what a powerful book. the concept of a gay couple in a conservative era is definitely one that isn’t pondered much and the author truly gave a strong lens into what that might have looked like.

Two marriages, two divorces, two love affairs, and two estranged children later; Karl is an old, retired, and lonely man. In his attempt to make peace with his memories, he tries to reconnect with his daughter, he seeks forgiveness for all the lives he has wrecked. Will she forgive him?

Parallel by Matthias Lehmann is a thought-provoking graphic novel exploring the tragedy of being a homosexual man in post-World War II Germany. It spans the themes of love, loss, family, and choices.

Karl has a Sophie’s Choice to make. The haunting dilemma of living his truth or doing right by the people around him, of living his truth or conforming to societal pressure and bearing the brunt of his hidden truth, and the misery of feeling like a failure either way. The emotional turmoil of his sexuality and its illegality, and the loneliness of growing old alone build empathy but his selfishness is hard to overlook.
The marriages he commits to and the families he creates only to abandon it all. In his blatant disregard for the emotions of the women he married and the responsibility towards the families he made, Karl isn’t the selfless hero one idealizes. His dual identities are forever on the precipice of ripping him to shreds. It makes the reader wonder if society’s rejection and expectations were justifiable.

The violence, the abuse, the secrecy, the promises to stay away that mean nothing, the arrests, and the life peppered with fresh beginnings away from the towns that know. The emotional turmoil was explored with staggering authenticity.

The pacing was slow at times and the ending was abrupt but that added to the realistic appeal of the story. The drawings weren’t beautiful in the conventional sense making it hard to linger on the characters. But in a way, it seemed to mirror the mundane and ugly reality of the protagonists. There’s nothing beautiful about being homosexual in post-WWII Germany. An open ending is as hopeful as it gets.

Trigger warning: Infidelity, sexual assault, physical violence, homophobia, and toxic relationships.
Gist: It packed a gut punch and involuntary tears, totally worth it.
Thank you, NetGalley, Oni Press, and Matthias Lehmann for the temporary e-ARC.

Lehman crafted a beautiful and heartwrenching retelling of the plights of being queer in post WWII Germany. I cried, I gasped, I felt for Karl throughout his struggles. I don't think I've ever read a queer retelling of what happened after the Holocaust in Germany, so it is a pretty unique story.

One word: heartbreaking. This graphic novel was so beautifully drawn. It's a visual style that I don't normally jive with but as I kept reading, I began to really appreciate the way it lends itself to the type of story we're reading, and I ended up liking it.

Parallel goes on my list of great graphical novels to read and to my other list about closet gay lives in the past. The story of Karl while he tries to reconnect to his daughter and shows her his side of the story and how he is during post-WWII Germany is very impactful. I think the author did an amazing job telling what was like to be gay in Germany after WWII and how a closet gay man would live.
Karl is not the best person in the world he hurt a lot of people but like most closet families that happened a lot. While I was reading this I remembered a similar story by Laura Hall Affliction: Growing Up With a Closeted Gay Dad and how the topics were very similar.
I think the art style of the graphic novel is one of the only points I did not enjoy as much, sometimes the style was great but in other scenes, it did not work so well. At the beginning, the lack of definition was bothering but then moving on I understood it could have been due to the lack of memory by the MC due to his age.
Now this story has its moments that would make someone move its heart but I believe that as a graphical novel, it loses a bit of that emotional connection and the hit that would bring to the table.
Nevertheless is a great story and a great example of history in the LGBTQ+ issues.

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC

This is a fascinating story about different worlds and how our choices shape our lives. It's like looking into a mirror and seeing different versions of ourselves. The book takes us on a journey showing us how the characters' lives are connected in surprising ways. and how hard it must have been for people back then hiding their sexuality. It makes us think about how priviledged some of us are.
It's not just a story; it's a chance for us to think about our own lives and the paths we've taken. It's about love, loss, and the things that make us who we are. I would absolutely recommend this to anyone

Matthias Lehmann's graphic novel Parallel, which follows a closeted gay German man from the 1940s through to the 1980s, has a fantastic concept with a less than fantastic execution.

We follow main character Karl from his military service during WWII through starting one family in the east, being outed, starting another family in the west, while the politics of the mid-20th century play out in the background. And while that's a plot-line with promise, the pacing is off: This book is at least 100 pages longer than it needs to be. Additionally, the main character is deeply unlikable, but not in a particularly interesting way, which makes the pacing especially frustrating.

Still, the background bits of history and politics elevate the story, and the art (largely simple with a black & white/charcoal watercolour look) is fantastic.

I love that we can see Karl’s mistakes and regrets play out, and that he get redemption in the forgiveness of his reworked family. Lehmann’s art is spare, yet evocative.

This was okay,sometimes the simplicity of character designs masse the characters get crossed. The story was okay. I wish their reunion was given more focus asset ask that build up. I know that it was done to leave the story open ended to draw varied conclusions, but it was still lacking in my eyes. I don't appreciate stories that don't have an ending,it seems like lazy storytelling to me,but to each their own.

this book perfectly depicts the life we used to have in the early 80’s to 90’s and sadly, we are still facing these problems as of this moment. i thought it would be nice to read some graphic novels for fun and then i picked this up knowing that it’s about being queer in the early times.

I DIDN’T KNOW IT WOULD BE THIS HEARTBREAKING 😭 AAAA i am a mess. the main character’s story is just so.. real and i just hate to think that this is still being experienced by people 🥹

as a queer person myself, there’s nothing more fulfilling that openly showing everyone your true colors; who you really are. and the way that the main character forcibly has to just gulp his true self down is so painful to me ☹️ the way he thinks that he failed everyone around him meanwhile, it’s his society that let him down. being who you truly are shouldn’t be something that we are supposed to hide.

i could go on and on about this but i won’t for the sake of the you, the one reading this 😅

overall, 4.5 stars for me because of various trigger warnings that i wasn’t informed of when i started this graphic novel: cheating, sexual assault, homophobia (this one is kind of.. expected), toxic relationships, etc.

thank you to NetGalley and for the author !! 🫶🏻 this is truly a great book !

I adored the artwork throughout this book and was hooked on the story. It switches between past and present exploring Karl's family life while being gay which is forbidden and could lead to imprisonment if found. Needless to say, Karl has had a hard life but in the present he is trying to right his wrongs and get in touch with his daughter again. But will she respond?

This is beautiful… literally one of the best graphic novels I’ve ever read.
This story touches almost every fiber of my being and my feels. This book put me on a emotional trip, And I didn’t want it to be done.
“Parallel" delves deep into the struggles and complexities of being gay in a time when queer relationships were forbidden. The themes of longing, secrecy, and societal expectations are beautifully interwoven into Karl Kling's story, making it both poignant and relatable. The author, Matthias Lehmann, seems to have crafted a narrative that not only captures the historical context of 1950s Germany but also delves into the emotional turmoil experienced by Karl as he navigates his dual identities. The exploration of family dynamics, love, and the courage to live authentically despite societal pressures adds layers of depth to the narrative, making it a truly compelling read. Overall, "Parallel" is a powerful and thought-provoking graphic novel that sheds light on an important chapter in LGBTQ+ history.

One word: heartbreaking.

Ok maybe a little more:
This graphic novel was so beautifully drawn. It's a visual style that I don't normally jive with but as I kept reading, I began to really appreciate the way it lends itself to the type of story we're reading, and I ended up liking it.

This story shows Karl reliving his past as he writes to his estranged daugther, asking if she would come visit for his birthday. I liked how it shuffled from present to the past and honestly, I just felt for him. To say that we have a lot of privilege in being able to live our queer lives so openly in the present is an understatement and when you read this, there's both a frustration at the main character but also at the society he's living in that makes him behave in the way he has to. It's really sad and makes you reflect on what life was like (in the time after World War 2 and before the 80s) as a gay man who had to conceal his identity, but also unable to come to proper terms with it because of that.

This was such a beautiful graphic novel. The artwork is great and the characters feel very real.
If you enjoy reading about queer struggles in the past, middle aged men who struggle with life and unreachable love, this one is for you. Would recommend if you want to read something quick but serious, fun but heartbreaking and even thought provoking.
While I must admit that I did not think the plot was very original, I still found it an enjoyable read.

I don't know what to feel about this book. I mean, I get the essence and the content, but I just can't help but feel frustrated and at the same time just want to smack him in the head with a big ass plywood.

As for the storytelling, it's really drawn out and compelling with every page. The plot was perfectly executed. BUT THE EBNG THIOO.

I absolutely adored this book! Despite not typically being a fan of historical fiction, I found myself completely captivated by it. The accessibility and sheer intrigue of the narrative were remarkable. Lehmann's approach to storytelling through his art was truly masterful, allowing for a profound exploration of challenging themes. His portrayal of the lives of numerous individuals within the LGBT community during tumultuous historical periods was both poignant and enlightening.

A heartbreaking exploration as to the realities of being gay in the past, seen through a graphic novel featuring realistic,complex characters.

The wondrous feeling of knowing something is at odds with your incapability to be truly satisfied by courting the opposite sex, to the bullying,secret gay meetings upon friends and lovers, the slurs, the arrests, and the constant paranoia and need for fresh stars away from the town in which your sexuality was discovered, were all excellently portrayed in the novel.

Following a main character you will find yourself at cross with as often as you will pity him, I simply cannot help but be grateful for the uniqueness that marked all the characters in the book. and the authors perfect portrayal of a non perfect victim, of an unlikable main character who is now attempting to make amends and whom despite his many faults absolutely did not deserve to be treated the way he was by society as a whole.

Honestly, my only complaint about this book is the art style which I wasn't particularly fond of. I'd absolutely recommend giving it a try.

"Parallel" by Matthias Lehmann is a heartfelt graphic novel that dives into the struggles of being gay in 1950s Germany. Through the eyes of Karl, the main character, we're taken on a rollercoaster of emotions—fear, sadness, and a deep longing for acceptance. The artwork, though simple, is striking and adds depth to the story. While some readers might wish for a bit more character depth, the book's impact is undeniable. It's a touching and intimate portrayal of resilience and the human need for connection. Definitely worth a read if you're into graphic novels with a lot of heart.

Listen I love stories about the older generations of LGBTQ people! It’s a good story but I did struggle with it having a lot of downtimes so it felt like it dragged at points. I also had a hard time with the drawing style.

Thank you author, illustrator, publisher, and NetGalley for providing me with an eARC of this book!!

This is a story about a German man named Karl who is gay but can't tell anyone because back then it was illegal and he doesn't want to lose his family and friends. So he keeps his love affairs secret but his wife eventually finds out and divorces him. His 2nd marriage doesn't go much better and he ends up all alone in the end. He misses his daughter and writes a letter to her explaining his decisions from back then but will she forgive him?

The art style is very simple but that's not a bad thing, it fitted the story and the characters. I felt really sorry for Karl throughout the book and wanted him to find happiness and love so badly.
It's so sad to see how gay men were treated not even that long ago... makes you sick to your stomach. I could relate to Karl a lot - his internal struggle between telling the truth or keeping up a facade felt very real and authentic. The ending is somewhat hopeful which made me quite happy! I wish there was a sequel of some kind.