by Noah Van Sciver
Uncivilized Books, 2018. 166 Pages. Graphic Novel
In this brief memoir, the artist switches between two significant periods of his life: 1994, living with his large Mormon family in a cramped, derelict home, and 2014, as his 30th birthday approaches. Amidst his struggle to gain a foothold in the comics business and a navigating the future (or lack therof) of his long term romantic relationship, the artist finds himself reflecting on the past. His mind is drawn to his years at One Dirty Tree, so nicknamed by his older brothers, and how his tumultuous childhood has, and continues, to influence him decades later.
Firstly, I think this book is more accurately described as a mini-memoir, or autobiographical essays in comic format. Thinking of it that way, rather than a memoir, it works for what it is. The artist is a great storyteller, and each section draws you in. The Van Sciver family dynamic is fascinating, and fans of Jeanette Walls (THE GLASS CASTLE) will find a similar look at family dysfunction. This book mostly leaves it up to the reader to make the connections and identify the effects of the past as they apply to the (near) present, which can turn into a compelling exercise in self-reflection. That all said, I'm gonna warn you, this book is a tease. I don't mean to contradict myself; I meant everything I said before. But, these short vignettes make me want to write the author and beg, "More! Write more!"
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