Read about a woman who worked in remote oil sands in Canada
Ducks: Two Years in the Oil Sands — Kate Beaton
What to Read This Week
Ducks: Two Years in the Oil Sands by Kate Beaton
Content warnings listed in the footnote of this newsletter.1
What It’s About
Kate Beaton first came on to the book and illustrator scene as the creator and artist behind the Hark, A Vagrant! comic series (which is now archived). They were irreverent and silly, and you would have no idea what was going on behind the scenes.
Beaton’s new graphic memoir tells a much more serious and heartrending tale of her time after art school, trying to pay off her debt in a very isolating and lonely job. She, like many people from her small Canadian village, heads west to Alberta for work, taking advantage of the oil rush to get a high-paying job to pay back her student loans as quickly as possible.
As you can imagine, this isn’t usually a path taken by women, let alone fresh graduate women, so Kate finds herself stationed at a tool counter, working at a site as one of a few women among thousands and thousands of men. She experiences daily harassment and misogyny while also making lifelong friends, bonding through the shared trauma they experience in this incredibly dangerous and lonely work.
Beaton’s art, showcasing the beauty of the landscape juxtaposed with the machinery everywhere, complements and tells the story perfectly, making for a mesmerizing read.
Who Will Like It
This is a book I’d recommend to everyone, no matter what your background or experience. It examines capitalism and its downfalls, how humans need each other to survive, and the harassment some people face daily on the job, often in jobs many of us don’t think about, like blue-collar service jobs and those providing essential energy to the rest of the world.
Another book I’ve recommended in the past is Seek You, a graphic nonfiction title about the loneliness epidemic and its effect on everyone. These books pair well together not just because of their graphic nature, but because of their stark examination of individual experiences, and how difficult it can be to relate to others when they have not experienced the same things as you. We all need to be more empathetic and show kindness to others, and these two books have reminded me of that more than anything else.
Misc.
It’s been a while since I’ve showcased my currently reading stack! I’m in a library phase and making my way through my stack that I’ve borrowed that will be due soon. I’ve also started some books that have been on my own shelf for way too long, and I’m really surprised by how much I’m loving some. Welcome to the Pine Away Motel and Cabins (my ARC has an old title that was changed before publication) is starting off great, and it’s giving me Ghosts vibes (which, if you have not watched the show, I highly recommend. It’s whimsical and silly and also thoughtful and pointed in its commentary on historical racism, classism, and politics, and I’m loving it).
What Happened to Ruthy Ramirez is excellent but more serious, dealing with family trauma and past mistakes, and I couldn’t help but check out A Thousand Heartbeats, because I’m still not over The Selection (and WHY hasn’t it been adapted yet, I will scream about this forever!). Is there any book that you are dying to see an adaptation of that hasn’t yet happened? The Selection is mine!
More Books
Can’t get enough, or looking for a different recommendation? Browse the archives, or check out some popular past recommendations:
Read about a historical family inheritance that comes with a catch
Read a contemporary sci-fi novel that asks big questions about life and its meaning
I also love hearing from readers! Let me know what kinds of books you’re looking for that you’d like to see featured, or send in your most recent five-star read (or two) and get a recommendation just for you. You might be featured in an upcoming newsletter! Reply to this email to get in touch!
Sponsor an issue of Reading Under the Radar! Add your own banner image or use text only, and link to your publication, product, or service. Fill out this form to inquire about sponsoring a newsletter and featuring your book or publication!
Content warnings include sexual assault, rape, harassment, sexism, misogyny.