A review by saidtheraina
La Perdida by Jessica Abel

3.0

I can't really believe I'm only reading this now, especially since GN travelogues are one of my purported interests. For the first half of the book I had the impression that it was barely fictionalized autobiography, but soon figured out that it's a more fully invented true graphic novel. This is the story of a girl trying to imbed herself in the culture of Mexico. She is half-Mexican, but barely speaks the language when she goes to "visit" a former fling and "forgets" to make her flight out of the country. In getting to know the native people in Mexico, she becomes involved with some shady characters. I particularly appreciated this story at the end - it becomes clear that this is not just another day-to-day recounting of a rather humdrum stint as an expat, but a plotted out novel with a beginning middle and end. Great stuff. I got slightly annoyed with the language (although I appreciate the coolness of her technique) because I know just enough Spanish to try to translate on my own, and flip to the (very thorough) glossary constantly, so it took me out of the story. Also her illustration style is along the lines of what I like, but is more crowded than other cartoonists I like. I did appreciate all the reflections on what it means to choose to adopt an unfamiliar level of privilege and be an expat in a needy country. Good stuff.