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tomikorobson's review
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
4.0
This was very much a graphic NOVEL, and a challenging one. It’s a good book but I didn’t really enjoy it: a lot of it, including the style of drawing disturbed me.
kidzikcan's review
3.0
A dense interesting read. I found myself feeling rather mixed about it, on one hand I can understand that dealing with an illness in a family comes with frustrations and challenges that many people often don't know how to handle, much less children. I can understand how resentment can build up especially as a child and it doesn't get any easier if the affected family member is prone to violence.
On the other hand, I felt it unfair we didn't get any insight into his brothers own feelings with having to actually live with his illness. The author and his family chides Jean-Christophe for being "lazy" and not wanting to grow up but I can absolutely understand why that might happen. Life is shown to be so much more difficult for him and he effectively lost a large chunk of his childhood, it's natural to me he'd want to hold onto it. He might not be the best type of person but I still feel he's deserving of empathy, and that their framing of his brother ultimately feeds into prejudices that many people with illness have to deal with. It definitely a very old-fashioned view of illness, if only someone were "stronger". If only it were that "easy".
Ultimately it's a sad complicated situation. As this is his recounting of his own family there's going to be much deeper things going on beyond what is presented in the comic. The art was incredible and I really enjoyed learning about his family though I found the more philosophical parts harder to parse.
On the other hand, I felt it unfair we didn't get any insight into his brothers own feelings with having to actually live with his illness. The author and his family chides Jean-Christophe for being "lazy" and not wanting to grow up but I can absolutely understand why that might happen. Life is shown to be so much more difficult for him and he effectively lost a large chunk of his childhood, it's natural to me he'd want to hold onto it. He might not be the best type of person but I still feel he's deserving of empathy, and that their framing of his brother ultimately feeds into prejudices that many people with illness have to deal with. It definitely a very old-fashioned view of illness, if only someone were "stronger". If only it were that "easy".
Ultimately it's a sad complicated situation. As this is his recounting of his own family there's going to be much deeper things going on beyond what is presented in the comic. The art was incredible and I really enjoyed learning about his family though I found the more philosophical parts harder to parse.
ina_hkh's review against another edition
3.0
A sad and moving story, yet it kind of feels like it goes on forever with no goal or endpoint which makes me restless.
jason_pym's review
5.0
This is the best comic I've read.
If I had to show someone what the comic book medium can do that no other medium can, I would hand them this. The way the words and pictures interact, using visual metaphors, the drawing style. It's perfect.
It's not my favourite comic, that would be something with more sentimental value. But it is a bitter-sweet joy to read, and really technically perfect.
I teach a comic class for middle schoolers. It's unfortunate there are a couple images unsuitable for them, so unfortunately I can't use this in school.
If I had to show someone what the comic book medium can do that no other medium can, I would hand them this. The way the words and pictures interact, using visual metaphors, the drawing style. It's perfect.
It's not my favourite comic, that would be something with more sentimental value. But it is a bitter-sweet joy to read, and really technically perfect.
I teach a comic class for middle schoolers. It's unfortunate there are a couple images unsuitable for them, so unfortunately I can't use this in school.
laticsexile's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
3.0
The honesty and emotion packed onto every page is incredible.
The constant flipping between and realistic and symbolic imagery is breathtaking.
The story is heartbreaking but there’s humour and wisdom interspersed throughout.
In the end though, I am just not built to consume this kind of medium. I can’t connect with or process graphic novels.
This book is highly recommended if you do though.
The constant flipping between and realistic and symbolic imagery is breathtaking.
The story is heartbreaking but there’s humour and wisdom interspersed throughout.
In the end though, I am just not built to consume this kind of medium. I can’t connect with or process graphic novels.
This book is highly recommended if you do though.
unladylike's review against another edition
5.0
The two strengths of this book that stood out to me the entire way through were its brutal honesty and its use of visually busy fantastic (in the sense of fantasy or magic[al realism]) enhancements to complement the autobiographical narrative.
Growing up in a family so consumed and exhausted by the countless attempts to cure their eldest child's illness causes many complex and hard-to-admit emotions and side effects. David B. shares his memories and feelings of contempt, empathy, pity, love, and hate beautifully.
His manner of explaining his own art and story-telling methods by way of self-psychoanalysis is brilliant. The various ghosts, monsters, and warriors that border and populate every panel make sense within the context of his trials and coping mechanisms.
Growing up in a family so consumed and exhausted by the countless attempts to cure their eldest child's illness causes many complex and hard-to-admit emotions and side effects. David B. shares his memories and feelings of contempt, empathy, pity, love, and hate beautifully.
His manner of explaining his own art and story-telling methods by way of self-psychoanalysis is brilliant. The various ghosts, monsters, and warriors that border and populate every panel make sense within the context of his trials and coping mechanisms.