This year I told myself I would venture out and read more graphic novels. I always thought of them to be childish and the storytelling to be choppy, but I am very quickly realizing that I’m very wrong. Maybe it’s just the ones I’m choosing to read, but I’ve throughly enjoyed my reading experience so far.

“Lydie”, what did I even just read?! One could say ghost story and another could say a look into mental illness. Everything about this odd and beautiful story was wonderful! Camille, a single mother gives birth to a daughter who is stillborn, but weeks after her funeral Camille thinks she has returned from heaven and begins to raise her as if nothing happened. The thing is she is invisible...or is she?

I found this story to be so deep and meaningful. I loved how this quirky neighborhood came together for this woman and helped Camille by going along with her, even though they never once believed. Told by a statue in the middle of this nameless place, there is so much that can be discussed within the few pages of story and themes such as: family, love, grief, and community. I would love to see this turned into a short film. It’s got such a powerful message. Jordi Lafebre is a genius storyteller!

Thank you, Europe Comics and NetGalley for the copy! I won’t soon forget this story.

I loved this graphic novel! It was short and sweet, but it was beautiful. The story was definitely original, i thought it would take a while for me to enjoy it but i found myself racing through it! The story of Lydie and her family is beautiful in their little street in what seems like France. It showed the beauty of compassion and the unwavering love of a mother no matter her means or mind and i. loved. it.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2329887418

This book was incredibly heartwarming thorough both the illustrations and the story itself. The way that the characters banded together to help this poor woman out combined with the mysterious narrator. It just proves that people can be incredibly kind and they won't judge as long as something is for the best in someone else.

I took some time to accept this book - the artwork makes everyone look a little, well, ugly; the device of having a religious statue as narrator seemed out of place; and when it proved to be a book about a woman who can't accept her infant died at birth, well - it seemed to be not up my street at all. But I was definitely charmed by the end - it has heart, it has invention, it clearly is set in a world where - the darkness of the title character aside - one would wish to live. It really turned itself round in my estimation, so I would definitely recommend it. It's the strangest and mostly oddly compelling look at faith, familial love and fraternity you will read for a long time.

Extremely whimsical yet heartwarming. The artwork is fabulously detailed and the characters are truly marvelous.

Lovely drawings for an odd story. A simple-minded young woman has a baby who died young, but the the mother never believes that. In order to keep her happy, the entire town pretends that she is real, except it seems that maybe not everyone has to pretend.

This is a great story, left me speechless and wondering if some times little miracles like the one told here, couldn't happen in reality also.

Questa bellissima storia mi ha lasciato senza parole e piú volte mi sono chiesta se tutto sommato un miracolo come quello qui raccontato, non sarebbe giá potuto succedere davvero.

THANKS NETGALLEY FOR THE PREVIEW!

Such a beautiful message: “Why bring somebody pain when it's so easy to bring joy instead?”

A beautifully illustrated story set in France, in a period style (1930s). If you liked the animated film 'Belleville Rendezvous' then you will like this! It tells the tale of a young woman who gives birth to a stillborn daughter, Lydie. The woman then believes that her child has come back from heaven, and gradually all the neighbours learn to go along with this in support. When the child goes to school, all the children draw pictures of Lydie, and they all show the same girl ... so the reader begins to wonder if Lydie is in fact real. I don't want to say any more! I thought it ended a bit abruptly, but it was still a charming read, and lovely to look at.
Many thanks to the publisher for a digital review copy.

In una città francese esiste una stradina, un vicolo cieco: è un universo a parte, un microcosmo in cui tutti si conoscono e sia aiutano, formando una comunità così stratta da distinguere fra i Mustachios (i Baffuti, dal poster di un neonato con i baffi che caratterizza la strada) e... bè, tutti gli altri.

E in questa stradina arriva un giorno una nuova abitante: Lydie, figlia della dolce Camille, ragazza madre un po' lenta ma benvoluta da tutti. Lydie che è morta alla nascita, ma è tornata dopo due mesi a consolare sua madre - e che solo lei vede.

Inizia così una gara di cuore per sostenere l'inganno negli anni, e evitare a Camille ogni sofferenza.

Ma... se non fosse solo una fantasia?

Lydie è una graphic novel di delicatezza estrema: attraverso una vicenda di dolore costruisce un vero e proprio mondo di affetto e solidarietà, creato da una bambina che non esiste (o sì?) e dal buon cuore di chi vuole proteggere un'innocente.

Bellissime anche le tavole, dallo stile piacevolmente datato, che riportano nella ricchezza dei dettagli un mondo che non è più.

Disclaimer: Arc via Netgalley.
Lydie is a ghost story, or is it? What it really is, is a story about a neighborhood. It is the neighborhood that pulls together in the face of a tragedy. Told by a statue, perhaps, it chronicles the life of Camille, a simple soul whose daughter is stillborn.
Or is the young girl?
That is the question – how real is Lydie and if she is real, how did she become real?
That too is the charm of the story. It is a wonderful little graphic novel about the power of a community that may not have much money and may not like each other but come together to help one of theirs. In the process, perhaps, they became better for it. The story is sentimental, but not sweet. It hearkens to Chocolat in part, that same type of feeling.
Lafebre’s illustrations are beautiful and remind me of the Triplets of Belleville.

Lydie is a short tear-jerker that rewards readers with beautiful artwork and a compelling plot.

Set in a French cul-de-sac in an unnamed French town, Lydie tells the story of a set of neighbors that band together to help Camille, a mentally impaired French girl, in a very unusual way. The street is nicknamed mustachioed baby court due to a graffitied baby on a soap billboard at the end of the street. There are many points-of-view depicted in Lydie including from a statue of the Virgin Mary located on one of the buildings.

Set in 1932, life was both harsher and more neighborly than it is today. Camille loses her baby named Lydie during childbirth. A few months later, Camille believes that angels have brought back her child from heaven. First her father and then all her neighbors support Camille’s fantasy. By speaking to an invisible child who grows increasing older as the novel continues, the neighbors help Camille deal with her grief of her dead child. The end of this novel is the best part of all.

Since this graphic novel vividly depicts life in all its harshness, it is recommended only for adults. While it is ultimately a feel-good plot, it is also a true tearjerker. The artwork is very good too. 4 stars!

Thanks to the publisher, Europe Comics, and NetGalley for an advanced copy.

I was intrigued by this story and will warn you before you even pick it up that your heart will hurt. This centres around Camille and her daughter, Lydie. Unfortunately, Lydie is delivered stillborn but a few weeks after her funeral Camille says that she has come back to life, even though no one else can see her.

This is definitely different and makes you question a lot, not least because it's told from the perspective of the Virgin Mary. Camille is described as not very bright, to the point where I wondered if she has learning difficulties. Her father and sole carer protects his daughter and goes along with the fact that she can see Lydie and not long after so does the rest of the town, as a kindness to Camille. While we're lead to believe that she is imaginary there are points where you begin to wonder if she can be seen.

I wasn't really sure, initially, how to rate this but I've given it 4 stars. It makes you think about kindness, grief and love as well as having incredible artwork.

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher and author.

In a nameless city in the 1930s, a child is born dead. Two months later, her mother is convinced that the angels have brought Lydie back to her. What starts as a strange gossip among the people of the city, transforms into love and compassion. One by one , the people will start pretending, too, and soon enough Lydie, even though invisible, will become a part of everyone's everyday life.

Heartbreaking and beautifully illustrated, Lydie is a story that, although tragic, has a lot of kindness hidden within. Narrated by a statue of the Virgin Mary, it shows both the life of a tragic mother that only copes thanks to her delusion, but also the goodness that is hidden within us all.

This is a lovely and whimsical story about communities and the kindness they can show each other. We never do find out whether or not Lydie is real or just a fabrication supported by the entire local community.

The art uses muted colours, which suit the story perfectly, and the drawings themselves are gorgeous. It's a bit of a tear-jerker but ultimately a beautiful story.

Anyone who has suffered the loss of a child in any capacity will understand this story and how their lives carry on in your imagination.

DNF at 50%. Sorry, but this was just absolutely weird. I get that the woman was traumatised by the death of her child, but she kept this going on for years. Instead of anyone seeking help for the woman they just played along with it. It just went a bit too far for me. I could understand a few months, maybe a year, but 5? Whut? No.

The art was pretty nice (at points not that much), and that is what kept me going. Oh, and of course the hope that maybe the mother would get help or that she would snap out of it herself.

This is an odd little tale. The child, Lydie, was still born, and yet, her mother believes that she has come back from heaven, though no one can see her, and proceeds to raise her.

Does she exist? The statue of the Virgin Mary, who is telling the story, says she doesn’t know. She only knows that the mother believes the child does, and that the neighbors help her along, as does her father.

There are clues that she might exist. The children can see her, and draw pictures of her. It is very odd. When her grandfather goes to put a new coin under the invisible girl’s pillow, he finds a tooth. And just before he dies, he not only hears her, but responds to her, as though he has heard her before.

Perhaps a mother’s love has made her real.

Beautiful, old fashioned type of illustrations, as this is supposed to be taking place in the 1930s, in a village somewhere in France.

The illustrator has great use of body language, and draws all sorts of shapes and sizes. Even though it is an odd little book, I enjoyed it enough to finish it. Lafebre knows how do draw people, as though he has been observing small towns and their inhabitants.

Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.

Sweet, enjoyable read. Pleasant story. Love the sense of family in the neighborhood, reminds me of my own.

I'm usually not really into graphic novels but I really liked the premise of this one. The graphics are nice and story is really interesting. I would actually have liked to see more of it.

It’s lovely, and kind., and brings out the best in people. Although I didn’t like the part about the kittens.