Dockwood [Graphic Novel] Hardcover – December 4, 2012

Jon McNaught's work has a quiet, contemplative quality edged with melancholy & a bittersweet ache -- and all of that is present in this short but poetic graphic novel. Nearly wordless, it conveys its multiple stories through what first seems like simple art, but which is actually precision & emotional depth pared down to a few carefully placed lines & patches of flat color. The stories follow a day in the life of a young man working in a nursing home, and a young boy delivering newspapers before losing himself in videogames. The natural world is presented in counterpoint to these quotidian activities: birds & squirrels going about their own lives, observing the human world (which we see from their POV).But that basic synopsis hardly begins to capture the intertwining emotions & unnoticed revelations of this book. A seemingly minor image early on will be repeated in different context later in the book, investing it with greater meaning -- a meaning we realize was there all along, if only we had the eyes & sensitivity to see it. The references to autumn become ever more metaphoric as the stories progress. The starlings are preparing for their annual migration, as several denizens of the nursing home see on a BBC nature program; at the same time, it's clear that those denizens will be making their own final migration very soon. The delivery boy loses himself in violent sci-fi videogames as a means of both escape & exploring a wider universe, while oblivious to the actual universe around him, filled with countless forms of life & an infinite sky of stars. A single panel showing him seated before the glowing screen of his game, in a bedroom filled with pop culture detritus, is one of the saddest things I've seen in a long time.And yet the opening & closing images of the book aren't of human beings, but of birds & tree branches. There's a distinct lyrical tone to the book, which proceeds at a slow, measured pace, inviting us to pause & savor the tiniest of everyday details. More than that, it invites us to notice those details in our own lives as well. Not for every taste, especially for those who want nothing more than blatant action & overwrought, one-dimensional "entertainment" -- but for the thoughtful reader, most highly recommended!

Oddly meditative. There's a rhythm to it draws you in. Ended with wanting to know more about the characters and the life in Dockwood.

amazing drawings

Far from a typical graphic novel, Dockwood is a wonderful celebration of daily life in a suburban town. McNaught's artwork shines a subtle light on everyday moments and the natural world, through stories about a young man working in an old folk's home kitchen and a paperboy. In the latter story, the contrast between the ordinariness of the boy's daily life and his experiences playing video games are the focus of the story, a point seemingly lost on the first reviewer of this book.

This is a beautiful book with sensitive, evocative illustrations. Be aware, though, that it is a slim, light book and although has no text it wouldn't be suitable for a child.

I have à new Hero. After Chris Ware there is à new storyteller and brilliant illustrator. With less words and less colours hè tells à warm story. THE book of 2012!

Auf diesen Comic bin ich in einer französischen Buchhandlung aufmerksam geworden. Dass ich ihn auf englisch gekauft habe, macht keinen Unterschied, denn die Geschichte kommt ohne Worte aus.Jon McNaught überzeugt mit dieser gestalterisch anspruchsvollen Graphic Novel und zeigt mal wieder, dass es für große Literatur/ bzw. Erzählung nicht vieler Worte bedarf. Das Buch ist mit offenem, schönen Papier und den farblich und grafisch reduzierten Illustrationen wertig und wunderbar gestaltet. Ein Augenblick herbstlicher Tristesse und Schönheit! Ich liebe es.

Die Geschichte von "Dockwood" wird überwiegend in sehr kleinen, quadratischen Bildchen erzählt. Das Cover gibt gut die Atmosphäre des Stils und des Inhalts wieder. Mir gefallen die Zeichnungen. Die Geschichte ist wohl Geschmackssache. Es wird ein Tag einer Person im Herbst geschildert. Ein sehr alltägliches Leben. Wer allerdings eine "richtige" Geschichte mit Konflikten, Spannungsbogen und Auflösung erwartet, wird (wie ich) eher enttäuscht sein.Nichtsdestotrotz gucke ich mir gern die Bilder an, auch wenn mir die Geschichte nicht zusagt.