Book Review – Essex County Trilogy by Jeff Lemire
Essex County Trilogy – by Jeff Lemire
Penned and inked by Canadian author/artist Jeff Lemire, Essex County is a down to earth tale that takes place in rural Ontario and follows a diverse cast of characters through several different periods.
In Tales From the Farm we meet young Lester, a 10 year old boy who has lost his mother to cancer and moves in with his uncle at the family farm. To cope with his loss, Lester escapes to an imaginary world of comics and superheroes while donning a mask and cape. Unable to relate to his uncle, Lester find a friend in Jimmy Lebeuf, a former hockey player who runs the local convenience store. Through the time they spend together, the two friends are able to move beyond their personal tragedies.
Ghost Stories shifts its focus to a pair of old pro hockey players, Vince and Lou Lebeuf. Vince had a brief career in pro hockey, but decided to take on a real career, got married and moved home to Essex County. Lou, not satisfied with a simple life continued on in pro hockey until his knee gave out. Lou eventually finds work in Toronto as a TTC driver. He comes home to Essex County 25 years later after the death of his mother, and then again after an accident cripples his brother Vince. Deaf and alone, Lou reminisces his decisions and regrets.
The Country Nurse follows Anne Quenneville, a traveling nurse who makes her rounds around Essex County. She does her best to heal old wounds, both physical and emotional. Lester and Jimmy make an appearance in this volume, their story is concluded and secrets revealed. We also see a glimpse of Essex County in 1917, during a tragic event that still haunts the community.
Jeff Lemire's Essex County trilogy has been nominated for the Ignatz Award and
two Eisner Awards, received the American Library Association's Alex
Award (for adult books with teen appeal), and won'the Joe Shuster Award
for outstanding Canadian comic book cartoonist. Essex County has also been released in a single collected volume.
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