At the Edge of the Stream at Dusk

by Jen Lee

Part road-trip, part memoir, 'At the Edge of the Stream at Dusk' charts Jen's journey post the end of a long-term relationship as she moves across the country from her farmhouse to a new home and job in the city, while reflecting on the changes and challenges she faces along the way.

Genres: Graphic Novels, Comics, Nonfiction, Graphic Novels Comics, Memoir, Comic Book

44 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2019

Reviews

[Axolotl · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed the story but I think the part where she makes new friends in the city and gets a good job is kind of rushed. Telling a nice story about how she met one of the friends would be nice, but by the end the only characters we know at all are her and her ex, making the friend characters seem a little hollow and boring.

I also didn't really understand the boyfriend's motivations. He wanted to break up with her to "find himself" but he stays in the house and SHE is the one to move? That doesn't make sense. If you radically change your life to find yourself it typically means you want to travel or something. Not live your exact same life but alone. But I guess it's not really my place to say whether or not it was "fair", since I'm not them.

[P. · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's not that I couldn't feel an echo of the type of heartache the author was feeling, but that the character in the story wasn't letting the feeling through, or it wasn't coming through in the narrative because the author was aiming for a path-towards-healing ending.

[Abs · Rating 5 out of 5]

As others have said, a gentle, very human, and very real story. The narrative feels like an old friend is catching you up on the last year of their life, aided by an art style that reads SO easily, and panel layouts that support an authentic conversational tone and feel.

While I'd have loved the last third's pacing to be a little less rushed, the overall energy is exciting and hopeful, fully acknowledging that sometimes life SUCKS, but showing us that big risks are worth taking, and closed chapters of life bring space for healing and new adventures. I came out of this comic feeling like I'd taken a very satisfying deep breath.

[Lucas · Rating 3 out of 5]

A short comic about the author's experience going through a life changing breakup that made her leave farm life for the big city. I really like Lee's style, and it definitely didn't come as a shock when she mentioned working on Bojack Horseman at the end

[Lemon Ginger · Rating 5 out of 5]

Would have 100% cried if not on antidepressants

[Ribambelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

About breaking up and moving on. Very gentle, very human, and touching.

[miha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nisem pričakoval, da bo tko osebnoizpovedna - sem navajen prejšnjih bolj domišljijskih postapokaliptičnih. Ma mi je bla vseeno všeč!

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Man, this comic made me so mad. If Ian needed a new life so bad, he should have been the one to leave, to start over. When he texts her that Boco died, I was so, so mad. Yeah, of course she loved her! And you're the reason they're separated! And probably why Boco died! Because of your selfish choices! God. Sorry. The first half reads like an especially awful r/relationships post and I just can't believe it. I'm glad the author was able to work through it and has a good life now, but man. Fuck you, Ian.