<i>“Clément, did you know I’m Jewish? How would you react if I were to say that about the Holocaust, that “I’m not that interested” in it?”</i>

A insights conversation with his therapist ignites our protagonist's desire to uncover his family's roots. His quest takes him all the way to Istanbul, a city in which his Armenian grandparents lose their first-born child Carole.

This graphic novel explores identity and integration in all its varied forms - his Armenian grandfather whose feelings about the genocide are tempered by memories of his glorious youth spent in Turkey , to the protagonists with their French nationalities and Armenian roots, to Ataturk's ideal of a united Turkey at the cost of erasing its multicultural richness.

Being largely autobiographical in nature, the reader should expect open endings and wrong recollection of dates. On the downside, I felt that the author neither explores the Armenian immigrant identity, the genocide, the present day protests against Erdogan, nor Ataturk's legacy in detail. The result is that of languidly browsing a travelogue - snapshots captured vividly but contextually left up for interpretation. But there's something to be said about universal themes - as one observer puts it - "Armenians, Greeks, Jews… The nationalists aren’t particular"- that will resound with readers worldwide.


Thank you to Netgalley and Europe Comics for the ARC.

Thank you to Netgalley and Europe Comics for providing me with a free electronic copy of Carole in exchange for an honest review.

Carole follows the story of two brothers, who journey to Istanbul at a time of turbulence and protest to try and find the missing grave of their mother's older sister, Carole, who died when only a few days old.

A touching story that explores the family history of Armenians living in Turkey before fleeing to France during the genocide. A story of identity and belonging, of heritage and ancestry. I enjoyed the relationship between the two brothers, and with their grandparents, and the brothers' realisation that their investigation brings pain and suffering back into focus for people around them.

Beautifully written and lovingly drawn, I really enjoyed this book. I was hoping that we would find some finality, some truth exposed or uncovered, but because this story is real, things don't always turn out that way. It's a lovely graphic novel, great for a relaxing read.

Thank you so much Netgalley, Europe Comics and Clement for the advanced copy!

The illustrations are amazing and I really enjoyed the emotional and cultural depth of the story.

On the face of it, "Carole" is two brothers' quest to find their aunt's grave in Istanbul—an aunt who died shortly after birth. Their grandparents, who had long since left Istanbul and established themselves in France, had once tried to find the grave again, but it had seemingly disappeared.

It helped going into this to know that the grave is largely beside the point; the book is a much deeper exploration of culture and history (and history in the making) and family lore than a simple grave, located or lost to time, can offer. I'm reminded of "I Want You to Know We're Still Here", in which the author seeks traces of a half-sibling lost to World War II—in both cases, the search for records provide perhaps a more concrete and longer-lasting record than there is anywhere else.

The art is great—the cover is very true to the rest of the book—and I love the way the relationship between Fabre and his brother is depicted. There's a lot of push-pull, with one brother more adventurous and comfortable in the unknown than the other, and even as they clash they clearly *get* each other. I particularly love that Fabre isn't interested in making himself the, or a, hero of this story; he has a great eye for the reality of the situation.

It helps, reading this, to be okay with somewhat ambiguous endings, but this is a good one. Highly recommend.

Thanks to the author and publisher for providing a review copy through NetGalley.

Carole is a lovely watercolor true story graphic novel about two brothers traveling to their ancestral home of Istanbul to search out the grave of a long-lost aunt, and in that search learn about the heavy pieces of history (namely, the aftermath of the Armenian genocide in Turkiye) that affected (and didn't affect) their family, and how generational trauma can affect the body and the mind and the heart.

As someone who thinks a lot about family history (or in my case, lack thereof), watching the brothers go through their trip hunting down documents and exploring the varied-culture city of Istanbul, this comic felt strangely nostalgic even though it's nothing I've personally been through. I liked it, and it's very worth reading especially as it touches on pieces of history not commonly taught in school, unfortunately.

“Tell me about your grandfather. What made him leave Turkey?” “The genocide, I believe. He’s Armenian.” “Did you know him?” “He’s still alive.” “The centenary of the genocide is in 3 years. How old is your grandfather? Have you ever asked him about it?” “Not really. I’m not that interested in it.” “Clément, did you know I’m Jewish? How would you react if I were to say that about the Holocaust, that “I’m not that interested” in it?”

Some say shrinks are useless, but for Clément, that conversation was the revelation that led to a deeper examination of himself and his family ties - and a trip to Istanbul, looking for the tomb of their aunt, Carole - the little girl his grandparents lost before his mother was born, and the main reason of their uprooting.

Equal parts travelogue, historical detective story, family chronicle and social critique, “Carole” is an amazing book that wears its influences on its sleeve (it even lists some: Cyril Pedrosa, Nancy Huston, Jeffrey Eugenides...) while having a style all its own. The way it deals with the pogroms is sensitive and respectful, with a hint of dark humor here and there (one of the characters says, speaking about the 1955’s attack on the Greek quarter: “Armenians, Greeks, Jews… The nationalists aren’t particular.” while sipping his coffee out of a “I love Istanbul” cup. A little later, a cemetery appears - with Armenians, Greek and Jews all lumped together.).

On surface level, this might not look like much - but give it a chance. It’s one of the best books I’ve read this year.

This book is fantastic.
We are discovering family connections, and how everyone feels about the past and seeing the contrasts with the present now.
It's a story that portrays feelings honestly.

It combines all of this and still lets us, through the drawings, feel the country and the lived reality. I find it very interesting, the story follows the two brothers, who present two personalities and perspectives on things. I feel it adds more depth to the story.
The drawings are beautiful, painted in watercolor, portraying the experience and emotions.

And I loved the ending. It's a story about life, and life is what it is.
It was a wonderful read with a fantastic story.

Clément C. Fabre‘s Carole (translated by Matt Madden) is a visually beautiful graphic memoir, while a light watercolour style (interspersed with black-and-white panels showing the past) that’s just lovely.

The story itself - the author and his brother travel to Istanbul to loom for the grave of an aunt who died in infancy - is a little less satisfying. The brothers’ grandparents (ethnic Armenians who lived in a Greek neighbourhood) moved to France during the pogroms of the 1950s, but are oblivious to that historical context. They also take their trip in 2013, in the middle of the Gezi Park protests, and are just as oblivious to the politics of the present.

At first I wondered if Fabre might be exaggerating his own ignorance as a means of explaining history to his readers, but as the book progresses it becomes clear that no, he’s just genuinely never looked into either his family’s own history or checked newspapers for stories when he travels. And that makes him something of a less-than-satisfying guide. While I’m sure his experience would be true for many, those people probably aren’t writing a book about it! He also does himself no favours by comparing his work-in-progress to Persepolis early on in-text.

Still, the art is fantastic. And even if the author frustrated me, I always love hearing people’s family stories, so it was still well worth the read.

I had an eARC from NetGalley, but I think the art would even better in album format,

This story captures the vastness of a short life that leaves a powerful legacy. Hold do we hold space in our lives for those we never got to meet?

The combination of family and national history was well balanced and the art was clear yet in impactful.

Highly recommend, especially lovers of The Waiting, Hakim's Odyssey, and Persepolis.

Carole is the beautiful and sometimes difficult story of a person traveling to better understand their family’s history.

I am in love with the illustrations in this book. They are detailed enough that it really feels like we are traveling and discovering these places with the characters, and still the illustrator managed to add so much emotion with the framing and the colouring.

I also really liked how honest the story feels. Digging into the past isn’t easy and sometimes questions are left unanswered and there’s confusion on some facts and that’s just the way things are. The characters all have complex thoughts about the past that sometimes clash in a very realistic way that doesn’t feel fabricated for the story, it really feels honest and therefore, has a real impact on the reader.
Reading this book left me wondering how I would feel in such a situation, which is always good.


That said, I did have a few issues with this graphic novel. The calligraphy/font chosen was hard to read for me (especially the “v” which looks like an “s”) and affected my reading experience negatively. I also felt a bit confused by the time jumps back and forth between before the trip, meetings with the main character’s therapist, etc.


Thank you NetGalley and Europe Comics for the opportunity to read this ARC.

Thank you to Netgalley and Europe Comics for the ARC.

This graphic novel follows the story of two brothers searching for the grave of an aunt who died in infancy, and it's a journey that takes them through the cemetaries of Instanbul while the 2013 protests are raging, a reflection of the Armenian genocide that forced their grandparents to flee to France all those years ago.

It's an interesting slice of someone's family history, especially of the decendants of victims of a genocide whose lives are completely shaped by it, but are themselves one generation removed from the violence, and so feel disconnected from it. There's a mystery (where is the grave and what happened to it) but don't expect resolution. We follow along the events of their trip, discovering slight and largely irrelevant discrepancies between their grandparents' fuzzy memories and actual dates.

I feel much of what the story lacks is contextual research. Some of the most interesting parts were relating the events of the Istanbul pogrom, or the razing of the Aremenian cemetary by Atatürk. As it is, the author's lack of knowledge and interest is evident. He barely knows who Atatürk is. He doesn't recognise what the protestor's are chanting (Erdoğan's name). I understand that this was his state of mind in 2013, but his more knowledgable narration doesn't offer much more insight. The author even namedrops Persepolis in the story, as the brothers discuss making a comic about their trip, but it's an awkward reference to make; by comparing this to Persepolis, Carole comes off as a much more shallow experience, more akin to a slideshow from a recent holiday. I think the author felt held back from exploiting other people's memories and stories for his own story.

While the font of this english translation is not always easy to read, the artwork is great. The detail on the buildings and graves especially is excellent, and the rendering of the protests certainly did more to make them feel big and impressive than I remember them being portrayed at the time.

"Carole" is a graphic novel that skillfully delves into the complexities of family history, memory, and the intricate threads that connect us to our past. Clément's quest to find the grave of his long-lost aunt, Carole, unfolds into a rich narrative that explores not only the tangible aspects of his family's history but also the deeper, hidden layers of emotion and identity.
The graphic novel presents a compelling blend of visuals and storytelling, creating a multi-sensory experience for readers. As Clément interviews his grandparents and mother, the unsaid emotions and unspoken truths become palpable, adding depth to the narrative. The exploration of conscious and unconscious realities, and the way relationships and family history shape our psyches, is executed with finesse. The graphic novel's exploration of intergenerational trauma is striking and it underscores the profound and enduring impact that historical events can have on one's lineage, emphasizing the importance of remembering and understanding our collective past.
One of the novel's most captivating aspects is its realization that the search for Carole's grave is more than just a physical quest; it's an introspective journey that reveals the profound impact of family dynamics and history on our lives. This realization adds a layer of depth and poignancy to the story, making it a thought-provoking and emotionally resonant read.
The visual style of "Carole" is visually striking, enhancing the storytelling and creating a unique and immersive reading experience. The narrative's exploration of memory and the way it weaves through the pages is a testament to the power of graphic storytelling to convey complex emotions and ideas.
In summary, "Carole" is a magnificent literary exploration that combines visual flair with emotional depth. It invites readers to contemplate their own family histories and the unspoken stories that shape their identities. This graphic novel is a testament to the enduring power of storytelling to illuminate the intricate tapestries of our lives.

Thanks Netgalley and publisher for automatically allowing me to read this graphic novel.

The history regarding the armenian war seems interesting but rather vague in this graphic novel like I know the story focuses on the two frenchmen to search for clues on Carole’s mysteriously disappearing grave, but I wish we were shown the background of the whole story first before deep diving into the two men’s inspection. This would’ve made me understood the story more clearly and I wouldn’t have lost interest.

Two brothers go back to Turkey to research family history. Their grandparents had to flee the country during a civil war, and the brothers want to see the places that meant alot to their family, most of all, a grave of their first born daughter Carole. The story is moving and rewarding, just not in the way the reader might want from page one.

This piece is very moody and atmospheric, but at the same time quite rambly and disjointed. The scenes resonate individually, but don’t quite come together as a story — which is something I found to be quite common to autobiographic graphic novels. It’s as if retracing the elements of their own lives, they achieve connection, but by hiding some parts, or choosing not to go into them, they create gaps that disconnect. It was an interesting read overall, but didn’t feel like it had a lot of tightness to its structure or closure.

Thanks to Netgalley for an ARC.

Carole focuses on the story of the author's family as he and his brother try to find the grave of his grandma's deceased daughter. So they travel to Istanbul while there are a lot of protests. There they're trying to trace their grandparents' past and also visit locations they frequented. But they also have to visit lots of graveyards to find a trace of Carole and her missing grave. The story highlights the difficulties and the genocide the Armenians faced in the country.

This graphic novel takes us on a journey to discover a family mystery in Turkey during the time when there was uprisings and a lot of political unrest in arab countries.
It follows french brothers (who actually wrote and illustrated the graphic novel) trying to find out what happened in their family mystery. It takes us on a wider journey in to the family and the things they encountered during the 1950s when Armenians were persecuted in Turkey.
For me, as this was a 'true' story to the author and his family, I found it a bit like looking through someone you know's family photographs. It's lovely but there isn't the same connection. There were lots of stories we missed as the author felt it not fair to discuss the stories of their family as a way to sell a graphic novel. I agree but it meant that it was lacking in 'plot'.
I thought the illustrations were good but, having been to Turkey, there was a lot that was really missing in my opinion to make it feel more 'Turkish'. The references were there in the text but there was a lot missing, like the mountains / hills you can see - they spoke about it but would have been great to see them there.
A sweet story in the family sense but also a very good reminder of the tragedies that happened in the 50s to the Armenian population. Very much a part of history we don't hear much about it western Europe.
Thanks to Netgalley and Europe Comics for the ARC.