Punk illustrator Cristy Road writes from experience in Bad Habits: A Love Story. The author is, or was, one of those feral kids, dangerous mostly to themselves, and her art often shows young people in toughening situations. This novel-with-pictures is set in Manhattan, a rotten place for a young punk, or a dangerous one, anyway. Drugs, bands, poverty, and the recurring motif of hearts literally and disgustingly ripped out of chests seem to be themes here. Like a lot of down-and-out young things, though, Road (and her protagonist) find genuine solace in chosen family, and beauty in crusty muck.
Tue., Jan. 20, 7:30 p.m., 2009
