A review by dlsmall
Days of Sand: Part 1 by Aimée de Jongh

5.0

So in half one of two of this graphic novel, we meet an outsider to the 1937 Oklahoma Panhandle Dust Bowl, FSA photographer John Clark, fresh from NYC. As an Okie whose experiences of the subject include stories from my grandpa, a handful of books, and the Ken Burns documentary, I was very interested in how a Dutch graphic novelist would tackle my region’s history…and part one’s deepening surface (not even) understanding of the tragedy and the people by Clark is a perfect entry. He has spent this volume relentlessly checking off boxes on his photo script, and in the final section is starting to get it.

This is a beautiful piece of art…the way Aimee treats the people, but also the quality of the light and the color and the dust…and I look forward to consuming the conclusion just as relentlessly as Clark with his list.