30 in 30: The Ticking by Renee French

#17: The Ticking
Storytellers: Renee French
Publisher: Top Shelf
Year Of Publication: 2005
Page Count (can be approximate or in # of issues format): 216 pages

WHAT I LEARNED ABOUT WRITING / STORYTELLING:

It’s the little moments – ones that could be most relatable – that can have the most impact in a story.  Early in this story, the son draws a picture of the scar on his father’s head, and he gives it to his dad. A few pages later, the boy sees that picture in the trash, and it was an incredibly affecting bit of storytelling.  French included moments like this throughout the book in a manner that seemed effortless. 

 
WHAT I LEARNED ABOUT ART / STORYTELLING:

French uses shadows very effectively to enhance the emotion of a sad scene, of which there were many in this book.  But she used this tool sparingly, which was smart, as it could lose its effectiveness if overused.  Maybe it’s an obvious tool, but it’s one to keep in mind.

 
RECOMMENDATION: A

NOTES / REVIEW / SYNOPSIS I had no idea what to expect with this or the other Renee French book I read for 30 in 30, but I now see why French is held in such high regard.  This story was told mostly through the pictures and the characters’ body language rather than through the dialogue, and I found it incredibly affecting.  I wish I hadn’t waited as long as I had to finally read some of her work, but I’m glad that I now have more work of hers to discover.