Three years in *very* rural Idaho
This Country, a new book by Navied Mahdavian
“Let's move to the middle-of-nowhere-America," said no middle-eastern American after the 2016 presidential election. But that's just what I did.
The three years I spent in VERY rural Idaho with my wife and dog is captured in my debut graphic memoir, This Country: Searching for Home in (Very) Rural America, available now for pre-order.
A humorous (and sometimes harrowing) personal story, it charts my growth and struggles as an artist, citizen, and new father through the lens of the land—the good, the bad, and the frequently silly.
Like the time we reopened the small art-deco movie theater in town and tried to show arthouse films and subtitled documentaries (which was obviously the sensible thing to do).
During those three years, I leaned into the wonders of the natural Idaho landscape and found myself adjusting to and enjoying a slower pace of living.
But beyond the boundaries of my six acres, I was confronted with the realities of America’s political shifts and forced to confront the question: Do I belong here?
The book offers a unique and nuanced insider's perspective on a place many people in cities know nothing about. You can read an extended excerpt from the book here.
Signed pre-orders are available exclusively from King’s English, plus enter for a chance to win one of my ORIGINAL New Yorker cartoons (details in the link below). You can also pre-order it from your favorite retailer (like Amazon and Barnes and Noble).
I hope you’ll pre-order!
- Navied
ToonStack NewsStack
Join Kendra’s FREE VIRTUAL workshop next Wednesday, May 10th, on creating art while hiking in nature (or really, during any kind of travel).
Join Hilary’s next cartoon workshop on May 12th!
Check out Jason Katzenstein’s NEW PATREON!
Amy Kurzweil teaches cartoon classes on Patreon! Sign up now to get the recording of every past class!
Be sure to check out Shelby Lorman’s newsletter, Please Clap!
The same goes for Sofia Warren’s advice newsletter, You’re Doing Great!
Hilary’s guided journal, What Did I Do Today? , just came out!
See more cartoons from Ellis Rosen’s weekly Junk Drawer!
Excellent work! Congrats on the graphic novel. I hope it's a big success!
Now, If only more people focused on teaching their grand kids how to read instead of shoot. Sigh.
That single panel sums up too much about America.
It looks like a winner. As one who was raised with guns, but hasn't owned one as an adult, I can't resist pointing out that your illustration of a Winchester pump-action .22 is actually a lever action Winchester 94, or thereabouts.