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chovind's review
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Rape and Homophobia
lattelibrarian's review
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
As a family drama, this graphic novel makes for an introspective slice of life. Rocio moves into the house her grandmother left her and begins wondering whether her ghost still inhabits it. She struggles with her friendships and her relationship with her mother, which gets her thinking of her grandmother's life as an immigrant and all that she endured: is it possible that they're the same? Does family misery skip generations?
I loved the art style and how color was used in this graphic novel. Definitely a good read.
I loved the art style and how color was used in this graphic novel. Definitely a good read.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Homophobia
angeldevoursliterature's review
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Mothballs begins with 19-year old Rocio inheriting her grandmother Vilma's house after she passed away. Struck by the low turn-out at the funeral, Ro uncovers a hidden family history of hardships and resilience. The story weaves between Italy at the beginning of the 20th century and Argentina in the 21st, drawing paralells between Vilma and Ro's lives. Despite being pressured to meet familly and societal expectations, both women remain strong-willed and yearn for independence. Ro embarks on a journey of self-discover whilst honoring her grandmother's memory.
This was a worthwhile read :D .
I couldn't put it down since page one. It was well-written. I liked how the flashbacks were weaved thoroughly in the narrative without making it confusing to read.
The illustrations are lovely and vibrant. Personally, I think it would be better if the cursive font used for the dialogues are changed. Would love to read the rest of the story.
This is a review of the first 200 pages of Mothballs provided by Fantagraphics Books on Netgalley. Thank you for the copy!
This was a worthwhile read :D .
I couldn't put it down since page one. It was well-written. I liked how the flashbacks were weaved thoroughly in the narrative without making it confusing to read.
The illustrations are lovely and vibrant. Personally, I think it would be better if the cursive font used for the dialogues are changed. Would love to read the rest of the story.
This is a review of the first 200 pages of Mothballs provided by Fantagraphics Books on Netgalley. Thank you for the copy!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Alcoholism, Toxic relationship, Homophobia, Rape, Pregnancy, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Misogyny
Minor: Deadnaming, Domestic abuse, and Cursing
justgraceanne's review
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
Thank you to NetGalley and Fantagraphics Books for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
I absolutely adore graphic novels and find the format to be great for memoirs, so this book was right up my alley.
To begin with, this book is HEAVY. Physically, it's only a few hundred pages, but mentally and emotionally, this is a rough book to finish. I knew that it dealt with heavy themes going in, but unlike other books that deal with similar subjects, the only reprieve you get is saying "oh look, a cat," every fifty pages.
Speaking of finishing the book, though, NetGalley ARC readers are only given the first 200 pages of a 336 page book, so I find it very difficult to properly review this story.
Pro: The art-style and color palette were both unique, and I really enjoyed that aspect!
Con: The cursive was really hard to read on my phone, I wish this had been available to read through it on my desktop. I'm not sure if that would have helped but maybe?
Pro: This was my first book I've ever read set in 20th and 21st century Argentina, and I really enjoyed venturing into the culture and rich history of the country and the family in the story
If I'm able to read this book once it's released, I can read the full book and update my review. I didn't want to select any stars, since I'm unable to properly judge the full book without the ending.
NetGalley says I have to, so I'll do it in the middle at 3 stars.
CW:
- parental abuse
- rape
- homophobic slurs
- gaslighting
- homophobic violence
- sexual violence
I absolutely adore graphic novels and find the format to be great for memoirs, so this book was right up my alley.
To begin with, this book is HEAVY. Physically, it's only a few hundred pages, but mentally and emotionally, this is a rough book to finish. I knew that it dealt with heavy themes going in, but unlike other books that deal with similar subjects, the only reprieve you get is saying "oh look, a cat," every fifty pages.
Speaking of finishing the book, though, NetGalley ARC readers are only given the first 200 pages of a 336 page book, so I find it very difficult to properly review this story.
Pro: The art-style and color palette were both unique, and I really enjoyed that aspect!
Con: The cursive was really hard to read on my phone, I wish this had been available to read through it on my desktop. I'm not sure if that would have helped but maybe?
Pro: This was my first book I've ever read set in 20th and 21st century Argentina, and I really enjoyed venturing into the culture and rich history of the country and the family in the story
If I'm able to read this book once it's released, I can read the full book and update my review. I didn't want to select any stars, since I'm unable to properly judge the full book without the ending.
NetGalley says I have to, so I'll do it in the middle at 3 stars.
CW:
- parental abuse
- rape
- homophobic slurs
- gaslighting
- homophobic violence
- sexual violence
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Rape, Homophobia, Toxic relationship, and Sexual violence
Moderate: Misogyny, Physical abuse, and Addiction
cadence99's review
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I thoroughly enjoyed the journey we took with Ro, who is processing her grief through reflections on her grandmothers life. her attempt to understand her grandmothers actions and attitudes is deeply relatable to anyone who has ever experienced a complex relationship with a family member. My one detractor here is that a big portion of the text is written in a font that was very difficult to read (at least on my iPad, not certain if this would be improved in print). The font is aesthetically pleasing, but very small, smushed together, and cursive, which had me zooming in to the point of pixelation, even as someone with relatively good eyesight. I would still recommend this read (at least the portion I was given, it seems maybe netgalley didn’t provide the whole book from looking at other reviews?) despite this issue but would be amiss if I didn’t point out the accessibility issue there.
Thank you to Netgalley and Fantagraphics for this ARC
Thank you to Netgalley and Fantagraphics for this ARC
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia and Rape
Moderate: Transphobia, Death, Miscarriage, Sexism, Alcoholism, Animal cruelty, Death of parent, Alcohol, Animal death, Blood, Emotional abuse, Grief, Hate crime, Infertility, Medical trauma, Misogyny, Pregnancy, Violence, Sexual assault, Sexual content, and Sexual violence
Minor: Outing, War, Domestic abuse, and Deadnaming
caitandthelibrary's review
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
The art was beautiful and the storylines heartbreaking. Using a dual timeline format Mothballs tells the stories of Ro who has just moved into her grandmother's old house and the pressure she's experiencing from those closest to her in parallel with her family history centered around her grandmother. Ro had a complicated, and overwhelmingly not positive relationship with her grandmother and over the course of the book evaluates how the misdeeds of her grandmother's life may have shaped her. Ro is trying to ask an age old question - can you forgive mistreatment if the methods have been taught? A little bit heavy, but incredibly relatable, this book explores grief, regret, anger and sadness.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Sexual assault, Rape, Alcoholism, and Miscarriage
Moderate: Sexual violence
Minor: War
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