Lulu Anew

by ïtienne Davodeau

Overview

At the end of yet another unproductive job interview, Lulu, on a whim, takes off for the shore just to get away from it all. She’s got a husband and kids left bewildered but it’s nothing against them. This is just her time, getting away from the grind and with no other plan than savoring it. Surprised at her own temerity, she meets other people on the edge of the world. It wasn’t meant to be for long. It wasn’t meant to be anything but in the end thrilling, fun, and possibly dangerous, this improvised experience will make of Lulu a different woman.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781561639724
Publisher:	N B M Publishing Company
Publication date:	04/01/2015
Edition description:	None
Pages:	160
Product dimensions:	8.60(w) x 11.00(h) x 0.70(d)

About the Author

Étienne Davodeau is a French comics author who has won multiple awards and authored numerous critically acclaimed graphic novels, including The Initiates.

Editorial Reviews

★ 03/16/2015
One day Lulu runs away: from her husband, her children, her friends. Each person in her circle chronicles a part of Lulu’s tale, her new life unraveling as a mystery that spirals out like a nautilus. Her past and present are exposed as each encounter or memory is shared, opening up the lives of not only Lulu but also those around her. Skillfully unsentimental characterizations, light and earthy watercolors, and everyday goings-on reveal a familiar recognizable world, but Davodeau (The Initiates) merges these elements into an enchanting realism. Using a cinematic panel structure, Davodeau tightens or spreads out the width of each tier’s panels to accommodate pauses, reflection, conflict, and action. A raucous party’s kinetic action rat-a-tat-tats through smaller panels; wider panels are used to show wandering through the night, and the occasional full-page single panel drops the tempo to slow reflection and contemplation. In the book’s plainspoken, realistic immediacy, each element becomes absolutely essential. Davodeau’s brilliance is connecting it all into a deeply affecting story about how we seek to change our lives. (Apr.)

Publishers Weekly

"Have you ever wanted to run away from your life for a day, a month, a year? Meet Lulu, wife and mother of three, who does just that. A beautiful narrative, a thought-provoking journey, highly recommended for all adult audiences." —Lewis Parsons, Library Journal


"The rather astonishing achievement of Étienne Davodeau's new graphic novel is that, despite telling a tale that screams 'Lifetime movie,' it's actually both surprising and unique." —Etelka Lehoczky, NPR Books


"The artwork is rendered in the expressive, attractive Franco-Belgian style favored on the continent. The quiet competence of the artwork brings a stillness to the work, as if characters and readers alike are holding their breath in anticipation of . . . what? The narrative gives you an answer, but as with Lulu Anew in general, the reader will have a genuinely personal reaction." —Andrew A. Smith, Indiana Gazette


"There’s an air of a mystery about . . .what happened that kept me reading. Throughout her adventure Lulu seems realistic, a little lost, and on the verge of figuring out what makes her happy. Recommended." —Gene Ambaum, unshelved.com

From the Publisher