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dejongmarion's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
ljrinaldi's review
3.0
Penelope compares herself with Odysseus, who sailed off to Troy, for 10 years, and then tried to sail home again, but spent 10 years trying to get home. He was gone for 20 years, while his wife, Penelope, waiting for him.
But, as Penelope, the surgeon, who is working with Doctors without Borders says, she has been trying to sail home all these years. She is not waiting at home, weaving.
But, instead, she is trying to save people's lives in Syria, in a mission that goes on and on, and never ends. And even when she comes home to "visit" she is still back on her mission, carrying ghosts with her.
It is a strange story, set in one of those points where she has gone home, but life has continued without her, moved on. She loves her husband and child, but she is obsessed with a job that never ends, that never goes away.
I wonder if there is something lost in the translation, as the ending was odd.
Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.
But, as Penelope, the surgeon, who is working with Doctors without Borders says, she has been trying to sail home all these years. She is not waiting at home, weaving.
But, instead, she is trying to save people's lives in Syria, in a mission that goes on and on, and never ends. And even when she comes home to "visit" she is still back on her mission, carrying ghosts with her.
It is a strange story, set in one of those points where she has gone home, but life has continued without her, moved on. She loves her husband and child, but she is obsessed with a job that never ends, that never goes away.
I wonder if there is something lost in the translation, as the ending was odd.
Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.
zabacitanovine's review
2.0
Penelope is a surgeon in Syria, and every time she gets home to visit her family, the ghosts hunt her.
This was a moody read. At times, it was confusing with unrelated topics, but very emotional, actually. I didn't like the drawing style but I liked the watercolor effect and what it meant to set the mood and even feeling surrounding certain objects.
My thoughts on Penelope are pretty broken and divided. On one side, I have nothing but respect for her, for living in the center of the war, trying to save lives and do what's best. But on the other side, I can't help myself but put a "bad mother" tag on her back for abandoning her teenage daughter and even looking at her with condescending eyes at times, finding her shallow because she doesn't understand what living in war is. She is constantly blaming her family for not understanding war so much so that she abandons them completely.
This book definitely needs more though on my side. It was a quick, but not an easy read.
A big thank you to Europe Comics and NetGalley for providing me with with an early copy in exchange for an honest review.
This was a moody read. At times, it was confusing with unrelated topics, but very emotional, actually. I didn't like the drawing style but I liked the watercolor effect and what it meant to set the mood and even feeling surrounding certain objects.
My thoughts on Penelope are pretty broken and divided. On one side, I have nothing but respect for her, for living in the center of the war, trying to save lives and do what's best. But on the other side, I can't help myself but put a "bad mother" tag on her back for abandoning her teenage daughter and even looking at her with condescending eyes at times, finding her shallow because she doesn't understand what living in war is. She is constantly blaming her family for not understanding war so much so that she abandons them completely.
This book definitely needs more though on my side. It was a quick, but not an easy read.
A big thank you to Europe Comics and NetGalley for providing me with with an early copy in exchange for an honest review.
anneschreurs's review
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
lisatz's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
inspiring
reflective
sad
slow-paced
3.75
Wunderschöne Zeichnungen helfen den Leser*innen Penelope’s Hin und Hergerissenheit zwischen ihrer Familie und den Kindern des Krieges in Syrien zu verstehen.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Medical trauma
Moderate: Blood
rainbowbookworm's review
4.0
Working as a surgeon in Aleppo, Penelope spends months at a time away from her husband and teenage daughter. She comes back home for Christmas and finds that, once again, her mother and sister are pressuring her to stay home for good. They can't understand Penelope's motivation.
What her loved ones don't know is that Penelope did not return home alone. She carries with her the memory of a child she was unable to help. The child haunts her so much, she decides to seek psychological help.
There are layers to this book including a whole section about masks that is telling in what it says about Penelope and how her husband and child see her. I know this is a graphic novel I'll remember for years to come.
What her loved ones don't know is that Penelope did not return home alone. She carries with her the memory of a child she was unable to help. The child haunts her so much, she decides to seek psychological help.
There are layers to this book including a whole section about masks that is telling in what it says about Penelope and how her husband and child see her. I know this is a graphic novel I'll remember for years to come.
readwithethel's review
3.0
A very interesting read
Key words: graphic novel, contemporary fiction
This graphic novel was really interesting. First the story. I didn’t quite get what the goal of the author was here but I still liked the story. It is a bit strange but it is very interesting to follow this woman’s journey when she comes back to her life in Belgian after working as a surgeon in Syria. I liked how some panels showed the parallelism between the two lives.
Second, the drawings. I think the use of watercolour like that is very interesting. It kind of blurs the drawing, making it more like a sort of dream. It is especially interesting in the case of the ghost as it adds to its texture.
I recommend it.
3.5/5
Key words: graphic novel, contemporary fiction
This graphic novel was really interesting. First the story. I didn’t quite get what the goal of the author was here but I still liked the story. It is a bit strange but it is very interesting to follow this woman’s journey when she comes back to her life in Belgian after working as a surgeon in Syria. I liked how some panels showed the parallelism between the two lives.
Second, the drawings. I think the use of watercolour like that is very interesting. It kind of blurs the drawing, making it more like a sort of dream. It is especially interesting in the case of the ghost as it adds to its texture.
I recommend it.
3.5/5