I was not fully invested in the story line, however I thought the art work was beautiful. I did find it difficult to read some of the text at times.

I think there are many who will enjoy this graphic novel. I just don’t think I’m the intended audience.

Thank you to Dargaud for the free review copy of this book!

This was a sweet little story about the main character going to Japan to draw nature and the whimsical things she sees and experiences during her stay.

I love the art style, there were so many scenes that were absolutely stunning!!

At times it gets very philosophical, but there were also moments where I laughed out loud!

I will probably buy myself a physical copy just for the art alone!

This book was so beautiful. I loved the artwork and some of the writing was so lyrical. I loved the little bits of Japanese culture we get in the relationships between the people and nature. Nature really is it's own character in this book.

I did have a couple problems with it, which is why I only gave it 3 stars. Originally I picked this up because the description said "In a Lewis Carroll manner," and I honestly wouldn't compare this to Lewis Carroll at all. Just because there's a talking racoon as a character, doesn't mean we're in wonderland. I get that this isn't the book's fault, but it caused a lot of disappointment. I also didn't really get the storyline, if there was one. It felt like a way for the author to show as all the beauty she saw in Japan and the tidbits of culture she picked up. I just wanted more depth.

“If I can’t understand anything, I can at least feel something, right?”

I enjoyed the big picture story that this graphic novel told as the main character learns more about Japanese language, culture, and relationship with nature. She experiences the inherent cycles of life and nature in a humorous and light way.

The illustrations of Japanese landscapes and nature were stunning and vibrant, and I appreciated the tributes to famous Japanese stories and works of art throughout.

Some of the character’s social blunders and loud pronouncements about not understanding things made me cringe, though. As a westerner living in Japan, I’m well aware of the cultural and social differences, and I’ll admit it annoys me a bit when westerners are so incredibly ignorant of other cultures and practices when visiting or moving to new places. Yes, social faux pas will happen, but they don’t have to be as overly absurd and bumbling as they often are.

Overall I enjoyed the graphic novel, and I loved the artwork!

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing an eARC of this title in exchange for my honest review.

The art was absolutely beautiful. I liked how the characters were more caricature-like and sketch based. This makes the reader focus on the surrounding nature and environment, which is the entire focus of the graphic novel.

I understand that the young artist is travelling to Japan to learn about the popular art techniques there, which will act as a culture shock and a learning experience for her, but almost every time she learns something new, she dismisses it as weird, strange, or “other”.

I did have a little bit of trouble reading the script in the text bubbles. I think this is only a problem because I read it on my phone, but it might also be difficult to read for those who are visually impaired (the font is in a brush style).

This graphic novel is about a foreign woman in Japan in pursuit of a creative quest. And when I tell you I devoured this in one sitting!!! I loved the language barrier and the silly miscommunications, I feel like it was quite a relatable aspect. This book is about Japan, the countryside, nature and poetry and o just thought it was quite stunning.

The art style is visually pleasing, but the look of the protagonist seems to contrast that of the landscapes and backgrounds. I think this was intentional to show that she does belong to this place, but it’s a bit jarring at first. The script used for the thought bubbles and text boxes is a little hard to ready, but again, you get used to it… There’s little introduction to the story so you kind of jump right in and have to figure out what is going on. The artist is in Japan to paint. She learns a lot of stories and about the landscapes while she’s there. There isn’t a lot of plot, but it’s a cute novel.

I loved the artwork in this graphic novel. It is a story about being connected to nature. I would recommend this for the beautiful scenes of the landscapes of Japan.

This book is as beautiful as it is quirky! The art style is absolutely breath taking and it really helps portray the beauty of nature. This book makes you want to hop on a plane and experience these Japanese landscapes for yourself!

The story itself dives into navigating different cultures, and overcoming these obstacles. I really enjoyed the humorous elements within it too!

All in all it was a fantastic story and I’m grateful to Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read it!

Boring. It's just plain boring. I tried, really tried to like this one. But I just found myself constantly checking if it was over. The art style is pretty, I liked it. But the story just wasn't interesting enough.
It wasn't for me.
1/5
Maria Lourdes

This is my first time reading a graphic novel and I must say, I enjoyed it a lot more than I was expecting. Beautiful sketches and a memorable story, this is a book that I will definitely recommend.

It’s definitely a very quick read.

It felt all over the place and I couldn’t quite figure out what it was about. It touches ignorant western tourists in Japan and also art and it’s various forms (painting, poetry, and music). It talks about how it can be difficult to get inspiration for your art. The story line left a lot to be desired.

I enjoyed the pictures, especially the Japanese scenery. For that reason alone I would recommend this book.

A Japanese mythical creatures, Buddhist deity, and artist join our intrepid adventuring artist as she immerses herself in ukiyo-e-style artworks in this philosophical book. Fans of Alice in Wonderland will enjoy the whimsy of this flight of fancy. Beautiful art panels are intermingled with at times humorous at times thought-provoking text. A good read for Japanophiles or a pretty conversation piece for the coffee table.

I absolutely adored both the art and story of the young woman and the sea.
Thank you to NetGalley and Publisher for providing me with an Earc of this story in exchange for an honest review.

Beautifully illustrated throughout.

I am grateful to Europe Comics and NetGalley for allowing an early copy of this comic translated into English. A young French woman goes to Japan to expand her horizons. An illustrator who likes to paint landscapes. The land of the rising sun affords he many new experiences; the familiar in new and transformed settings as well as opening up to her the country’s myths and mysteries.

She meets different characters in her travels and struggles to grasp the hold natural events have over landscape and nature.

I really enjoyed this light and funny approach to life and struggling to understand language, tradition and way of life. The respect for the environment and power of Water, Earth and Fire show why we need to be harmony with our surroundings and mindful of past events. It presents a challenge to the artist regarding what they see and translate onto canvas.

Showing the value of creative art both in its form and inspiration. I love the sense of exploration and context.

This is a journey the writer takes us on and allows us to glimpse a fresh reality and find peace in a new place.

“We prefer the temporary, which when renewed, points to the eternal.”

Thank you, NetGalley for the chance to read this!

This was just a super pretty and refreshing read. One should just light a nicely scented candle and read this in one sitting while marveling over the artwork.

Thanks Net Galley for a free copy in exchange for an honest review!

Catherine Meurisse's landscapes are absolutely stunning, making you want to be in the Japanese countryside. This short graphic novel discusses western vs Japanese art, inspiration and what it is to be an artist.

I did enjoy this, but everything felt a bit rushed. I wish more detail had been included, especially about the sea and goddess. My favourite parts throughout were the discussions of language and haikus.

A quirky and abstract Graphic Novel of one artist's attempt to find inspiration from nature.
On an artist's residency in Japan, a French artist tries to put the landscapes around her onto paper. Meeting quirky characters along the way and with a backdrop unlike her home in France, we follow her as she learns more about the world she is in.
With a mixture of crudely drawn people and deeply colourful detailed landscapes, the art is emotive and in unison with the story.

In The Young Woman and the Sea, Catherine Meurisse tells the story of a French illustrator who visits Japan to find inspiration. On her journey she meets different people and creatures. The illustrations are amazing and portray the Japanese landscape beautifully. I really like the contrast of the pretty illustrated natural scenes and the caricature-like human characters. The story is filled with little details about Japanese culture and I learned a few things from reading this book. I would recommend this graphic novel to Japan lovers and to people who appreciate Meurisse's artwork.

When West meets Far East.
French illustrator visits Japan to find an inspiration. Alongside her way she meets a mythical tanuki (racoon), a painter who would like to paint a woman and Nami, who runs inn, where both artists are staying in. A mysterious woman with numerous boyfriends and husbands who actually can predict an arrival of typhoon.

'Once I have entered this land, all the beauty in the world becomes part of my being. Without even touching a canvas, I become a first-class painter.'

It's a lovely story about culture differences, importance of a nature and slowing down to enjoy the world around us. How we are connected one to another.

As I would love to visit Japan one day, I found illustrations very stunning. The way Japanese countryside was portrayed reminded me all those photographs I have seen which inspired me to travel there. One day, as I hope.

I really adored the story. The way of searching for inspiration, living cultural differences between West and Far East, the way of connection between nature and inner peace. The story is not heavily focused on the plot or any action as it is on spiritual meaning of life and our surroundings.

Are we all connected by our relationship to Earth?

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.