the young woman and the sea is a short graphic novel in which our protagonist, a french illustrator, has arrived in japan to paint the beauty of the country, and inevitably learn about the culture. once arriving, there are different people and creatures who show the illustrator the land, explaining different aspects of life there, in addition to exploring folklore and mythology that is tied into nature. in talking to these other characters, the illustrator not only gains inspiration for future paintings, but also gains knowledge about a culture and style of life outside of their own, and how nature plays an important role in so much.

i enjoyed reading this short story a lot! i was able to finish it pretty quickly, and i did not have any trouble reading it. i thought the illustrations were beautiful, and added a lot to the story. i also learned a lot through reading this, just like the illustrator does. the interactions with other characters were meaningful, and allowed us as readers to really see into the head of the illustrator, and expand our own knowledge about japan. while i did enjoy this story, i would have liked for it to have been a little bit longer. some sections did seemed rushed, and we never really got to see the illustrator painting anything, even though this was the main reason for the traveling. with this being said, i would still highly recommend this book to people who are interested in learning more about japan, enjoy creative and explorative processes that inspire art, spend a lot of time in nature, and/or enjoy reading graphic novels.

thank you netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this e-arc, in exchange for an honest review!

This was a very sweet little graphic novel/comic. A French woman goes to Japan to train in art and sees so many things she has in common with Japan and the Japanese people and also the differences. "Are we call connected by our relationship to the earth?" Yes! I loved that line. The landscape artwork was breathtaking while the people leave a lot to be desired. I liked the back and forth with the coloring, using it where it counted, to show those rich landscapes.

Loved the art work!!
Aesthetically one of the prettiest graphic novels I have read in a while.
The story was good, I enjoyed the circular feel to it.

I personally don't think it is a book that would do well my secondary school library. It is has more of a adult to mature YA feel.

The flowers and the landscapes in this graphic novel are superb. A japanese-style drawings in full colour with lots of details and capturing the beautiful admosphere of the Japanese countryside.
Unfortunatly the people ar a bit clumpsy and caricature-like, It is such a pitty, while the full page pictures are very good.

It was one of the first books I picked up and considering the fact that it is set in Japan, it was also a great option for the January in Japan reading challenge.

Reading this book was certainly not a usual experience. I was surprised by a legendary Japanese creature and just like the author-illustrator, I was taken on a journey by this creature/being. I found deliberating upon topics of life, death, and most importantly, nature. Oh, and how nature and life are so intertwined and how both are important aspects to deliberate upon if you want to find peace. 

Confused? I know I was.
But give it some time. It will come to you.

Thank you to Europe Comics for the ARC copy in exchange for a review. Unfortunately, I didn't find myself becoming very invested in the story. I thought the landscape artwork was beautiful, although I personally didn't love the style the characters are drawn in. This is just my personal preference though! The cover art is gorgeous and there were some lovely moments in the story, but it wasn't really for me.

The Young Woman and the Sea is an interesting graphic novel that follows the story of a young woman, travelling in Japan. Here, she discovers the Japanese landscapes that she usually sees on postcards. She meets Japanese people, who make her experience the struggles of being a foreigner abroad, with its difficulties such a language barrier, food, culture...etc.

I supposed that it was autobiographical or at least that these were the author's memories, but it wasn't until I re-read the blurb that I was sure there were. I found the content of this comic fascinating. Catherine Meurisse tackles the most emblematic cultural points with mastery and isn't shy to go even further by bringing things that the usual public doesn't know. I learned a few things while reading, especially when it came to myths and legends, and, as I really love them, this contributed to me enjoying the book even more.

What I found even more interesting was this feeling of getting lost. Catherine herself seems to lose herself in the Japanese landscapes and the stories she is told about. But the reader as well loses track of things that happen around him. The story is on the borderline between the real and the unreal, making us wonder if Catherine isn't in a dream and if she isn't going to wake up anytime in the story. Yet, she doesn't. She navigates from information to information, waving them all together and trying to make sense of the whole tapestry that takes form through the pages. I loved that.

I thought the drawings were very pretty, especially the landscapes. I wasn't particularly fond of how the characters were drawn, but it is just a matter of taste and, eventually, I don't think that was a bad thing: it emphasised the background, the landscapes, the flowers, the natural life, rather than the characters, and I believe that was what Catherine Meurisse was aiming for concerning this comic.

I would recommend this book, not to everyone because I am not sure everyone would be interested in the subjects that are broached, but I would definitely encourage Japan lovers to read it. Personally, I felt very attached to the main character, in the sense that I know how it feels to struggle to make yourself understood by the local people, and my love for Japan would push me to know every little detail about this country, just like Catherine did. Some funny moments helped balance the tone of the story between lighthearted and serious situations so that the story didn't end up tedious to read.

Thank you Netgalley and Europe Comics for the opportunity to review this graphic novel!

Although I wasn't fully invested in the storyline, the artwork of this graphic novel was excellently done. This book was comforting and enjoyable enough. Would recommend it to someone who loves to have some insights about Japanese countryside.

3.5 stars

The Young Woman and the Sea is a lovely story which lets readers think deeply about nature and our connection to it. This book explores the creative process as well as the struggle artists face when they are disconnected from the world around them. Although this book tackles very serious topics, there is also a comedic element sprinkled into it which is a nice touch.

The illustration in the book feels nostalgic and comforting, and sometimes has a Ronald Dahl-esque style. The scenery and colours in this book is truly beautiful and further deepens the element of appreciating and connecting to nature.

An artist visits Japan and wants to paint nature. She gets to know some peculiar people and hears some unusual stories. In her search for inspiration, she explores nature.

Illustrations are good, but not quite my preferred style. They are like caricatures, exaggerated and funny. They often feel like sketches and unfinished. But they go well with the story, which is often amusing and pretty unusual.

Thanks to Europe Comics for the ARC and this opportunity! This is a voluntary review, and all opinions are my own.

A gorgeously illustrated book, The Young Woman and the Sea moves between fantasy and reality with the stroke of a brush or the turn of a page. The landscapes in here are breathtaking and the characters are lively. The two strike the balance sought after by the author in this quirky and fun story of exploration, art, life, nature, modernity, history, and culture.
Besides the artwork, one of the most enjoyable aspects of the book was the inclusion of Japanese mythology and its relationship to culture and history - in particular, the fantastical Tanuki and his support of the protagonist. While the sparse dialog seems purposeful and overall useful to pushing the story along, there are places where it left me hoping for just a smidge more. Other than that, I highly recommend this title to anyone who loves art, Japan, culture, or is looking to find their own balance in life.

Beautiful colors tell this story. The style of drawings really makes you understand why the character is drawn to continue to explore this strange place she is in. Combining fantasy elements and real elements, sure to please fans of fantasy and graphic novels.

Thank you to NetGalley for the eARC of The Young Woman and the Sea by Catherine Meurisse.

The Young Woman and the Sea is a gorgeously presented graphic novel about a girl who travels to Japan to try and gain some creativity for her art.

The art of this was unique and not something I had come across before, there was humour in the book I definitely was not expecting but I appreciated the references to some classic Japanese films/studios.

Overall it was a good story albeit a bit confusing to follow at times with beautiful drawings, however I found it a bit difficult to read some of the text, especially on a mobile phone, I’m sure it would have been easier on a larger tablet screen or in physical format.

Quality Rating: Three Stars
Enjoyment Rating: Four Stars

An enjoyable and thoughtful little tale, instilled with humour and history, drawn from memories and experiences of the author from what I can tell. There's clearly a sense of understanding and education around the culture, but there's also an acute sense of Japan and its customs being 'strange' and 'other.' This was a shame as it's high time those sorts of cliches are left behind - perhaps the translation from the original French was a little shaky and accidentally exaggerated this as I did feel in general that Meurisse did have great respect for the culture. The illustrations were at times stunning, and others a bit cartoonish for my particular tastes, however they captured the intended serenity of the countryside our heroine finds herself in well.

Devoured this graphic novel. The art is amazing and the story makes the illustrations even more picturesque then they already are. A beautiful story about folklore, poetry and art set against the fantastical backdrop of Japan with some magical elements thrown in. It was exactly the palate cleanser I needed right now and I think anyone who appreciates the art in graphic novels will be hard pressed not to salute Meurisse for her stunning and unique abilities.

The Young Woman and the Sea is an autobiographic tale about the artist's adventure traveling in Japan and her own art journey. I first have to save that the cover of this graphic novel is absolutely beautiful so I was slightly disappointed after I started reading it as the character art is sketchy and overly cartoonish. One could argue that it suits the tone of the story, but I am personally not a fan. The background art and scenery on the other hand are very appealing to look at and this is clearly where this artist really thrives. The juxtaposition of the simple character designs and the detailed scenic art just doesn’t work for me although I do genuinely enjoy reading about artists and the act of creative pursuits.

The books potraits the journey of a French illustrator who has come to Japan. The illustrations are gorgeous and the book amazingly touches all the basic things about Japan but in a pretty unique manner.
As the book's protagonist is a painter, we get to know about different paintings throu the conversation of our protagonist and other characters in it.
Nami was one of the most attractive character in the book as she held in a mysterious nature yet she took the lead in the end.
It's was a well paced plot with beautiful illustrations going throughout the book.

Thank you to NetGalley for the eARC of The Young Woman and the Sea by Catherine Meurisse.

Reading about a girl who travels to Japan for creativity for her paintings was great, the art work was different then what i normally few however there were some pictures of art i loved. I was also very surprised and shocked to come across the thing in the one temple area.... i was not expecting that at all which made me laugh and smile.

Some of the writing was a bit difficult to read and trying to follow the story was not as simple as i thought it would be.

Thank you NetGalley for this free copy!

This story is about an artist from France who visits Japan in search of inspiration. The comic walks you through the emotional experience of seeing things for the first time in a new country by emphasizing the beauty of nature and how we all have a connection to the earth. It also shares the message of respecting nature and how modern advancements have marred the beauty of nature.

The illustration of the scenery is beautiful and the characters are drawn to somewhat resemble the figures that you can find in traditional Japanese art. The landscapes have a delicate beauty about them and I think that the way the characters are drawn has a very minimalist feel to them.

Also, if you are a lover of haiku or words in general, you will enjoy reading this comic because one of the main characters is a haiku poet and his dialogues are so beautifully written that they are a joy to read!

So if you're into Japanese culture with a passion for beautifully crafted words, give this comic a shot!

Beautiful illustrations!

I received a copy from NetGalley for an honest review.

This story is about an illustrator that travels to Japan to paint nature. Along the way she gets a visit by a tanuko (kinda like a raccoon) and another painter.

This story has beautiful illustrations and the author shows love for Japanese countryside.