1. Lemire, J. (2007). Essex County Vol. 1: Tales From the Farm. Top Shelf Production: Atlanta, pages not numbered.
Graphic Novel; Alex Award 2008.
2. If Terrence Malick and Errol Morris decided to have a child, who then decided he was going to write a graphic novel, you'd have Tales From the Farm. The stark, lyrical representations of the midwest (a Malick specialty) are offset by the extreme close-ups of the characters (hence the Morris reference)--both of which create an interesting, melancholy graphic novel. Lester runs around town wearing a cape and envisioning coming aliens attacking town. He butts heads with his Uncle Ken, while also building a friendship with the 'touched in the head' (due to a hockey injury) gas jockey, Jimmy. Through flashbacks, the reader discovers Lester has lost his mother, and that his uncle Ken is doing what he can to connect with the boy. Secrets are revealed at the finish, and a bit of magical realism takes the story, however minimally, out from the crushing loneliness of life on the farm.
3. Loss and loneliness are major themes of the graphic novel, and Lemire does well incorporating the stark black and white shading along with Lester's angry dialogue to bolster his themes. In the small space Lemire has to work, Lemire does a nice job sketching his characters, and the conflicts they're dealing with. Any adolescent would be able to identify with Lester and his 'fish out of water' experience on the farm.
4. Some great assignments to go along with this book would include a lot of writing prompts to fill in the spaces of the story. Lemire puts the reader in medias res (though he does include flashbacks); students would be able to write backgrounds for each of the characters. Also, basic descriptive writing about the frames involving no dialogue (a picture of the water tower; birds flying) would be an excellent exercise.
I would use the graphic novel as an individual choice. Unfortunately, there's quite a bit of language in the novel (possibly why it received an Alex Award--adult books for adolescents) and I'd be hesitant to expose the class to it.
5. Though a graphic novel, it's appropriate for older students, 10th grade and up. The themes are universal, but the ambiguity present, as well as the language, make it suited for a more developed reader.
6. My first graphic novel--yes, yes, you may cheer. I was pleasantly surprised, to be honest. I'd read a tidbit on this book in some magazine, and thought I'd give it a chance. There was an overwhelming sadness in the sketches, and those made the book for me. The dialogue was a bit wooden, though believable. I felt as if I were watching an indie movie--and that's a good thing. I would highly recommend the book to any fans of small, lyrical films.
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2 comments:
After reading your review, I am very curious about this book. Stories of this nature are apt for discussing many aspects of the stark reality of the human experience. Additionally, I thought your ideas for activities were pretty inspired. Any time you can get students writing creatively about a reading assignment, you have found a successful activity. Thanks for the review.
Brain
Scott-
I appreciated your serious analysis of this book. The introduction to Foreign Exchange discussed the American tendency to dismiss G. Novels and cartooning in general as "not serious"-- the stuff of funny papers. It likened cartooning to Jazz music: distinctly American in origin, yet primarily validated and revered first abroad. Other countries, apparently, have less tendency to separate the G. Novel from other literary forms and worldwide sales in this medium are huge. I liked your ideas for writing exercises, and, off the top of my head, I add the obvious possible comparison and contrast of G. Novels to film (and staged plays). "Write a scene, original or based on a piece of literature and then use it to create a short Graphic Novel segment. Next discuss what additional considerations you would encounter in staging or filming this scene. Sound? Lighting? Degree of Realism? One possibility would be to animate the film or use Graphic Costuming onstage to capture the artistic style of your novel." Or "Partner up. Graphic Novel. George writes dialogue. Lennie draws. Go." Anyhow, I'd like to brainstorm this with you in our mythic freetime sometime. I appreciate your insightful review.
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