That Salty Air [Paperback]

Tim Sievert (Author, Artist)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 8, 2008

Hugh is a fisherman with a special relationship to the sea; a relationship based on respect and reverence. But when Hugh feels that the sea has betrayed him, his whole existence is thrown out of whack. Hell-bent on settling the score, Hugh takes his revenge to the extreme, jeopardizing not only himself, but his family in the process. Ultimately, That Salty Air is story about change, and learning the price for trifling with the natural progression of things.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Sievert's first graphic novel is a small, understated fable about Hugh, a fisherman who learns that his mother has drowned. Deciding that the sea has become his enemy, he sets out to teach it a lesson. Of course, the sea is more powerful than Hugh imagined, and his journey involves a torrential storm, a whale, a giant squid and a series of emotional revelations. The story's sentimental twists aren't exactly subtle; its dialogue is mostly undiluted melodrama, and its conclusion is a predictable heartstring-tugger. But the metaphors for grief and depression are given life by Sievert's deliberate, accomplished pacing. Almost every page is partly or entirely wordless, and he lets long, elegantly composed sequences of people and animals quietly interacting with their environments, or images of the land and sea and sky, establish the mood and tone of each scene. The book's also full of subtle formalist tricks, like a house window whose frame cuts off the edges of a speech balloon. There's certainly room for growth in Sievert's cartooning—his facility with light and shade, as well as the deliciously blobby lines he uses for sea creatures in the nature scenes, give way to hurried, Craig Thompson–lite caricature when he draws human characters—but he's a talent to watch. (Apr.)
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From Booklist

*Starred Review* No, this isn’t a Classics Illustrated edition of Moby Dick, but it is a terrific graphic novel about an obsessive man battling large creatures from the sea. Dirt poor, Maryanne and Hugh live in a shack by the sea. Their only source of income is the fish Hugh catches each morning, a chore that seems to bring him much enjoyment. The news that Hugh’s mother has drowned destroys his love of that salty air, and he turns to the bottle, leaving pregnant Maryanne pretty much alone. Sievert uses a monstrous squid to represent the bad news that storms into the couple’s lives, and in the end the couple’s battle with the creature symbolizes both humankind’s struggle with the elements and Hugh’s struggle within himself. Words are few and carefully placed. The crisp, black-and-white illustrations on slick paper do most of the work, taking readers right into the eye of the metaphorical and physical storm and giving them a taste of the intense emotions nature can elicit in those who interact with it. An amazing, strong, well-paced graphic novel about relationships and what we must be do to keep them on course while we are submerged in the complexities of life. This is as much for adults as it is for teens. Grades 11-12. --Kevin King

Product Details

• Paperback: 112 pages
• Publisher: Top Shelf Productions (April 8, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1603090053
• ISBN-13: 978-1603090056
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.6 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,369,354 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An heartfelt, beautiful debut, June 2, 2009

By 

Andrew L. Rogers (Grand Rapids, MI) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: That Salty Air (Paperback)

When non-comic book/graphic novel readers ask me what makes graphic novels so great, I will refer them to this story.

Heartfelt, patient, and tasteful - this graphic novel is a stunning debut. If Sievert continues to produce such honest art, he will be widely recognized for his gifts.

Highly recommended for all ages and readers.

4.0 out of 5 stars "The Old Man and the Sea" for the Lit Comics Generation, August 23, 2008

By 

A.N. Ommus "Ommus" (Space Sector 2814) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: That Salty Air (Paperback)

This debut graphic novel by Tim Sievert is easily "The Old Man and the Sea" for the Lit Comics Generation. A spiritually troubled fisherman battles the demons of his life and the sea. Emotionally charged and life-affirming.