I couldn't get into this strange story of a fevered night following a dancer and a woman who has decided to chronicle her life out of the blue. None of it really made any sense as she walked into strange scene after strange scene that felt more like a fever dream.

When rebuffing the advances of a weird Addams Family-styled fat bloke, ballet dancer Lola is told by a passing woman in an impractical coat that she is to be the subject of Coat Woman's next book, if only Lola will allow her to shadow her through her days and nights. Little is she to predict what those days and nights will entail, in this woozy mix of nightmare and Parisian mundanity. And for the reader there is little to flag up the fact this is a teenager's wet dream of light bondage, daddy issues, nuns, floods, and as many hang-ups as you'd like. Absolutely bonkers, this is an unsightly mix of signs that someone is desperately in need of therapy, and it ain't me.

'Modern Speed' with art and story by Blutch is a strange fever-dream of a story that takes place with a dancer and her would be biographer.

When we meet Lola, she is a dancer rehearsing for a demanding role. She meets a woman named Renee who introduces herself as a writer and wants to follow her around a write about her. What follows is a strange evening, where every door that opens brings another bizarre surprise in Lola's life, like her philandering father and his odd art projects, or the masked hoodlums who keep following them around.

I admit to not really getting this one. I tried to just go with the flow, but it eventually felt pointless, which is too bad. I usually like weird stories. It reminded me a bit of the Griffin Dunne movie 'After Hours.' Just not enough to recommend. I did like the art style with it's elongated lines and weirdly deformed male characters.

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.

⭐️1 Stars

A surreal depiction of modern Paris that is at once both dangerous and expected.
Focused on the life of one woman and her family, Blutch struggles to encapsulate the emotional intricacies of these relationships and instead relies on cheap scares and cliches to keep the reader interested.

Although I enjoyed the dynamic between our main characts Lola and Renée I felt that the style of the story hindered my attachment to them and this affected my enjoyment of the book.

You Should Read This Book if you Like 💕:
+ Interesting Narratives
+ Unique Art Styles

Trigger Warnings: Assault, Kidnapping, Predatory Men, Nudity.

I read this book twice expecting to enjoy it significantly more on reread and although I think Blutch's writing conveyed an excellent sense of pace and it was very easily digestible at 82 pages, I didn't get anything out of it on my second reading that I dint get on my first.

I received an advance review copy for free via NetGalley. I am leaving this review voluntarily 📚.

It is a weird comic. It was a tough read.
Whole concept didn't resonate with my expectations.
Characters are ugly and difficult to attach to.
What they do is also weired.
Things happen in abnormal and uncomfortable way and illogically.
May be there was some hidden meaning which I could not work out.
There is not much that I could understand and recommend.
Artwork is ok.
It tries to hold together a fragmented story.
Well I will check out what other readers have commented.
It didn't work out for me. Not recommended for general reader
Thanks netgalley and publisher for review.

So, here's the thing. It was surreal and gross. I like surreal. I rather dislike gross. All told, I could. have misunderstood it. Or maybe it's just not for me?

Anyway, I see no story or plot here. The art is great in places, less so in others.

<i>ARC through NetGalley</i>

This is a striking graphic novel. I like the art style and the sotry; they work very well together. I'll be recommending this one.

I appreciate the opportunity to read and review this title. Unfortunately, this title wasn't for me and I was not able to finish it.

I have no idea what this graphic novel is about. It is very surreal and that's all I can say about it. Not one for me.

A comic book/graphic novel that is almost impossible to review. Written and illustrated by the cult figure of Blutch whose depictions of modern Paris are quite wonderful in this surreal story. A story about the meaning of love and cognitive understanding into feelings and desires of your heart.

The ideas are focused through the life of a dancer, Lola who is struggling to put her unconscious self into a part for a challenging role in the production. She has a stalker, Renée with two e's who approaches her to ask if she can spend time with Lola as she wants to write a book about her life. Renée interrupts Lola outside the dance studio where a strange admirer is pronouncing his unrequainted love. Perhaps to escape his advances but without real consideration she finds herself in the company if Renée.

The drawings are wonderful, the translate a sense of place, convey danger and the lack of control Lola has in the next 24 hours. In an almost dreamlike world Lola is presented with various situations that threaten her life, challenge her sanity and undermine her ability to see reality. Paris becomes a menacing backdrop, devoid of people and tourist just characters like her Father from her past & present memories. intermixed with her strange suitor, her dance maestro and weird parties. I was freaked out by the images of nuns they follow to escape a perceived danger.

The theme seems to be relationships and in this 24 hour episode can Lola comprehend her own desires or will she be left to the misery of spurned suitors, indecision, trying to be someone different, repeating mistakes of others, missed opportunities and a life without the love of the one?

So much to contemplate; I feel I have so little understanding and comprehension on first reading. The images will live long in my mind and you know the meaning of the piece is perhaps secondary to my enjoyment of engaging with this visual format. I could score it from 1 to 5 stars but I only know it will always bring something new and please me each time I pick this comic up again.