Agnes Lee (2)

This might be the first graphic novel to make me cry (and cry). The story is told in parallel threads, one of Kit journeying for the title’s 49 days, and the other of the family she left behind. Such a light touch in both visual and words, but more than enough for the reader to feel the loss central to the book’s core. In a lot of ways there is a Buddhist sentiment to the art as well, though I’d be hard pressed to define what exactly that is—more an overall feeling, of both calm and show more emptiness, endings and beginnings, the in-between bardo that Kit is confined to. I enjoyed this one and also can tell that I will return to it later to read again. show less

Distressing (as expected), but beautiful and calming. I guess reading a book about grieving while grieving is a thing. I like this idea, of journeying into the something else for a time after dying. I also like that the book offers memories and emotions (many, some complex, some just big), the love of family and friends and food, and that's it, really. It feels authentic.

A graphic novel taking an idea from Buddhist tradition of a soul (in this case, that of a young Korean American girl) travelling for 49 days after they die before fully crossing over. This explanation is provided only in the blurb and in a note at the END of the book, so if you don’t already know it, you simply won't understand what’s happening. I had to stop the book midway and read the blurb to make sense of the girl’s seemingly limbo state.

Somewhat minimalistic illustrations that show more work for the story. Good use of dual tone in the illustrations, blue-toned to show the soul’s progress and brown-toned to show the grief-stricken family left behind. Barely any text for the first half or so. Quite fast-paced as most of the pages contain only illustrations.

A decent option for those who want to explore stories of grief and post-death beliefs in other cultures. But to me, it would have worked better with more explanation.

2 stars.

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teen/adult graphic novel - recent college drop-out Kit (maybe 18 or 19-y.o.) has 49 days, in the Buddhist tradition, to come to terms with her sudden death before she is to be reincarnated.

this was fairly abstract, and I had to re-read the book jacket description before I could figure out what Kit's journey was all about. But once there I liked how the minimalist palette worked (memories and scenes from the living world were in an orangey tone; Kit's after-death journey was in blues) and the show more seemingly simple way that the author portrayed both Kit's grief as well as a glimpse of her family's grief. It's a beautiful story that unfolds here (with lots of kimchi) and a love-filled life and dreams cut short. Very well done and recommended. show less