Not sure how to review this. I love the art from Sophie Standing. The choice to use Neo impressionistic style gave real power to Steve Haines’s words. There were a couple of pages that struck a chord with me. The main thesis of the book as I understood it was that we need to reevaluate our understanding of touch and how important it is. Given what has happened due to Covid-19 most of us already realise this. The science is explained briefly but I have seen some criticism that it is overly simplistic. As a primer, it works fairly well. It is a short book with some fascinating ideas that due to the format weren’t given time to develop. Check it out for the art which is beautiful but don’t expect anything too deep.

Unfortunately, I really struggled to enjoy the writing of this book. I read this knowing nothing of the series but being fond of graphic novels, I thought I'd give it a try. I do think Sophie Standing's illustrations are really nice, some reviewers here have said the art style might be simple but I think they're really great. 

I was under the impression this would be a story but it's a very closely cited academic seeming essay. The problem is there's no structure or focus here, the key message is hard to grasp, some controversial things are said both on the scientific and cultural level. It's hard to know what the book is trying to do, it sometimes seems to be ushering us into being comfortable with being touched, but then also making touch seem hostile and dangerous.

I found the drawings and the writing seem very disconnected it, reading it I could tell this was not a single author. It's not because the subject of the drawing or writing was wrong, the tones just didn't match. The drawings have this personal abstract element and accompany this impersonal dry science. I think the science did not need to be quoted so heavily as much of it are theoretical concepts that could have been paraphrased or changed more simply. I felt as if this was the research for an essay about Touch, but something happened to the narrator last minute so the research was used as is, instead. 

Having a PhD in Neuroscience (coincidentally, I had no idea this was a book about science at all), made it a bit more gruelling to read, as I thought some parts were oversimplified, lacking emphasis and potentially incorrect. But, honestly, my main gripes with the book would've held had I read this as a teenager a decade ago with the mindset that a good book must be more cohesive and nuanced no matter how fantastic and humane its subject matter. If you want to write about a sensitive topic, then one should write sensitively? I feel like the content doesn't match the book genre of being a comic (in its writing), nor of being a science non-fiction essay (in its brevity). I felt like giving this 2* for the drawings alone but when I think about it, I see this book as a hot mess that could've been much better with editing as the content is there. But something about the way it is written lacks a bit of sensitivity, or 'touch', for the subject matter? 

But of course, there are always some reviewers who have liked it, so my views may not reflect your own. So if touch is something you are interested in exploring the science and nature of, this might be an interesting quick read of the main mysteries it holds for human interaction.

I had previously read Anxiety is Really Strange by Steve Haines and Forgiveness is Really Strange by Masi Noor, so when I saw this new title within this little series available on NetGalley I decided to pick it up. Touch is Really Strange, by Steve Haines, is a graphic novel which looks  at how touch changes our perception of the world, as well as how it can impact our emotions.

I thought that the main body of the novel was done well, the graphics have a beautiful but plain styling to them which I like and the information is interesting. There are footnotes to expand on details if you want the information, but if you're there for the bare bones you don't need to pay attention to those.

I like how the book covers physical responses to touch, as well as how touch as a sense allows us to feel our place in the world and also the emotional impact that touch such as hugs can have. The pandemic was mentioned in here, saying that it's a difficult time for touch at the moment, which I appreciated, but it made the next section even more odd.

The end portion of the graphic novel is made up of exercises in touch to try...with a partner. Now I know that there will be a decent number of people who are living with other people right now, who might even be willing to do this. But there are large numbers of people living alone. After having mentioned earlier on in the novel that it's difficult for those who crave touch due to the social distancing restrictions, why would you then put a bunch of exercises into the book which all involve touching someone else? It just felt really odd and out of touch. I know that this book needs to be relatable after the pandemic times, but in that case I think it would've been better to leave out any direct mention of it at all.

Without that weird touching section this would've been a 3 star read, but with that addition? I've dropped it down to 2 stars. But if you do happen to live with someone who would be willing to try out touch exercises with you, then give this graphic novel a go!

I thought the book was okay. I think that I might not be the right demographic for the text and would recommend to others who want to practice and look into how touch can help us but for myself I was not particularly wow’d.

I don't think this was the book for me. I was really drawn in by the cover illustration but found the copy within the book very dry and skim read large sections. Although the premise of the book is quite interesting, I felt it just didnt quite hit the mark.

Margaret Atwood (2010) beautifully captures the importance of touch: ‘Touch comes before sight, before speech. It is the first language and the last and it always tells the truth.’ 
This is a really good mostly factual book about the importance of touch for humans, something that is extremely current due to the global pandemic.

Overall, I really enjoyed this graphic novel! The illustrations especially are really unique! 

I would like to thank the publisher and netgalley for providing me a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

This graphic novel was really amazing. During a time where I can’t even ask for a hug from friends because I’m scared to bring back COVID to my parents, my mental health has been at an all time low. It’s good to see that physical contact is something we need to stay happy and sane in this world. I loved the art style and how the story flowed. The resources as the bottom are a great touch as well. Overall a great graphic novel. I’d love to has this in my collection.

I thought this was going to be a really nice read. I read the summary and expected so much more from the book and now that I've read it, I'm very disappointed. This is literally a book about touch. It is good for the one time you read it I guess, but this I don't see this being a book you'd read more than the one time.

It is basically a factual book about touch and the importance of touch. It discusses touch during COVID but also during the times of the #MeToo movement. I really thought that, if it was going to be more informational, it would've been structured a little better. Unfortunately, overall this did not hit the mark for me. 

I will say, there are a few lines in this that really hit home. As someone who LOVES to hug, I am seriously deprived of it right now. In that regard, it felt very personal. The art, although not detailed, is still lovely and worth noting as well.

Touch is Really Strange is the latest title in a series of small graphic guides to different processes, such as pain, trauma and anxiety. Pain is Really Strange radically altered my understanding of my chronic pain and so I was excited to pick this volume up. I have a sometimes fraught relationship with touch myself due to allodynia (pain at normal touch) and trauma. 

The first thing that struck me about the book is how gorgeous it is. The illustrations are soft and tender, with skin tones being used for images of positive touch and grey scale for dissociation and negative touch. This choice was inspired, and really conveys the sense of connection to self that touch can bring. 

The text is written in accessibly, with references given at the bottom of each page. I appreciate this decision, it makes learning the basics feel doable while giving more information for those who would like to learn more. 

Much is covered in the slim volume, from the importance of touch to child development and in care homes to trauma, micro aggressions, pain and massage. 

I learnt lots from Touch is Really Strange and would widely recommend it, especially to people reckoning with trauma and those in caring professions. 

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This is a surprisingly neat little comic. Maybe because I wasn't familiar with bodywork and touching as healing beforehand, but I really feel like I've learned something new and opened up a whole new interest for myself. This little comic is a really good introduction for anyone curious about the often overlooked sense of touch. Parts of this comic are scientific, explaining what touch is and how we feel it, and also how we can use touch to heal. There are some really cool little exercises in the end that help you practice this idea and really begin to understand it. The illustration style of the comic is a lovely touch (ha, no pun intended). Simple, calm, with a theme of light and dark that feels healing all on its own.

I expected the graphic novel to be a bit longer. The illustrations are great, but I really disliked the writing, and even skimmed through it at the end. Would not recommend.

This is quite a short graphic novel, and I was expecting something a bite longer, with maybe a bit more history as well, but it was really interresting, and I did learn a lot of thing about touch and why it's important (which I guess we all came to realise over the past year and the Pandemic). I particularely appreciate the small exercices offred by the book.
I like the texture and the color of the art, it's really soft and felt like a hug.

The latest in the 'really strange' series and this time the focus is touch. Some useful information here, about how touch works and how it might not be what we expect. I would have liked more referencing to the Trauma is really strange book and how touch can be problematic which was glossed over here a little I felt. There are some useful exercises included which again could have been highlighted better, as in they could be used by individuals or couples trying to discover what kind of touch they enjoy. I would say a good beginning that could have made more of the knowledge of the subject the author clearly has.

With thanks to the publisher and Net Galley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing an eARC for me to review.

Touch is Really Strange is a short comic book. Its topic - the importance of safe consensual touch - is approached by using scientific facts and providing information on safe touching. At the end it also features touch exercises that put the ideas of the book to practice. I'd say this book is most suited for an educational resource. It's  a perfect book to have in a classroom or a school library, since it gives information on consent and ways to practice physical contact safely and respectfully. 

My main critique was the poor layout of the text - at least my digital copy was hard to follow, especially reading the red text that was used in the book was kind of tricky. My copy also didn't have any bibliography, even though it featured cited works, which is sad because that way I can't check the sources for myself.

This was a very enlightening read. I thoroughly enjoyed how it made me think about how we use touch in our day to day lives. The illustrations were beautiful and it was great to see every point explained with past research. It poses the great debate about whether after COVID there will be more touch before as we’ve missed everyone, or less as we’ve been used to avoiding people for so long. Overall, a very interesting read which I would definitely recommend!

Huge thanks to netgalley for providing me with this book.

I really expected to learn a lot of cool trippy facts about touch but it felt more like structure-less babbling at times. The point of the novel shifted to random topics and the exercises at the end would have benefitted from being replaced by cool facts about touch also the red text at the bottom of each page was unnecessary and was very distracting as i was reading there were some facts that were interesting but the author assumed that the reader knew the definition of complex words only to explain it late in the novel i think the author tried too hard to make sure to make some sort of commentary when it would have benefitted more from being light and fascinating

Timely, aesthetic, descriptive. Touch is Really Strange shines a light on one of the most primitive and meaningful aspects of humankind. Haines addresses the many facets of touch, which are backed by current evidence from leading science, medicine and psychology scholars. Non-fiction has the potential to be dry, lifeless and dull, but the information is packaged together with delightful illustrations that are pleasing to the eye. The pairing of the two delivers a warm and optimistic outlook into the future of healing techniques, readily accessible and comprehensible to the layman. Tucked in at the end is a few short exercises anyone can do to become more attuned to their bodies. 

It would be foolish to expect anything more than a brief foray into the current science surrounding touch in such a short book. Recommended for the curious, so that they may be inspired to delve deeper.

Thanks NetGalley for an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. As someone just dipping their toes in graphic novels, this was so well done. I truly love the art, and how it adds dimensions to the narrative. Reading this felt like something headspace would create 20 years hence. The fact that there's citations for EVERY major theory on touch the book explores is so helpful and satisfying. Reading the footnotes made me feel so smart??? 
The exercises for reconnecting with touch and the whole inward touch principle will stick with me good. The book meanders and I'd have found it more helpful were there chapters or context on what to take away from the book/who exactly is the target audience. As a casual fan of science writing, I'd read it regardless but I do believe everyone can take away something if not entirely rethink their first principles re: touch from Touch is Really Strange.

This book is a poignant reminder of the cost of a pandemic. This book highlights the importance of touch and even the nuances on how touch can both be utilized as a tool for healing and harming. The art is gorgeous and the dialogue is almost poetic. However I felt there was a disconnect between the footnotes and the tiles. The footnotes felt very scientific jargon-y. They did help explain but at the same time they didn't explain enough. This book skims the top of the healing power of touch and left me wanting to learn more. The exercises included at the end of the book were a great idea and done very well.

A beautiful graphic novel! 

With recent events, and such isolation being felt by so many people, a story like this can help give us perspective on how we as humans function in a world where one of our most basic needs is now seen as an evil.