Beautiful story and wonderful drawings. Really worth reading.

4.5/5

I have all kinds of feelings right now. I hate feeling things.

This is poetic. As a person living in a very oppressive place, my only hope as that when I am old I'll do whatever I feel like doing. This graphic novel gave a little bit of hope.

I thought it's beautiful and I'm completely mystified as to why it doesn't have a higher rating.

A very philosophical and entertaining look at aging and sudden miracles that can change your whole life.

This comic is a solid C grade from me, taking the average of a lot of bits I absolutely loved and several that I would like to remove entirely.

The book, which is set in urban France, begins with Ulysses, a 59 year old man, being forced into retirement from his job as a mover. We follow him for several pages as he explores the corners of his new gray existence. His wife died many years ago, as did one of his children. This leaves him with a grown son (an OB-GYN) and a group of friends with whom he no longer works. He doesn't even have a cat. It's achingly lonely. There's also a scene in which he visits a sex worker and it's clear that this is a regular thing for them.

We meet 62 year old Mediterranea as she is saying goodbye to her dying mother, then passing the funeral arrangements on to her brother. Her life is also lonely, but she owns and operates a cheese shop, so she's not retiring any time soon.

The romance that unfolds between the two is sweet and funny and very real. The ways in which their bodies are illustrated is both realistic and empathetic. Even as Mediterranea, a former nude model, is despairing of her wrinkles, her body isn't presented to the viewer as an object of disgust. It simply is. This is all the more clear when the two characters come together physically for the first time. It was quite lovely to see two mature adults together in this way. The art style is soft and the colors are muted, which gives the entire book a gentle feel.

But (you knew this was coming) there are two things that really bothered me about the book. The first is the relationship with the sex worker - not that it exists, but how it's treated. The chapter in which Ulysses says goodbye to her is titled "the comfort woman," and anyone who's read about the comfort women during WWII will understand why that bothered me a whole lot. This is a comic in translation, however, so I sort of let that slide. My real issue is that it's very clear that Ulysses is seeking sex as a way to feel less alone, but we never get any idea what Mediterranea's dating or romantic life has been like. We know that she never had children and that she's been acting as caretaker for her mother... but doesn't she get to have a physical outlet as well? Doesn't she have the right to physical pleasure before meeting Ulysses? There are a few subtle jokes at her expense throughout the book (Ulysses joking about jerking off to her nude photos as a teen, etc) and the whole thing just feels off.

The second bit is a big spoiler, so I'm going to give you a quick verdict first - buy this if you want a sweet romance comic featuring two older protagonists, but keep in mind that the HEA might not be what you expect.



SPOILERS AHEAD







AVAST, SPOILERS HO







The issue I had with the ending of the book is that Mediterranea becomes pregnant. She's 62. They quickly discuss terminating the pregnancy, but go ahead. There's no ultrasound. Instead, the characters blow off their families and run away to Corsica. The book ends with Ulysses holding Mediterranea from behind as they both cradle her very pregnant belly.

I would have preferred an ending without a miracle pregnancy. I'm not sure why it was necessary... at all. Do we not believe in a happily-ever-after beyond menopause? Is there really a reason why the heroine's menopause needed to stop after meeting Ulysses? I just... I'd like to chop off the last twenty pages of this book.



Content Warnings: Grief, miracle pregnancy, ageism



Suzanne received a copy of this book for review via NetGalley.

Can love blossom in autumn? When Ulysses and Mediterranea meet, they find each other in the "autumn" of their life: he lost his job and she lost her mother.. But together they can heal their wounds and create a new life for themselves (60 is the new 40, right?!)
The artwork is simply wonderful!

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy, in exchange for an honest review

I absolutely loved this story because there are not many opportunities for readers to get hold of a love story about an older couple. I loved the colors in this book and the art in general with simple language that spoke to me at every page. The themes in this book are also quite interesting: ageism, loneliness, generations clash and sex in old age which was interesting to read about, seeing all the ways it changed the characters and the way they saw themselves. The two main characters have to learn to let go of the box their lives have put them in and realize that they are still alive and can still go on adventures. I loved their love story and the way it dealt with all the problems that come with looking around and realizing you don’t recognize the person in the mirror and that everyone you knew is dead or not present anymore.

Thank you to Net Galley and Europe Comics for this beautiful ARC.

http://librarycomic.com/graphic-novel-review-blossoms-in-autumn/

Advanced reading copy supplied from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for a fair review.

"How many times have I told them that I'm enjoying life and finally taking my time? While in reality, it's actually time that's taking me, bit by bit, like the cruel tide gnawing at the cliffside."

Blossoms in Autumn is a beautiful work of art. It's so rare to find love stories featuring older couples presented in an interesting and relatable manner, yet this comic is something any age of adult can appreciate. The art style is wonderful, bright and colourful with facial expressions that say just as much as the text bubbles do.

The pacing was fantastic. I never felt bored at any point and it was easy to let myself drift along with the story. The section in which the phrase 'How many times' was repeated over and over was brilliant. It really reinforced the constant sense of meaninglessness, isolation and monotony that can creep in as you get older and also served as a great tool to progress through a lot of panels without the story feeling rushed.

The contrast in both parties of the couple going through the same struggle of being old in a world that doesn't look kindly on it made the story have so much more depth. Mediterranea going from being scared of old women as a child, to being a model in her adult life, to then growing to feel insecure about her body aging was so impactful. The scene where she compared herself to the witch she'd been afraid of as a child made me feel so deeply for her.

I also adored how sexuality was not shyed away from. The assumption from the young of society that sex is something which shouldn't be spoken of past a certain age is sadly all too prevelant. It was heartwarming to see it displayed here in such a truthful, light manner. All in all this comic was delightful and I will definitely be suggesting it to people I know.