shashasha

“Family Car Trouble”, humorously labelled a “classic of the Automotive Bereavement Parenting genre” by the publisher, is a stunning reflection on life and death and the joys in between. Working in literal and metaphorical layers, employing (gallows) humor and earnestness and, in some moments, admitting to helplessness, Powell’s book tells a story about the growth of his children, the death of his father, and an old Volvo Station Wagon. What can you do in the face of inevitable breakdowns and troubles but repair and simply go on?

The high praise for Powell’s “Family Car Trouble” (Alec Soth: “Family Car Trouble” is as modest, sturdy and lovable as the 1993 Volvo it features”; Joel Meyerowitz: “Family Car Trouble is that rare photographic work that crosses over into Literature.”; Christian Patterson: “Beautiful, sad and bittersweet. Perfect. The Volvo cried, and I cried with it.”) is not undeserved. This is a photobook that should not be missed.