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Rolling Blackouts
304 pages
A quietly devastating, watercolor-washed exploration of the ethics of journalism and the human echoes of war.
What it feels like
Reading this graphic memoir feels like sitting quietly in the corner of a room while difficult, necessary conversations unfold. The pace is steady and deliberate, mirroring the slow, often frustrating reality of on-the-ground journalism. Soft, muted watercolors wash over the pages, creating a gentle visual atmosphere that contrasts sharply with the sobering realities of war, displacement, and trauma being discussed. It is a deeply introspective experience, asking the reader to grapple not just with the stories of refugees, but with the ethics of who gets to tell those stories and why. The tone is earnest and deeply empathetic, never sensationalizing the pain of its subjects. It will profoundly resonate with readers who appreciate slow journalism, nuanced geopolitical narratives, and memoirs that embrace the messy, unresolvable gray areas of human conflict.
- Mood
- contemplative
- sobering
- grounded
- quietly tense
- Tone
- earnest
- observant
- introspective
- empathetic
- Pace
- steady
- Themes
- ethics of storytelling · human cost of war · illusion of objectivity · navigating privilege · ripple effects of conflict
- The writing
- Naturalistic, conversational dialogue is paired with soft, muted watercolors that lend a quiet, unassuming intimacy to heavy geopolitical realities.
- The arc
- The journey shifts from a curious, well-intentioned quest for stories into a humbling confrontation with the complexities of trauma and the limitations of journalism.
- Who it's for
- Readers who appreciate slow journalism, nuanced graphic memoirs, and stories that ask difficult questions about how we consume global tragedies.
Content notes
- discussions of war
- refugee trauma
- PTSD
- deportation
About the book
"Cartoonist Sarah Glidden accompanies her two friends--reporters and founders of a journalism non-profit--as they research potential stories on the effects of the Iraq War on the Middle East and, specifically, the war's refugees. Joining the trio is a childhood friend and former Marine whose past service in Iraq adds an unexpected and sometimes unwelcome viewpoint, in the eyes of the people they come across and perhaps even their own. As the crew works their way through Turkey, Iraq, and Syria, Glidden observes the reporters as they ask civilians, refugees, and officials, "Who are you?" Everyone has a story to tell: the Iranian blogger, the United Nations refugee administrator, a taxi driver, the Iraqi refugee deported from the US, the Iraqis seeking refuge in Syria, and even the American Marine."--Back cover.
Description from Open Library.
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