lauren_endnotes's review against another edition
4.0
After reading Portugal, I immediately added more Pedrosa to my TBR list. Great style, in both story and art. This tale winds through geography and family history, changing perspectives and focus in the story to different family members.
The main story revolves around Simon, an uninspired artist living in France. He visits Portugal for a cousin's wedding and reconnects with family members he hasn't seen in decades, thus discovering himself and finding deeper inspiration. A familiar trope, but a slightly different take - a compelling story, beautifully illustrated.
The main story revolves around Simon, an uninspired artist living in France. He visits Portugal for a cousin's wedding and reconnects with family members he hasn't seen in decades, thus discovering himself and finding deeper inspiration. A familiar trope, but a slightly different take - a compelling story, beautifully illustrated.
pedantichumbug's review against another edition
reflective
slow-paced
3.0
The art trumps the storytelling.
marimbav's review against another edition
5.0
10/10
Una historia intimista con un dibujo genial. AL principio me costó bastante cogerle el gusto, pero en cuanto comienzas a sumergirte en la historia, te parece encantadora.
Una historia intimista con un dibujo genial. AL principio me costó bastante cogerle el gusto, pero en cuanto comienzas a sumergirte en la historia, te parece encantadora.
viandemoisie's review against another edition
4.0
Une histoire touchante illustrée de manière phénoménale. L'auteur arrive vraiment à montrer le merveilleux qu'on peut trouver dans la banalité quotidienne.
carlasofiaferreira's review against another edition
3.0
As the daughter of Portuguese immigrants to the US and as someone who spent a year living in France, I really really wanted to love this book. Instead, I just liked it somewhat, in the moments I wasn't annoyed by it. The artwork is inventive and thoughtful; the code-switching was really delightful; I enjoyed seeing the carefully woven family dynamics at work. But oh my gosh, the trope of the struggling artist who just can't decide what to do with his life coupled with the casual sexism thrown in at nearly every other juncture of the story, it felt tired and unoriginal. How many more stories of sad white men who blame their fears of commitment on hyperbolically "pushy" girlfriends? It was a recurring theme of the comic and cheapened what otherwise could have been a lively look at the creative process and the journey of finding identity as an immigrant. The artwork merited at least an extra half-star and its personal significance to me another half, which is why I ultimately gave this 3 and not 2 stars.