Book Review: The House by Paco Roca

The House
by Paco Roca (741.5 Roc)

The House by Paco Rosa is a stunning work of graphic storytelling, and a compelling look at how we all deal with significant transitional passages in life. Roca is an award-winning Spanish cartoonist, and The House originally came out in Spanish, before this English translation came out from Fantagraphics in 2019.

 

This finely-detailed graphic novel tells the story of three adult siblings, all returning to the coastal vacation home they helped build with their father, one year after that father has passed away. The three siblings — Vicente, Jose and Carla — are each having difficulties coming to terms with the death of their father, and their unresolved relationships with him, each for differing reasons. Gathering for a weekend at the old house, they share memories of their family life as they clean up and repair the place for eventual sale.

 

The emotional impact of their quiet conversations and emotional revelations is profound. The design work by Roca in this horizontally-arranged graphic format is brilliant — he makes challenging use of panel arrangements. His use of a muted colorscape makes for subtle shifts between contemporary scenes and flashbacks to the past. And his minutely-detailed panels are exquisite.

 

There are no earth-shattering developments, no take-your-breath-away confrontations. This is all quiet conversations and contemplation. And yet, the result is a powerful little exploration of life, family, home and legacy, recognizable and identifiable to anyone who’s lost a parent and suddenly feels incomplete.

 

I can’t recommend The House highly enough!

[ publisher’s official The House web page ] | [ Wikipedia page for Paco Roca ]

 

Recommended by Scott C.
Bennett Martin Public Library — Public Service

 

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