Les Contes de la ruelle by Nie Jun
This series of short stories in graphic format was recommended to me by a friend whose job it is to hunt down obscure non European graphic novels for translation. Set in what feels (to me) like a melancholy version of modern Beijing, they tell the stories of disabled little girl Yu'er, looked after by her fat, aging grandfather. Graphically, this is a beautiful masterpiece with a sketchy feel enhanced by watercolor painting. The stories are cute and poetic although I felt they were perhaps a tad too whimsical for my taste. I was reminded of how much I like Kim Dong Hwa's Red Bicycle series. The Contes de la Ruelle are in a similar spirit, although not quite as effective in my opinion. Still worth a read (and a look). (In French)
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