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Escuridão
Depois do reconhecimento internacional com a graphic novel autobiográfica Cicatrizes (2009), e de um hiato de quase uma década, o premiado quadrinista David Small agora apresenta uma obra ficcional. Um caleidoscópio selvagem, com uso brutal dos recursos gráficos, Escuridão é um tour-de-force literário que aborda a brutalidade da adolescência na década de 1950, evocando clássicos como O Senhor das Moscas e O Apanhador no Campo de Centeio, numa atmosfera densa que remete à pintura de Egon Schiele e aos filmes de Alfred Hitchcock, Roman Polanski e Ingmar Bergman.
Após ser abandonado pela mãe, o garoto Russell Pruitt, de treze anos, muda-se com seu pai para a ensolarada Califórnia, aonde vão em busca de um sonho. No entanto, repentinamente forçado a tomar conta de si mesmo, Russell luta para sobreviver em Marshfield, uma cidade em decadência, aterrorizada por um assassino de animais e por um bando de garotos malvados que o persegue. Resgatado de seu pai alcóolatra pelo casal de imigrantes chineses Wen e Jian Mah, Russell tenta se virar enquanto enfrenta os demônios internos dos
primeiros anos da adolescência.
Embora se passe na década de 1950, a história aborda temas que continuam pertinentes na terceira década do século xxi, como masculinidade tóxica, bullying, homofobia, alcoolismo, imigração, e, de modo geral, a relação do indivíduo com o próximo, com aqueles que vivem de modo diferente. Como afirma Rachel Cook em resenha ao Guardian, “Escuridão é uma obra de ficção, mas assim como Cicatrizes [a ser republicado pela DarkSide® Books em
2022], seu principal assunto é a falta de voz: nem Russell, nem o pai, nem qualquer um dos homens ou garotos que eles conhecem é completamente capaz de verbalizar suas emoções, uma peculiariedade que trará graves consequências para todos eles”.
David Small passou anos reescrevendo a história, e, insatisfeito com o visual do quadrinho, chegou a redesenhar à mão as mais de 400 páginas, até que ficassem como ele imaginava. O resultado é uma obra tensa e melancólica, com muitos ângulos inusitados e longas sequências silenciosas, que ficou entre os vencedores do Alex Awards, da American Library Association, e foi indicado pelo Boston Globe como um dos melhores livros de 2018. Diferente de qualquer quadrinho dos últimos tempos, Escuridão é uma densa e tocante
reinterpretação dos chamados “nostálgicos” anos 1950.
Após ser abandonado pela mãe, o garoto Russell Pruitt, de treze anos, muda-se com seu pai para a ensolarada Califórnia, aonde vão em busca de um sonho. No entanto, repentinamente forçado a tomar conta de si mesmo, Russell luta para sobreviver em Marshfield, uma cidade em decadência, aterrorizada por um assassino de animais e por um bando de garotos malvados que o persegue. Resgatado de seu pai alcóolatra pelo casal de imigrantes chineses Wen e Jian Mah, Russell tenta se virar enquanto enfrenta os demônios internos dos
primeiros anos da adolescência.
Embora se passe na década de 1950, a história aborda temas que continuam pertinentes na terceira década do século xxi, como masculinidade tóxica, bullying, homofobia, alcoolismo, imigração, e, de modo geral, a relação do indivíduo com o próximo, com aqueles que vivem de modo diferente. Como afirma Rachel Cook em resenha ao Guardian, “Escuridão é uma obra de ficção, mas assim como Cicatrizes [a ser republicado pela DarkSide® Books em
2022], seu principal assunto é a falta de voz: nem Russell, nem o pai, nem qualquer um dos homens ou garotos que eles conhecem é completamente capaz de verbalizar suas emoções, uma peculiariedade que trará graves consequências para todos eles”.
David Small passou anos reescrevendo a história, e, insatisfeito com o visual do quadrinho, chegou a redesenhar à mão as mais de 400 páginas, até que ficassem como ele imaginava. O resultado é uma obra tensa e melancólica, com muitos ângulos inusitados e longas sequências silenciosas, que ficou entre os vencedores do Alex Awards, da American Library Association, e foi indicado pelo Boston Globe como um dos melhores livros de 2018. Diferente de qualquer quadrinho dos últimos tempos, Escuridão é uma densa e tocante
reinterpretação dos chamados “nostálgicos” anos 1950.
416 pages, Hardcover
First published September 11, 2018
46 people are currently reading
3249 people want to read
About the author
David Small
117 books317 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
David Small is the recipient of the Caldecott Medal, a Christopher Medal, and the E. B. White Award for his picture books, which include Imogene's Antlers, The Gardener, and So, You Want to Be President? He lives in Mendon, Michigan.
David Small is the recipient of the Caldecott Medal, a Christopher Medal, and the E. B. White Award for his picture books, which include Imogene's Antlers, The Gardener, and So, You Want to Be President? He lives in Mendon, Michigan.
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June 6, 2018I picked this graphic novel up at BookExpo this year. It was a great look at how different people can still find ways in which they relate & connect. It also tackled bullying in a way I haven't seen be done before. Those portions were hard to read, because of how far things were taken. Our main character is bullied, but is also a bystander of someone else being bullied. Also showcased in this story is the affects of a toxic home life. We see the wear and tear this has on the character and how it affects his everyday life. While I know this book was meant as a slice of life story, I felt like it could've gone deeper with everything it touched on. There were things that I wanted to go deeper with & things that I felt needed a bit more closure. You kind of leave all of these situations that our main character endures feeling empty, because he doesn't seem to ever reach an end with any of the circumstances. Everything he goes through feels very open ended & I'm beginning to find that I'm the type of reader that needs at least a little bit of closure. Overall this was a nice read, but it's not one that I feel left much of an impact on me.
October 30, 2018
"So this was the price you paid for letting the world in. A single misstep, a wrong word, and you're labeled a freak."
Home After Dark is a graphic novel by David Small, the author of the also wrenching graphic memoir Stitches. Small has done a lot of picture books, but this is a YA coming of age story that pairs well with Stitches in its unsparing look at the loneliness and isolation and cruelty of growing up for a lot of kids. Stripped down to the minimum in storytelling and art approach, Home After Dark creates a pretty bleak and unsentimental view of a young fifties teen, Russell, abandoned by his mother, then dragged by his father from Ohio to California. They end up in Marshfield, after weeks looking for jobs, his Dad gets into drinking and just one day leaves him in the house they moved into.
At one point Russell tells someone, "I'm nobody's son," which seems about right.
A Chinese woman, Ms. Mah, and her father sort of look after him, feed him once in a while. The old man quietly sees a connection to Russell; Russell can't go back to Ohio, and the old man can't go back to China; they are largely alone. Most of Russell's interactions are with a couple (not) friends and menacing bullies who harrass him as "queer." He gets into sexual situations that are confusing and sad for him. Images throughout of random dead animals (such as road kill, early on) create a kind of poetic backdrop for the menace in the world in which Russell lives. Someone, too, in Marshfield, appears to actually be killing animals, so the images that early on seem to be just emblems of random killing sort of coalesce to a tragic climax that involves one of Russell's (sort of) friends.
Small's loose black and white drawing style, with plenty of space and wordless in many pages (because Russell doesn't talk much, and neither do any of the others in the story, really) recalls the work of Will Eisner and Jules Feiffer. There isn't a layer of narrator reflection indicating any thematic insights, though at one point he tells a truck driver:
"I want to live without hurting anyone."
The spareness of this story makes us recall that this single goal for Russell is something no one had for him. I know it is not a fun story, but it feels real, as with any good realistic novel, and I come to care for Russell in his lonely isolation. It's a very rough (and maybe particularly male) world here, in poverty, but not without hope, finally. The Mahs are there for him, even when he doesn't deserve it. I can see that some people might not love this book, but I did. I especially liked the unsentimentality of it, the scratchy feel of it. Some of Jeff Lemire's work is also in this tradition.
Home After Dark is a graphic novel by David Small, the author of the also wrenching graphic memoir Stitches. Small has done a lot of picture books, but this is a YA coming of age story that pairs well with Stitches in its unsparing look at the loneliness and isolation and cruelty of growing up for a lot of kids. Stripped down to the minimum in storytelling and art approach, Home After Dark creates a pretty bleak and unsentimental view of a young fifties teen, Russell, abandoned by his mother, then dragged by his father from Ohio to California. They end up in Marshfield, after weeks looking for jobs, his Dad gets into drinking and just one day leaves him in the house they moved into.
At one point Russell tells someone, "I'm nobody's son," which seems about right.
A Chinese woman, Ms. Mah, and her father sort of look after him, feed him once in a while. The old man quietly sees a connection to Russell; Russell can't go back to Ohio, and the old man can't go back to China; they are largely alone. Most of Russell's interactions are with a couple (not) friends and menacing bullies who harrass him as "queer." He gets into sexual situations that are confusing and sad for him. Images throughout of random dead animals (such as road kill, early on) create a kind of poetic backdrop for the menace in the world in which Russell lives. Someone, too, in Marshfield, appears to actually be killing animals, so the images that early on seem to be just emblems of random killing sort of coalesce to a tragic climax that involves one of Russell's (sort of) friends.
Small's loose black and white drawing style, with plenty of space and wordless in many pages (because Russell doesn't talk much, and neither do any of the others in the story, really) recalls the work of Will Eisner and Jules Feiffer. There isn't a layer of narrator reflection indicating any thematic insights, though at one point he tells a truck driver:
"I want to live without hurting anyone."
The spareness of this story makes us recall that this single goal for Russell is something no one had for him. I know it is not a fun story, but it feels real, as with any good realistic novel, and I come to care for Russell in his lonely isolation. It's a very rough (and maybe particularly male) world here, in poverty, but not without hope, finally. The Mahs are there for him, even when he doesn't deserve it. I can see that some people might not love this book, but I did. I especially liked the unsentimentality of it, the scratchy feel of it. Some of Jeff Lemire's work is also in this tradition.
August 19, 2019
The graphic novels that come my way sure turn out to be GLOOMY, BLEAK and THOROUGHLY DEPRESSING no matter how filigree the artwork may be – the very titles tell you that you can leave your laughing equipment outside – Death Note Volume 1 : Boredom; Our Cancer Year; Can’t we Talk about Something More Pleasant?; My Friend Dahmer; The Poor Bastard. The title of this one – Home After Dark – isn’t too much of a downer, and the cover is kind of neutral, but as soon as you start you realise you’ve been had, and yes, here’s another 400 exquisitely drawn pages of AWFUL MISERY.
Nobody smiles in this book except the guy who's just about to administer the kid a beating.
In his big hit book Stitches (which I haven’t read) Mr Small depicted his own traumatic childhood, and in this one, according to the note at the back, he’s depicting the horrible childhood of one of his mates. So, here’s a thought - if you’ve been abandoned by your parents, beaten by bullies, branded as a thief and left for dead by a different bunch of bullies, you might think of contacting Mr Small to see if he wants to put you in a third book of grim teenage experiences. Or there again he might listen and say, nah, I’ve covered all that already. Say, did a cannibal ever try to eat you alive when you were twelve? No? Wait, were you ever kept as a sex slave for four years in a cage? No? Pity.
Anyway, a very compelling story. It took him about ten years of sweat and blood to create it and I whipped through it in an hour, which right there kinda made me feel bad.
Nobody smiles in this book except the guy who's just about to administer the kid a beating.
In his big hit book Stitches (which I haven’t read) Mr Small depicted his own traumatic childhood, and in this one, according to the note at the back, he’s depicting the horrible childhood of one of his mates. So, here’s a thought - if you’ve been abandoned by your parents, beaten by bullies, branded as a thief and left for dead by a different bunch of bullies, you might think of contacting Mr Small to see if he wants to put you in a third book of grim teenage experiences. Or there again he might listen and say, nah, I’ve covered all that already. Say, did a cannibal ever try to eat you alive when you were twelve? No? Wait, were you ever kept as a sex slave for four years in a cage? No? Pity.
Anyway, a very compelling story. It took him about ten years of sweat and blood to create it and I whipped through it in an hour, which right there kinda made me feel bad.
February 15, 2019
Set sometime in the 1950s/60s, 13 year old Russell Pruit and his father set out to make a new life for themselves in California after Russ’ mother leaves them in Ohio. But will life be any better on the West Coast?
David Small’s long-awaited follow-up to his spectacular memoir Stitches, Home After Dark, is fairly good. This time it’s fiction though it’s set around the time Small would’ve been the same age as the protagonist so the portrayal of the era feels very convincing. Like society’s general intolerance of the different - the racism towards the Chinese characters, the brutality shown toward the gay kid - and the greaser fashion and drive-in culture.
It’s a standard growing-up story though. Russ tries to find belonging, makes friends, gets bullied, has a sexual awakening, becomes aware of the complicated world of adults, and so on. There’s a subplot about an animal killer but it’s just another aspect of one of the character portraits, the repulsive show-off try-hard.
Which isn’t to say it’s not well done. The art is superb, perfectly capturing the body language, and the storytelling is masterful - the narrative flows beautifully and the characters seem real. And though I wouldn’t say the content is that remarkable - there’s nothing original or that memorable here - I also wasn’t bored reading it either.
It’s not as good as Stitches but Home After Dark is still a well-made comic and a mildly entertaining read.
David Small’s long-awaited follow-up to his spectacular memoir Stitches, Home After Dark, is fairly good. This time it’s fiction though it’s set around the time Small would’ve been the same age as the protagonist so the portrayal of the era feels very convincing. Like society’s general intolerance of the different - the racism towards the Chinese characters, the brutality shown toward the gay kid - and the greaser fashion and drive-in culture.
It’s a standard growing-up story though. Russ tries to find belonging, makes friends, gets bullied, has a sexual awakening, becomes aware of the complicated world of adults, and so on. There’s a subplot about an animal killer but it’s just another aspect of one of the character portraits, the repulsive show-off try-hard.
Which isn’t to say it’s not well done. The art is superb, perfectly capturing the body language, and the storytelling is masterful - the narrative flows beautifully and the characters seem real. And though I wouldn’t say the content is that remarkable - there’s nothing original or that memorable here - I also wasn’t bored reading it either.
It’s not as good as Stitches but Home After Dark is still a well-made comic and a mildly entertaining read.
April 2, 2019
Warning:
Profanity
Alcohol
Violence & Gore
Sex & Nudity
Animal cruelty
Bullying
In short, a coming-of-age story about boys.
Profanity
Alcohol
Violence & Gore
Sex & Nudity
Animal cruelty
Bullying
In short, a coming-of-age story about boys.
October 14, 2018
I was unprepared for how dark this book was. It's a story of an unhappy childhood: Russell's parents get divorced, he and his dad move from Ohio to California, and he struggles to find friends and fit in at school.
While the plot has standard elements of angsty American youth, what made this book stand out were its haunting illustrations. My heart broke for Russell over and over again. David Small tried to end the book on an upbeat note, but the darkness was hard to shake off.
Meaningful Quotes
"So, this was the price you paid for letting the world in. A single misstep, a wrong word, and you're a reject, a freak."
"I have only one big problem. I want to live without hurting anyone."
While the plot has standard elements of angsty American youth, what made this book stand out were its haunting illustrations. My heart broke for Russell over and over again. David Small tried to end the book on an upbeat note, but the darkness was hard to shake off.
Meaningful Quotes
"So, this was the price you paid for letting the world in. A single misstep, a wrong word, and you're a reject, a freak."
"I have only one big problem. I want to live without hurting anyone."
October 22, 2018
Very much a coming of age story, told in a very decompressed format. So much so that you could skip at least the first 100 pages before anything happens other than a boy and his father move to California. The book deals with both bullying and passively standing by while others are bullied. One of the problems I had with the book is that it just ends. There's no resolution, no closure, not even an ending. You just turn the page and there's no more book.
Received a review copy from Edelweiss. All thoughts are my own and in no way influenced by the aforementioned.
Received a review copy from Edelweiss. All thoughts are my own and in no way influenced by the aforementioned.
January 18, 2020
I seem to be starting of 2020 with a lot of gloomy and hopeless titles. Home After Dark definitely falls into that category.
The story was okay, but not much really happens. Mainly it is a series of events in the life of the protagonist showing that life really sucks. Period. The end. If you are looking for a story to bring your mood down, look no further.
The art was just so so. It is mostly sloppy and impressionistic. Sometimes it was difficult to tell characters apart. Also, there would be chunks of pages with no dialogue and little artwork - so much filler! This large book really ends up reading faster than a 120 page graphic novel because there is less story and less to look at.
I cannot say for sure who would enjoy this book. I guess if you are into real downers, this is a must read! But, since I have read several downers in a row, I am kind of getting tired of it. If I could tell why or find the point, maybe I would enjoy more. But, it just feels like the point is "Life sucks".
The story was okay, but not much really happens. Mainly it is a series of events in the life of the protagonist showing that life really sucks. Period. The end. If you are looking for a story to bring your mood down, look no further.
The art was just so so. It is mostly sloppy and impressionistic. Sometimes it was difficult to tell characters apart. Also, there would be chunks of pages with no dialogue and little artwork - so much filler! This large book really ends up reading faster than a 120 page graphic novel because there is less story and less to look at.
I cannot say for sure who would enjoy this book. I guess if you are into real downers, this is a must read! But, since I have read several downers in a row, I am kind of getting tired of it. If I could tell why or find the point, maybe I would enjoy more. But, it just feels like the point is "Life sucks".
September 23, 2018
I really liked Stitches, so I've been looking forward to Small's follow-up. I intended to read just the first chapter or two in bed before turning in for the night but ended up losing over an hour of sleep as I powered through the whole damn thing. The book is thick, but Small uses a decompressed style of storytelling that keeps the pages turning and the reader immersed.
A coming of age story, Home After Dark follows Russell as his parents divorce and his messed up father drags him from Ohio to California in what appears to be the 1950s. Overwhelmed by the apathy, bullying, racism, homophobia, and animal cruelty of the community around him, Russell makes the mistakes typical for his age and this genre. Indeed, Small is not breaking new ground here with his story, but the way he tells it through images and words is simply mesmerizing.
A coming of age story, Home After Dark follows Russell as his parents divorce and his messed up father drags him from Ohio to California in what appears to be the 1950s. Overwhelmed by the apathy, bullying, racism, homophobia, and animal cruelty of the community around him, Russell makes the mistakes typical for his age and this genre. Indeed, Small is not breaking new ground here with his story, but the way he tells it through images and words is simply mesmerizing.
September 28, 2018
You can find my review on my blog by clicking here.
Adolescence is a tricky period in life. Without guidance, it becomes difficult to find your footing and be in a position to learn the great lessons that life has in store for you. It is in our nature to understand the world, to give meaning to what we don’t understand and to adapt to our surroundings. Context becomes key to a person’s perception of his environment, and without it, you can only move forward and find yourself oblivious to issues that are bigger than you. David Small, the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the acclaimed memoir Stitches delves into a brand new story set in 1950s America. In the form of a graphic novel, he gives us a look at the coming of age story of a boy who is not only a victim of circumstances, but also uncertainty.
Home After Dark is the story of thirteen-year-old Russell Pruitt. Following a dispute between his parents, his mother abandons them and his Korean War veteran father finds himself having to move away with Russell in a small town in southern California. While his father looks to find the means to help them survive their new situation, Russell looks to fit in without attracting any attention his way. As much as he tries to figure out what he should be doing with his life and how to act older than his own age, several events lead him to realize what his actions, or lack of actions, could do the people around him. The road to self-discovery is one that isn’t too kind on his pathos, but Russell doesn’t have much a choice but to survive the obstacles that lay in front of him.
If there’s anything David Small excels in, it’s his ability to tell a story through art. There is very little dialogue in Home After Dark and most of the story is silently delivered through a grayscale artwork. As brutal as some moments are, there is a singular innocence that persists throughout the story. The rough penciling style also strives to convey the harsh reality in which Russell Pruitt lives in, and once you get acclimated to the style, you’ll quickly stroll through the graphic novel and reach the end before you know it. The story also doesn’t limit itself in showing the readers the real-time events that occur in Russell’s life, but also offers us a glimpse inside the thoughts and dreams of Russell. These moments are abstract and leave a lot unexplained so that readers can interpret these instances for themselves. It’s this liberty that allows the pictures to deliver the gut-wrenching truth that Russell has difficulty grasping.
Within the coming of age narrative there are several themes explored and David Small is relentless in that regards. Taking the time to question ideas of masculinity while flirting with ideas of bullying and conformism, the culture in 1950s America could easily suffocate a young adolescent in his quest for identity. I personally found David Small’s approach to exploring isolation and belonging quite fascinating. In a world where you feel like it’s every man for himself, you’re inclination to feel approved and part of something bigger could easily swallow you whole. Having to make life decisions at such a young age can easily drive a person into proving himself that he can make it without any aid and the consequences of this situation can sometimes be devastating on their development. It’s this trap in which they find themselves that ends up being toxic and create more confusion than direction for teenagers.
Home After Dark is a wonderful coming of age story that will hold you by the collar and force you to see the struggle to manhood of a lost teenager in 1950s America.
Yours truly,
Lashaan | Blogger and Book Reviewer
Official blog: https://bookidote.com/
Adolescence is a tricky period in life. Without guidance, it becomes difficult to find your footing and be in a position to learn the great lessons that life has in store for you. It is in our nature to understand the world, to give meaning to what we don’t understand and to adapt to our surroundings. Context becomes key to a person’s perception of his environment, and without it, you can only move forward and find yourself oblivious to issues that are bigger than you. David Small, the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the acclaimed memoir Stitches delves into a brand new story set in 1950s America. In the form of a graphic novel, he gives us a look at the coming of age story of a boy who is not only a victim of circumstances, but also uncertainty.
Home After Dark is the story of thirteen-year-old Russell Pruitt. Following a dispute between his parents, his mother abandons them and his Korean War veteran father finds himself having to move away with Russell in a small town in southern California. While his father looks to find the means to help them survive their new situation, Russell looks to fit in without attracting any attention his way. As much as he tries to figure out what he should be doing with his life and how to act older than his own age, several events lead him to realize what his actions, or lack of actions, could do the people around him. The road to self-discovery is one that isn’t too kind on his pathos, but Russell doesn’t have much a choice but to survive the obstacles that lay in front of him.
If there’s anything David Small excels in, it’s his ability to tell a story through art. There is very little dialogue in Home After Dark and most of the story is silently delivered through a grayscale artwork. As brutal as some moments are, there is a singular innocence that persists throughout the story. The rough penciling style also strives to convey the harsh reality in which Russell Pruitt lives in, and once you get acclimated to the style, you’ll quickly stroll through the graphic novel and reach the end before you know it. The story also doesn’t limit itself in showing the readers the real-time events that occur in Russell’s life, but also offers us a glimpse inside the thoughts and dreams of Russell. These moments are abstract and leave a lot unexplained so that readers can interpret these instances for themselves. It’s this liberty that allows the pictures to deliver the gut-wrenching truth that Russell has difficulty grasping.
Within the coming of age narrative there are several themes explored and David Small is relentless in that regards. Taking the time to question ideas of masculinity while flirting with ideas of bullying and conformism, the culture in 1950s America could easily suffocate a young adolescent in his quest for identity. I personally found David Small’s approach to exploring isolation and belonging quite fascinating. In a world where you feel like it’s every man for himself, you’re inclination to feel approved and part of something bigger could easily swallow you whole. Having to make life decisions at such a young age can easily drive a person into proving himself that he can make it without any aid and the consequences of this situation can sometimes be devastating on their development. It’s this trap in which they find themselves that ends up being toxic and create more confusion than direction for teenagers.
Home After Dark is a wonderful coming of age story that will hold you by the collar and force you to see the struggle to manhood of a lost teenager in 1950s America.
Yours truly,
Lashaan | Blogger and Book Reviewer
Official blog: https://bookidote.com/
Read
September 2, 2018Thoughts soon.
June 7, 2023
i dont even know what to say. im just...uncomfy. the way those Asian characters were illustrated...the pet rat...the animal abuse...the bullying..the homophobia & racism... i feel like there are other ways to convey whatever the author was trying to say?
July 18, 2019
David Small has crafted an atmospheric, timeless, and fearlessly dark coming of age story. He has taken everything and put it out for the world to see, panel by panel. It is uncomfortable, some of the panels make me feel ill, some make me squirm, some almost made me cry. This isn't a book that brings warm fuzziness. Matter-a-fact, this story ends quite abruptly. This was a profoundly difficult story for me to get through.
Small creates a narrative of growing up in the 1950s. His mother has abandoned him. His father, an alcoholic has pretty much abandoned him as well. There isn't much for him to cling to. Many of the situations he finds himself in show just how rudderless a kid he really is. There is violence, gore, bullying, and animal cruelty. This is a heart wrenching and dark book. It takes you places that I am not sure most readers want to go. I actually had to read it in short bursts because it left me feeling to much to plow through it. Stitches his other book, was dark like this but in a slightly different way. By the end of Stitches I hated the parents and what they had did to him, in this story I have no idea how I feel. Maybe just hated the situations that he was put in. It is well done, but definitely not for everyone. Read with caution, especially if you are triggered by the above.
Small creates a narrative of growing up in the 1950s. His mother has abandoned him. His father, an alcoholic has pretty much abandoned him as well. There isn't much for him to cling to. Many of the situations he finds himself in show just how rudderless a kid he really is. There is violence, gore, bullying, and animal cruelty. This is a heart wrenching and dark book. It takes you places that I am not sure most readers want to go. I actually had to read it in short bursts because it left me feeling to much to plow through it. Stitches his other book, was dark like this but in a slightly different way. By the end of Stitches I hated the parents and what they had did to him, in this story I have no idea how I feel. Maybe just hated the situations that he was put in. It is well done, but definitely not for everyone. Read with caution, especially if you are triggered by the above.
November 8, 2018
Oh wow. This did not quite go where I thought it was going to. It's a powerful story about toxic masculinity and the responsibility we hold toward others. I've put it on my YA shelf and would recommend it for ages 14-adult.
Some of the reviews here have complained that there's no resolution; it seems like the book just ends. I'd argue that the resolution is more like the kind of resolution most of us experience in our lives: we learn to live with the things we've done. We try to find a kind of peace without forgetting. And the story's never really done.
Some of the reviews here have complained that there's no resolution; it seems like the book just ends. I'd argue that the resolution is more like the kind of resolution most of us experience in our lives: we learn to live with the things we've done. We try to find a kind of peace without forgetting. And the story's never really done.
January 11, 2019
Ugh, I just love David Small's art. And the voice of the book is so true and honest. But it's so sad, as one horrible thing after another happens to Russ or is done by Russ, that I kept turning pages because I couldn't believe it could be so bleak. Ends with a glimmer of hope, but . . . it's so very sad.
May 30, 2019
This is a graphic novel worthy of the term. It has a beginning, middle, and end, as well as a satisfying heft and length. Russell, the protagonist, has a certain psychological depth and nuance to him. The book doesn't tell you what to think about anything, simply shows events that feel real and allows you to draw your own conclusions.
The book is about change, and finding one’s identity on the journey to adulthood. Russell’s mom ran off with a football player, so he and his dad pack up and move to California. Their initial plan is to stay with his aunt, but that quickly changes and they wind up in a small town in northern California. In addition to adjusting to the breakup of his parents’ marriage, Russell also has to adapt to a new school, new friends, and his own budding sexuality. After encountering darkness, can Russell find his way home again?
David Small has outdone himself on the art. This is a gorgeous book! His figures are marvelously expressive and capable of infinite subtlety in their facial expressions. This is one of those books that you want to suggest to people as an example of what the graphic novel form is capable of. Highly recommended!
The book is about change, and finding one’s identity on the journey to adulthood. Russell’s mom ran off with a football player, so he and his dad pack up and move to California. Their initial plan is to stay with his aunt, but that quickly changes and they wind up in a small town in northern California. In addition to adjusting to the breakup of his parents’ marriage, Russell also has to adapt to a new school, new friends, and his own budding sexuality. After encountering darkness, can Russell find his way home again?
David Small has outdone himself on the art. This is a gorgeous book! His figures are marvelously expressive and capable of infinite subtlety in their facial expressions. This is one of those books that you want to suggest to people as an example of what the graphic novel form is capable of. Highly recommended!
February 3, 2021
Savršeno. Možda i bolje od Šavova.
December 31, 2018
Took me a bit to want to review this, not because it's bad, but because some of it was hard to take in.
So this is a story of a boy coming from a broken home. Russell, our main character, opens up his story where his mom leaves the family and Russell and his father pack up and leave. The story jumps all around, where they try to find a home, find one, try to make it though, lose more family, lose friends, death, and scheming. SO many events that somehow go by so fast despite this book being pretty hefty in size.
Good: I really enjoyed the art here. Simple but works very well for the story. Dreary when it needs to be, emotions show well, everything there worked. I also enjoyed the flow of the story. Broken into chapters, they feel like important sections of Russell's life. I liked him dealing with bullying, love, sexual frustration, betrayal, and more. It hits important topics throughout childhood.
Bad: I don't know if this is completely based of real life but the bully in here sounds a bit over the top. And there's a scene where I think you're suppose to make you feel bad for him but all I could think was "fuck him." The ending comes to a sudden end.
Overall, it's a slice of life story with a lot of interesting themes. I think it's worth checking out for being different than the norm. A 3.5 out of 5.
So this is a story of a boy coming from a broken home. Russell, our main character, opens up his story where his mom leaves the family and Russell and his father pack up and leave. The story jumps all around, where they try to find a home, find one, try to make it though, lose more family, lose friends, death, and scheming. SO many events that somehow go by so fast despite this book being pretty hefty in size.
Good: I really enjoyed the art here. Simple but works very well for the story. Dreary when it needs to be, emotions show well, everything there worked. I also enjoyed the flow of the story. Broken into chapters, they feel like important sections of Russell's life. I liked him dealing with bullying, love, sexual frustration, betrayal, and more. It hits important topics throughout childhood.
Bad: I don't know if this is completely based of real life but the bully in here sounds a bit over the top. And there's a scene where I think you're suppose to make you feel bad for him but all I could think was "fuck him." The ending comes to a sudden end.
Overall, it's a slice of life story with a lot of interesting themes. I think it's worth checking out for being different than the norm. A 3.5 out of 5.
February 3, 2019
I received an unsolicited ARC of David Small’s latest graphic novel from W.W. Norton and opened it eagerly, knowing that it was definitely not going to be appropriate for my 4th and 5th graders, but hoping to recommend and send it on to the librarian at the junior high as the characters were described as 7th and 8th graders. By page 191, I was done reading and will not even send it on to the high school librarian. Previous reviews are correct that Small’s artwork conveys the angst and anger of a troubled teen in the 1950s. The panels are stark and with only a few pen strokes, readers will sense Russell’s fear of all his life is becoming. That artistic talent earned both of the two stars given in my rating. Raw profanity and graphic sexual content, both homosexual and heterosexual, is throughout this book, along with underage drunkenness and smoking plus a hefty dose of animal cruelty further convince me that this book will not fit in any of our school libraries.
November 8, 2018
Whooo. This was not a pleasant experience. I picked up this graphic novel – emphasis on the graphic – for a quick read while the kids explored the library, and it is definitely a quick read, despite its thickness. The art is minimalist and expertly done. The story is dark and well-told. The ending leaves something to be desired, and character development on the whole could be better. Likewise, Small is as subtle as a sledgehammer when it comes to shattering the myth of the good ol' 1950s, which distracts from the actual story he's trying to tell. I keep returning to this and turning it over in my mind, which must mean it's doing its job.
Want to read
July 26, 2018OMG A NEW DAVID SMALL????
February 7, 2024
CW: cruelty, including to animals.
This was really really dark and not as hopeful as I had anticipated.
This was really really dark and not as hopeful as I had anticipated.
January 18, 2019
Home After Dark
David Small
This graphic novel was a quick, interesting read. It focused on a male teenager who had lost his mother, been ignored by his dad, ridiculed by some of his "friends", and experimented with some mild sexual acts. His uncertainty and anguish dominate. His only source of support is an Asian couple who consistently try to help him. True to form, he takes them for granted, uncertain how to react. And when he does react, it is in a negative way.
My only quibble with this story is it's consistently negative tone. It's like the author wanted to include many illustrations of bad and thoughtless teen behavior. So the result was a kid who didn't do anything right. That's not a realistic or attractive character.
David Small
This graphic novel was a quick, interesting read. It focused on a male teenager who had lost his mother, been ignored by his dad, ridiculed by some of his "friends", and experimented with some mild sexual acts. His uncertainty and anguish dominate. His only source of support is an Asian couple who consistently try to help him. True to form, he takes them for granted, uncertain how to react. And when he does react, it is in a negative way.
My only quibble with this story is it's consistently negative tone. It's like the author wanted to include many illustrations of bad and thoughtless teen behavior. So the result was a kid who didn't do anything right. That's not a realistic or attractive character.
September 2, 2019
Read this with my daughter. Her choice.
I was on the fence with this one. It was quite a depressing book, sad really. The main character, Russell, was so detached from what was going on around him, and therefore never fully engaged me into his life. It was like watching everything play out from above. There are a few scenes of cruelty throughout the book and those were hard to look at but to have to see it through Russell's eyes, the emotions never came through.
The artwork is on point. It really captures the overall sense of despair and loneliness and the feeling of being stuck in a place you may not be able to escape from into your adulthood.
I was on the fence with this one. It was quite a depressing book, sad really. The main character, Russell, was so detached from what was going on around him, and therefore never fully engaged me into his life. It was like watching everything play out from above. There are a few scenes of cruelty throughout the book and those were hard to look at but to have to see it through Russell's eyes, the emotions never came through.
The artwork is on point. It really captures the overall sense of despair and loneliness and the feeling of being stuck in a place you may not be able to escape from into your adulthood.
June 18, 2018
This dark coming of age book has been called a combination of Catcher in the Rye and Lord of the Flies and that's a pretty fair description. Set in the 1950's in California, Home After Dark follows the breakdown of Russell's young life and his ultimate redemption through the kindness of strangers.
May 31, 2025
There should have been a trigger warning for this book: if you don’t want to read about multiple incidents of animal abuse, you shouldn’t read this book. The first 5 minutes of reading this book, there was an incident where the main character was forced to leave behind an abandoned puppy in the middle of the road to fend for its self and then an incident with several dead cats stuffed into holes in a fence. And then an underlying “mystery” for whole killed a whole bunch of dogs.
Aside from those terribly sad things, this book honestly was so sad. Russel just never really catches a break. His life sucks and just continues to get worse. He’s sadden and knows a lot of the stuff going on around him is bad, but doesn’t really do anything about it. I gave this 2 stars cause at least I felt something. 🤷♀️ this book was depressing.
Aside from those terribly sad things, this book honestly was so sad. Russel just never really catches a break. His life sucks and just continues to get worse. He’s sadden and knows a lot of the stuff going on around him is bad, but doesn’t really do anything about it. I gave this 2 stars cause at least I felt something. 🤷♀️ this book was depressing.
October 25, 2023
Was not expecting this to be that depressing
February 28, 2021
Ugh, way too bleak. What was I thinking with this, of course I was going to hate it?!
That is not to deter anyone else from reading, of course -- plenty of people will find it marvelously believable (it is), devastatingly realistic (it is), a hyper-accurate portrayal of suburban tweenage ennui turned nascent toxic masculine rage (it is). But no thank you please, not for me at all.
That is not to deter anyone else from reading, of course -- plenty of people will find it marvelously believable (it is), devastatingly realistic (it is), a hyper-accurate portrayal of suburban tweenage ennui turned nascent toxic masculine rage (it is). But no thank you please, not for me at all.
December 17, 2023
Home After Dark by David Small is an evocative coming-of-age graphic novel about the dark side of the American Dream in the late 1950s/early 1960s, which juxtaposes this supposed golden era with the realities that many faced.
Covering two years, the book starts in Ohio as thirteen-year-old Russell’s mother runs away with another man, leaving him and his father alone. His morose hard-drinking father packs the two of them up and heads to California for a new start. However, the state of golden opportunities does not shine for them, and they settle in a non-descript inland town where his father gets a job working at the San Quentin jail. The two briefly rent rooms from a Chinese couple, the Mah’s, before moving into a small tract home the father buys using money from the GI Bill, as he is a Korean War veteran. Russell befriends Willie and Kurt in his neighborhood, who offer him a toxic view of masculinity and ruin any chance he has to develop a friendship with schoolmate Warren, who is struggling with his identity also. During their second summer in California, his father abandons him, leaving him essentially an orphan. While the Mahs take him in, Russell betrays them in addition to Warren, to Russell’s great regret. While you have great sympathy towards Russell, he is far from a likable character, and this haunting tale will make you look at the nostalgia of yesteryear with a different lens.
Small’s artwork is done in black and white with a grey overwash. His often wordless panels flow well throughout the chapters. Closeups of faces convey emotions effectively, as do the shadowy dream sequences. Despite the excellent art found in the book, I believe the cover picture does the novel a disservice. A distorted picture of Russell does not convey what the book is about, and might actually turn people off. I bought it for my library’s graphic novel collection because I thought so highly of Small’s earlier memoir Stitches, and although I have it displayed outward for our patrons to pick up, it has not circulated at all.
This disquieting book was a melancholy read and doesn’t wrap up things neatly. While you have a clue of the choice Russell will make, you know he has a tough road ahead of him no matter what. (Actual review 3.5/5)
This review can also be found on my blog: https://graphicnovelty2.com/2019/07/1...
Covering two years, the book starts in Ohio as thirteen-year-old Russell’s mother runs away with another man, leaving him and his father alone. His morose hard-drinking father packs the two of them up and heads to California for a new start. However, the state of golden opportunities does not shine for them, and they settle in a non-descript inland town where his father gets a job working at the San Quentin jail. The two briefly rent rooms from a Chinese couple, the Mah’s, before moving into a small tract home the father buys using money from the GI Bill, as he is a Korean War veteran. Russell befriends Willie and Kurt in his neighborhood, who offer him a toxic view of masculinity and ruin any chance he has to develop a friendship with schoolmate Warren, who is struggling with his identity also. During their second summer in California, his father abandons him, leaving him essentially an orphan. While the Mahs take him in, Russell betrays them in addition to Warren, to Russell’s great regret. While you have great sympathy towards Russell, he is far from a likable character, and this haunting tale will make you look at the nostalgia of yesteryear with a different lens.
Small’s artwork is done in black and white with a grey overwash. His often wordless panels flow well throughout the chapters. Closeups of faces convey emotions effectively, as do the shadowy dream sequences. Despite the excellent art found in the book, I believe the cover picture does the novel a disservice. A distorted picture of Russell does not convey what the book is about, and might actually turn people off. I bought it for my library’s graphic novel collection because I thought so highly of Small’s earlier memoir Stitches, and although I have it displayed outward for our patrons to pick up, it has not circulated at all.
This disquieting book was a melancholy read and doesn’t wrap up things neatly. While you have a clue of the choice Russell will make, you know he has a tough road ahead of him no matter what. (Actual review 3.5/5)
This review can also be found on my blog: https://graphicnovelty2.com/2019/07/1...
September 11, 2018
“A single misstep, a wrong word, and you’re a reject, a freak.”
*
Following the adolescence years of a 13-year-old boy, Russell is nothing but lonely, isolated and every meaning of the word emotional. Finding his place in the world isn’t the only thing this boy struggles with but through betrayal comes harsh consequences that will grip you by the throat and leave you gasping for air.
*
Small’s graphic novel, Home After Dark was mesmerizing as the pictures perfectly depicted the heartache that Russell continuously felt throughout the novel. Not once did I put this book down as I just couldn’t! I was engulfed in Small’s world and all its inhabitants. The illustrations flowed beautifully as each picture told a story, an emotion, a failure. This coming of age story is unlike any other book I’ve seen as Small broke barriers to show the reader the true meaning of struggling and finding yourself while it all happens.
*
I would recommend this book to those who love graphic novels and really need a book to show them that not all coming of age stories can be broken. Russell is a perfect example as he carelessly is all of us at some point of our lives. Be like Russell and learn things the hard way or else you may never figure them out but whether you do or not, Home After Dark will forever be a story to hold dear to your heart.
*
Following the adolescence years of a 13-year-old boy, Russell is nothing but lonely, isolated and every meaning of the word emotional. Finding his place in the world isn’t the only thing this boy struggles with but through betrayal comes harsh consequences that will grip you by the throat and leave you gasping for air.
*
Small’s graphic novel, Home After Dark was mesmerizing as the pictures perfectly depicted the heartache that Russell continuously felt throughout the novel. Not once did I put this book down as I just couldn’t! I was engulfed in Small’s world and all its inhabitants. The illustrations flowed beautifully as each picture told a story, an emotion, a failure. This coming of age story is unlike any other book I’ve seen as Small broke barriers to show the reader the true meaning of struggling and finding yourself while it all happens.
*
I would recommend this book to those who love graphic novels and really need a book to show them that not all coming of age stories can be broken. Russell is a perfect example as he carelessly is all of us at some point of our lives. Be like Russell and learn things the hard way or else you may never figure them out but whether you do or not, Home After Dark will forever be a story to hold dear to your heart.
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