Take The Long Way Home

by Jon Claytor (Author, Illustrator)

A classic road trip memoir about love, family, and surprisingly conversational wildlife.

In 2019, artist Jon Claytor said good-bye to the Maritimes and hit the road. His destination: an artist’s residency in Prince Rupert, where he planned to work on a graphic novel about his eight-week journey across Canada. But this story, like most, isn’t about the destination.

When Jon sets out, he’s less than two years sober, he’s recently broken up with his girlfriend, and his mother has just revealed a startling family secret. As Jon drives, he makes frequent stops to visit exes and children, old friends and new, and attends meetings to support his sobriety. He sorts through memories of his past, reconciling them with his present—and makes amends, seeks wisdom from wildlife, and learns the value of getting lost along the way.

In Take the Long Way Home, Claytor explores alcoholism, love, and family through heart-rending vignettes and expressive linework. This is the story of a man who unpacks a difficult past, only to discover that even at his lowest point, he was never truly alone.

Genres: Graphic Novels, Memoir, Canada, Mental Health, Comics, Nonfiction

480 pages, Paperback

Published April 26, 2022

Reviews

[Alexander Peterhans · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jon Claytor takes the reader along on his journey to an artist residence, along the way telling you about his life, his struggles with alcohol, his failed relationships and working relationships with his children (there is also some discussion of suicide). All of it told in handwritten word and vibrant drawings.

Claytor has taken the idea of 'no holds barred' and really gone for it, sometimes being maybe a bit too detailed for comfort, but always admirable and moving.

(Picked up a review copy through Edelweiss)

[Laurie Burns · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5
A thought provoking graphic novel, that hits close to home, regarding addiction, families and sitting with yourself.

[Deb · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book - it’s honesty and authenticity. Highly recommend.

[Alyssa Luzadder · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gripping, hauntingly beautiful, and simply engaging. Each page dances so rhythmically, like a conversation with a friend you met in college. I love that the author doesn’t always introduce every person - this was a source of confusion at first, but it reminded me of my college friends. They would mention their family members, childhood friends, first loves, pets back home, like I had known them forever and I would just nod along. So I read this book just like that - I just nodded along. A dark and lovely nonfiction novel.

[Estibaliz · Rating 4 out of 5]

'Take The Long Way Home' is exactly what it promises to be on its back cover: "A classic road trip memoir about love, family and surprisingly conventional wildlife."

And it turns out to be a very intimate memoir at that, where the author, Jon Claytor, wears his heart on his sleeve on what's a very sober, but very emotional retelling of his struggles with alcohol, and life in general.

Really raw and sincere, this memoir is full of reality and some good advice on how to face the world out there, without it sounding like your next cheap self-help book, just up for grabs. Such is the honesty of the feelings here...

[Holly Anderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good little read. Has drawn my attention on a friends shelf the last two summer when I visited, and then I was up in Prince Rupert and heard all about the artist residency this was started at, so I was extra curious and picked up a copy. The author is vaguely connected to a few people I knew back on the east coast through Sappyfest, and it was interesting to be invited to share such an intimate journey, but also one that seemed really familiar with so many familiar places.

[Lori · Rating 4 out of 5]

A thoughtful, raw memoir of a cross country journey, told in graphic novel form.

I loved that the illustrations were done as if they were photographs showing the journey - not that they *looked* like photographs but that is the feel they gave as you read.

Claytor really does a good job expressing the fear, the guilt and the hopefulness of addiction.

Usual disclaimer: I don't feel that I should rate memoirs, not my story to tell or to judge.

[Bryanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really thoughtful and beautiful book. Thoroughly enjoyed being brought along for the ride, and being a Haligonian, it was pretty cool to have a sense of connection with some of the places Jon visits thru the journey. So so good!

[Rebecca · Rating 2 out of 5]

I appreciate the honesty behind this book but holy shit, where was the editor? It's so repetitive and boring, I made it 3/4 of the way through and had to skip to the epilogue to get it over with. What a relief!

[Mik · Rating 4 out of 5]

The love and pain of this book exist in loud harmony. Jon touches on the question why do we want to run away, especially when we most desperately need the love (wisdom, advice, support, to be seen, to be held, to be know) from others. His humility is beautiful. His gratitude is contagious.

[Matty · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wouldn't say that I loved this but I can appreciate what the author was working towards. I also had to take a break in finishing because the book was in use at the library and some of the disconnect I felt was due to losing that momentum.

[Andréa]

Note: I accessed a digital review copy of this book through Edelweiss.

[Lily O'Donnell · Rating 4 out of 5]

V hopeful sweet ramble of a book abt life and connection. Pretty sweet stuff. I hope to one day have the serenity and peacefulness he seems to have accomplished in his life.

[Jill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful

[Aurora]

Got 200 pages in and realized I had no drive to continue.

[Elona · Rating 5 out of 5]

I picked up this book because of the cover, read it because of the initial humor and style, and finished it crying.

[Madalene · Rating 4 out of 5]

A thoughtful road trip memoir, written by someone thinking deeply about their alcoholism. With a touch of nostalgia since this trip occurred in 2019.

[Tomiko Robson · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 I really enjoyed this one. It’s thoughtful and raw and full of doubt and self-questioning. The line drawings and slow pace make it almost meditative.

[AJ · Rating 5 out of 5]

i love how this is written, i want to make something like this and also i want to drive across canada someday

[Kylie · Rating 4 out of 5]

An insightful book on family and addiction, a little too much about the road trip and not enough about the addiction for me.

[Sandra Bunting · Rating 3 out of 5]

Graphic novel. Interesting journey. coping with depression.