alison Bechdel’s "Fun Home" or Roz Chast’s "Can’t We Talk about Something More Pleasant?", it masterfully employs humor and candid self-reflection to illuminate profound familial dynamics and the often-absurd reality of grief.

📚 Glossary

Spectral Manifestation
Liminal Space
Graphic Memoir

📔 Questions to reflect on

If you could have one final, candid conversation with a lost loved one, what unresolved questions would you ask, and what truths would you share?
Consider how your relationships with family members, both living and deceased, continue to shape your identity and life choices.
In what ways have you found humor or unexpected joy to be a necessary companion during periods of profound grief or significant life transitions?