The writer has displayed these talents over the last 30 years through his autobiographical American Splendor series of graphic novels, which were made into a celebrated film of the same name in 2003. Though Pekar clearly felt vindicated by the creation and gaudy critical success of the film, as powerfully and touchingly conveyed in his 2004 offeringOur Movie Year, his contrary nature also felt discomfort and even guilt over all the attention, and anxiety over his ability to live up to it.
It should not have been a surprise, then, when the author turned his attention to a subject other than himself last year with the release of Ego and Hubris: The Michael Malice Story. But in Malice, Pekar found a fascinating and difficult alter ego whose life in many ways paralleled his own two generations later. Malice worked beautifully because Pekar’s approach and the form of his writing – observational first-person chronological narrative — remained essentially the same.
In Macedonia, however, Pekar isn’t able to connect as deeply with his subject, doesn’t seem to be able to really see through her eyes, and in fact spends far too much time pedantically explaining HER subject, which is, admittedly, quite complex. Pekar seems to spend half the book giving background, explaining policy, telling the history of the region and the conflict, relating conflict resolution theory, which is cumulatively too dry and overwhelming for all but the most wonky reader to absorb.
Once we are on the ground in Macedonia with the brave and committed Roberson, things pick up notably and we are able to feel her combined sense of bewilderment and accomplishment as she endures cultural derangement, makes friends, interviews governmental, educational, NGO, and notable personalities on both sides of the ethnic Albanian and Macedonian divide. I admire and appreciate her efforts to put her life where her ideals are, and to convey her perspective and experiences to the best of her ability. Sadly, the filter of Pekar renders her story less immediate than it could, or should, have been.
Article comments
1 - Bill Sherman
Pekar's displayed his pedantic side in the past (e.g., a recent piece from American Splendor on "regionalism"), though typically it's more effectively conveyed in short form stories. In a way, this 'un sounds more like a thematic follow-up to an earlier piece of Pekar reportage: the Vietnam soldier's memoir, Unsung Hero. Looking forward to reading it.
2 - Natalie Bennett
This article has been selected for syndication to Advance.net , which is affiliated with newspapers around the United States, and to Boston.com. Nice work!
3 - Anna Creech
*gasp* A review from EO himself! ;)
4 - Eric Olsen
thanks Natalie!
trying hard to make more time for writing again - very tough, as you know how much admin nonsense we have been dealing with Anna!
Hi Bill, "pedantic" is definitely the word, though I think the central problem is that since he didn't have these experiences himself, we don't get observational insight and exploration of self we see in his best autobiographical work.