'Turntable' by Zidrou with art by Raphael Beuchot is a graphic novel about a Belgian violinist visiting the Congo. I found it a charming story.

When Belgian violinist Eugène Ysaÿe is invited to the Congo to give a concert, he also sees it as a chance to visit his nephew. An ailment postpones the concert and leaves him wearing a neckbrace. At his nephew's house, he meets a man named Turntable who is in charge of winding the turntable and playing music. Eugene finds there is more to Turntable than meets the eye. Eugene finds depth and friendship in a man that many simply overlook.

I really enjoyed this moving story of a man out of his element who learns to see others with new eyes. The art is really nice. This story will stay with me for a while.

I received a review copy of this graphic novel from Europe Comics and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this graphic novel.

I have read a few Europe Comics in recent times and I have loved most of them. “Turntable” by Zidrou and Raphael Beuchot is no exception. Based on the true story of Belgian violinist and composer Eugene Ysaye’s trip to Africa, Turntable is a breezy read.

The book begins with Ysaye saying goodbye to his very young wife as he leaves to give a concert in Leopoldville (Kinshasa today) in the Congo. But he lands with a stiff neck and ends up with a neck brace, which delays the concert. He stays with his first wife’s nephew at his sprawling bungalow by the lake and the story unfolds over the next few days as he recuperates.

Ysaye is soon introduced to Turntable, one of the helpers at the bungalow, whose sole job is to play music. At first he is aghast at the very concept of a person employed solely to change records on the turntable but over the next two days he slowly gets used to the idea. Enough to begin conversing with Turntable as equals. From there Ysaye slowly gets more acquainted with the lives of the natives and, eventually, becomes their friend.
A very quick read, Turntable has beautiful illustrations that support the story’s setting. The theme is not new but I still felt uplifted when, one by one, Ysaye’s notions about Africans were dispelled. Above all, he forms a kinship through music with Turntable whose father’s vast record collection astounds him. And similar to Henri, Ysaye’s precious violin that he doesn’t allow anybody to touch, Turntable is very possessive about his records too.

I enjoyed reading this thoughtful yet easy-to-read story that explores colonialism with sensitivity, allowing for compassion from both sides.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me this ARC for a review!

This is a story of colonialism. This is the story of white people oblivious to the world around them. This is a story of the Belgium Congo, and a musician from the "home country" who is amazed at what he sees around him, including a man, a servant, whose only job it is is to run the phonograph, the turn table, because, at the time, the only records are 78s, which only last a short time, before the music runs out.

My mother had those type of records. They were thick and broke if you dropped them, and the music lasted, as I recall, about 15 minutes, before you either had to turn them over, or find another record to play.

Because Eugène, the musician, is an outsider, only he sees how absurd this all is. And because the servant, named Turntable, and he both share a love of music, the bond. He is not used to the colonist way of staying away from the servants, and ignoring them, and even walks into Turntable's village to witness the birth of his child.

<img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-399" src="http://www.reyes-sinclair.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Screen-Shot-2018-04-15-at-10.08.18-PM.png" alt="Tiurn table" /> <img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-398" src="http://www.reyes-sinclair.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Screen-Shot-2018-04-15-at-10.14.41-PM.png" alt="Turn table" />

It is a sad, thoughtful piece of writing, showing colonist power, but also the power of music.

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

Turntable, by Zidrou and Art by Raphaël Beuchot, is a 1930s account of a musician who is invited to Africa to spend time with his nephew, and to perform a concert. The story is based on true events and reads as a graphic novel. I found the story interesting and likeable. The characters were well-portrayed and believable. The friendship between Eugene and Turntable is a charmer. This story is aimed at adults as there is some nudity and sexual references/situations.and gore. However they do not drive the story. Recommended.

An interesting graphic novel. There is a lot to love here. Will definitely recommend it.

A violinist and classical music expert travels to the Belgian Congo in the old days of empire, and instead of the ignorance and kowtowing to him going on, finds an unlikely kinship with a native employed solely to care for and play vinyl records. The atmosphere and the artwork were finely wrought, as were some great dream sequences, but I can't say the whole thing grabbed me. Pleasant enough, but not quite as impactful as I might have hoped.

A man called Turntable has spent his life serving his Belgian colonial masters in the Congo. His sole duty is to play records on the turntable for the people he serves. He has been doing this since he was a child. He knows what music to play and when to play it because he listens to the story the music tells.

When the Belgian violinist Eugène Ysaÿe visits his nephew in the Congo he is surprised to meet Turntable. What surprises him is not the arrogance of colonial life in the Congo, but that Turntable has such a deep appreciation of music and a gifted abilty to interpret the music he hears. The two men form a shared appreciation of music which subverts the power relationship between colonialists and their servants.

This man with no learning, little power and no name, has developed an appreciation for music that Eugène's students dont even have. Despite serving a colonialist, Turntable has become gifted and values his life and his role. He now has something beautiful to share with others and despite his circumstances he has become gifted.

The story is actially told from the perspective of Eugene but the true beauty of the story lies with Turntable.

The artwork is lovely and the story is poignant. Once again Zidrou tells a beautiful story by means of beautiful graphics. It is a story that leaves the reader thinking.

Copy provided by Europe Comics via Netgalley in exchange for an unbiased review.