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harveyn97's review
4.0
What a horrifying experience to have been kidnapped for 4 months held hostage in a country where no one speaks your language and you are alone
The art is basic but gets the point across
What a story Christophe shares here we really feel his every emotion
Maybe a little too long but very addicting to read
The art is basic but gets the point across
What a story Christophe shares here we really feel his every emotion
Maybe a little too long but very addicting to read
scarletohhara's review
4.0
Uuugghh. I shuddered multiple times as I read this book, imagining the torture the narrator is going through being confined in solitary, with no conversation, and no idea on why he was kidnapped and held hostage. The details of what the narrator does to keep himself occupied and how little pleasures make a difference to him is something that can only be imagined.
shinesalot's review
4.0
A gripping graphic account of a French humanitarian's experience when he is kidnapped near Russia in the 1990's. I like that there isn't any violence, just his psychological struggle. There are some f-bombs, so I would suggest this for high school, but the cursing is situationally appropriate.
saidtheraina's review
4.0
I love the concept of this book. Andre went through this horrific, ripped-from-the-headlines, terrifying experience. There are no visual records of that experience. Delisle interviews Andre and draws a graphic novel based on the play-by-play life of one hostage experience.
It's an amazing story. The ending, especially, blew me away. And Delisle's illustrations are simple enough that they seem like they could be accurate. At least as far as Andre could remember.
This is a thick tome. 432 pages. And most pages have a fair amount of captioning as Andre tells the story. Delisle frames the story in a basic six-panel page, with small variations for emphasis. Like what is seen on the cover, the illustrations are basically grayscale with both beige- and blue-toned grays (color-expert I am not - feel free to correct me if I'm using the wrong terms!).
In some ways, the simplicity of the illustrations and context of the story pulls a big chunk of the emotion out of it. Andre communicates his thoughts and feelings and mental state as things progress, but those words are still framed by relatively simple illustrations and the knowledge that it's all being told "after." He is now safe enough to tell this story publicly. And you know that all the way through. That distance reminded me a bit of [a: MariNaomi|4078358|MariNaomi|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1468804810p2/4078358.jpg]'s [b: Kiss and Tell: A Romantic Resume, Ages 0 to 22|8433530|Kiss and Tell A Romantic Résumé, Ages 0 to 22|MariNaomi|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1327956389l/8433530._SX50_.jpg|13296987], and several other nonfiction graphic novels.
It's an amazing story. The ending, especially, blew me away. And Delisle's illustrations are simple enough that they seem like they could be accurate. At least as far as Andre could remember.
This is a thick tome. 432 pages. And most pages have a fair amount of captioning as Andre tells the story. Delisle frames the story in a basic six-panel page, with small variations for emphasis. Like what is seen on the cover, the illustrations are basically grayscale with both beige- and blue-toned grays (color-expert I am not - feel free to correct me if I'm using the wrong terms!).
In some ways, the simplicity of the illustrations and context of the story pulls a big chunk of the emotion out of it. Andre communicates his thoughts and feelings and mental state as things progress, but those words are still framed by relatively simple illustrations and the knowledge that it's all being told "after." He is now safe enough to tell this story publicly. And you know that all the way through. That distance reminded me a bit of [a: MariNaomi|4078358|MariNaomi|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1468804810p2/4078358.jpg]'s [b: Kiss and Tell: A Romantic Resume, Ages 0 to 22|8433530|Kiss and Tell A Romantic Résumé, Ages 0 to 22|MariNaomi|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1327956389l/8433530._SX50_.jpg|13296987], and several other nonfiction graphic novels.
paperbackmo's review against another edition
4.0
Based on the true story of Christophe André, a French humanitarian worker who was kidnapped in 1997 while working for Doctors Without Borders.
The book provides a unique perspective on the harrowing experience of being held captive for three months in a small room, blindfolded and chained to a radiator.
The story is told through simple, yet powerful illustrations that capture the intense emotions and psychological toll of captivity. The reader is transported into André's mind, feeling the weight of loneliness, fear, and uncertainty. The small details in the illustrations, such as the ticking clock and the changing light, add to the atmosphere of the story.
I thought it was a poignant and thought-provoking read that highlights the resilience of the human spirit in the face of extreme adversity. The book is a testament to the power of storytelling and the importance of empathy and understanding in our interconnected world.
The book provides a unique perspective on the harrowing experience of being held captive for three months in a small room, blindfolded and chained to a radiator.
The story is told through simple, yet powerful illustrations that capture the intense emotions and psychological toll of captivity. The reader is transported into André's mind, feeling the weight of loneliness, fear, and uncertainty. The small details in the illustrations, such as the ticking clock and the changing light, add to the atmosphere of the story.
I thought it was a poignant and thought-provoking read that highlights the resilience of the human spirit in the face of extreme adversity. The book is a testament to the power of storytelling and the importance of empathy and understanding in our interconnected world.
helpfulsnowman's review
2.0
The Ultimate Challenge:
How do you write a book about a boring thing?
Now, being kidnapped and held for ransom isn't boring, and the story itself is pretty amazing.
Buuuuuut when you're handcuffed to a thing most of the day, every day, for a few months, it does end up being a little procedural to read about, you know? Woke up, peed, ate the same food, slept. Woke up, peed, ate the same food, slept.
The story does pick up a little later, but I think in trying to help me understand the mix of boredom and fear, the balance didn't strike me quite right.
How do you write a book about a boring thing?
Now, being kidnapped and held for ransom isn't boring, and the story itself is pretty amazing.
Buuuuuut when you're handcuffed to a thing most of the day, every day, for a few months, it does end up being a little procedural to read about, you know? Woke up, peed, ate the same food, slept. Woke up, peed, ate the same food, slept.
The story does pick up a little later, but I think in trying to help me understand the mix of boredom and fear, the balance didn't strike me quite right.
riaryan's review against another edition
5.0
A staggering, compelling graphic novel which recounts the true story of the kidnapping of a humanitarian in Chechnya. 3 months a captive, this book that was 15 years in the making is tense and gripping.
librarylapin's review
3.0
This book was really well done. The repetitive nature of the illustrations draws the reader into the desperation mounting with the time that Andre felt as he continued to be a hostage.
aquamarine_coral's review
2.0
This is a 430 page graphic novel.
I read the first 100 pages quickly . The illustrations were excellent and grabbed my attention. Unfortunately the story became repetitive after that almost to the end. Maybe it was ment to make you feel that, the répétitives of the days, the loneliness and the boredom, since he was a hostage for 3 months and alone. But I had to page flip through most of the rest of the novel. Only the last 50 pages become more interesting when he escapes.
I would definitely try to read another graphic novel by him just to experience his illustration. But maybe a shorter one.
I read the first 100 pages quickly . The illustrations were excellent and grabbed my attention. Unfortunately the story became repetitive after that almost to the end. Maybe it was ment to make you feel that, the répétitives of the days, the loneliness and the boredom, since he was a hostage for 3 months and alone. But I had to page flip through most of the rest of the novel. Only the last 50 pages become more interesting when he escapes.
I would definitely try to read another graphic novel by him just to experience his illustration. But maybe a shorter one.
ivanssister's review
4.0
Delisle has a knack for telling a good story with simple images. Usually it's an autobiographical tale but this time it's a story about a French man who was kidnapped in Chechnya while working for MSF.