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The Salty River
The Salty River is Jan Bauer's first graphic novel - this edition is translated from it's original German. This autobiographical account follows the authors journey along the length of the Larapinta trail and his love affair with a young French hiker that he meets during his journey.
233 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2014
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
March 10, 2025
E de repente, depois de vinte e cinco dias e quatrocentos e cinquenta quilómetros...
Yuendumu, finalmente! Consegui!
Jan Bauer, depois de dois acontecimentos tristes na sua vida, decide caminhar no Outback australiano. Percorre o Larapinta Trail, de Alice Springs até Redbank Gorge (233km), e de Redbank Gorge até Yuendumu (220km).
Queria estar sozinho e encontrar-se consigo mesmo, mas isso nunca é bem assim, pois aparece-lhe Morgana, uma miúda francesa que também andava pelos trilhos e que gosta muito da sua liberdade. E, com Morgana, Jan descobre que afinal estar acompanhado não é assim tão mau.
Um livro com uma história bonita, apesar do final agridoce.
Yuendumu, finalmente! Consegui!
Jan Bauer, depois de dois acontecimentos tristes na sua vida, decide caminhar no Outback australiano. Percorre o Larapinta Trail, de Alice Springs até Redbank Gorge (233km), e de Redbank Gorge até Yuendumu (220km).
Queria estar sozinho e encontrar-se consigo mesmo, mas isso nunca é bem assim, pois aparece-lhe Morgana, uma miúda francesa que também andava pelos trilhos e que gosta muito da sua liberdade. E, com Morgana, Jan descobre que afinal estar acompanhado não é assim tão mau.
Um livro com uma história bonita, apesar do final agridoce.
February 28, 2025
PT Às vezes, tropeço em livros ao acaso que acabam por ser verdadeiras pérolas—este é um desses casos.
Tinha planeado lê-lo intercalado com outros livros, mas estava a gostar tanto que não consegui largá-lo até ao fim.
Que história tão simples e bonita! Um homem embarca numa jornada de autodescoberta, aventurando-se sozinho pelo interior selvagem da Austrália. Mas, pelo caminho, encontra alguém que muda completamente a sua perspetiva sobre a felicidade.
Uma história profundamente emocional que me tocou imenso. Não só é a minha leitura favorita do ano, como também se tornou uma das minhas leituras favoritas de sempre.
--
EN Sometimes, I stumble upon random books that turn out to be hidden gems—this is one of those cases.
I had planned to read this alongside other books, but I was enjoying it so much that I couldn’t put it down until I finished.
What a beautifully simple story! A man embarks on a journey of self-discovery, venturing alone into the Australian wilderness. But along the way, he meets someone who changes his entire perspective on happiness.
A deeply emotional story that truly resonated with me. Not only is this my favorite read of the year, but it’s also one of my favorite books ever.
Tinha planeado lê-lo intercalado com outros livros, mas estava a gostar tanto que não consegui largá-lo até ao fim.
Que história tão simples e bonita! Um homem embarca numa jornada de autodescoberta, aventurando-se sozinho pelo interior selvagem da Austrália. Mas, pelo caminho, encontra alguém que muda completamente a sua perspetiva sobre a felicidade.
Uma história profundamente emocional que me tocou imenso. Não só é a minha leitura favorita do ano, como também se tornou uma das minhas leituras favoritas de sempre.
--
EN Sometimes, I stumble upon random books that turn out to be hidden gems—this is one of those cases.
I had planned to read this alongside other books, but I was enjoying it so much that I couldn’t put it down until I finished.
What a beautifully simple story! A man embarks on a journey of self-discovery, venturing alone into the Australian wilderness. But along the way, he meets someone who changes his entire perspective on happiness.
A deeply emotional story that truly resonated with me. Not only is this my favorite read of the year, but it’s also one of my favorite books ever.
November 15, 2017
Uma das novidades editoriais da Polvo apresentadas no Amadora BD, O Rio Salgado de Jan Bauer surpreende pelo seu rigor estético e plasticidade do grafismo. Em O Rio Salgado, uma caminhada no remoto deserto australiano é o palco de um amor condenado, com a omnipresente paisagem a captar o olhar do leitor. “Outras histórias são verdadeiras, isso quer dizer que foi a vida a escrevê-las” é talvez a frase que melhor explica este livro. Junto com a assombrosa ilustração paisagística, forma uma muito interessante proposta de leitura. Crítica completa no aCalopsia: O Rio Salgado de Jan Bauer.
July 5, 2016
After some personal tragedies, a German artist decides to wander through the Australian bush to find himself. Afterwards he makes a graphic novel about his trek. The black and white watercolours really portray the landscape well and the story is well paced, I just didn't enjoy it much. The story of the trek is the story that thousands of backpacking tourists to Auatralia have, so it was a bit boring. The story of the "romance" comes off a bit creepy. Guy meets much younger girl, they hike together, and he is constantly manoeuvring and pressuring her to be intimate with him. From his point of view he's being romantic instead of pushy but I think the experience was not great for the girl and - spoiler alert - at end of trek she gets away from him as fast as she can.
April 26, 2017
je referme ce roman graphique et je me sens nostalgique d'aventure... l'intensité des rencontres que l'on fait en voyage, le regard face à la nature, le "bush camping" tout y est bien représenté.
March 13, 2019
I enjoyed this so much. The pictures were wonderful (despite being in black and white) - so wonderful that I now have walking the Larapinta Trail on my bucket list.
The only reason I didn't give this book a full set of 5 stars was the slightly creepy romance storyline. It would have been excellent if, like Morgane said, it was only "this trek kind of thing." But Jan, freshly out of some very traumatic experiences, including painful divorce, rushed in with the I love yous a couple of weeks into knowing the girl, and I'm glad she'd gone her own way in the end. He wasn't ready, and she dodged a bullet.
But yeah, still a beautiful read, highly recommended.
The only reason I didn't give this book a full set of 5 stars was the slightly creepy romance storyline. It would have been excellent if, like Morgane said, it was only "this trek kind of thing." But Jan, freshly out of some very traumatic experiences, including painful divorce, rushed in with the I love yous a couple of weeks into knowing the girl, and I'm glad she'd gone her own way in the end. He wasn't ready, and she dodged a bullet.
But yeah, still a beautiful read, highly recommended.
July 11, 2020
I met the author of this book In 2016 when I was 19 and he acted similarly manipulative and pushy while engaging me in a relationship. I recently re-read the book and noticed that it seems “morgane” may have experienced a similar thing as she seems compliant yet not that into what Jan was putting out. anyone who has had a similar experience with this author can connect with me via my email at niamhjolly@icloud.com
Really uncomfortable read.
If you see this Jan maybe you should respond to my email too.
Really uncomfortable read.
If you see this Jan maybe you should respond to my email too.
August 16, 2018
Ando com este livro em mente desde o AmadoraBD, pareceu-me que o trabalho artístico era extraordinário. E confirma-se.
Para mais, a história está bem redigida, num retrato bastante íntimo das desilusões de amor (e da vida). Em algumas alturas encontramo-nos no meio de nenhures. Outra alturas, no meio de nenhures, encontramo-nos.
Para mais, a história está bem redigida, num retrato bastante íntimo das desilusões de amor (e da vida). Em algumas alturas encontramo-nos no meio de nenhures. Outra alturas, no meio de nenhures, encontramo-nos.
May 27, 2018
Somehow strangely familiar. It is easy to review myself in it.
July 18, 2023
I had it at 3 stars until we find out the dude is 10 years older than her.
June 14, 2021
Creepy German guy creepy inserts himself into young French girls life and repeatedly pushes boundaries with inappropriate gestures and emotional desperation, all in the false casing of a “life changing journey”.
I guess he decided he would write a graphic novel about this hiking experience in AUS but all he really did on his hike was grossly try and hook up with a girl 10 years younger than him? Seriously, who thought this was a good book to publish?
Also, I have news for ya, bud. She’s had more than 3 lovers. She prolly only hooked up with you because you were alone in the desert and she was afraid you were going to murder her if she didn’t. Even in his interpretation of the story it’s clear she’s uncomfortable and not really interested.
Yuuuck. Skip skip
I guess he decided he would write a graphic novel about this hiking experience in AUS but all he really did on his hike was grossly try and hook up with a girl 10 years younger than him? Seriously, who thought this was a good book to publish?
Also, I have news for ya, bud. She’s had more than 3 lovers. She prolly only hooked up with you because you were alone in the desert and she was afraid you were going to murder her if she didn’t. Even in his interpretation of the story it’s clear she’s uncomfortable and not really interested.
Yuuuck. Skip skip
November 10, 2016
"A day is what happens when the sun crosses the sky, and what happens below when we travel in its path... And every new day offers us new vistas of the grandeur of nature."
Such a heartfelt and deeply moving graphic narrative.
The illustrations are stunning yet understated and each panel is paired deftly with narrative text (and moments of reflective silence) to completely transform the story into something well beyond regular fiction.
I thoroughly enjoyed both the narrative and the art - an excellent example of what can be achieved in the graphic novel form.
December 3, 2017
Beautiful art, but I think I would have preferred it to be in colour because of the insane palette of the Australian outback. I wasn’t that taken by the “love” story — the protagonist was kind of pushy and clingy and I completely understood his love interest’s hesitation. Maybe this was a translation issue?
September 8, 2018
Não se espere uma história completamente inovadora e fora do comum... Espere-se antes uma história bem contada, não só com um argumento simples e facilmente perceptível, mas também com imagens poderosas da paisagem do outback australiano. Bem pensado e bem executado. Não é isso o mais importante num livro?
March 27, 2019
I was touched by this splice of life tale, set against the awe inspiring backdrop of the Australian outback. Subtle yet evocative illustrations tell a simple story in a moving way.
July 10, 2017
Deze 'road-novel' (Reiseroman auf Deutsch) begint fenomenaal, met fantasierijke hersenspinsels, een schrijver-wandelaar die uit zijn lichaam treedt en opgaat in het moois en in de gevaren en ergernissen van zijn landelijke avontuur. Beeld en tekst vloeien in elkaar over, en met name de tekeningen zijn weergaloos: vol trucs, verrassingen, gevarieerd - en toch een. De man die het allemaal niet meer weet tracht zichzelf opnieuw uit te vinden maar krijgt zijn hunkeringen niet afgeschud. Een beetje liefde, of het verlangen ernaar, doet hem van zijn pad afwijken. Of laat dat verlangen hem juist zijn doel bereiken? In zekere zin is De zoete rivier als verhaal herkenbaar of zelfs voorspelbaar en daardoor wellicht weinig uitdagend. De illustraties vergoeden dat euvel met gemak. Omdat de tekenaar zichzelf niet spaart en om de grafische veelzijdigheid en Sehnsucht van het boek: vier sterren.
September 19, 2021
Em 2012, o autor passeia no outback australiano para ver as vistas e encontrar-se a si próprio, depois de tempos difíceis. Ao mesmo tempo, cruza-se com uma caminhante e juntos, percorrem cerca de quatrocentos quilómetros da savana, com terreno acidentado, poças de água e dingos, enquanto desenvolve uma relação com ela.
"O Rio Salgado", de Jan Bauer, trata-se de uma aventura pessoal do autor que passou para o papel. A descoberta de si mesmo, ajudada por alguém mais noa que ele, mostra que há coisas que funcionam num determinado lugar e num determinado tempo, ajudando a trazer alguém de volta para uma existência que parecia ter perdido o sentido.
E sendo uma experiência pessoal, que partilhou com o mundo, é um trabalho interessante, mas tirando as portentosas paisagens do "outback" desenhadas pelo autor, não é algo que nos arrebata por ali além. É uma história honesta e bem feita.
"O Rio Salgado", de Jan Bauer, trata-se de uma aventura pessoal do autor que passou para o papel. A descoberta de si mesmo, ajudada por alguém mais noa que ele, mostra que há coisas que funcionam num determinado lugar e num determinado tempo, ajudando a trazer alguém de volta para uma existência que parecia ter perdido o sentido.
E sendo uma experiência pessoal, que partilhou com o mundo, é um trabalho interessante, mas tirando as portentosas paisagens do "outback" desenhadas pelo autor, não é algo que nos arrebata por ali além. É uma história honesta e bem feita.
March 16, 2018
I really enjoyed this book, from its opening scenery to the bittersweet ending, the whole book is thematically amazing. Jan writes from the heart, and is able to describe his stream of consciousness with great depth but not complexity. The black and white pencilled portraits of the Australian outback really romanticise the notion that it is a beautiful, if not misunderstood, area of the world that is worth exploring. If I didn't hate brutal sunshine so much, I would do the Larapinta trail myself. :)
March 1, 2021
I really enjoyed the vibe of this book and did it in one sitting. I sometimes wished the illustrations (or some of them) were in colour but my imagination did it's best to colour in some of the landscapes. Probably the only irritation was the main character being a little...sooky about how his advances were received by the (much younger) woman the subject of the romance. In short, men are annoying. But I did enjoy this book.
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March 17, 2024I don’t know how to feel about this book. I loved the illustrations and love bittersweet stories, but I feel quite uncomfortable about the age gap and the way Jan was thinking about the situation. It seemed quite coercive. It’s such a shame as the illustrations really are beautiful and I loved how he spoke about his grief with his mother dying.
July 24, 2018
I was reviewing the contents of this book to see what age group collection I would add it to and decided I had to follow the story through to the end. A lovely quick read, a relatable story and I like the illustrations.
August 1, 2025
Uma novela gráfica soberba em desenho a preto e branco e uma história de se encontrar a si mesmo, na solidão e no amor, que nem sempre é tudo para manter uma relação romântica mas que reforça a necessidade de estarmos bem connosco próprios.
May 7, 2020
i really liked it! it made me really happy and made me renenvalutate my choices. its helped me walk more to school. it really inspired me by motivateing me! thanks jan bauer!
October 9, 2020
Une belle après midi avec cette bd...
January 19, 2023
Comicbook form once again proves itself an extremely effective medium for lived, experienced emotion. Similar to Craig Thompson's Blankets in terms of its use of the medium for autobiography.
March 27, 2024
içim ısındı.
April 28, 2025
wanted more river, less hot-french-girl musings. whiny man child vibes. two stars for the art though.
March 7, 2014
Reiseroman nennt der avant-verlag seinen Frühjahrsaufmacher, die erste Graphic Novel von Illustrator Jan Bauer, der für Das wilde Dutzend eine Geschichte der Anthologie "Wer kann für böse Träume" illustrierte. Jan erzählt in "Der salzige Fluss", wie er 2012 auf der Suche nach sich selbst den Larapinta Trail entlang des Lhere Pirnte mitten in Australien entlangwanderte.
"Ich bin allein. Was ich brauche, trage ich in meinem Rucksack bei mir. Alles andere habe ich hinter mir gelassen. Für das, was vor mir liegt."
Er will zwei emotional aufwühlende Ereignisse in seinem Leben verarbeiten und eigentlich nur allein sein. Zumindest glaubt er das zu Beginn seiner Wanderung... "Der salzige Fluss" ist eine wunderbare Erzählung übers Finden, Verlieren und Weitermachen.
"Ich bin allein. Was ich brauche, trage ich in meinem Rucksack bei mir. Alles andere habe ich hinter mir gelassen. Für das, was vor mir liegt."
Er will zwei emotional aufwühlende Ereignisse in seinem Leben verarbeiten und eigentlich nur allein sein. Zumindest glaubt er das zu Beginn seiner Wanderung... "Der salzige Fluss" ist eine wunderbare Erzählung übers Finden, Verlieren und Weitermachen.
September 4, 2015
Autobiographical graphic novel - strong and beautiful black and white illustrations of the author's hike (and an unexpected romance) along the Larapinta trail (MacDonnall Ranges N.T. Australia).
(This new edition is translated from it's original German).
(This new edition is translated from it's original German).
Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews