Scan barcode
wretchedtheo's review
challenging
dark
informative
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Powerful message of awareness, but it's very clearly made by white people for white people. And it's got a bit of a white savior narrative, who am I kidding it's got a SERIOUS white savior narrative.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, War, Medical content, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Child abuse, Child death, Gun violence, Sexual violence, Racism, and Violence
geekwayne's review
3.0
'Kivu' by Jean Van Hamme with art by Christophe Simon is a story filled with corruption and violence, and is based on true events happening in our world today in the places where the rare earth we need for our devices comes from.
In Kivu, corrupt officials bribe each other and look the other way to get the things needed to build phones and computers. The people in this country are killed and mutilated along the way. A doctor working there does work to heal the damage.
In this story, a young naive man, named Stephane, is sent to Kivu with a pile of money and some strict instructions. When he lands in the country, he meets a young girl that soldiers want to question. She and her brother murdered a man in self-defense, but that's not how the government sees it. Stephane steps in and risks his own life to save this young girl and what remains of her family.
There are some brutal and sick people in the world. People who will torture and rape and mutilate. Much of that is talked about in this book, but, thankfully, not illustrated. The story feels a bit like a history lesson disguised as a graphic novel. The story moves along, but there is a lot of infodumping along the way. I'm not sure there is a better way to tell this story, and I did like it. I like that there are a couple characters from real life in the story.
I received a review copy of this graphic novel from Europe Comics and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this graphic novel.
In Kivu, corrupt officials bribe each other and look the other way to get the things needed to build phones and computers. The people in this country are killed and mutilated along the way. A doctor working there does work to heal the damage.
In this story, a young naive man, named Stephane, is sent to Kivu with a pile of money and some strict instructions. When he lands in the country, he meets a young girl that soldiers want to question. She and her brother murdered a man in self-defense, but that's not how the government sees it. Stephane steps in and risks his own life to save this young girl and what remains of her family.
There are some brutal and sick people in the world. People who will torture and rape and mutilate. Much of that is talked about in this book, but, thankfully, not illustrated. The story feels a bit like a history lesson disguised as a graphic novel. The story moves along, but there is a lot of infodumping along the way. I'm not sure there is a better way to tell this story, and I did like it. I like that there are a couple characters from real life in the story.
I received a review copy of this graphic novel from Europe Comics and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this graphic novel.
cynthiak's review against another edition
5.0
BD que tout le monde devrait lire pour comprendre la problématique de l'exploitation minière du coltan et d'autres et les ravages et massacres qui en sont le résultat direct. J'espère que ce livre sera traduit en anglais.
ljrinaldi's review against another edition
5.0
Europe, in the 1800s, decided to carve up Africa into their colonies. There was so much mineral wealth, so many natural resources, that the European nations could hardly contain themselves.
Most Americans know the history of the British colonies, somewhat. They know who are members of the Commonwealth. But we Americans are not aware of of the French, Portuguese, Belgian, and German colonies. I'm sure we have heard of the Belgian Congo, but most Americans could not find it on a map, and probably would have no idea why they would want to.
This graphic novel talks about what it is like now, in the Congo, and what years of colonization and then liberation have done to the country, which is in a civil war, and committing genocide wherever and whenever they can. It is a very sad state of affairs, but it serves as a backdrop for this story about Stéphane, all innocent, who goes there to work for a multinational company, and sees the corruption and the raping, and the killing, and wants to do something about it.
But, no it isn't really a white savior story. Because the people he works with to do this, are people from the country. As is pointed out often, he doesn't know the language, and he doesn't' know the area. The people have lived there all their lives, so they know the lay of the land.
In fact, if it weren't for them, he would have been killed many times over.
Very good book, showing the horrors of the region, and the mess the European colonists left be hind.
Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.
Most Americans know the history of the British colonies, somewhat. They know who are members of the Commonwealth. But we Americans are not aware of of the French, Portuguese, Belgian, and German colonies. I'm sure we have heard of the Belgian Congo, but most Americans could not find it on a map, and probably would have no idea why they would want to.
This graphic novel talks about what it is like now, in the Congo, and what years of colonization and then liberation have done to the country, which is in a civil war, and committing genocide wherever and whenever they can. It is a very sad state of affairs, but it serves as a backdrop for this story about Stéphane, all innocent, who goes there to work for a multinational company, and sees the corruption and the raping, and the killing, and wants to do something about it.
But, no it isn't really a white savior story. Because the people he works with to do this, are people from the country. As is pointed out often, he doesn't know the language, and he doesn't' know the area. The people have lived there all their lives, so they know the lay of the land.
In fact, if it weren't for them, he would have been killed many times over.
Very good book, showing the horrors of the region, and the mess the European colonists left be hind.
Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.
hannasbookworld's review against another edition
4.0
This book was heartbreaking, but also had it’s beautiful moments.
This story is brutal. And you really see the difference between the good and the bad guys. I had my heart in my throat the whole time, and could not put down this book until the very end. I devoured this book in about an hour.
Than you so much to NetGalley for the free copy in extange for a review. I loved the book.
This story is brutal. And you really see the difference between the good and the bad guys. I had my heart in my throat the whole time, and could not put down this book until the very end. I devoured this book in about an hour.
Than you so much to NetGalley for the free copy in extange for a review. I loved the book.
More...