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Snow
What do you do when your whole world turns upside down?
Dana is a woman who doesn't deal well with confrontation. She likes her job, her friends, and the cozy comfort of her neighbourhood—Toronto's own Queen Street West. But when the world forces her to stand up, will she be able to handle it?
Dana is a woman who doesn't deal well with confrontation. She likes her job, her friends, and the cozy comfort of her neighbourhood—Toronto's own Queen Street West. But when the world forces her to stand up, will she be able to handle it?
170 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2014
About the author
Benjamin Rivers
34 books2 followersBenjamin Rivers is an independent game developer, illustrator, and comic artist. He was raised in Barry's Bay, Canada and is now based out of Toronto, Canada. He is a member of the Hand Eye Society and a graduate of the Artsy Games Incubator program. Benjamin has been an active and early member of the Toronto independent gaming scene and has been creating games for download and display since 2008.
His games span multiple genres but often focus on similar visual styles. The various titles have appeared in EDGE magazine, Game Developers Magazine and on Gamasutra, GameSetWatch, Destructoid, Maisonneuve and other notable websites and publications.
His games span multiple genres but often focus on similar visual styles. The various titles have appeared in EDGE magazine, Game Developers Magazine and on Gamasutra, GameSetWatch, Destructoid, Maisonneuve and other notable websites and publications.
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
December 26, 2024
I'll be Snow for Christmas
A review of the self-published graphic novel (2014).
There was a strong element of nostalgia for me in this graphic novel. It is set in the years leading up to 2014 but is prescient about the changings and closures of the storefronts of a trendy hipster era of Toronto's Queen St. West. In a way it prefigures the closures of the COVID era as well. I frequented that neighbourhood quite a lot in my downtown University and later downtown employment days. Places such as Pages Bookstore, Bakka Books, Rooneem's Estonian Bakery, the Cameron House, the Horseshoe Tavern, the Queen Mother Cafe, etc. Several of those are now gone.
Promotional poster for the movie adaptation of the "Snow" graphic novel. Image sourced from IMDb.
The story itself centres around Abberline Books (a fictional proxy for the real-life Pages Bookstore) where the lead character Dana is an employee. Dana herself lives in a second floor apartment just down the street and is constantly noticing the store closures in the neighbourhood. Although snow itself isn't much of a factor in the story, the onset of winter (i.e. death) is symbolic. Dana herself is a witness to a store robbery and murder and the result is a heightened paranoia about her surroundings.
The story has somewhat of an anticlimactic conclusion which requires the reader to write their own ending. However, the nostalgia factor for me brings this up to a 4-star rating.
Trivia and Links
The graphic novel was adapted as the feature film Snow (2014) directed by Ryan Couldrey. You can see a trailer for the film on YouTube here and you can watch the entire film on YouTube here.
There are bonus features at director Ryan Couldrey's YouTube channel such as Makeup for B&W cinema and a Blooper Reel.
There is a video including interviews with the filmmakers and author Benjamin Rivers at Making Snow.
A review of the self-published graphic novel (2014).
There was a strong element of nostalgia for me in this graphic novel. It is set in the years leading up to 2014 but is prescient about the changings and closures of the storefronts of a trendy hipster era of Toronto's Queen St. West. In a way it prefigures the closures of the COVID era as well. I frequented that neighbourhood quite a lot in my downtown University and later downtown employment days. Places such as Pages Bookstore, Bakka Books, Rooneem's Estonian Bakery, the Cameron House, the Horseshoe Tavern, the Queen Mother Cafe, etc. Several of those are now gone.
Promotional poster for the movie adaptation of the "Snow" graphic novel. Image sourced from IMDb.
The story itself centres around Abberline Books (a fictional proxy for the real-life Pages Bookstore) where the lead character Dana is an employee. Dana herself lives in a second floor apartment just down the street and is constantly noticing the store closures in the neighbourhood. Although snow itself isn't much of a factor in the story, the onset of winter (i.e. death) is symbolic. Dana herself is a witness to a store robbery and murder and the result is a heightened paranoia about her surroundings.
The story has somewhat of an anticlimactic conclusion which requires the reader to write their own ending. However, the nostalgia factor for me brings this up to a 4-star rating.
Trivia and Links
The graphic novel was adapted as the feature film Snow (2014) directed by Ryan Couldrey. You can see a trailer for the film on YouTube here and you can watch the entire film on YouTube here.
There are bonus features at director Ryan Couldrey's YouTube channel such as Makeup for B&W cinema and a Blooper Reel.
There is a video including interviews with the filmmakers and author Benjamin Rivers at Making Snow.
July 9, 2017
Set in Toronto, this graphic novel is centred around the daily life of woman working at a local book store (soon to be closed) in Queens Street. It depicts her interactions with her friend Julia, co-workers and residents of her neighbourhood. This starts of slice of life story, then stangely transpires into a murder mystery. This is nothing amazing, just an okay read for me. The artwork was okay too. Overall, this was a decent debut work by Benjamin Rivers.
February 4, 2015
The Beat ran a story recently about the top Comixology Submit downloads. This was on it, and sure enough I already owned it as part of a big bundle offer. So I downloaded it to my Kindle Fire HD and read it over my lunch hour today. The four chapters run 155 pages, so it was easy to read in just under an hour.
It's a B&W slice of life comic about a young woman named Dana who works in a bookstore in downtown Toronto. Other characters include her best friend, coworkers, and some strangers she has significant interactions with. The setting and the main character's age call the Scott Pilgrim books to mind, but this story is completely naturalistic: there are no evil ex-boyfriends or video game effects that happen in real life. It also reminded me of Box Office Poison, but on a smaller scale.
It's a very good story if you like this kind of thing. Dana learns some things and comes to a significant life decision at the end, so it's not just self-indulgent navel-gazing. The notes at the end mention a movie and a video game that have spun out of it, and gives links to access them for free. I plan to check them out.
It's a B&W slice of life comic about a young woman named Dana who works in a bookstore in downtown Toronto. Other characters include her best friend, coworkers, and some strangers she has significant interactions with. The setting and the main character's age call the Scott Pilgrim books to mind, but this story is completely naturalistic: there are no evil ex-boyfriends or video game effects that happen in real life. It also reminded me of Box Office Poison, but on a smaller scale.
It's a very good story if you like this kind of thing. Dana learns some things and comes to a significant life decision at the end, so it's not just self-indulgent navel-gazing. The notes at the end mention a movie and a video game that have spun out of it, and gives links to access them for free. I plan to check them out.
March 10, 2016
I bought this Canadian graphic novel at Mission: Comics and Art on my trip to San Francisco and was excited about it from the beginning. I started and finished it on my flight from San Francisco to Atlanta, which tells you how much I was engaged with it. I loved the simplicity of the black and white drawings and thought they were akin to some of Scott McCloud's theories and ideas in Understanding Comics. The simplicity of the drawings is part of what made me connect to the characters, and the events were very believable. I loved Dana as a protagonist, and I could relate to her desire to improve herself and her neighborhood. The book dealt well with the issues of book stores, record stores, and other artistic avenues closing down. I loved Dana's friends as well, along with the mystery in the story. The end left me wanting more, and I found myself wishing that the author had taken Dana's story even further. I greatly enjoyed this book and hope to watch the movie at some point.
August 26, 2016
The art here is good, and the characters are likeable. But there's a lot of stuff that happens without any real explanation or sense of cohesiveness. I guess it's a tale about how this character deals with the odd and creepy events in her surroundings, but since nothing ever really comes to fruition, the whole thing seems to be for naught.
July 12, 2015
A slice of life tale about a mediocre woman in a mediocre job. I either didn't get it or it actually isn't very good. I found it hard to care about anyone in it and it seemed to end just as it got going. The minimalist artwork was quite nice but otherwise it's just a bit drab and pointless.
February 13, 2017
A young woman leads a mousy life and begins to see everything she loves disappear around her. Do she finds the strength to move forward, grow a little. I don't know, it's unassuming, inspirational stuff. Kind of Scott Pilgrim minus all the goofy stuff.
October 16, 2025
Snow by Benjamin Rivers is a subtle, introspective story that captures the uneasy beauty of everyday life. Dana, the protagonist, is a woman who avoids confrontation and clings to the small comforts of her world — her job, her friends, and her familiar Toronto neighbourhood. Yet when life pushes back, she’s forced to face choices she’s long avoided.
Rivers paints her with honesty: Dana can be both likeable and deeply frustrating, often caught between emotional complexity and paralysing indecision. That very ambiguity makes her feel real. The story itself has a sense of “never quite ending,” as if life simply continues beyond the last panel — and that’s part of its quiet power.
A gentle, melancholy slice of life that lingers longer than expected.
Rivers paints her with honesty: Dana can be both likeable and deeply frustrating, often caught between emotional complexity and paralysing indecision. That very ambiguity makes her feel real. The story itself has a sense of “never quite ending,” as if life simply continues beyond the last panel — and that’s part of its quiet power.
A gentle, melancholy slice of life that lingers longer than expected.
August 2, 2018
i can see different people connecting with the book in differing ways although i can also see people walking away from it without any significant takeaways. i guess that is the risk and beauty with slice of life stories.
i liked how the story captured the sense of helplessness one gets when changes occurs beyond ones control. at the same time, it captured ably how one strives to fight through these tides of change, fighting to stay significant in a world that wants to leave you in obsolescence.
i liked how the story captured the sense of helplessness one gets when changes occurs beyond ones control. at the same time, it captured ably how one strives to fight through these tides of change, fighting to stay significant in a world that wants to leave you in obsolescence.
February 18, 2018
Great little graphic novel. Full of charm and character.
August 24, 2018
Good, but the ending is abrupt.
November 18, 2018
Cute art. But nothing interesting happens. Depressing tone, In fact.
March 22, 2023
Cosy little slice of life comic, a mix of mystery, heartfelt relationships, and harsh realities. I enjoyed the vibe and atmosphere, as well as the art. There's also a movie based on the comic! :)
June 29, 2025
Curious little graphic novel about a shy, awkward girl where right after learning she's losing her job due to gentrification, witnesses a murder.
December 9, 2024
from Wanda
April 8, 2016
This book was so mediocre. I suppose I enjoyed it in that i read the whole thing in one sitting, but i wasn't particularly eager to either.
Main character, Dana, lives in the big city and deals with a violent trauma, the traumatic event is the main climax. However, it isn't made to be a very monumental moment for Dana. I was surprised that it was the climax, because it was so....low-key.
I'd recommend it as an easy, one-sitting read. It didn't even take me 45 minutes to finish.
I'm just *shocked* it's been made into an app and movie.......
Main character, Dana, lives in the big city and deals with a violent trauma, the traumatic event is the main climax. However, it isn't made to be a very monumental moment for Dana. I was surprised that it was the climax, because it was so....low-key.
I'd recommend it as an easy, one-sitting read. It didn't even take me 45 minutes to finish.
I'm just *shocked* it's been made into an app and movie.......
October 19, 2014
“Snow” is a contemporary light drama tale. You get to know believable characters and places which will take you along making you think about problems which worry all of us in these contemporary days.
“Snow” has no brilliant art neither an intense dramatic arc, however it shows the author has the strengths to arrive there. We can feel the honesty in the work and the artist humbleness. I recommend it.
“Snow” has no brilliant art neither an intense dramatic arc, however it shows the author has the strengths to arrive there. We can feel the honesty in the work and the artist humbleness. I recommend it.
May 19, 2013
Lovely little tale about a changing neighbourhood and a resident who considers her own transition.
Personally, always a fan of the use of simple black and white cartoonish-illustrations, especially when they can help tell a deep story. :)
Personally, always a fan of the use of simple black and white cartoonish-illustrations, especially when they can help tell a deep story. :)
August 22, 2016
As part of my exploring Toronto 30 day challenge I took on reading some books set in Toronto. I really enjoyed reading a book set in the familiar streets. I love that it is set in winter it seems that story so seldom seem to be set in this season which lasts for almost half of the year.
April 14, 2014
Looking forward for the film to come out in fall 2014. A reminder that all of our lives are fascinating stories, and that it's ok to be "crazy" if you feel like you have to do what's right.
April 16, 2014
Very interesting slice of Toronto life. Also, it never rains but it pours.
November 18, 2014
Well that was depressing.
December 16, 2015
The art was great, but the plot was thin and underdeveloped. Wouldn't read it again.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews