The Pocket Guide to Arctic Survival

Jemuel is the king of nonsequiters. Reading this zine feels so much like a conversation that I want to write my comments and responses between the cute little stories that compose the anecdoteal stand-up routine. It is intimate and not at all foced. Its short, its sweet and it's all handwritten.

This is a series of observations and stories from the life of editor Jem. He describes relationships and interactions with friends and family and the understanding tha often results. Jem mixes in many short comments and thoughts on his personality and daily events. These writings are warm hearted, humorous and often offer bits insight drawn from day to day events.

Well written and full of rhythmic moments that makes some stories almost poetic. Jemuel is definantly one of those that justifies the shakey existance of the so called personal zine format, and at the same time I don't know if he is up there with the most read zinesters that are currently active. But int terms of local zines here in the Bay Aream and relative to most 'personal zines', Dear Leisl is a cut above the rest. His apperanthonest insight still strike me as less than what its representing, but there is much to be said for Jemuel's refusal to go down the road tha so many zines choose; the one where they take honesty and emotion and turn it into the literay equiviant of Blink 182.