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 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. ( )

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. ( )

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 other book that The Center For Cartoon Studies put out. ( )

Graphic format of quotes by Thoreau ( )

A graphic novel about Thorea's time at Walden Pond; text taken directly from Walden. The simple illustrations showcase the existential text. I would not have any hesitations about using this book to study Thoreau in the classroom.