Flavia Biondi

Barba di perle è uno dei primi fumetti pubblicati di Flavia Biondi, fumettista nata in quel di Toscana che mi ripromettevo da anni di leggere. Si tratta di una storia molto breve – meno di cento pagine – ed è abbastanza sorprendente che Biondi sia riuscita a delineare una storia di questo tipo in così poco spazio.

Dico questo perché una storia dove si passa dalla più rigida chiusura nei confronti della propria identità a una timida apertura mi sembra necessitare di molto spazio. Biondi, invece, è riuscita a rendere il percorso di Santo, il protagonista, molto realistico, sia con l’accortezza di non arrivare a un coming out plateale, sia con un linguaggio visivo essenziale, ma capace di sintetizzare molto bene le sue difficoltà e le sue speranze.

Ci sono comunque delle ingenuità narrative, con parti nelle quali avrei preferito una maggiore finezza e che suonano uscite da un manuale del buon coming out e del quali persone evitare, ma in definitiva si tratta di una storia che lascia delle sensazioni estremamente positive e con alcune scelte molto felici (a partire dalla copertina, che raffigura alla perfezione il riserbo di Santo nel mostrarsi come se stesso).… (mais)

I got this through the Amazon Vine program to review. I actually really enjoyed this graphic novel about a young gay man who returns to his small town home. It’s really a coming of age story and a story about the rash decisions some people make to prove themselves.

Matteo does not start out as a likable guy. He returns home after having issues with his boyfriend, he hasn’t worked in a long time, and is pretty much a clingy deadbeat. Ends up he’s kind of a runner; he ran from home when his dad didn’t like the fact he was gay, and now he’s running back home after having personal issues with his boyfriend.

As the book progresses Matteo finally gets to know his aunts and family better and realizes that in the scheme of things his problems aren’t all that unique or as consuming as he thinks they are. He starts to take care of his aging grandmother and finally starts to figure out what he actually wants to do with his life. Through it all he finds out some interesting truths about the past generations of his family and how they’ve influenced everyone.

The illustration style isn’t my favorite; but it was well done and easy to follow. The story was also easy to follow and very engaging. I found myself completely sucked into Matteo’s life and struggles and loving his crazy family.

Overall I would definitely recommend this graphic novel; I enjoyed it. It’s a great coming-of-age story and an interesting discussion on how the decisions of generations of ancestors has influenced your current family and the path you life has taken.… (mais)

Generations: We all forget our roots

Greater than half of my life (so far) has passed since I was a teenager. Some days I cannot even fathom the decisions I made and the sense of ambiguity I felt.

I lose the feeling associated with being both Invincible and Powerless. Everything I thought I could do seemed to have arbitrary corrals blocking the path.

Well crafted Graphic Novels like Generations help remind me if those feelings, insulating the generation after me from my history hazed misconceptions.

For reference, this Graphic novel was written by Flavia Biondi.. Many websites are misspelling her name as Bondi (no 1st i) .. I am looking at you Barnes and Nobel, and other bloggers!

Generations (Flavia Biondi)
144 pages
Lion Forge
ISBN-10: 1941302505
ISBN-13: 978-1941302507
ASIN: B076HCV9Z2

Everyone is running from something. It is rarely as romantic as being slotted into a hidey hole sitting quiet till the police die down. More typically it is emotional. You cannot deal with your mothers death; you are afraid of strangers on the street; you think people will hate you if you ever show a modicum of true honesty.

Generations poetically tackles this tendency to run, and the post teen languishing angst that can stifle a person from reaching adulthood. It focuses on the blinders and self-absorbed perspectives we carry, never realizing that we are not the first to come, nor the last to be here.

In the story, Matteo returns from a three year self imposed exile to Milan. When Matteo's father learned that he was in love with a man and they had a falling out. But Matteo is in a cycle. When he and his boyfriend break up, he runs back home and hides for a month at his grandmothers house.

Three generations under one roof, each of them tells a story he has never bothered to ask. The family tree is strong and has wide roots, even if you never look for them. When the apples fall from the tree, they feed the roots and we are all stronger.

Generations, by Italian author Flavia Biondi, was released fall 2017 by Lion Forge and puts on a great showing. Unlike other Italian imports the Forge released in ‘17, this one proves to be an amazing addition to their catalogue and is highly suggested for audiences 13 and older.

Not sure why every person in this region of Italy are depicted as having cheetah level freckles. Anyone have insight into this?

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Disclosure: This graphic novel was provided by the author or publisher for review purposes. Unlike the Depeche Mode song ‘Policy of Truth’’ which teaches to hide facts, I always encourage people to speak their mind. Whether positive or negative, the truth matters. This review, while positive, is fact from my perspective.… (mais)