River At Night

Kevin Huizenga's The River at Night is a comic book that explores consciousness, the passage of time, and the simple pleasures and challenges of marriage. Huizenga uses the medium of comics to create a symphony of rhythms and themes, exploring how we understand time and the breadth of the comics medium in surprising ways.

\n Format: Hardback
\n Length: 216 pages
\n Publication date: 24 September 2019
\n Publisher: Drawn and Quarterly
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In his captivating work, "The River at Night," Kevin Huizenga delves deep into the realm of consciousness, embarking on a profound exploration of existence and the intricate dance of time. What initially starts as a casual and distracted exchange between husband and wife, Glenn and Wendy Ganges, takes a captivating turn as he immerses himself in a library book, while she diligently works on her computer. This seemingly mundane conversation evolves into a profound exploration of being and the passage of time. As they prepare for bed, Wendy, tired from a demanding editor, and Glenn, energized by his reading and a touch of caffeine, witness the narrative begin to fracture.

The River at Night takes us on a nostalgic journey, first satirizing the dot-com boom of the late 1990s and then delving into the camaraderie of playing first-person shooter video games with work colleagues. Huizenga skillfully shifts focus, offering insightful suggestions on falling asleep as Glenn ponders the subjective experience of time for geologists or productivity gurus. The story unfolds, embracing both the simple pleasures of a loving marriage, such as sharing a bed with a slumbering lover, as well as the less cherished moments of disappointment or inadvertent betrayal of trust.

Huizenga employs the cartoon medium as a masterful symphony, establishing rhythms and introducing themes that he revisits, adding and subtracting events and thoughts, stretching and compressing time in surprising ways. A simple walk to the library becomes a meditative exploration of our understanding of time, as Huizenga showcases the vastness and versatility of the comics medium in unexpected ways.

"The River at Night" stands as a modern formalist masterpiece, exhibiting a remarkable empathetic, inventive, and humorous essence that rivals anything ever written. It is a testament to Huizenga's exceptional talent and his ability to delve into the depths of the human experience with wit, insight, and a profound understanding of the complexities of life.

\n Weight: 918g\n
Dimension: 207 x 263 x 28 (mm)\n
ISBN-13: 9781770463745\n \n