Leo in Little Pieces by Mayana Itoiz is an autobiographical graphic novel based on the author’s grandmother’s experiences during WWII. Leo, the titulaLeo in Little Pieces by Mayana Itoiz is an autobiographical graphic novel based on the author’s grandmother’s experiences during WWII. Leo, the titular character, works as a waitress at her family’s inn in France. During the war, it’s occupied by the Germans, and Leo has a relationship with Felix, one of the German soldiers. She later becomes pregnant and we follow her life in the years that follow.
Told through flashbacks and memories, Leo in Little Pieces moves quickly but a bit jaggedly. The biggest drawback is that the author does not pause to give depth to any of the characters, and the story stands only at a very superlative level. The illustrations are beautiful though. An okay-ish read.
“Drawing on the Edge” is the first part of author Ersin Karabulut’s memoir of growing up in Istanbul. Karabulut and his family lived in one of the les“Drawing on the Edge” is the first part of author Ersin Karabulut’s memoir of growing up in Istanbul. Karabulut and his family lived in one of the less glamorous and more conservative suburbs of the city. The book chronicles his childhood years through to when he becomes a cartoonist for one of the top magazines in the country.
Karabulut grew up against a backdrop of constant political tension and volatility as Turkey slowly slid from democracy into autocracy and dictatorship.. Being secular, his family often stood out in their thoughts and practices, which was challenging at times. Ersin skilfully juxtaposes the challenges of childhood and adulting as he grows up and starts to form his own opinions with that of the changes taking place in the country. Both are undergoing changes, and both must cope with them.
Karabulut uses a brilliant blend of humour and sharp observation to portray these situations. He effortlessly gets us up to speed with the politics and social unrest in the country while also giving a peek into family dynamics and personal thoughts. And it’s all done with such refreshing honesty and candour.
The art style took me a little while to get used to. Initially, it put me off a bit but then it grew on me, and the story melded with it beautifully. I wasn’t really clued into Turkey’s politics and reading this helped. A lovely coming-of-age tale, the journey of a child pursuing his dream of becoming an artist, and the evolution of a country and its people. This book is all of that and more.
Thanks to Europe Comics and Netgalley for the ARC. ...more
I wanted to do at least one read in honour of #pridemonth and I picked Matthias Lehmann’s graphic novel “Parallel”, which had been calling out to me fI wanted to do at least one read in honour of #pridemonth and I picked Matthias Lehmann’s graphic novel “Parallel”, which had been calling out to me for some time. Parallel begins with Karl Kling trying to get back in touch with his daughter. She hadn’t spoken to him for 8 years and he wishes to see her on his birthday, which is around the corner. He begins to write a detailed letter to her explaining why he did the things he did in the hope that she would forgive him.
And what were those things? Karl writes about the difficulties, and even dangers, of living as a gay man in 1940s-50s-60s Germany. He longs to have a family and so he marries and has a son. However, Karl is drawn to men, and his wife soon discovers this. They separate and Karl moves to another city. Forced to conform to societal norms and to satisfy his yearning for a family, he marries again and has a daughter. This time he tries to make more of an effort but it sadly goes to naught.
Karl’s escapades with men put his life at peril too as homosexuality was a punishable offence in Germany until as recently as 1994. When rumours about him fly around, people call him names and practically ostracise him.
It seems like Karl leads his life in the comfort of minutes - the few minutes he spends in his lover’s arms. The few minutes he gets to play with his daughter. The space between is filled with a suffocating ennui with the life he is forced to lead and an unending restlessness to lead the one he wants ideally. His love for his daughter is genuine but the lack of real fulfilment causes a degree of inattentiveness and indifference towards her. Karl wants everything but when he realises that’s impossible, he makes a choice. And pays a heavy price for it.
Lehmann superbly brings out the unfairness of it all with a deep melancholy that clings to many of his panels, especially some of the wordless ones. Things have changed but there’s also a lot that hasn’t and this book continues to be very relevant even now. You feel for Karl although he appears to be selfish at times. He is merely trying to achieve what we all want - a wholesome life.
This poignant read was first published in German, the English translation by Ivanka Hahnenberger is true and vivid. Thanks to Oni Press (one of my favourite publishers!) for the ARC. ...more
Anita Jari Kharbanda’s YA novelette “Lioness of Punjab” tells the story of Mai Bhago, a Sikh woman warrior who lived in 18th century India. We meet MaAnita Jari Kharbanda’s YA novelette “Lioness of Punjab” tells the story of Mai Bhago, a Sikh woman warrior who lived in 18th century India. We meet Mai Bhago when she is a teenager, an awkward yet spirited girl who discovers she is different from other girls her age. She grapples with society’s expectations of her which is at odds with what she truly desires - learning sword fighting and wrestling, riding horses, etc. While girls around her aspired to seek out eligible boys, marry and have children, and manage domestic duties, Mai Bhago wanted to fight for her people. Eventually, she would go down in history for leading 40 soldiers in battle against the massive Mughal army.
The book moves quickly and I found it quite an interesting read as things change fast in Mai Bhago’s life. It was also an insightful look into Sikh families, village life, and beliefs of the time. I had never heard of Mai Bhago before and I am happy to have been introduced to her story.
As much as I enjoyed the book, I also wish the author had gone a couple of shades deeper into exploring the key characters further. I would have loved to know more about her husband, for example. The inertia in character development with the somewhat choppy writing in places were some things that bring the book down a little.
Nevertheless, a great read for the history and setting. Thank you to Yali Books for the ARC. ...more
If you had the chance to remove a person from your life would you do it?
Hex (Hector) grapples with this offer in A.F. Harrold’s “The Worlds We Leave If you had the chance to remove a person from your life would you do it?
Hex (Hector) grapples with this offer in A.F. Harrold’s “The Worlds We Leave Behind,” a middle grade children’s story punctuated with lush black and white illustrations. Hex and Tommo are best friends but one day an incident happens that changes their lives. After the incident Hex stumbles upon a strange cottage, where an old woman lives with her dog. Here, she gives him a chance to go back in time and change things.
I was pulled into this captivating tale right from page one with its poignant take on friendship. Harrold poses questions in different ways to set us thinking too – how can you go about forgiving someone? How far would you go to forget things? How can you overcome feelings like shame and guilt? Heavy stuff but presented well enough that you don’t feel their weight.
A.F. Harrold has a vibrant imagination and he flaunts it in this story. He has found that intensely sweet spot where science-fiction, fantasy, and reality merge to make an irresistible narrative with an otherworldly feel. Many times, this felt like a melange of the tv shows “Stranger Things” and “Dark,” with a similarly haunting atmosphere and where nostalgia comes into play. It’s also timeless, literally, with no indication of the year or decade in which it is set.
I think this was a great read that hit the spot on many levels. And the illustrations were simply gorgeous too!
Thank you to Bloomsbury Publishing for the ARC. ...more
This was a book I eagerly looked forward to. However, I could not finish it. The violent imagery, the somewhat repetitive nature of narration, and theThis was a book I eagerly looked forward to. However, I could not finish it. The violent imagery, the somewhat repetitive nature of narration, and the constant comparison to female genitals was a total turnoff.
Disappointing because I expected so much more.
Thanks to NetGalley and Pushkin Press for this copy....more
This book got off to a promising start with the author setting out on his search to see the hummingbirds of the world.
However, I feel the narrative wThis book got off to a promising start with the author setting out on his search to see the hummingbirds of the world.
However, I feel the narrative would have worked better as a travel memoir of sorts as it talks more about places and people than the birds themselves. There were too many details and too many digressions and I couldn't focus on it after a point.
I enjoyed some parts of it but I began to skim too many parts too quickly. Sadly, I did not finish reading it.
Thanks to NetGalley and Bloomsbury for the reader copy. ...more
Quiet Screams to the Quiet Healer by Nilanjana Haldar is a coming-of-age story of Kriti and Sanjana as they walk through different stages in their livQuiet Screams to the Quiet Healer by Nilanjana Haldar is a coming-of-age story of Kriti and Sanjana as they walk through different stages in their lives. Sanjana battles a belligerent father who picks a fight with her mother for the smallest things. Kriti’s father is very loving but he is bedridden with kidney issues. They are close friends who confide in each other, have similar experiences, and thoughts. And yet they also think of what their future looks like and where they will be.
The girls are met with choices and different bends in the road multiple times and we see where each turn takes them. Sometimes it brings them closer, sometimes it pulls them apart. Most importantly, we see issues like domestic violence in its rawness and how it wreaks havoc on a child’s mental health.
This is a book that unpacks a lot. It explores parent-child relationships and friendships at its heart. Children are central to this story. How a child sees the world and determines their place in it is so deeply dependent on what they experience first at home. Parents often think that a child doesn’t get affected by certain actions or things but it couldn’t be farther from the truth.
I enjoyed the first half of the book which raced by quite fast but the second half drags a little and the last few chapters feel a bit disjointed. My emotional connection with the two girls were a hit and miss. I felt drawn to them at times in certain situations but at others I couldn’t connect to them.
Overall, though, I think Haldar has successfully brought out the emotional fragility and vulnerability that comes with abuse, toxic family dynamics, and violence. On not just the one going through it but also the people associated with them. A book that truly makes you introspect on important issues.
Every once in a while I read a picture book. Most take barely take half an hour to read but it’s astonishing how they pack so much in them!
Take SriviEvery once in a while I read a picture book. Most take barely take half an hour to read but it’s astonishing how they pack so much in them!
Take Srividhya Venkat’s Dancing in Thatha’s Footsteps, for example. Every Sunday, accompanied by their grandfather, Varun goes for karate classes while his sister Varsha goes to learn Bharatnatyam. But one Sunday everything changes when Varun happens to peek into Varsha’s class when they dance. He is immediately taken by their moves and wants to learn it too. But dancing is for girls, isn’t it?
Srividhya Venkat tackles the weighty issue of gender stereotypes through this simple, sweet story. Varun initially struggles to accept that it’s really ok for him to dance too. Then he discovers that his thatha (grandfather) was a dancer himself. Helped along by thatha’s expert instructions, Varun overcomes his reluctance and begins to enjoy his dancing lessons.
Although clearly written with an Indian-American audience in mind, I think anyone will enjoy reading this heartwarming book.
An inspirational story that encourages children to do what they truly love. We need more stories like this. And those beautiful illustrations by Kavita Ramchandran.
John Boyne’s latest, “The Echo Chamber”, is an intense satire about the digital life. We follow every member of the rich and well-known Cleverley famiJohn Boyne’s latest, “The Echo Chamber”, is an intense satire about the digital life. We follow every member of the rich and well-known Cleverley family on their individual paths, all mostly documented on social media. George the father is having an affair, Beverley the wife is chasing a younger man, Nelson the son has issues with women, and Elizabeth the daughter is a troll on social media. That’s perhaps the quickest sum of it and everything is so centered around social media that it might as well be the fifth most important character.
I have always enjoyed John Boyne’s writing and his ability to craft a super engaging story. But this time I struggled to finish this book. It has his characteristic wit and an interesting enough overall storyline. It also addresses a very relevant topic – the toxicity of social media and the way it can wreck us.
Sadly though it stops there. I couldn’t identify with any of the characters, which was a first for a John Boyne novel. His characters are usually very finely drawn with much depth. Here, though, they were shallow and unpleasant, which, to be fair, I can attribute to the theme of the novel. But I wish that we were shown a different side to them that would perhaps explain why they were the way they were.
And the thing that really got under my skin – the constant reiteration of how bad social media can be. Boyne also pokes fun at terms like ‘woke,’ ‘cancelling’, and other cultural changes in recent times. It’s the point of the whole book, yes, but when you read about it on literally every page it gets tiring after a while.
All in all, I’d say this had its moments and I just wish there were more of those. Thanks to DoubleDay publishing for my ARC....more
This book had such an electrifying start. It had me racing through the pages until I wasn't. After too many digressions, and long-winded descriptions This book had such an electrifying start. It had me racing through the pages until I wasn't. After too many digressions, and long-winded descriptions of characters I never met again, I simply had to give up. Life is too short for doggedly ploughing through books that just cease to give me joy. I felt really bad because I had such high hopes after reading many wonderful reviews and a great start.
I thank NetGalley and MacLehose Press/Quercus for my free copy....more
Being a teenager comes with its own problems and when you’re ‘different’ those problems are multiplied. In Buki Papillon’s coming-of-age novel ‘An OrdBeing a teenager comes with its own problems and when you’re ‘different’ those problems are multiplied. In Buki Papillon’s coming-of-age novel ‘An Ordinary Wonder,’ set in Nigeria, Otolorin is an intersex teenager who identifies as a girl but is forced to project herself as a boy. Oto’s mother favours her twin sister and treats Oto with disdain. However, Oto soon gets an opportunity to go to a residential school, which gives her the space to be herself. But then, there are new problems she needs to face.
I’m sure you’re thinking at this point that this is not an easy read. It's not, yes, in many parts. Where Oto is forced to go through exorcism rituals. Where she is treated badly by her own family. Where she struggles to find her voice.
Yet, there is hope in the friendship she forms with Derin. In the guidance she gets from the head of school. In the good things that do happen to her.
I loved how Papillon makes it strongly rooted in African culture and traditions by interweaving folklore and proverbs. Papillon’s writing is engaging and kept me fairly engrossed.
Where I felt the book lost steam was in the structure. The narrative moves back and forth in time and eventually merges, which I felt was unnecessary given the gap explored was not much. I also felt that at times certain turns in the story were kind of cliched and predictable.
Where Papillon shines is when she vocalises the turmoil in Oto’s head. The shame, the guilt, the frustration. It’s very easy to make the story out to be about Oto and her identity but there’s so much more to Oto than just that. Papillon does a fine sketch of Oto’s character along with some compelling storytelling, with strong emphasis on resilience and hope.
I thank NetGalley and Little Brown publishing for my copy....more
"It’s okay if the only one who knows the real me is me."
Boys Run the Riot, Vol.1 has some great lines like this. This is a teen/YA manga translation a"It’s okay if the only one who knows the real me is me."
Boys Run the Riot, Vol.1 has some great lines like this. This is a teen/YA manga translation about Ryo, a transgender boy. Physically a girl, Ryo struggles to fit in. He feels lost with his group of girl friends and boys who were his friends now avoid him because
“You’re a girl, so go hang out with other girls…We don’t want any weird rumors to spread.” And then, a new boy called Jin Sato joins the school, and things begin to take an interesting turn for Ryo.
I loved this book for its exploration of gender identity and stereotypes. There’s so much peer pressure to conform, and think like everyone else that there’s absolutely no voice for boys like Ryo. He is also intimidated by most kids until Jin makes an appearance and inspires Ryo to stand up for himself, helping him find his individuality. Jin, too, is considered “scary” and a “weirdo” as he is a senior student who is repeating a year, dresses differently, and generally stands out with his attitude. But he makes no apologies for being different.
Along the way, Ryo and Jin meet other ‘outsiders’ like them and there are some nice friendships formed.
The only put off for me in this book was the overly American dialogues, which kind of created a dissonance with the setting. Perhaps, it’s an effort to mirror the Japanese original as closely as possible but it somehow didn’t sit well with me.
The artwork is detailed and does a great job of highlighting small body movements to complement the emotion or atmosphere.
I am now waiting for Volume 2!
Thanks to NetGalley and Kodansha Comics for the ARC. ...more
Here’s a question. You have the choice of taking care of your family who is suffering in your absence or taking care of other families who are sufferiHere’s a question. You have the choice of taking care of your family who is suffering in your absence or taking care of other families who are suffering through the ravages of war? How do you deal with this?
The Two Lives of Penelope by Judith Vanistendael is about this conflict that arises when you’re governed by a higher purpose. It’s about Penelope, a surgeon who works with Doctors Without Borders and is posted to Syria during the war. She comes home for a few months, but her presence is clouded heavily by the impermanence of it. Everyone is unconsciously counting down the days before she needs to leave again and then it’s a period of worry until she returns. How does Penelope’s family take it? How does she herself take it?
The Two Lives of Penelope is exactly that. Penelope leads two very different lives. In one, she is a doctor, caring for wounded children, emotionally shattered by the scenes that greet her every day. She suffers from PTSD, emotional breakdowns, having to deal with the ghosts of war. The last is heartbreakingly shown in the illustrations where Penelope imagines the ghost of a girl she couldn’t save following her around.
In her parallel life, she is a daughter, wife, and mother. She has to deal with ‘problems’ like deciding which wine to pair with a dish or her daughter worrying about a Latin test.
There are many moments when the two worlds merge and Penelope is unable to reconcile with them.
“Sometimes you don’t understand why you are where you are… I have a daughter… She lives a charmed life here… While I’m growing and changing in your world, where the wounds of children her age are real, she’s all worked up about the ablative case.”
I think this was a very mature novel that beautifully showed the repercussions of war on not just the victims but those associated with it. Relationships are strained. Mental health suffers. There is brokenness all around. All of this is perfectly captured through watercolour-like illustrations which are a mix of dark, bold lines and fluid pastels.
A sombre, thoughtful read.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Europe Comics for the ARC. ...more
It’s been some time since I read a graphic novel that was bittersweet, talked about young love, and growing up. “Forever” by Assia Petricelli is all oIt’s been some time since I read a graphic novel that was bittersweet, talked about young love, and growing up. “Forever” by Assia Petricelli is all of these and more. Viola is on her first summer vacation away from home with her family. Her friends Renata and Valeria are also holidaying in the same beachside place that she is at. The story then follows the girls’ experiences through the summer which alternatively teaches them to be strong yet vulnerable.
Viola is the typical teenager constantly questioning the things around her and herself. She is part of the group yet different from them. I loved how the book treats so many aspects with great sensitivity and acceptance – identity, gender, freedom, individuality, the meaning of love, family. These themes are vividly supported with the absorbing artwork with its bold lines and deep, rich colour palette.
And the beach vibe! Oh, I longed for the beach and the sea. The lazy afternoons when the world escapes into a siesta, and everything is quiet, and all you see is the shimmering heat. This was a wholesome read for me. A coming-of-age tale wrapped in the warmth of summer love.
Thank you to NetGalley and Europe Comics for the ARC....more
Do you like flowers? Do you believe we should have more green spaces? Do you like stories that show harmony between humans and fairy-like creatures? IDo you like flowers? Do you believe we should have more green spaces? Do you like stories that show harmony between humans and fairy-like creatures? If you said yes to even one of the above, then you will enjoy Rii Abrego’s ‘The Sprite and the Gardener’.
“In the distant, distant past, sprites were the caretakers of life. With an array of mysterious, wondrous powers…and alliances and knowledge passed down for generations…they were the sole keepers of the flora they relied on…until humans appeared.”
Humans took over the upkeep of gardens and the sprites found themselves having more and more time with nothing to do. We are introduced to a group of sprites who are sitting around and chatting about some of the neighbourhoods they’ve been to. After some time, one of the sprites, Wisteria, who appears to be new to the group wanders off to explore the area. She comes to a house with an unkempt garden. She puts some of her skills to work, she meets the gardener, and then things begin to change for both.
At just under 100 pages, The Sprite and the Gardener is a very quick read. If anything makes the process slow, it’s the illustrations, which are just bursting with colour. You would definitely take time to stand and stare.
The tale itself is simple and charming with messages about friendship, diversity, and the importance of integrating nature into our lives. It’s very interesting that the gardener is devoid of any overt features that would designate a gender thus making the character quite open, relatable, and identifiable to anyone.
A short, sweet book which is perfect as a breezy interval read.
When the world churns all you want to do is bury yourself nose deep in a book that whisks you away into a different one. That’sMy rating is 3.5 stars.
When the world churns all you want to do is bury yourself nose deep in a book that whisks you away into a different one. That’s what Vendela Vida’s “We Run the Tides” did for me. Eulabee and her best friend Maria Fabiola are teenagers who live in a tony neighbourhood named Sea Cliff, which looks out on to the Golden Gate Bridge. “Everything in Sea Cliff is about the view of the bridge.” Set in the 1980’s, the story follows Eulabee, Maria Fabiola, and a few other girls who study at the Spragg School for Girls. Life is all about boys, parties, and beach walks until a small incident(in fact, two) change everything.
The story spins out in a classic case of unreliable narrators. The incident, where a man in a car stops Eulabee to ask her the time, is viewed in different ways by different people. To top it all, Maria Fabiola disappears setting in motion some rumours, whispered facts, and other things in between.
Vida’s writing is captivating, freezing those breathless moments of adolescence when everything seems plausible and larger-than-life. There’s endless curiosity, drama, and anxiety about anything and everything. I was immersed in the neighbourhood too, which has fabulously wealthy families living in mansions each with an equally fabulous story of its own,
“We know the towering brick house where the magician Carter the Great lived; he had a theatre inside and his dining room table rose up through a trapdoor…We know the imposing salmon-colored house that had a party at which masked robbers appeared; when a female guest wouldn’t relinquish her ring, they cut off her finger.”
I really enjoyed this vision of a place well before the sleek tech start-ups, restaurants sporting vegan lunch menus, and cafes with Edison bulbs and exposed brickwork popped up. As Eulabee says towards the end “The streets of Sea Cliff are no longer ours.”
In the end, if you ask me, there wasn’t a particular story to be told. Yet, it was an engaging read about friendships and adolescence. A nice one if you want a fast read.
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