Things to do in a Retirement Home Trailer Park... E-Book

Aneurin Wright

• Herausgeber: Myriad Editions
• Kategorie: Gesellschafts- und Liebesromane
• Sprache: Englisch
• Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2015

Beschreibung

A tour-de-force and eight years in the making, this is a powerful, superbly-drawn and deeply moving portrait of a young man coming to terms with his dying father, and with his own life, as he takes care of the old man in his final months. When Nye's father phones to wish him a happy birthday, and reveals he has been 'certified for hospice', Nye slumps down on the nearest doorstep in shock. Unemployment means that he is free to move in to the trailer park where his father lives, and assume the role of chief carer. Their daily schedule of pill counting and medical checks unfolds into an extraordinary world where the protagonist is a minotaur, his father a rhinoceros, social workers are sea turtles and mobile homes move atop gigantic elephants. Curious neighbours and medical and social care workers - whether man or beast - become their friends, and the family comes together once more. And as the old man battles against emphysema, his shortness of breath becomes more evident until his speech bubbles, previously charged with pithy comment, are mostly filled with pauses. Aneurin Wright's unforgettable debut is a universal tale of love and loss told in a wholly original way.

Leseprobe

‘Inventive, extraordinary and memorable.’ David Lloyd, co-creator of V for Vendetta ‘Constantly unpredictable and compelling... A strikingly unusual and daringly inventive addition to the arena of autobiographical, reconciliatory comics.’ Paul Gravett ‘A work of unflinching reality and subtle beauty... deserves a place next to the richest memoirs as well as the most vibrant fantasies.’ Arts Journal ‘The inventive symbolism never overwhelms the emotional honesty grounding this compelling memoir, which also contributes to the burgeoning field of graphic medicine.’ Times Literary Supplement ‘It’s absolutely an emotive, tender, well drawn, and above all else a very personal memoir... Artistically it’s impressive as hell.’ Forbidden Planet ‘Honest, inventive and resonant, this is a confident and impressive debut; a remarkable breakout work that speaks to the reader on many different levels.’ Broken Frontier ‘A key part to Nye’s story-telling is his imagery and strong metaphors for life and his bold use of colours... This is a real gem of a book.’ Comics Anonymous ‘This book is a truly powerful undertaking.... A masterful piece of work.’ Dead Canary Comics ‘This is one of the most involved and affecting portraits of [terminal illness]... Wright’s naked emotional honesty makes it work. Marvellous, emotional... it succeeds because it is real.’ Comics Waiting Room ‘Masterfully drawn and touchingly constructed.’ Brighton Magazine ‘Wright is an amazing talent.’ World Famous Comics

About the author Aneurin (Nye) Wright was born in rural Idaho, USA, the son of a West Texan architect and a London writer. He earned a BA in English Literature from Yale University and a BFA in Illustration and Communication Design from The Pratt Institute. He was hailed as ‘an amazing talent’ for his first book Lex Talionis: A Jungle Tale. He was the animation director for the Short History of the United States cartoon sequence in Michael Moore’s Academy Award-winning documentary Bowling for Columbine. He lives in Brighton with his wife, graphic designer Lyndsay Lucero.

Part I: Arriving Prologue 1 Counting Pills 5 Learning About Hospice 13 Clearing Customs 23 Mobility 31 ReSection 37 Caretaking 42 Secretarial Work 50 Housecalls Part 1 56 Reconciliation Part 1 59 (Mis)communication 69 Vengeance 72 Interlude 95 Part II: Settling In Visitor 101 Falling 111 Bathtime 118 Swimming 125 Renting 136 Housecalls Part 2 142 The Wagon 150 Reconciliation Part 2 160 If 163 Fathers & Sons 169 Interlude 185 Part III: Moving On Needs 198 Housecalls Part 3 206 Interlude 212 Reconciliation Part 3 225 Yes 235 Neighbors 253 Nomenclature 257 Void 266 Packing Bags 276 Roadtrip 287 Drawing 290 PostScript 303