Overview

The Pacific Crest Trail runs 2660 miles, from California's border with Mexico to Washington's border with Canada. To walk it is to undertake a grueling test of body and spirit... challenge accepted. This intimate, engaging autobiographical work recounts the author's own attempt to walk the length of the USA's west coast. Healy's life-changing journey weaves in and out of reflections on his experiences in America and his development as an artist, navigating both the trail itself and the unique culture of the people who attempt to complete it.

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9781910620618

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Reviews

Healy captures the two greatest appeals of such a venture - the gruelling but addictive torture of the journey and the casual, quick bonding with strangers. * Comics Beat * This is clearly the sort of situation that forces you to come to terms with your personality, your faults, strengths and weaknesses, and [Healy] is frank about this. By describing a relatively short part of his life, Healy leaves us feeling like we know him intimately. It's a real gift to be able to do this, and is a testament to his excellence as a cartoonist. * The Quietus * Join Luke on this must-read whimsical memoir into being the outsider immersed in American life. Americana (And the Act of Getting Over It) is a much-needed break from the typical hiker reads, gear-lists, and trail maps. It's a highly reflective, multi-layered story featuring gorgeous illustrations, tasteful humor, and a colorful cast of characters. It's a highly recommended novel to nature lovers and comic nerds alike. * Outdoor Revolution * What I appreciated about Americana was that it offered a foreigner's perspective of trail life and America as a whole, and that it did so utilizing a medium that is rarely, if ever, used to depict thru-hiking, despite being perfect for it. Thru-hikes are internal journeys, of course, but so much of the experience is about immersing oneself in what is outside, about slowing down and seeing the world in a way that it cannot possibly be seen at the speeds at which we now normally travel. Thru-hiking is a very visual experience, and Healy does a wonderful job of conveying it that way. * The Trek * Beautiful work as always and quite a journey. * @postlopez on Instagram * Luke Healey' graphic novel memoir Americana is a vulnerable example of how being open to the unknown adventure can lead to transformation. A truly remarkable and reflective piece of writing that has the cadence of the hike itself. * @WanderingBookseller on Instagram *

Healy's memoir is both a thoughtful meditation on being an outsider looking in, and a practical read for people interested in the logistics of conquering a long-distance trail. --Ingrid Bohnenkamp, Library Journal This masterful and moving graphic memoir establishes Luke Healy as one of the finest cartoonists working today... Americana is a triumph. --James Sturm, author of Off Season What I appreciated about Americana was that it offered a foreigner's perspective of trail life and America as a whole, and that it did so utilizing a medium that is rarely, if ever, used to depict thru-hiking despite being perfect for it. Thru-hikes are internal journeys, of course, but so much of the experience is about immersing oneself in what is outside, about slowing down and seeing the world in a way that it cannot possibly be seen at the speeds at which we now normally travel. Thru-hiking is a very visual experience, and Healy does a wonderful job of conveying it that way. --Jessica Tinios, The Trek Praise for Luke Healy's previous book, How To Survive In The North These beautifully pensive and chilly vignettes interweave history and the present, exploring the circumstances of bad decisions and the resulting consequences we face. Healy's quiet storytelling and expressive yet simple lines pull you in to the lives and experiences of these characters, both factual and fictional. --Lucy Knisley, bestselling author of Relish: My Life in the Kitchen Healy is a master of stitching together narrative threads like a double helix of twinned realities. --The Washington Post A thought-provoking graphic novel about the exploration of the Arctic [...] Healy's narrative gains power from the interconnecting stories and a carefully chosen thematic color palette, but above all it is powered by his brilliant handling of the wordless panels where so much of the story is told. --Publisher's Weekly, STARRED REVIEW

This masterful and moving graphic memoir establishes Luke Healy as one of the finest cartoonists working today... Americana is a triumph. --James Sturm, author of Off Season Praise for Luke Healy's previous book, How To Survive In The North These beautifully pensive and chilly vignettes interweave history and the present, exploring the circumstances of bad decisions and the resulting consequences we face. Healy's quiet storytelling and expressive yet simple lines pull you in to the lives and experiences of these characters, both factual and fictional. --Lucy Knisley, bestselling author of Relish: My Life in the Kitchen Healy is a master of stitching together narrative threads like a double helix of twinned realities. --The Washington Post A thought-provoking graphic novel about the exploration of the Arctic [...] Healy's narrative gains power from the interconnecting stories and a carefully chosen thematic color palette, but above all it is powered by his brilliant handling of the wordless panels where so much of the story is told. --Publisher's Weekly, STARRED REVIEW

ONE OF THE GUARDIAN'S BEST COMICS AND GRAPHIC NOVELS OF 2019 Healy's pilgrimage through America is also a journey into his own mind, soundtracked by blistered footsteps and breathless huffs, and told with winning honesty. Honorable mention, Publishers Weekly Graphic Novel Critics Poll 2019 This masterful and moving graphic memoir establishes Luke Healy as one of the finest cartoonists working today... Americana is a triumph. --James Sturm, author of Off Season Healy's memoir is both a thoughtful meditation on being an outsider looking in, and a practical read for people interested in the logistics of conquering a long-distance trail. --Ingrid Bohnenkamp, Library Journal Healy's tale is bittersweet as he deals with the ups and downs of taking on this monumental task alone without any real training, but his growth is obvious. --Suzanne Temple, Booklist Americana is as epic as the hike [Healy] took. At over 300 pages with the mixed narrative presentations, there's a lot packed in there, both high emotion and calm rumination. He captures all the aspects involved in taking such a hike, and I don't mean just preparations, but the pathways to ending up on such a trail. It's a perfect book anyone you might know who wants to take a similar journey -- or just wants to know what it would be like, but doesn't see themselves ever doing it. Healy captures the terrain and the experience, sure, but he also captures the meaning without ever restricting it to his own definition. --John Seven, The Beat What I appreciated about Americana was that it offered a foreigner's perspective of trail life and America as a whole, and that it did so utilizing a medium that is rarely, if ever, used to depict thru-hiking despite being perfect for it. Thru-hikes are internal journeys, of course, but so much of the experience is about immersing oneself in what is outside, about slowing down and seeing the world in a way that it cannot possibly be seen at the speeds at which we now normally travel. Thru-hiking is a very visual experience, and Healy does a wonderful job of conveying it that way. --Jessica Tinios, The Trek A much-needed break from the typical hiker reads, gear-lists, and trail maps. It's a highly reflective, multi-layered story featuring gorgeous illustrations, tasteful humor, and a colorful cast of characters. It's a highly recommended novel to nature lovers and comic nerds alike. --Adam AMS Rakestraw, Outdoor Evolution

Healy's memoir is both a thoughtful meditation on being an outsider looking in, and a practical read for people interested in the logistics of conquering a long-distance trail. --Ingrid Bohnenkamp, Library Journal This masterful and moving graphic memoir establishes Luke Healy as one of the finest cartoonists working today... Americana is a triumph. --James Sturm, author of Off Season Praise for Luke Healy's previous book, How To Survive In The North These beautifully pensive and chilly vignettes interweave history and the present, exploring the circumstances of bad decisions and the resulting consequences we face. Healy's quiet storytelling and expressive yet simple lines pull you in to the lives and experiences of these characters, both factual and fictional. --Lucy Knisley, bestselling author of Relish: My Life in the Kitchen Healy is a master of stitching together narrative threads like a double helix of twinned realities. --The Washington Post A thought-provoking graphic novel about the exploration of the Arctic [...] Healy's narrative gains power from the interconnecting stories and a carefully chosen thematic color palette, but above all it is powered by his brilliant handling of the wordless panels where so much of the story is told. --Publisher's Weekly, STARRED REVIEW

Author Information

Luke Healy was born and raised in Dublin, Ireland. He received a BA in Journalism from Dublin City University, and an MFA in Cartooning from The Center for Cartoon Studies in Vermont, USA. This is his second book with Nobrow, and his first memoir. Americana tells the story of his yearning to settle in the United States, from his studies in Vermont, to his repeated attempts to gain a long-term visa, to his trek through the Pacific Crest Trail.

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