Reviews

A very well crafted graphic novel, about a woman and her granddaughter travelling from Israel to Poland to investigate the woman's claim to a property there. The story, naturally, delves into the past of the woman, revealing secrets and surprises. It's touching, funny and feels very believable - it's kinda got the feel of a quality indie film. The characterisations were particularly well done, I thought - well rounded and believable.

While I really like Modan's art generally, I sometimes find her colours a little muddy, and in the night scenes a bit over-saturated. Maybe it's just me.

It's not a life-changing book, and on a grumpier day my 4.5* would get rounded down, not up. But the story is of a quality that is not as common in comics as it should be, and has has a general excellence of execution, that it deserves the benefit of the doubt.

freja_johansen's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging emotional informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

gleefulreader's review against another edition

Go to review page

4.0

My month of graphic novels continues apace. This is a lovely story of a prickly grandmother and her granddaughter travelling back to Poland from Israel, under the guise of reclaiming a family property lost during WWII. However, there is more to this story as old family secrets are slowly revealed. The author resist the urge to tie the story up with a neat bow, something I appreciate as life is rarely about simple happy ever afters.

aoosterwyk's review against another edition

Go to review page

4.0

Most excellent. A story of a family looking to reclaim property in Poland that had been abandoned when the Nazis invaded.
The story involves an illegitimate child, a bill of sale made during wartime and a family with lots of secrets.
The artwork is colorful and reminiscent of Herge.

mehitabels's review against another edition

Go to review page

3.0

This was an excellent birthday gift from my superhero friend, a reminder that the effects of war never seems to end. No matter how much I want the world to be a better place, it is still filled with the hate and damage that people inflict so casually upon huge numbers of their own species.

This is a memoir comic, with the rounded hardness of memory made humorous. A horrible reminder of life stripped of meaning by bigotry and racism. A gently prodding reprimand of the inconsistent youth and their treatment of the aged. The long-lasting effects of diaspora and the meaning of home are underlying riptides to the story.

It sounds serious, and the after effect is serious, but the story reads quickly and sweetly and funny. It will be familiar and liked by fans of [bc:Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood|9516|Persepolis The Story of a Childhood (Persepolis, #1-2)|Marjane Satrapi|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1327884892s/9516.jpg|3303888].

summerfjord's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective medium-paced

Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? Yes

3.75

More...