Member Reviews
This book is achingly beautiful, yet so lovingly simple. It didn't need more, in fact I think it would have suffered from trying to cram more detail in. I adore the colour palette and it made me fall in love with Clémence and Grammy even more.
Memories can be so powerful, when you become separated from your own through something like Alzheimer’s it must do untold damage to someone's mind, not just the obvious effects on the people around you. It's such a taboo subject that's never talked about lovingly, mostly only from a medical point of view or just sharing the heartbreak it spreads.
Even this review / feedback is hard to write without getting a little teary eyed. It's long been said that the best books make you feel something deep within and stirring, but I think often people forget about graphic novels or underestimate them - writing them off as 'cartoons'. Combining such beautiful illustration and such a powerful message is so important, I can't stress how wonderful it is to me that Alix Garin took so much time and care over this.
Essentially... 'stealing' your grandmother is a big deal, but you can't fault the reasons for doing it. When your loved ones can't remember that they love you, they probably can't remember that they are loved, so make sure that every moment counts.
This was very beautiful. It hit close to home, and was very emotional. I am going to lower it to four stars because I wasn't particularly fond of the characters. Regardless of that, "Forget Me Not" is a lovely and heart-wrenching story that I totally recommend.
Oh! My God! I can't seem to find the right words to say anything about this emotional graphic novel. I loved the illustrations and the story really brought tears to my eyes. I was reminded of my childhood, my grandparents and also took a moment to ponder over my relationship with my mom. We need books like this in our lives, to bring out the humanity in us, to help us grow.
This book was sent to me as an ARC on NetGalley. However all opinions are of my own.
This graphic novel was a lovely story. All of the illustrations well well done and the story promise really captured my heart, it really show the relationship between a granddaughter and her Nan and I really really love that this was something quite close to my heart and I feel like it’s something I would have done personally.
The art is absolutely stunning, and the premise of the story is also very compelling. I struggled to connect with the main character, but maybe a younger reader might. She seemed a little careless, but perhaps her youth and immaturity was part of the point. It would be hard to put it on a school library shelf, because of the nudity (even though it didn’t bother me as a reader).
Overall—gorgeous art, mediocre story.
Oh My goodness, where to start with such a beautiful story.
The delicately coloured illustrations are a gentle visual to such an important topic.
It is never easy saying goodbye to loved ones, but having to do it daily with those suffering memory loss/alzheimers is tragically next level.
This is such a beautiful and sad story with such a strong message.
Don't live your life with words left unsaid, we never know when we will next get to say goodbye.
The ending to this left me in tears...
A picture tells a thousand words.
—“Too late” arrives sooner than we think—
Heartbreaking and emotionally overwhelming; these are the only two words I can think of when I just finished this graphic novel. I am numb, shocked, and still processing all those emotions this book made me feel, and at the same time, I am feeling guilty of reading this book too late because it triggered some suppressing emotions I have been holding back for some months. There was something I wanted to do for him but I couldn't, and will I ever be able to make peace with that regret? Never.
I wish I could have done it long before I had time with him but when in this book Clémence and her grandma were standing on the sea watching a beautiful sunset and then grandma turns to Clémence and hugs her; I couldn't control those emotions from flowing. This book touched some very sensitive parts of my life and it has the potential to make an emotional impact on every person who has their grandparents with them and it's even soothing-ly emotional to those who already lost them but still carry some essence of their existence in their hearts.
But what was this book all about?
After seeing her grandma struggling in the care home, Clémence decides to break away her from there and then a beautiful and refreshing road journey begins where Clémence is taking her grandma to her childhood home almost after 60 years. But it was not easy as breaking away from caring home because Granda suffers from Alzheimer's disease and at the age of 85 she still behaves like 20 years old and no wonder why it was painful to read every time she told Clémence that her (Grandma's) parents might be waiting for her at her home and she must go back or they might be worried about her.
With minimalist graphics, sentimental dialogues, and mesmerizing presentation of emotional bonds between characters, their interpersonal struggles, and conflicts, Alix Garim brilliantly managed to pick the nerves that touch the raw emotions and some of our insecurities. Clémence's issues with her mother and at some degree, Alix Garim remarkably showed Clémence’s life and her struggles; she didn't tag Clémence’s sexuality but it seemed like she was still exploring her sexuality that we can read from the excerpts of her past and some unexpected encounters.
NO SPOILERS, but that end was unexpected; I was expecting a happy ending but I didn't know Alix Garim had planned it in a way that would hit me with a sudden numbness which left me staring at the screen, still processing the shock and the way things happened. If you are someone who love reading books like 'A Man Called' then must go for it. You will be making one of the best decisions by reading this Book.
My god, this is one the best pieces of literature I've ever read. The story, the writing, the art, absolutely *CHEFS KISS.* This is the story of a young person who breaks their grandma out of the nursing home to take her on a road trip back to her old childhood home.
Beautifull. Simply beautiful. An emotional journey. 100% recommended.
A girl literally kidnapped her grandmother to take her to her old house. And she takes it in a car. it doesn't seem strange to me. The end is what surprised me the most.
Don't worry, I'm not going to say the end
Read my review in Spanish on my blog
If you want to see a visual and emotional representation of what Alzheimer's does to a person, this is the book to read.
Clémence is a young student who is dealing with her personal issues as well as the fact that her beloved grandmother's Alzheimer's seems to be worsening. To make her grandma happy one last time, Clémence décidés to take her on a road trip to the coast, to her childhood home. But a roadtrip with an Alzheimer's sufferer isn't easy. Add to this the complication that Clémence doesn't take permission from the nursing home before embarking on the journey with their patient. The journey shows an entire range of emotions and ultimately proves that the bond between family is stronger than any other.
The story is written in a gripping and intense manner. You will feel the tug at your heartstrings at the connection between Clémence and her grandma. One line that the grandmother says really stuck in my heart: "Too late arrives sooner than we think." How true is that!
The script of this graphic novel goes by very quickly. Many pages contain only sketches without any dialogues. So you don't even realise when the 224 pages are done. But I'm not really sure how I feel about the ending of the story. That turn of events was too disturbing for my liking, though it did make sense within the context of the story.
The illustrations are quite simplistic and keep your focus on the plot and feelings rather than being distractions. Some text in the background illustrations of the English version were still in French. It would be better to translate even those to English.
Some of the graphic panels contain complete nudity. (Mentioning this point just in case some readers are particular about nudity in graphic novels. Nothing sexual though.)
Thank you, NetGalley and Europe Comics, for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This book was so beautiful and intense. I was so emotional while reading this. The writing style was simple but the art work complemented it perfectly. The relationship between Clémence and her Grandma was beautiful. Great read!
Forget Me Not was my first NetGalley read - thanks Netgalley! I've always been interested in this site but I'm a bit of a slow reader so I worried about falling behind or over committing myself but then I thought - what about graphic novels? Graphic novels are often really quick reads but that doesn't mean that they can't deliver a lot in a small package. This book delivered a lot.
Clemence kidnaps her grammy from the nursing home - where grammy is miserable - and the two of them go on an adventure. But, the dementia is setting so there is both rollicking joy and immense sadness in this journey.
I lost my grandma two years ago and this book flooded me with memories. We lost her to the dementia before we lost her life but she was a fierce, fiery woman who I'll never forget. This book made me feel that grief again but it also reminded me that even in old age, even through illness, and memory loss, there is still joy to be found and lives to connect to and change. I know my grandma changed my life.
The book took a few unnecessary tangents, in my opinion, particularly when it covered some parts of the main character's love life. It felt tangential and not important to the story - but that is my small complaint for an otherwise beautiful read!
https://app.thestorygraph.com/reviews/d3e56a67-87ed-4892-a150-c315bb436e26
Thank you Netgalley and Europe comics for this copy of Forget Me Not by Alix Garin.
In Forget Me Not, Clemence and her mother are coping with her grandmothers rapidly worsening Alzheimers Disease. Due to the nursing home her grandmother stays in medicating her grandmother Clemence is driven to rescue her grandmother and take her on one last adventure in hopes to spark a memory.
This graphic novel is a gem and can honestly be read in about an hour or so. I really enjoyed the representation in here and the unflinching take on what Alzheimers Disease does to a family. The book does a pretty good job at showing how stressful keeping up with someone battling the disease can be and how its almost harder for the family members.
At times it felt a bit sentimental, which was fine as it never felt gratuitous either. This was a very solid graphic novel.
This was a fairly easy and fun read. I just needed something cute and it was perfect. It was cute and the pictures were lovely. I read it in about an hour.
I really enjoyed this one. The art was simplistic, but in such a way that it enhanced the story. The story was deep and full of real issues and struggles.
Pick this up!
This was a quick read. I had a grandfather who suffered from dementia, so I related to the story. It’s a heartbreaking thing to go through. I think the author wrote about it wonderfully, and it was a beautiful story.
This is an emotional but very good one. It shows what diseases like dementia and Alzheimer's can do to our relatives. The art was beautiful. I really liked the color palette used throughout. The story is told in a very well put together and executed way. The overall message of 'don't wait to tell people you love them because you don't know when your last moment will be' was done well too. I have no complaints at all. It wrapped up in a very satisfying way compared to other graphic novels I have read. I would say this is a good read for fans of people like Tillie Walden. I highly recommend this if you are looking for a quick and emotional book!
Forget me not, de Alix Garin.
“I never told ma what I needed to tell her.
Even though I had lots of opportunities.
“Too late” arrives sooner than we think.
Promise me you’ll never forget that, Clémence.”
A graphic novel (que *precisa* ser publicada no Brasil em um futuro não muito distante) da autora belga nos leva a uma viagem de carro que é muito mais que apenas isso: Conhecemos Clémence, uma menina em seus 20 e poucos anos; e sua avó, que tem Alzheimer e vive fugindo do asilo. Após uma fuga que mobiliza mãe e filha até o local onde a senhora passa seus dias insatisfeita, Clémence escapa com a avó para revisitarem a casa onde a segunda cresceu. Pelo caminho, avançamos e voltamos no tempo, reexperienciando o significado que os avós tiveram no desenvolvimento de Clémence, conhecendo o passado e presente de uma senhora que já não se reconhece como sua família o faz e vivendo os altos e baixos de uma viagem que não deveria, mas felizmente está acontecendo.
Peguei pra ler esse livro em uma madrugada insone. Esperava uma pequena jornada adorável e foi o que encontrei, embora tenha encontrado muito mais. ‘Forget me not’ é sensível, belo e poderoso: não poderia encontrar uma leitura rápida mais bonita pra me fazer chorar às 2 da manhã.
O impacto do Alzheimer em uma família e na própria pessoa, que vai se percebendo em sua desconstrução e é afetada dolorosamente por isso está claro na história, que tem nos silêncios muito o que falar também.
Uma obra que define tudo aquilo que é efêmero e por isso mesmo, tão significativo. Às vezes nos perdemos de nós, mas o que importa volta pelo carinho que investimos em outros tempos, no final das contas.
(https://www.instagram.com/p/CN0l__VD9Gk/?igshid=1itk63wr27lgx)
Forget Me Not is an incredibly somber heartfelt story of Alzheimer's and the struggles that come with it, showing both the patient and their loved ones. This book beautifully illustrates the seemingly random loss (and remembrance) of memories that comes with Alzheimer's. Through a somber look down memory lane and the battle from both sides, Forget Me Not shows the struggle from dealing with when to correct a memory and when to nod and go along with it, to the pain felt at realizing your memory is going, and there is nothing that can be done. I love the connection shown between granny and her granddaughter, even when times are frustrating and their relationship blurs between caretaker, siblings and their actual relation, the two never stay rooted in anger or frustration long, choosing to move on and continue toward the end goal, getting Granny home.
What. a tender story. Not only are the illustrations (and the layout) absolutely beautiful, but the journey of the characters is emotional and resonant and meaningful. I really enjoyed it.
A big thanks to Europe Comics and NetGalley for the e-ARC in exchange for my honest, unbiased review!