Thoreau at Walden

I love reading graphic adaptations of classic works, and it doesn't get much more classic than Thoreau's Walden. I went through a period in my youth where I was fascinated by "alternative" religious experiences, and I know that the transcendentalists probably didn't consider their philosophy a religion, but they sort of get mushed together for me. It's all about how you choose to live in the world, right? I think most people know something about the Walden story - Thoreau sort of ducked out of life, built himself a cabin in the woods and lived there alone for a couple of years, reading and writing and thinking and growing stuff and eating what he grew. This is a very short book, and the drawings are very spare, and it does not attempt show more to recount the entire book, but rather to capture its essence in a few pithy phrases. It definitely succeeds - whether you are familiar with the Walden story or not, you come away with an understanding not just of Thoreau's experience, but his motivations. There are also extensive endnotes, which explain why the author chose the phrases he did, and fill in the background a little (such as explaining that Thoreau's cabin was only about a mile from the town of Concord, and he went there often during his stay at the pond, so he wasn't exactly living the full hermit life). It also blows my mind that, in his early 20s, Thoreau built this cabin himself. I know it was a different time (the mid-1800s) when maybe that wasn't such a big deal, but I still feel like that alone is a pretty monumental accomplishment, totally separate from all he achieved intellectually. I do believe that studying and remembering these efforts does continue to inform and enrich our modern way of life. show less

I feel like this book gave me a glimpse into Thoreau's heart, rather than his head. Or maybe this condensed, illustrated version of Walden speaks more to my heart than to my head. Thoreau's words are here, yes, purposeful and stirring, but so is the space between the words, the quiet, transcendent moments that the telling alone has only pointed to.

This is in our collection for students to read in their independent reading circles within their English class. I've not paid much attention to it but as I read I loved it. The author only uses the words of Henry David Thoreau to tell the story of the two years he spent on Walden Pond. As I read memories of hiking around Walden Pond with my Grandmother and sisters flooded back (I had forgotten about those moments). And what I loved is that this graphic novel made me think about the pace of my own life. I will be bringing students attention to this novel as it introduces students to Walden Pond and Henry David Thoreau in a unique way and it may convince them to slow down and appreciate life for life's sake.

"I rejoice that there are owls."

"Goodness is the only investment that never fails."

Nice summary of much of the man's philosophy, much of what he learned and shared that influences us today. Good at capturing the quiet withdrawal of the experience; as the wonderful [a:D.B. Johnson|3280243|D.B. Johnson|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1374025549p2/3280243.jpg] says in his intro., Thoreau was not a hermit, but opportunities for reverie were important to him.

Includes author's note and other appendices.

I still prefer Johnson's picture-book series about Henry (drawn as a bear). But this is a good, and important, introduction to HDT for an underserved audience.

This book blew me away. Yes Thoreau is one of the most quoted American writers/philosophers of our time and yet I never have read anything that he has written until now. I read this book right before I was going to bed and slept better than I have in days. I would have my eyes clothes and the simple and peaceful illustrations would fill my mind.

I keep thinking how much easier it was for me to retain Thoreau's message through his experiment and I wished that other deep philosophical messages would become graphic novels like the pedagogy of the oppressed by Fiere. Seeing the simplicity of the illustration with a very profound thought helped keep my mind from wondering from the author's point.

I will keep my eye out for this book and any show more other book that The Center For Cartoon Studies put out. show less

The drawings in this deceptively simple book take to heart Thoreau's approach of having and using no more than you need. By highlighting just a few of Thoreau's words, artist John Porcellino invites the reader to spend more time with each thought, so while the book could be read very quickly, it is designed to be lingered over and savored. The back matter, including citations to Thoreau's writings and further explanations of some of the incidents described through Thoreau's words in the book, is helpful and informative. I hope Porcellino does the same for Emerson.

Thoreau at Walden by John Porcellino is a graphic treatment based on the writings of Henry David Thoreau. Using simple line drawings and selected excerpts from Thoreau's Walden, Porcellino retells the story of America's first environmentalist and his experiences living at Walden Pond.

The book begins with an outstanding introduction by D.B. Johnson introducing Thoreau to readers.

The body of the book is displayed comic-style with a mixture of captions and speech bubbles. Those who already know the story will enjoy picking out the famous quotes and anecdotes, while students new to Thoreau will be provided with an introduction that's likely to stimulate further reading. Although many of the famous quotes are included, many are left out. show more It's interesting to think about what you would include and exclude in creating this type of graphic interpretation.

The last section of the book provided insights into the way Porcellino wove Thoreau's text throughout the book. It was particularly interesting to read passages by Thoreau that appear as wordless illustrations in the book. For instance, Thoreau's experience with an owl is told by Porcellino without the use of words.

I envision teachers pairing this experience with the Henry series by D.B. Johnson including Henry Hikes to Fitchberg. It would also be interesting for young people to take a virtual visit to Walden Pond using Google Earth. Those interested in reading the entire works of Henry David Thoreau can read most of them at Websites online.

This is one in a series of graphic biographies from The Center for Cartoon Studies. Each book provides an interesting insight into a well-known person.

I highly recommend Thoreau at Walden along with the other graphic biographies from The Center for Cartoon Studies. show less