The Moonlight Chronicles: A Wandering Artist's Journal

by Dan Price

Our favorite freewheelin' scribe Dan Price's inaugural collection of vagabond musings, HOW TO MAKE A JOURNAL OF YOUR LIFE, was such a hit that we could hardly wait to bring out THE MOONLIGHT CHRONICLES. Dan's Moonlight Chronicles zines have long been a cult favorite of art, travel writing, and outdoor enthusiasts. This full-color book version picks up where the zines left off, following Dan as he ambles through the cafes, alleyways, and skyscrapers of New York City; hits the trail for a five-day hike in Hell's Canyon; and wanders through the Sierras, in the footsteps of kindred soul John Muir. Dan's spirited language and charming pictures remind you of the small joys of life and the fact that happiness abounds, just waiting to be discovered along the highways and byways of America.

Genres: Art, Nonfiction, Memoir, Graphic Novels, Travel, Adventure

160 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 2000

Reviews

[Shannan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this little journal - how I aspire for all of my journals to look.

[Carolyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm in love with this little book. It's really a journal of this man's life rather than a cohesive narrative. It starts with a journal he kept while on a 6 day hike through Hell (aka Hells Canyon). It goes on to tell stories about the difficulties of raising teenagers, the joys of simple living and the sweet smell of SUMMER. He has litle line drawings and pressed flowers mixed in with the writings. It's a treasure trove. I'll have to buy a copy for myself and know that some day my kids will love this book too. I certainly know I would have loved this as a little girl. I love it now as a grown woman.

[Stephanie (aka WW) · Rating 3 out of 5]

This cute travel journal is packed with whimsical drawings and wry observations. Not the best I’ve seen in this category, but not the worse, either. It makes me want to unpack the pencils, go outside, and draw.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm not sure how to classify this. It's kind of travel writing, mostly memoir with illustrations and photos. Kind of like Carnet de Voyage but more focused on the day-to-day. I read the whole book in the tub last night and enjoyed but didn't love it. It mostly made me long for summer days, hiking, and swimming in the river - all things that have been sorely lacking of late.

[David Schwan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very quirky travelogue. The author describes and illustrates a number of trips (both camping and otherwise) in Oregon. The appeal to me is the offbeat nature of the stories. Fun quick read.

[Brent Woo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Last year in 2019 I took what I consider probably the perfect vacation (and that's including my 3 week romp around southeast asia a few weeks later) out to the Berkshires. Taking a long weekend in early August (right after I got my harp too, happy times!), I drove the 2-3 hours out from Boston to West Massachusetts. I stayed in a very cool forest home airbnb, hosted by a yoga instructor. The little town I stayed in had a library book sale going on, and a bookstore-bar-combination. During the daytime, I explored the little towns and boutique shops, and went on long bike rides, including one on the 24-mile Ashuwillticook Rail Trail, and a 40-mile river trail from greater Albany to Schnectady. The main event I came for was the Tanglewood music festival, classical music concerts where you sit outside on a huge lawn on camp chairs and enjoy top artists and music in a relaxed atmosphere. On two different warm summer nights, I saw a pianist perform Rach 2, one of my favorite pieces ever, and Yo-Yo Ma himself play all 6 Bach cello suites. I enjoyed these sitting on my comfy camp chair under the stars, with snacks and a growler full of beer, fresh from a local solar-powered brewery. When it came time to come home, I was even looking forward to returning so I could start learning on my new harp. Bliss.

This happy little zine-sketchbook reminds me of those perfect slices of life, where things just kind of fit together and you can just enjoy yourself. Time is passing in exactly the way that you want it to. This is a full-color excerpt of his B&W 77-volume series of these journals, which charts one happy summer hiking, going on small roadtrips with his family, and just observing and enjoying life. The endless cheer might come off as blithe—and in his guide he explicitly says he avoids negativity in his sketchbooks on principle, so the mood is probably intentional—but I don't mind. I feel inspired and lifted by reading this, and I've already spent a few hours sketching and enjoying the results, however messy and comical they are. (The author is also a very interesting crunchy guy, calls himself a 'hobo-artist' and seems to prefer living off the grid in vans, "tipis", and underground huts...)

[Ken Parkinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dan Price is one of my journaling heros. His book how to make a journal of your life was one of my biggest inspirations for my journaling practice. I love his drawing style. Seeing tidbits from his journals, inspires me to keep up the practice and improve upon it.

[Ineke · Rating 4 out of 5]

My teacher, who taught me how to write a memoir in journal form, recommended this dense journal to show how expressive writing can be done with fewer words but more meaning. It was worth the read. Dan Price used all his senses to describe the everyday adventures during camping and holidays.

[Gezelle Ubana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Iloveit

[Linda Thieu · Rating 4 out of 5]

sketching and journaling

I enjoyed this book, the growth and development of the author’s sketches and trying to live simply and observe. It’s a journal of his day

[Laura · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wanted to like this... but I didn't. Not really. Price writes about his wanders as an artist and that's fine. I liked some passages and comments he made. Overall, though, this is peeking into the journal of someone I don't find particularly interesting. Maybe it's because I can relate a little bit too much -- I live with an artist and we do some of these things ourselves - hiking, camping, looking at the clouds, etc. Maybe it's just the lack of responsibility annoyed me too much, because it did. He seems to think the rules don't apply to him ("I camped right under the "no camping" sign", "I went under the rope and sat in there by myself", etc) and that always irritates me. Maybe it's because it was more of a "today I did this, then I did that", which I think of as more of a log than a journal. I was expecting more thoughts and feelings on things; that's what I use my journal for, so it's what I thought this one would include. The whole thing just didn't do anything for me at all, honestly.

[Mousy Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read a lot of Dan's books and each time feel drawn to the amazingly simple life he seems to lead. How wonderful it would be to wonder around wherever you fancy, sleeping in meadows of long grass and wild flowers and having the time to observe and sketch as you go. The reality of it I am sure would actually scare me and I can't get away from the feeling that his way of life is only possible because the rest of us get on with it and do the stuff we need to as well as the stuff we want to! I love to escape into his sketch books though and dream of the life I might of had in a different reality...so 5 stars for escapism and dreaming!

[Kate]

these are some little pieces that dan price wrote and illustrated. they had appeared in his 'zine. What if everyone in your family liked to draw and camp and sit around and look at nature. Even Dan likes to do this more than his family. He has a great attitude about everything being an adventure.

[danica · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'd give this 5 stars, but they used a handwriting font instead of real handwriting. It bothered me, because Dan Price seems like such an authentic guy, and the handwriting font is not authentic. Nonetheless, I didn't want to finish the book because then it would be over.

[feathers · Rating 4 out of 5]

i recently uncovered this in my childhood bedroom. i can hardly read it because it makes me want to stop everything and go into the woods alone with colored pencils and shitake jerky. this comic/zine/scrapbook is so sweet and inviting.

[Laura Rogers · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book inspired me to get serious about my journaling, to add my own sketches and even experiment with watercolor. A book that inspired a life change deserves 5 stars.

[Cari Polena · Rating 5 out of 5]

A true original. Dan Price lives a life I didn't know was possible in the USA. Very unique.

[Sarah O'Flaherty · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved it! A very fun read. Re-motivated me to start journaling again.