Memories from Limón

by Edo Brenes

Overview

A wholesome snapshot of reconnecting with generations of one’s family history, Costa Rican illustrator Edo Brenes unearths a trove of stories in his graphic novel Memories of Limón.

"This meditation on the past melds melancholy and jubilation."
—Publishers Weekly

“Readers who enjoy stories with a strong sense of place, family sagas, or travel memoirs may find enjoyment in this title, and although it reads like a memoir, it is a work of fiction.”
—Booklist

"A beautiful graphic novel of a family's oral history."
—Books With Michellee

Ramiro leaves the British drizzle and his beloved fiancé Yoss to investigate his family history back home in Costa Rica. What starts as an innocent fascination with an old family photo album leads to conversations with the older generations and revelations he is not prepared for: recounting tales of everything from affairs to adventurous escapades, all while taking time to share a laugh over life's messier moments.

Set on the idyllic Caribbean coastline of one of the most beautiful countries in Latin America, author Edo Brenes weaves together the heart breaking and humbling stories of three generations of the same family. Love and life is a struggle in paradise, welcome to Limón.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781913123048
Publisher:	Flying Eye Books Ltd.
Publication date:	02/01/2022
Pages:	272
Product dimensions:	6.75(w) x 8.88(h) x 1.03(d)
Age Range:	16 Years

About the Author

Edo Brenes was born in Costa Rica, and studied a BA in Animation in Veritas University, Costa Rica; followed by an MA in Animation at the University of Sunderland and going on to work as a freelance illustrator and animator. Edo has worked as a lecturer at Veritas University, and the Cambridge School of Art. In 2018 Edo won the Cheltenham Illustration Award for established artist with the short comic Lunday. In 2019 Edo won the Observer/Cape/Comica Graphic Short Story Prize with a version of what became the first chapter of Memories From Limón.

Editorial Reviews

02/21/2022

Brenes delves into how the past and patterns of migration shape family and relationships, in this funny and sweetly told graphic novel debut full of reminiscences. Ramiro is visiting his mom when she shows him a box of photo albums. Curious about his family history in Limón, Costa Rica, Ramiro leaves his girlfriend Yoss in England and goes on a trip to collect stories. What he encounters are wildly entertaining tales of love and laughter, with some darker moments. Notable bits include his grandfather’s plastic hand but also his prowess at soccer, how his dad’s cousin lost his virginity, and how men used hair product to keep their pants from getting wrinkled. The art focuses on character drawings, with coloring changes to help differentiate between past and present—the past is rendered in muted grays and pinks, and is frequently shown through old photos. There are sequences when the stories told don’t match the shots; such as a yarn about catching a woman naked at the beach, where the art is her posing in a bathing suit (was the boyhood mind exaggerating or is it modesty for the page?). Also, cursive lettering occasionally renders the dialogue cramped. But, the variety and accomplished art outweigh any shortcomings. This meditation on the past melds melancholy and jubilation. (Feb.)

Publishers Weekly

"This meditation on the past melds melancholy and jubilation."
—Publishers Weekly

“Readers who enjoy stories with a strong sense of place, family sagas, or travel memoirs may find enjoyment in this title, and although it reads like a memoir, it is a work of fiction.”
—Booklist

"A beautiful graphic novel of a family's oral history."
—Books With Michellee

"With a personal feeling to the tone of the story, this snapshot into the narrator’s life is how one man explores his family’s past to find himself and his family. This brings multiple generations together and family secrets to light."
—Northshire Bookstore

From the Publisher