Swallow Me Whole - Nate Powell

Instead of battering herself into a semblance of normality, Ruth has decided it is better to be insane. She thinks about patterns and strives to arrange her bug collection in perfect order.  It seems the only people she can relate to are family members who are also insane.  Nate Powell constructs this mental derangement in Swallow Me Whole (Top Shelf, $19.95) by juxtaposing creepy hallucinations in a finely drafted suburban landscape.  A deeply moving and powerful tale.