Scan barcode
sol_13's review against another edition
4.0
Hacía mucho tiempo que no leía cómic y este me ha gustado un montón. Es un cómic biográfico, trata sobre la vida amorosa/relacional/laboral de una inmigrante polaca que acaba en Malmo (Suecia) para estudiar ilustración cómic y tiene que trabajar para mantener su vida allí.
Me llama la atención como a pesar de nunca haberme encontrado en situaciones similares como hay cosas que inevitablemente caracterizan a la vida asalariada y a los jefes en general. Y me parece que todas estas historias y sobre todo ilegalidades que se acometen contra personas vulnerables es muy importantes que queden reflejadas porque se te olvidan y a veces incluso cuando las experimentas te sientes aislada cuando no tiene por qué ser así. Toda la historia tiene una narrativa con bastante chispa y feroz. Sientes la frustración y la alegría de Daria.
Aunque la voz de Daria venga desde una situación de especial precariedad bien es cierto que hay gente peor y gente que está mejor, lo que es común es que todxs somos esclavxs del trabajo.
Me llama la atención como a pesar de nunca haberme encontrado en situaciones similares como hay cosas que inevitablemente caracterizan a la vida asalariada y a los jefes en general. Y me parece que todas estas historias y sobre todo ilegalidades que se acometen contra personas vulnerables es muy importantes que queden reflejadas porque se te olvidan y a veces incluso cuando las experimentas te sientes aislada cuando no tiene por qué ser así. Toda la historia tiene una narrativa con bastante chispa y feroz. Sientes la frustración y la alegría de Daria.
Aunque la voz de Daria venga desde una situación de especial precariedad bien es cierto que hay gente peor y gente que está mejor, lo que es común es que todxs somos esclavxs del trabajo.
hwks's review
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
2.25
The bilingualism of this book was one of the things I really did enjoy. That felt quite authentic to the author's journey of learning Swedish and adapting to the culture, as slowly the book evolved into almost entirely non-English dialogue.
I can also appreciate the core message of this book, revolving around 'wage slaves' and the all to frequent abuses of power in the workforce, primarily targeting immigrants. Bogdańska's efforts to achieve wage parity is a valiant and important one, but I found it so incredibly difficult to root for her. She comes across as incredibly unsympathetic and quite egotistic with how she approached her dealings with others.
Having been in a nearly identical situation to Bogdańska (immigrant, working black, particularly in restaurants where I was treated favorably based on my background), I found the way she approached her situation as essentially throwing a pity-party for herself and compared her situation to her primarily Bangladeshi co-workers. The constant refrain of 'but they're dependent on [the boss]' and that's why they can't get involved disregards the entire multitude of barriers that Bogdańska herself didn't face. I am intimately aware that while it is exhausting working for significantly below minimum wage, with no job protection, it's a joke to compare that to the experience of those living in the restaurant, working 12+ hour shifts in boiling hot kitchens, with sometimes quite literally no way out.
As an EU citizen she wasn't necessarily at risk of being deported for fighting for rights, her family wasn't reliant on her wages nor were they spending a fortune to give her an opportunity overseas. She spent a good first quarter/third of the book complaining about how exhausted she was working two jobs and going to school, when it's revealed she's been doing it for a week. The entirety of her time at this job lasted about 6 months. One of her coworkers admits to being at this job for some 2 years, commuting to a university (not art school, which even Bogdańska admits was incredibly easy and low stress in comparison) every day to study, and might have to take a loan out to support herself. In comparison, Bogdańska, who also had a local network of Swedes, seemed entirely out of touch with the reality of her situation compared to others around her. Nevermind her intensely selfish approach to her relationships in her private life. I just wish Bogdańska had at least once acknowledged the fear that her coworkers might have felt with her bringing government officials into an illegal work situation. When you don't have much to lose, it's easier to fight without concern for the consequences.
And in the end, Bogdańska inspired change for her coworkers, perhaps. The ending is really just a small personal success for Bogdańska herself. This felt like a very Euro-centric book on 'wage slaves' and the problem of employers that take advantage of the most vulnerable. It's a systemic issue with no immediate, easy solution, but Bogdańska's story is a fraction of the whole thing.
I can also appreciate the core message of this book, revolving around 'wage slaves' and the all to frequent abuses of power in the workforce, primarily targeting immigrants. Bogdańska's efforts to achieve wage parity is a valiant and important one, but I found it so incredibly difficult to root for her. She comes across as incredibly unsympathetic and quite egotistic with how she approached her dealings with others.
Having been in a nearly identical situation to Bogdańska (immigrant, working black, particularly in restaurants where I was treated favorably based on my background), I found the way she approached her situation as essentially throwing a pity-party for herself and compared her situation to her primarily Bangladeshi co-workers. The constant refrain of 'but they're dependent on [the boss]' and that's why they can't get involved disregards the entire multitude of barriers that Bogdańska herself didn't face. I am intimately aware that while it is exhausting working for significantly below minimum wage, with no job protection, it's a joke to compare that to the experience of those living in the restaurant, working 12+ hour shifts in boiling hot kitchens, with sometimes quite literally no way out.
As an EU citizen she wasn't necessarily at risk of being deported for fighting for rights, her family wasn't reliant on her wages nor were they spending a fortune to give her an opportunity overseas. She spent a good first quarter/third of the book complaining about how exhausted she was working two jobs and going to school, when it's revealed she's been doing it for a week. The entirety of her time at this job lasted about 6 months. One of her coworkers admits to being at this job for some 2 years, commuting to a university (not art school, which even Bogdańska admits was incredibly easy and low stress in comparison) every day to study, and might have to take a loan out to support herself. In comparison, Bogdańska, who also had a local network of Swedes, seemed entirely out of touch with the reality of her situation compared to others around her. Nevermind her intensely selfish approach to her relationships in her private life. I just wish Bogdańska had at least once acknowledged the fear that her coworkers might have felt with her bringing government officials into an illegal work situation. When you don't have much to lose, it's easier to fight without concern for the consequences.
And in the end, Bogdańska inspired change for her coworkers, perhaps. The ending is really just a small personal success for Bogdańska herself. This felt like a very Euro-centric book on 'wage slaves' and the problem of employers that take advantage of the most vulnerable. It's a systemic issue with no immediate, easy solution, but Bogdańska's story is a fraction of the whole thing.
hail_seitan's review against another edition
3.0
It’s a depressing slice of life piece, which would be fine if that’s what it sold itself as. It’s sold as “The story of one woman’s fight for fair pay” and sounds like it’ll have information about how to fight for unions and your coworkers around you, but it just isn’t. It’s a short read so I’d still recommend giving it a go if it sounds good to you, but I won’t be raving about it any time soon.
zophisereads's review against another edition
4.0
Rating: 4.5/5
This graphic novel it's a memoir about the struggles of Daria's efforts to forge a life as a polish immigrant in Malmö. We follow her through this journey of unfairness, uncertainty and harsh reality.
I love it's rawness and the drawing style. It felt so intimate and relatable, as if a friend was telling me their story. I don't usually read comics anymore but I definitely enjoyed this one!
This graphic novel it's a memoir about the struggles of Daria's efforts to forge a life as a polish immigrant in Malmö. We follow her through this journey of unfairness, uncertainty and harsh reality.
I love it's rawness and the drawing style. It felt so intimate and relatable, as if a friend was telling me their story. I don't usually read comics anymore but I definitely enjoyed this one!
squigglybungus's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
4.0
The art style is so good!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content