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oatylime's review against another edition
dark
sad
tense
medium-paced
4.5
Bleak! Dark! Sad! The despair!
Quick read since it’s a graphic novel
Wish there was more info on the conflict but I suppose I could just look that up elsewhere
Quick read since it’s a graphic novel
Wish there was more info on the conflict but I suppose I could just look that up elsewhere
lisamchuk's review against another edition
4.0
While working for an NGO, Christophe gets kidnapped and taken to Chechnya, where he is held hostage for three months. This graphic novel tells his (true!) story. There's a lot of sleeping. A lot of staring at the ceiling. But it's a good story, expertly told in mostly internal monologue, and in minimal grey/white images.
I've said before graphic novels aren't my thing, but this is one I can get behind. The story was interesting and compelling: I really wanted to read on to find the resolution. The art was minimal and effectively held together the internal thoughts of a guy stuck chained to a radiator for three months. It was a heavy tome but I finished it in an hour, and the ending was quite fitting.
So I highly recommend this graphic novel to anyone interested in a true hostage story. I might check out more of Delisle's 'travelogue' graphic novels!
I've said before graphic novels aren't my thing, but this is one I can get behind. The story was interesting and compelling: I really wanted to read on to find the resolution. The art was minimal and effectively held together the internal thoughts of a guy stuck chained to a radiator for three months. It was a heavy tome but I finished it in an hour, and the ending was quite fitting.
So I highly recommend this graphic novel to anyone interested in a true hostage story. I might check out more of Delisle's 'travelogue' graphic novels!
mehsi's review against another edition
4.0
A wonderful drawn and written account of a man who was kidnapped while on mission and the harrowing months that followed.
I am a big fan of Guy Delisle, I came across his, in Dutch translated, graphic novels a year or two/three back at Library #3. These were his travelogues about his trips across the world alone or with his family. I really love his style and how he can tell a story. So I was very eager to read this one when I discovered it. It sounded very interesting. This time not a story from Guy Delisle POV but from someone he knows, someone who went through something terrible.
In the middle of the night Christophe André was kidnapped and taken away from all he knew. It was very interesting to read and my heart broke that he had to go through this. Stuck to a radiator, watery soup and tea and maybe some bread, switching locations, mental health breaking, and not knowing if he was ever going to get out or not as it seems nothing is happening.
Later on we learn that the NGO was doing their best and they were doing all they could for Christophe. But from the POV we get (Christophe) it does seem like nothing is happening. He is mostly just stuck to the radiator, lying on the ground. Only occasionally we see the kidnappers do something. Like give him items to talk. Photograph him.
We see how he tries to get through the days, some days he just thinks off books, family, and battle generals. Yes, that last one was a bit boring and I found myself skipping those parts to get back to the story. I am sorry, I just don’t have anything with war and battle tactics. Other times he was plotting escapes and wondering if he could get out. But sadly always realising that no, he would never be able to escape without dying or getting hurt real bad.
Sure, it got a bit monotonous/repetitive at times because most days were just the same over and over again, but I just didn’t mind it that much unlike in other books.
The ending was WOW and while I was already into the story I found myself even more invested, would he be safe? Would everything go all right? I was rooting for Christophe and found it a very brave move. I think I would have done the same after all these months. There just comes a time you have to do it. Try it. And then came the later parts and even though he was safe there was still danger, I couldn’t wait until he was safe in the airplane. Safe and flying away.
Guy DeLisle has done it again, another fantastic graphic novel. Definitely would recommend it.
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
I am a big fan of Guy Delisle, I came across his, in Dutch translated, graphic novels a year or two/three back at Library #3. These were his travelogues about his trips across the world alone or with his family. I really love his style and how he can tell a story. So I was very eager to read this one when I discovered it. It sounded very interesting. This time not a story from Guy Delisle POV but from someone he knows, someone who went through something terrible.
In the middle of the night Christophe André was kidnapped and taken away from all he knew. It was very interesting to read and my heart broke that he had to go through this. Stuck to a radiator, watery soup and tea and maybe some bread, switching locations, mental health breaking, and not knowing if he was ever going to get out or not as it seems nothing is happening.
Later on we learn that the NGO was doing their best and they were doing all they could for Christophe. But from the POV we get (Christophe) it does seem like nothing is happening. He is mostly just stuck to the radiator, lying on the ground. Only occasionally we see the kidnappers do something. Like give him items to talk. Photograph him.
We see how he tries to get through the days, some days he just thinks off books, family, and battle generals. Yes, that last one was a bit boring and I found myself skipping those parts to get back to the story. I am sorry, I just don’t have anything with war and battle tactics. Other times he was plotting escapes and wondering if he could get out. But sadly always realising that no, he would never be able to escape without dying or getting hurt real bad.
Sure, it got a bit monotonous/repetitive at times because most days were just the same over and over again, but I just didn’t mind it that much unlike in other books.
The ending was WOW and while I was already into the story I found myself even more invested, would he be safe? Would everything go all right? I was rooting for Christophe and found it a very brave move. I think I would have done the same after all these months. There just comes a time you have to do it. Try it. And then came the later parts and even though he was safe there was still danger, I couldn’t wait until he was safe in the airplane. Safe and flying away.
Guy DeLisle has done it again, another fantastic graphic novel. Definitely would recommend it.
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
seraphiina's review
4.0
An outstanding graphic novel that perfectly captures the experience of being a hostage. While I initially feared it would get repetitive, I found myself immersing into the claustrophobic experience of being locked inside a room with no end in sight. Truly a petrifying read, but I definitely recommend this graphic novel
rahulporuri's review against another edition
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
5.0
I literally could not put down this book after I picked it up. It's the real life story of the kidnapping of Christophe Andrew and being held hostage in the Caucasus in 1997. The story is incredible and the art is immersive. My heart was literally pounding for the last 50 pages! This is his best work in my eyes.
analyticalchaos's review
4.0
In stories of captivity, one of my unanswered questions is mental stability. How do maintain your mental state while kept in one room for months on end, deprived of your basic human needs? Hostage is a simple story that shows how Christophe André battles the monotony and silence during his kidnapping. With simple coloring and storytelling, Guy Delisle depicts isolation through separated panels, forcing the reader in Christophe's shoes.
While there's not much explanation for the hostage situation, the graphic novel manages to show uncertainty and dread.
While there's not much explanation for the hostage situation, the graphic novel manages to show uncertainty and dread.