From one of Europe it has freed him to savor his life with Cati.Like the best graphic memoirs, Blue Pills puts a daunting subject into artistic and...
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Jun 10, 2008
Abbey
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Fantastic autobiographical comic about author Frederik Peeters and his relationship with his HIV positive girlfriend and her son. Very moving, intense, and an over-all wonderful comic about the lengths one will endure for love. The graphics were neat and Craig Thompson-esque. I especially loved the mammoth near the end.
"when i look backward, i have the impression of happiness, and of a diffuse and permanent pleasure. but i know that it's because of movement, of the close con More...
"when i look backward, i have the impression of happiness, and of a diffuse and permanent pleasure. but i know that it's because of movement, of the close con More...
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Jan 29, 2009
Wealhtheow
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An autobiographical comic about a young man who learns his girlfriend and her young son are HIV+. The relationships (between Fred and his gf, his friends, and especially the little boy) are sweet and feel true, and the art is really good. His ink is fluid but nevertheless conveys a great deal of information. That said, the language often feels clunky and overwrought. The artist has a long conversation with a mastadon about his confused feelings about science. He overuses ellipses. There's
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Aug 27, 2011
Andrew Shuping
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"Blue Pills" is not your average memoir and neither are the people that you meet in it. It's a powerful, moving, heartwarming, and heartbreaking story all at the same time. You see Frederik Peeters is dating Cati a woman with a young son...and both Cati and her son are HIV positive. The story falters in some places, only because it's been translated into English and some words/phrases don't adapt well. But it's a minor point. Frederik tells their story of life together, of falling
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May 18, 2010
JabBeRwoCkY
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Apr 03, 2010
Joyce
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Summary: From one of Europe's most acclaimed young comics artists, a deeply personal story that will resonate with all of us who have chosen to love in the face of great challenges One summer night at a house party, Fred met Cati. Though they barely spoke, he vividly remembered her gracefulness and abandon. They meet again years later, and this time their connection is instantaneous. But when things become serious, a nervous Cati tells him that she and her three-year-old son are both HIV positi
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Jan 25, 2010
Raina
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I looked for this title because it was mentioned in French Milk by Lucy Knisley. At the time, she bought it in the original language. This really is lovely. The translation is a little bit rough (I was kinda excited to be able to identify that as the problem), but the illustration is just gorgeous. Very Craig Thompson with a different philosophical approach. These are slices of musing by the author about his relationship with an H.I.V. positive woman with an H.I.V. positive child. There is
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Aug 06, 2008
Monica
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If I could give this 3.5 stars I would. I thought the romance between the main characters was sweet and kind, and I loved the Swedish doctor character. I'm not sure if something was lost in the translation, but a lot of the language seems pretty overwrought, and the mammoth bit had me sighing out loud. Still, I would recommend it to anybody who's a fan of the graphic novel memoir.
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Apr 26, 2009
Lobeck
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Really this book deserves 2.5 stars, but I pushed it up to 3 because for me 2 stars typically means that a book isn't worth reading. In this book I got small glimpses of wit and good writing/illustrating, which hint at the author's potential to be a really good comics writer. The subject of living with HIV or having a partner with HIV was interesting, though this book left me wanting many parts of the story explored in more depth. It's also interesting to see this story with a hetero couple,
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Jul 15, 2011
John
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Jun 27, 2009
narajaponesa
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A very different, very real tale of making a good relationship work against the odds. The tagline is "a positive love story" for a reason-- one of the characters is a mother who is HIV positive. Some people feel the language sounds a bit contrived but I could almost hear it in French, which lent it a specific beauty. The drawings were quite expressive, even though I found his drawing of the eyes distracting. (Ever since I heard of sanpaku eyes, I see them everywhere. I don't know, i
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Sep 20, 2011
Sam
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Frederik Peeters tells the story of his relationship with his wife Cati and her 3 year old son, both of whom are HIV positive. He meets Cati years after meeting her for the first time to find that since their last meeting she has had a child, been divorced, and contracted AIDS. This doesn't stop him from being with her but we learn of the obstacles that come with it. The cautious beginnings of their physical love, the vigilance of maintaining a normal life for the child despite a regime of pills
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Jan 04, 2012
Julia
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For the first time I read this novel, when I was in highschool. I browsed the comics department in library of French Institute and picked this one, because I liked first few drawings.
They're black and white, simple but with attention for details. I love that Peeters use so many diffrent shots: long, close-ups, headshots, bird's-eye, sometimes from the point of view of diffrent characters.
Then I fall in love with this story. First time I read it in French, orginal language of this pi More...
They're black and white, simple but with attention for details. I love that Peeters use so many diffrent shots: long, close-ups, headshots, bird's-eye, sometimes from the point of view of diffrent characters.
Then I fall in love with this story. First time I read it in French, orginal language of this pi More...
Jul 05, 2008
Shelly
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Apr 16, 2008
MAMA CIERRA
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what I percived from this book is that Love is truly deep, and to love someone regaurdless of the situation or condition there in, is real love. In the Graphic Novel Blue pills, I was carried through intense illistrations and breath taking dialague. I loved Blue Pills, It really made me think about life, and love, and how we take it for granted. People theise days in my oppinion dont love any more, the think they love, but they dont truly know it. I feel as if blue pills sent across a few amazin
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Apr 23, 2009
Everett
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This comic has excellent dry-brush work, and Peeters wrings a lot of emotion out of basically only 2 or 3 different facial expressions. The mostly unvaried panel layout is not very jazzy, but it suits the somber tone and pacing of this autobiographical story about living with somebody with AIDS. This book seems to get a lot of praise for not being "sentimental," but as a romance it certainly is "mushy." The narrator's over-educated tone should not bother you if you have read
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Feb 07, 2008
k.wing
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This graphic novel was very eye-opening. The book/memoir deals with a condition that I have not been remotely exposed to, and feel unfortunate for not having been well educated on those with this condition. Blue Pills helps separate people with HIV/AIDS from their condition. It is so easy to empathize with the feeling that (because an illness is so dangerous and consuming) you have become your illness, and you are just as dangerous and destructive. This book beautifully illustrates the human
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May 14, 2008
Good stuff. I’m surprised Drawn & Quarterly didn’t snap this one up a few years ago when it was published in French. It’s the author’s memoir of falling in love with his girlfriend, who is HIV+. Words are used pretty minimally, which made me think about how the images in a graphic work can feel sort of open to interpretation, leaving you room to find your own connections. Peeters’s brushwork reminds me of Craig Thompson’s in that it’s so fluid, but it’s also rougher and, I think, more expressive
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Oct 18, 2010
Heather
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Not my favorite graphic style, and the translation is clumsy, but it is such a unique and well-written story! It is unlike any other graphic novel-- or novel-- that I have read in content and in style.
My favorite chapter is the one where the protagonist rides a well-read wooly mammoth discussing some of his emotional coping mechanisms for dealing with his girlfriend and girlfriend's son being HIV+. Who knew Wooly Mammoth's had such good perspective and sense of humor??
My favorite chapter is the one where the protagonist rides a well-read wooly mammoth discussing some of his emotional coping mechanisms for dealing with his girlfriend and girlfriend's son being HIV+. Who knew Wooly Mammoth's had such good perspective and sense of humor??
Jan 14, 2009
April
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I hate to rate this book 5 out of 5 because the author is so honest. this is the story of his life's great love that is undeniably tangled with the grief and guilt of HIV infection and the looming fear if AIDS. I like the non-linear format and his first person visuals make you really get inside his head as he tries to work through his feelings, fears, and frustrations without appearing to agonize too much over them. A really heartfelt work.
Feb 28, 2010
Brian
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When Fred and Cati meet again after many years it is love a first sight. A deep bond formed instantly. But when thing get serious Cati confesses that she and her son are HIV positive which stimulates Fred to face his values and priorities. It is a good graphic novel but I kept wishing for more. It would have made a better novel than graphic. Too many nuances are left out. I hope Peeters considers rewriting this in a longer form.
Jul 15, 2010
Kara
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I never really thought of HIV positive people as being able to do normal things like fall in love and have children. This is a brave and honest book about love.
I don't usually like graphic novels. I have trouble with the images and the text in competition. In theory I really like them but I usually have trouble. but this was such a compelling story that I enjoyed it. Thanks David Small for the recommendation at ALA.
I don't usually like graphic novels. I have trouble with the images and the text in competition. In theory I really like them but I usually have trouble. but this was such a compelling story that I enjoyed it. Thanks David Small for the recommendation at ALA.
Jan 26, 2009
Peter N.
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Truly a heartfelt story of what the public would consider a relationship with complications. Peeters captures a very beautiful and flowing image of the human condition, and shows that while HIV is a physical issue, it does not have to be so much of a social problem. Mortality is captured in this comic in a way I've never imagined before, and I enjoyed learning about such an outlook at life.
Jun 17, 2008
Brian
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Peeters work with the brush pen is very reminiscent of Craig Thompson, as is the autobiographical story focused on self examination. While these elements provide the initial spark of attraction, the story, concerning a relationship with an HIV positive woman, quickly overtakes these signifiers. I hesitate to say I was educated by it, I surely was, but to say that I learned something seems to distract from the ideological reorientatons that provide the focus of this story. And it does an amazing
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Apr 07, 2009
Doug
rated it:
best ever comic book about running into someone and almost dating then years later dating and marrying your long lost friend when ...tadaaa...she has a kid....and also HIV. Very expressive art. So expressive it makes you realize that graphic novels can do everything that regular novels can do. Painful poignant and beautiful...just like life.
Feb 08, 2012
Nesa
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One summer night at a house party, Fred met Cati. Though they barely spoke, he vividly remembered her gracefulness and abandon.
They meet again years later, and this time their connection is instantaneous. But when things become serious, a nervous Cati tells him that she and her three-year-old son are both HIV positive.
With great beauty and economy, Peeters traces the development of their intimacy and their revelatory relationship with a doctor whose affection and frankness More...
They meet again years later, and this time their connection is instantaneous. But when things become serious, a nervous Cati tells him that she and her three-year-old son are both HIV positive.
With great beauty and economy, Peeters traces the development of their intimacy and their revelatory relationship with a doctor whose affection and frankness More...
Jun 14, 2009
Kelly
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For me, bits and pieces of Peeters' memoir got lost in translation (from the original French "Pilules bleues" into English) -- like I had to reread the chit-chat near the end with the mammoth several times -- but all in all, it was an honest rendering of the evolving relationships between love, connection, disease, and mortality.
Oct 13, 2011
Beryl
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This graphic novel/memoir is about a man named Frederik who starts dating a girl with HIV, and all of the problems that arise with the discovery. However, despite these troubles, the couple maintains a loving relationship. I found the art style to be very interesting, and it kept me engaged. This is a lovely little story.
Mar 31, 2009
Echoelalia
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a perfect example of the effectiveness of expressionist linework, I loved the art style and the story effectively conveyed the difficulties and labor that goes into making a relationship work. the main character was easy to relate to as a thinker, he constantly questioned and attempted to define his love and worldview.
Feb 08, 2008
Betsy
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This was my first graphic book (besides Maus years ago) and i really did enjoy it. The story was thought provoking and sweet and a quick read. I didn't think it was all happy though. I felt a heavy sadness reading about the little boy starting his HIV medication at age 3 and the "step"father and mother having the face the child's immanent death. It did make me think of what children with AIDs and their families had to live through in the 80's. Remember little Ryan White who wasn't
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Aug 23, 2008
Jc
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So far I have been very lucky when reading graphic memoirs, which is in no doubt due to the fact that I have read some really high quality titles like Fun Home and Blankets. My winning streak continues with Blue Pills: A Positive Love Story by Frederick Peeters. Fred and Cati run into each other a few times over the years before becoming romantically involved. When their relationship begins to get serious, Cati has a confession for Fred: She and her son are HIV positive. The book is translated i
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