44 pages 1 hour read

Kate Beaton

Ducks: Two Years in the Oil Sands

Nonfiction | Graphic Memoir | Adult | Published in 2022

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Before You Read

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Super Short Summary

Ducks by Kate Beaton is an adult graphic memoir about Beaton’s two years working in the Alberta, Canada oil sands after graduating from university, highlighting her experience as a young white woman in an isolated, hypermasculine environment. It explores her interactions with coworkers, her struggle with the workplace culture, and her eventual return home. The book discusses rape, sexual harassment, and victim blaming.

Reviews & Readership

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Review Roundup

Kate Beaton's Ducks has garnered praise for its compelling narrative and insightful exploration of the Canadian oil sands industry. Readers appreciate Beaton’s poignant storytelling and evocative illustrations. Criticisms focus on occasional pacing issues and the heavy subject matter, which may not appeal to all audiences. Overall, it's acclaimed for its emotional depth and social commentary.

Who should read this

Who Should Read Ducks?

A reader who would enjoy Ducks by Kate Beaton is likely drawn to personal narratives with a focus on socio-economic and environmental themes. Fans of Fun Home by Alison Bechdel or Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi would appreciate the memoir's candid storytelling and evocative illustrations.

Recommended

Reading Age

18+years

Book Details

Themes

Life/Time: Coming of Age

Society: Class

Identity: Gender

Genre

Biography