Out in the Open

by Javi Rey (Illustrator), Jesús Carrasco

After suffering violence and betrayal at home, a young boy flees into an uncompromising landscape ravaged by drought. Without food or water, exposed to the heat of the sun and the violence of his pursuers, the boy sets out across the Spanish plains.

An encounter with an elderly goatherd offers hope of survival. The old man can help him stay ahead of the dangers that lie outside—but he can’t fix the internal drama that plays out in the boy’s mind. Nightmares are a constant reminder of a traumatic past and an unstable present.

Based on the award-winning novel by Jesús Carrasco, Javi Rey’s Out in the Open is a cinematic graphic novel about escaping abuse and finding humanity in a world torn apart by the violence of men.

Genres: Comics, Graphic Novels, Fiction, Bande Dessinée, Spain, Graphic Novels Comics, Young Adult

168 pages, Hardcover

First published November 29, 2016

About the author

Javi Rey is a Belgian comics artist based in Barcelona. His books include Adelante (with Frank Giroud) and Un maillot pour l'Algérie.

Reviews

[Jon Nakapalau · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow - this was a powerful GN. A young boy runs away from horrific abuse in a season of drought. His abusers start to track him as he tries to find food and water so that he can get away. He finds an old shepherd who helps him without asking any questions. A story that is multi-layered and both heartbreaking and filled with hope at the same time. The art is wonderful and adds to the starkness of the situation - highly recommended.

[El Buscalibros | elbuscalibros.com · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cuando leí la novela de Jesús Carrasco me pareció un texto que perfectamente se podría adaptar a un guion cinematográfico, pero nunca se me ocurrió que pudiera verla transformada en una novela gráfica. Así que cuando supe de su publicación, reconozco que me causó una gran curiosidad.

Leer una obra que se basa en otra ya leída siempre es un problema a la hora de reseñarla: ¿se es capaz de separar una de otra? ¿Se puede ser suficientemente objetivo para analizarla de manera independiente? Creo que Intemperie es una novela muy potente para que esto suceda. Por otro lado, pienso que no es esta la intención de Javi Rey, que realiza una transcripción fiel del relato y que no pretende hacer una versión o reinterpretarla.

Por eso voy a dividir la reseña en dos partes. Una como lector de la novela y otra intentando (atrevidamente por mi parte) imaginar que es la primera vez que me encuentro con la historia, que utilizo el cómic de antesala a una futura lectura de la novela.

Parte 1: ¿Y si no hubiera leído la novela?

Intento no recordar lo ya leído. Intento dejar en blanco mi mente y enfrentarme a Intemperie por primera vez.

Las tres primeras páginas son tres viñetas con texto que me anticipan el ambiente que me voy a encontrar: un galgo (...) PUEDES SEGUIR LEYENDO LA RESEÑA EN NUESTRA WEB: https://elbuscalibros.com/intemperie-...

[Colin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is really well drawn and has a quiet power to it. It manages to live up to the phrase "graphic novel" rather than simply being a fat comic, containing a story that is layered and retains its tension even in the silences between dialogue.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm not sure why, but this book just felt very Spanish to me. It's spare and provocative and catholic, and the plot is subsumed to the larger importance of the book's theme and perspective, which is about faith - both the suffering that it engenders and the grace that it provides.

The plot is simple enough: in a post-technological, drought-stricken world, a young boy flees his home and village for the plains beyond. There, in his freedom, he finds little more than anguish, desolation, and a land that yields next to nothing. The sun and the heat are enemies even as the child continues to flee the bailiff and his men, who search relentlessly to find him. His only good fortune is an unexpected connection with a lone goatherd. As the boy and the goatherd tenuously join together to travel through the punishing landscape, Carrasco's vision of faith and its meaning emerges.

This story is bleak, and, in many ways, so is the message. But it offers much to consider - and perhaps is best understood as a philosophical or religious meditation that resonated deeply in this age of dysfunction and uncertainy.

[Lukas Evan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Basically the Spanish "The Road."

[Martina · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5*

Kedysi, už to bude poriadne dávno, som verila pochybnej myšlienke typu "čím viac, tým lepšie" - viac strán, viac textu, viac zápletiek, viac dynamiky..., - dnes už však viem, že to ani zďaleka neplatí a že aj z mála sa dá vyťažiť maximum, že aj pár slovami možno povedať veľa, stačí ten správny cit či možno talent alebo pár veľavravných ilustrácií.

Neveríte? Nuž, Javi Rey a jeho grafická adaptácia drsného, no predsa mučivo krásneho románu Jesúsa Carrasca Pod šírym nebom, vás o tom zaručene presvedčí. Ničivé sucho, vyprahnuté planiny a neústupčivé slnko, ktoré nikomu nič nedaruje, prach i voda, ktorá sa ukryla kdesi v hlbinách. A uprostred toho všetkého malý chlapec, ozlomkrky upaľujúci tej ničote naproti, len aby unikol pred hrôzou, ktorá ho čakala doma.

Na jednej strane nezávideniahodný otec, ktorý ho zapredal, na druhej strane chlípny strážnik, zosobnenie jeho nočných môr. A do tretice vetchý starec, ktorý sa stal nečakanou nádejou.

Grafický román Pod šírym nebom nie je ani zďaleka textovo bohatý, no predsa je nesmierne živý, expresívny. To čo sa Rey rozhodol zamlčať v slovách, pretavil do obrazov - do ťaživých ilustrácií detailom i farebnou škálou dokonale vystihujúcich dusivú atmosféru strachu a duševnej nepohody prameniacich z násilia - čím vytvoril síce rýchlo plynúcu, no i tak depresívnu zmesku.

Sexuálne násilie, pedofília či zneužívanie maloletých..., beznádej a živorenie, no i túžba prežiť, uniknúť. Z grafických románov, ktoré som za poslednú dobu čítala, bol tento rozhodne textovo najskúpejší, ale viete čo? Zároveň aj najlepší. Hnusný a krutý, no aj tak bolestne podmanivý. Hneď by ma zlákal na pôvodný román.

[Petitpois · Rating 4 out of 5]

Donde hubo violencia y dolor aún cabe amor, pero cuando no se encuentran las personas o las circunstancias que nos redimen, o el tiempo de redención es insuficiente,o no consigues apartarte de ellos, se instauran en el nuevo ser que lo ha sufrido de forma irremediable.
Historia silenciosa, (a ver qué palabras caben aquí!!) y cruel,con un dibujo y una narrativa geniales, y un uso del color original y enriquecedor.

[Darcy Roar · Rating 4 out of 5]

ooof this one is a harsh story. The art is spectacular, especially the colors and shifting lighting. There's very little dialogue or text at all which reinforces the feeling of drought and austerity of the whole book. I love the brief interludes with one small panel, they're beautiful and heartbreaking rather like the entirety of this story. A reprieve in the midst of torment to give you hope.

[Marcus · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bleak. Very reminiscent of Cormac McCarthy, except with simple, precise language. A coming of age story that is almost, but not entirely, hopeless.

[Guillermo Martínez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fiel al libro.

[Zuzana Dankic · Rating 4 out of 5]

O nasili a napriek tomu o ludskosti. Tazko sa to citalo, lebo to vyvolavalo vela emocii, ktore nemame moc radi.
Uzkost, ale aj porozumenie. A prave preto to bola kniha, ktora sa oplati precitat.

[Jason · Rating 2 out of 5]

My family paid our first visit to the local library back on October 13th. While there, I suddenly had the idea that I needed to challenge myself and read something that I wouldn’t have normally picked out (something outside my stable of favorite authors or genres, etc.)

“Out in the Open” was on the new releases rack and had a hideous cover (all red, yellow, and gray) that reminded me of the books printed in the 1970s that always populated the shelves in the school libraries I grew up with.

Written by a Spaniard and originally titled “Intemperie”, it was only translated into English this year (2015 or 2017). It won a number of awards though; European Union Prize for Literature in 2016 and an English PEN award. It’s also been translated into twenty-five languages. I decided to check it out.


SUMMARY
The setting feels like it takes place at some point in the 20th century, perhaps during the Spanish Civil War, but could be in the future as well. A drought has devastated the land, and densely populated cities exist only as distant places unseen by the characters.

A boy flees his family and village after suffering abuse at the hands of the bailiff, the local authority. Without much of a plan or sustenance, he begins the long trek across the flat, shattered plains of the land. Along the way he meets an old man who herds goats, and together they struggle to survive in the hostile environment while the bailiff begins hunting for the fugitive adolescent.


OVERALL: 2.4 out of 5
This isn’t a great book for me, but it wasn’t a bad one either. It has some interesting parts, and the tension is palpable. The issue there is that I did not care too much about the characters, and thus feel that the tension was built from sentimentality rather than real emotional investment.

In some ways I feel like reading the book is glimpsing into the author’s spiritual journal (I am sure that is the point), but other parts were a catalog of baser human functions. Characters pee (more than you might think in a drought), rot, scab, and so forth. After a while, any character’s suffering becomes routine and uninteresting; increased agonies did not make them more appealing.

Perhaps my greatest problem with the book is that the primary character, the boy, doesn’t seem to grow. He encounters and overcomes hardship, but when faced with his greatest nightmares, he reverts to form. This felt like a cheat to me; I had invested time and some emotional bank into this character, and there is no reward for it.

I think many of things were probably the author’s intent (to highlight hardship, the unforgiving setting, and the grotesque side of survival), but that’s just not what I am interested in. Still, the book will probably stick with me for a long time.


RATINGS BY CATEGORY
CHARACTERS: 2 out of 5
The boy and the old man are the primary characters and neither of them are named. They are sympathetic and realistic, though there isn’t much dialogue between them; behaviors are demonstrated and conversations are often recapped.

The boy was aggravating. At times he seemed incredibly brave and clever, but he does some things that seemed phenomenally stupid (even for a child), such as being spellbound by the sight of a corpse for HOURS when his companion is depending on him for survival. Combined with what I felt was a lack of real growth (no arc; he never seems to overcome his greatest obstacles) made it difficult for me to like him.

Other characters make appearances, but are not developed as much. A crippled man has promise, but does not get the dialogue or explanation that he deserves. The bailiff himself seems a stereotypical villain, and he is not described (a feline physique or grace) until the very end, even though he has appeared in earlier scenes.


PACE: 4 out of 5
The first half of the book isn’t fast or slow, but moves along at a comfortable pace. The tension grows steadily in the second half of the book until the reader can’t put it down, though this was partly through a weak plot device (per the Characters section, the boy idling and waiting when he should be doing things, at least out of fear).


STORY: 2 out of 5
The story is simple and straightforward for the most part. The setting is as desolate as a reader can find without delving into a deep desert, and even the history of the land traversed is only nodded to by the author without further exploration. This makes the tale universal in many ways, but creates a boring set for our simple characters to act upon.

Many pages are filled with relatively mundane and routine actions of survival taken by the boy and the old man; milking goats, setting their beds, harnessing a donkey, and so forth. I realize that this adds depth for many readers, but it isn’t usually my kind of thing.


DIALOGUE: 2 out of 5
There isn’t a lot of dialogue in this book, and it’s often stilted. This feels accurate for the characters and their situation, but doesn’t help the reader always understand what is being said. The conversations where greater information is relayed are reduced to narrative instead. This probably saves time (and boredom), but reduced the weight of the characters.


STYLE/TECHNICAL: 2 out of 5
I am torn over the technical execution, and must remind myself that this is also a translated work. Generally the writing is clear and makes the fast pace possible, but there are weaknesses too. Some paragraphs start about one subject and shift to another without warning. The boy’s shoes transform into boots about midway through the book (I felt this was important, given the circumstances of his flight), and too much attention is sometimes paid to things that don’t matter. For example, the book tells us again and again about the panniers (saddlebags) on the donkey. They are loaded, they are unloaded. They are adjusted. Repetition does not create “deepness” for me.

[Jess · Rating 4 out of 5]

Set in the drought stricken wastelands of the Spanish Plains, a boy flees from his abusive home and upbringing. Ill prepared, a lone goatherd aids the boy as he is chased by a gang of townsfolk.

The story is told through a series of multi panel strips. There are few words in the novel, with majority of the story told through the boy’s actions. The sizing and layout of the panels has a dynamic effect of increasing the mood and suspense of the story. While generally the story is told by a series of two by three panels, mood is created by incorporating a series of smaller or larger boxes. I really enjoyed this as sometimes it would create the effect of darting eyes or someone being crept up on. it invoked fear and action into the scenes.
There is an innocence and anguish to the boy which is portrayed through his larger eyes and many close up images, inviting readers to form an emotional bond with him. whereas the sharp angular lines and narrow eyes on the antagonist is almost terrifying. Over exaggerations of facial features such as the mouth have that horrific gawping look, portraying a monstrous character as remembered by the boy.

The way in which colour is used within this book is incredible. As the boy and goatherd travel, red and yellow colours are used to reflect the dry harsh landscape, and this is reflected throughout the book. However, there is an underlying background story to the boy which is told through juxtaposed colours such as iridescent blue and green. These colours represent the horrors of the boys past and he relives them through his dreams and memories.

This novel is short and easy to read and ideal for the time poor or easily distracted reader. The detail and suspense within this book will grip readers until the end. However, i would recommend it to adults or older teens due to its inexplicit references to physical and sexual assault.

[Glenn Roberts · Rating 5 out of 5]

Don't pass on this one. Think McCarthy's The Road and Jose Saramago's The Stone Raft. Great journeys undertaken in trying times. Here, the young boy flees an abusive childhood in a fading desert town. As he wanders north through arid wasteland we slowly learn what he's running from. He's hunted. He trusts no one. Then an old goat herder befriends him and together they continue north toward the safety of the mountains. It's not pretty...but it's as unforgettable as the others above. I'll be watching in earnest for Carrasco's next book.

[Diana · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's hard to describe this book, but I gave it four stars because it is a fascinating and captivating story. Because of the perspective in which it is told, this would make a terrible movie, even though it is an epic of a story (despite having really only three main characters). It requires thinking and perspective and leaves one wondering what happens to the boy, although he is stronger at the end than at the beginning of the tale. Not a typical book I would pick, but a fascinating one.

[Joann · Rating 4 out of 5]

There is cover to cover tension in this book. The violence is unrelenting and hard to read. Even so, I could not put the book down, having become captivated by the boy and the goatherd. It is a small but solid book.

[Jim · Rating 4 out of 5]

a spare and brutally severe tale... echoes of other similar books in its language and action... pulls you in to his circumscribed world, only to have outside forces make what was once simple quite complicated and dire... quality prose...

[Camille · Rating 4 out of 5]

Particulièrement court (et ce d'autant plus qu'il y a très peu de texte), ce roman graphique se lit d'une traite. Les dessins rendent très bien la chaleur étouffante de la campagne espagnole ainsi que l'atmosphère oppressante de l'histoire.

[Rich Gee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short, intense journey about survival and young boy growing up. I could taste the dusty roads, feel the heat and thirst from Carrasco's writing. This author is now on my watch list.

[Kelly Roberson · Rating 5 out of 5]

A difficult but beautiful (and beautifully translated) book.

[Brad Bowman · Rating 5 out of 5]

A novel take on a dystopian future. This book is bleak and sparse but in a way that adds to the tension.

[Lauren Eckerle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful writing. Story about life. It didn't change my life but gave pause to consider what is important in life. Few moments of happiness or hope, but perhaps that was the point.

[Edward Sullivan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A bleak, haunting dystopian survival story. Originally published in Spain.

[Sonic · Rating 5 out of 5]

Exquisite illustration and translation into the comics-lit medium make this beautiful gut-wrencher a must-read!

Recommended.

[Joe Young · Rating 4 out of 5]

Javi Rey - Illustrator
Jesus Carraso - Author

Beautiful, spare, sad. The tale of a young boy who flees horrible abuse and the old shepherd who takes him in.

4.5/5, recommended

[Bastien · Rating 4 out of 5]

D'une rare violence seulement suggérée, cette adaptation du roman de Carrasco est réussie, percutante, et touchante.

[Brenda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was wholly unprepared for this devastation. I felt like both crying and throwing up from the angst and terror of it all while I read. I won't forget this one.

[Catharsis · Rating 1 out of 5]

Ce roman graphique, une fois de plus, illustre à quel point une rencontre déterminante peut non seulement changer une vie, mais également la sauver, littéralement.

Lorsque le protagoniste croise le vieil homme, son destin prend un tournant positif. Effectivement, en fuguant un foyer où il subissait viols et violences, il découvre enfin la bonté et la protection; deux choses qu'il n'avait, hélas, jamais connues. Cette rencontre signifie un véritable renouveau pour lui.

Hormis cela, le récit demeure plutôt simple et ne présente rien de véritablement marquant.

[Luna Llena · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rápido, con dibujos que expresan mucho diciendo poco. Sin adornos. Como cuando te metes un bocado en la boca, lo saboreas y lo tragas.

Desde las primeras páginas la historia te atrapa. Un chico se escapa de casa, un padre que no lo echará de menos, y una gente que le busca. ¿Qué ha ocurrido? Y no paras hasta que terminas.
Si, ameno y con carga emocional. Recomendado

[Veronika Pizano · Rating 4 out of 5]

Veľmi ťaživá kniha. Neobsahuje veľa textu, ale obrazy sú silné a mučivé. Neviem, či by som román, podľa ktorého je urobená, dokázala prečítať. Hoci napokon prebleskne knihou nádej, celkovú ťažkú tému to neprebije.