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ups123121's review
4.0
There were certainly points I was bored. However, I enjoyed how brutally honest the author was. I enjoyed the art, especially near the end where he addresses it. Not one of my favorites, but I am glad I read it.
very_confused_duck's review
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
informative
reflective
sad
slow-paced
4.5
heidisreads's review against another edition
2.0
I couldn't finish this. I read to page 44, and I know that's not very far, but the combo of words and illustrations just couldn't keep my interest anymore. I may come back to this someday when I'm in a different mood.
amyefaulhaber's review
2.0
Very interesting, but a little too much going on. It could have been edited down. I lost interest about half-way through.
meghan111's review
3.0
My memories of this French graphic novel memoir were better than my experience of rereading it. Part of this is due to my eyesight - the pages in the edition I read were a little cramped and the text was small. The illustration is fantastic - the creatures drawn in ways often unsettling and compelling.
The story of growing up with an older brother with severe epilepsy, the memoir chronicles a quest by parents desperate to find something that works. They try all sorts of alternative remedies, including macrobiotic diet, seances, energy work, and esoteric healers/gurus of all kinds. David, the younger brother, retreats into drawing and imaginary creatures as it becomes clear his brother is growing up with a disability severely impacting his life and future.
The story of growing up with an older brother with severe epilepsy, the memoir chronicles a quest by parents desperate to find something that works. They try all sorts of alternative remedies, including macrobiotic diet, seances, energy work, and esoteric healers/gurus of all kinds. David, the younger brother, retreats into drawing and imaginary creatures as it becomes clear his brother is growing up with a disability severely impacting his life and future.
gremlin_snacks's review
1.0
Boring. I didn't even finish it. Can these people learn how to edit already? Seriously.
kchiappone's review
5.0
Incredible read. The monsters, the faces, the emotion. My only wish is that the book were longer.
saidtheraina's review
3.0
Gorgeously drawn memoir about the author's childhood around 1970. Many many many frameable pages.
I'm curious how prevalent the philosophical/alternative medicine/communal culture/guru-based stuff was in the larger culture in France - or was it just David's parents who got into that stuff? His parents are elusive characters - I found myself wondering about their sex lives.
Although constructed around his brother's epilepsy, I found myself most interested in other characters in the narrative. Also very interesting that he was so into the Khans.
There are many places in this translation which feel disjointed - but I think the flow problems are probably translation issues? Or just cultural differences from what I'm used to reading?
I've known a few people with seizure disorders, and this is the worst case I've heard of - or maybe that's how far we've come, treatment-wise?
This is dense, dense work - I had to really buckle down to finish it. But I never wanted to stop reading, as the time period, alternative culture content, and beauty of the construction really really caught my interest.
I'm curious how prevalent the philosophical/alternative medicine/communal culture/guru-based stuff was in the larger culture in France - or was it just David's parents who got into that stuff? His parents are elusive characters - I found myself wondering about their sex lives.
Although constructed around his brother's epilepsy, I found myself most interested in other characters in the narrative. Also very interesting that he was so into the Khans.
There are many places in this translation which feel disjointed - but I think the flow problems are probably translation issues? Or just cultural differences from what I'm used to reading?
I've known a few people with seizure disorders, and this is the worst case I've heard of - or maybe that's how far we've come, treatment-wise?
This is dense, dense work - I had to really buckle down to finish it. But I never wanted to stop reading, as the time period, alternative culture content, and beauty of the construction really really caught my interest.