What do you think?
Rate this book
Collecting Sticks
Observer Graphic Novel of the Month Collecting Sticks is a graphic novel about a family glamping trip. (It's like camping, but much more expensive.) Loosely based on actual events, but sometimes veering unexpectedly into fantasy, the story plays with the challenges nature presents to city folk as they forage for berries, get stuck up a tree, make perilous encounters with stinging wildlife, compete to build the best fire and discover the importance of finding good sticks. Also, it rains. It's about the human desire to get back to nature. Or to return to childhood and hit things with sticks. Funny, moving, beautifully drawn, Collecting Sticks can stand beside Joff Winterhart’s classic graphic novel of family life, Days of the Bagnold Summer.
160 pages, Hardcover
First published April 13, 2017
87 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
Read
November 9, 2016I drew this book. It would be unethical for me to review it. I'd probably be quite critical too.
July 1, 2017
I was at a conference the other day where talk turned to the idea of 'kindness' and how writing can give an opportunity for emotions to be expressed another way. To shine a light into the darkness. It's a complex idea and one that I suspect I'm going to be unpicking for a while, but what stuck with me was that idea of kindness. I have been moving closer to it for a while now, seeking it particularly in the children's books I work with but also elsewhere. That acknowledgement that the world is a complex and challenging and intimidating space and that we are just people trying to do our best in it. Kindness. It's hard to find in a book, hard to consciously seek it, but when you find it, you find a fat and rich and genuine warmth that sings of love and hope and belief in people in all of their foolish and idiosyncratic ways. Kindness.
And so I came to Collecting Sticks by Joe Decie, a comic book that I'd seen reviewed elsewhere and ordered at the library as a consequence (reviews! they work! colour me stunned!). It is a beautiful, beautiful book and I loved it. It's a slender, elegant visual note, rendered in a black and white wash and wry notes and asides towards the reader. It's autobiographical, covering a glamping trip undertaken by Decie's family, but rather deliciously global in the same way; Decie focuses on the moments at the heart of his panels and lets the white space of the page or the quietly focused background of the panel provide that universal backdrop that means these moments of family and conversation could, perhaps, be in your house right now. It's delicately done and all rather wonderful.
Seek this out if you're a little tired with the world, or if you're looking for something to remind you of the intense potential of people. Collecting Sticks has such a delightful warm rhythm to it that it beats with family life, of closeness and of love. It's eccentric, funny, and self-conscious, and it's full of utterly delightful beats. And it is full of kindness. Warmth. Empathy. Love.
This is a beautiful, beautiful little book.
And so I came to Collecting Sticks by Joe Decie, a comic book that I'd seen reviewed elsewhere and ordered at the library as a consequence (reviews! they work! colour me stunned!). It is a beautiful, beautiful book and I loved it. It's a slender, elegant visual note, rendered in a black and white wash and wry notes and asides towards the reader. It's autobiographical, covering a glamping trip undertaken by Decie's family, but rather deliciously global in the same way; Decie focuses on the moments at the heart of his panels and lets the white space of the page or the quietly focused background of the panel provide that universal backdrop that means these moments of family and conversation could, perhaps, be in your house right now. It's delicately done and all rather wonderful.
Seek this out if you're a little tired with the world, or if you're looking for something to remind you of the intense potential of people. Collecting Sticks has such a delightful warm rhythm to it that it beats with family life, of closeness and of love. It's eccentric, funny, and self-conscious, and it's full of utterly delightful beats. And it is full of kindness. Warmth. Empathy. Love.
This is a beautiful, beautiful little book.
Read
February 23, 2020That this should have been Observer Graphic Novel Of The Month is the least surprising thing in the world; I was thinking as I read that I'm not sure I've ever read anything quite so Guardian, and I include the literal Guardian in that. The ineffectual narrator, his more decisive partner and their kid go glamping near Dungeness. That's it. There is no jeopardy (though the narrator has OCD, in the proper rather than colloquial sense, so imagines plenty). Well, unless you count getting mildly lost en route, and the shame of having a son who rates Jango Fett. But there's something about its washed-out affability that captures low-wattage British family holidays very well.
Also, I wonder if Joe Decie is of an age to have got grief during that brief period when Jodeci was a thing?
Also, I wonder if Joe Decie is of an age to have got grief during that brief period when Jodeci was a thing?
September 25, 2017
A very familiar and very simple story about a city dwelling family going glamping (camping but with real beds and more expensive). The black and white drawings are simple and peaceful in contrast to the unfamiliarity and anxiousness involved. Conversation flowed well and was very natural. Humour was spot on too.
May 23, 2019
Decie is a masterful artist. I loved his previous watercolour comics and ,like Karl Stevens, I would say his work ventures into fine art. I hope that’s a high compliment because I love Stevens high realism as well. The story was autobio and it was fun and centered on an Family camping experience. Seek out Decie’s stuff especially his mini comics which are gorgeous.
May 21, 2017
I love autobiographical comics but they all kind of tend to be pretty similar. Except for Joe Decie's autobio work. His comic strips are personal and obviously rooted in real events but they have a tendency to veer off into some very fanciful and surreal directions, always dryly hilarious, and painted in some of the best ink wash I've ever seen. I eagerly picked up Decie's latest book, "Collecting Sticks," from Joe himself at TCAF this year (great to see you again, Joe!), because I was very interested in seeing his work in a longer format, instead of his usual one- or two-page comics. I think it's his best work yet.
"Collecting Sticks" is about the Decie family - Joe, his wife, and his son - going on a "glamping" trip, a supposedly fancier, less rustic version of camping. Of course, things don't go quite as planned due to a combination of city-folk naïveté, Joe's worrisome nature, and stuff that just plain didn't actually happen. The length of "Collecting Sticks" really lets Decie pace out his story well, sprinkling jokes throughout, and the forest setting lets his artwork shine more than it ever has before. There isn't a single page of this comic that I didn't thoroughly enjoy.
I don't want to say too much more because I don't want to give anything away. Regardless, "Collecting Sticks" is Joe Decie at the height of his craft.
"Collecting Sticks" is about the Decie family - Joe, his wife, and his son - going on a "glamping" trip, a supposedly fancier, less rustic version of camping. Of course, things don't go quite as planned due to a combination of city-folk naïveté, Joe's worrisome nature, and stuff that just plain didn't actually happen. The length of "Collecting Sticks" really lets Decie pace out his story well, sprinkling jokes throughout, and the forest setting lets his artwork shine more than it ever has before. There isn't a single page of this comic that I didn't thoroughly enjoy.
I don't want to say too much more because I don't want to give anything away. Regardless, "Collecting Sticks" is Joe Decie at the height of his craft.
May 20, 2018
Love the humour. Love the narrative. Love the art.
I'm always in awe about how a combination of seemingly random things can come together to create something so beautiful. Absolutely adore that there was no forced explanation or plot twist. So excited that there were a few magical, surreal elements mixed in. Sometimes we forget that the most simple and basic things can be incredible too. But I think most of all, it just felt so effortless - to read, consume and devour. And it's relaxing to have a book like that every now and then.
I'm always in awe about how a combination of seemingly random things can come together to create something so beautiful. Absolutely adore that there was no forced explanation or plot twist. So excited that there were a few magical, surreal elements mixed in. Sometimes we forget that the most simple and basic things can be incredible too. But I think most of all, it just felt so effortless - to read, consume and devour. And it's relaxing to have a book like that every now and then.
April 15, 2019
Confession: My wife and I harassed Joe at the LICAF when he drew a comic strip LIVE on a wall! I hope he liked the encouragement but who knows...! But this meant we'd seen his style and humour before.
Collecting sticks is Joe's mostly true story of glamping with his wife and son. The whole book is made up of small anecdotal happenings and connected by the narrative of this holiday. The episodes reflect parts of his family's life we can all identify with and has some laugh out loud moments!
The art style is black and white line and wash and in a realistic style.
Collecting sticks is Joe's mostly true story of glamping with his wife and son. The whole book is made up of small anecdotal happenings and connected by the narrative of this holiday. The episodes reflect parts of his family's life we can all identify with and has some laugh out loud moments!
The art style is black and white line and wash and in a realistic style.
October 26, 2019
I read this really quickly and loved it. Such a lovely, sweet, unpretentious family tale. You don’t have to have gone camping to relate to this, or have a family, but as long as you’re a human being with a heart (and a pulse) you’ll get it.
January 21, 2023
4 star simply for its outstandingly true depiction of parent-child relationships at a certain age. Once again proof that the graphic novel/comicbook can explore experienced emotion in its own unique and meaningful way.
May 10, 2017
Dog shit.
And sticks.
And sticks.
December 30, 2017
Recommended if you dig expertly drawn, mellow, slice-of-life comics. I wished that there was a little more meat to it, but I enjoyed (and very much related to) the depiction of family life.
January 30, 2019
a DELIGHT to read and to look at!
July 28, 2019
Brilliant scenes that capture both adult & child observations of shared experiences.
November 16, 2019
TWR: hilarious, sweet, relatable
September 17, 2020
I really loved this. Beautifully drawn and deceptively funny, filled with heart and kindness and clever, subtle observation. A new favourite.
May 9, 2021
An extra star for the art but it was just a little too whimiscal. Very boomer humour so will probably be enjoyed by an older reader.
July 3, 2022
Sweet book, beautifully illustrated in washes of grey. Some funny laugh out loud moments. Wanted a bit more though.
June 30, 2023
A natural and perfectly paced read about parenthood, worries and a little family "adventure". This is a well crafted graphic novel, simple and delightful storytelling from Joe Decie.
December 8, 2019
Cute story, funny and relatable at times. Just shows the usual familiarity in a family and the humdrum that's relatable to everyone. Loved the art style
February 23, 2023
Sorry to say I really wasn’t a fan of this. The art style looked interesting to start with but somehow the characters looked completely different on each page. The story lacked any depth and was totally pointless imo.
June 27, 2017
Amazing. Joe Decie turns the memory of a simple weekend glamping trip into a portrait of what real quality time looks like in a family that gets each other.
There's no conflict, no manipulated drama. Just genuine funny moments that make something extraordinary out of the mundane everyday. This is all complimented by beautiful art that manages to capture the combination of loveliness and crap that makes up the English countryside, without relying on colour or panoramic vistas.
There's no conflict, no manipulated drama. Just genuine funny moments that make something extraordinary out of the mundane everyday. This is all complimented by beautiful art that manages to capture the combination of loveliness and crap that makes up the English countryside, without relying on colour or panoramic vistas.
July 26, 2017
a lovely little story about a family taking some time out and getting back to nature on a glamping holiday. Kate Beaton's quote on the back is spot on in that the conversations and movement feel very real. its a nice look at a family enjoining the little things in life...
October 12, 2017
Delightful!
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews