What do you think?
Rate this book
Gramercy Park
New York, 1954. Sur le toit d'un immeuble, une jeune femme s'occupe patiemment des ruches qui l'entourent et semble attendre quelque chose. Dans l'immeuble d'en face, un caïd de la pègre reste cloîtré chez lui à l'exception d'une mystérieuse sortie hebdomadaire. Ils ne se connaissent pas, mais ils se voient. Entre eux, le vide, une voiture de flics et un parc dont l'accès est réservé à quelques privilégiés. Qu'est-ce qui pourrait lier cette ancienne danseuse de l'Opéra de Paris et cet homme insaisissable que tout le monde craint ?
98 pages, Hardcover
First published April 5, 2018
1 person is currently reading
73 people want to read
About the author
Timothée de Fombelle
49 books428 followersAs a child...
Timothee de Fombelle was born in the heart of Paris in 1973, but often accompanied his architect father on his travels to Africa. Each summer his family left for the countryside (the west of France), where the five brothers and sisters lived like wild horses, making huts in the trees, playing in the river and losing themselves in the woods. In the evening they performed plays for their parents and devoured the books in the library. Childhood remains for him the lost paradise which he re-discovers through writing.
As an adult...
After becoming a literature teacher, Timothee taught in Paris and Vietnam before choosing the bohemian life of the theatre. Author of a dozen plays, he writes, designs, builds sets and directs the actress he admires the most, his wife Laetitia. They have a young daughter, Jeanne Elisha, who already loves climbing trees. Toby Alone is his first novel and has already been translated into 22 languages.
As an artist...
Passionate about books and theatre, Timothee has been writing since he was young. The stage has been his testing ground but it is life, with its joys and trials, which inspires his real work. A great traveller, Timothee recognises that the writing of Toby Alone has been his best journey so far.
Timothee de Fombelle was born in the heart of Paris in 1973, but often accompanied his architect father on his travels to Africa. Each summer his family left for the countryside (the west of France), where the five brothers and sisters lived like wild horses, making huts in the trees, playing in the river and losing themselves in the woods. In the evening they performed plays for their parents and devoured the books in the library. Childhood remains for him the lost paradise which he re-discovers through writing.
As an adult...
After becoming a literature teacher, Timothee taught in Paris and Vietnam before choosing the bohemian life of the theatre. Author of a dozen plays, he writes, designs, builds sets and directs the actress he admires the most, his wife Laetitia. They have a young daughter, Jeanne Elisha, who already loves climbing trees. Toby Alone is his first novel and has already been translated into 22 languages.
As an artist...
Passionate about books and theatre, Timothee has been writing since he was young. The stage has been his testing ground but it is life, with its joys and trials, which inspires his real work. A great traveller, Timothee recognises that the writing of Toby Alone has been his best journey so far.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
September 11, 2022
This is written masterfully!
The complexity of the characters is absolutely first-rate and the unfolding of the plot is gripping with no "kinks" that I noted. I could get into praising the mechanics of it and the intelligence of the story originality but I just wrote my longest review ever and just beg you to trust me that the reading alone is very well worth your time and money!
So what took a star off of my rating?
While I believe that the art is of good quality->in general<-, the amount of lines he used weren't enough because the content of his panels looked vague and/or incomplete too often for my aesthetic sensibilities. I believe that he should have "spent more time drafting".
Plus, Cailleaux is a below-average colorist in both choice and application. I didn't get that bad vibe while in the movement of reading, but I rate it as nearly-poor when looking at after-the-fact.
The complexity of the characters is absolutely first-rate and the unfolding of the plot is gripping with no "kinks" that I noted. I could get into praising the mechanics of it and the intelligence of the story originality but I just wrote my longest review ever and just beg you to trust me that the reading alone is very well worth your time and money!
So what took a star off of my rating?
While I believe that the art is of good quality->in general<-, the amount of lines he used weren't enough because the content of his panels looked vague and/or incomplete too often for my aesthetic sensibilities. I believe that he should have "spent more time drafting".
Plus, Cailleaux is a below-average colorist in both choice and application. I didn't get that bad vibe while in the movement of reading, but I rate it as nearly-poor when looking at after-the-fact.
August 15, 2021
This is cinema on paper. Fombelle & Cailleaux's book is a subtle tale of supense told at a languid pace aided by Cailleaux's delicate art. His tender linework brings 1950's New York alive. This is a book that is multi layered . After the first reading one can revisit to appreciate the cleverness of story telling when nothing was hidden but the dialogues may have lead us to one meaning when something else was intended. Lovely book. Very best of European visual sequential storytelling.
.
.
November 24, 2019
Нью-Йорк 50-х годов. Бывшая балерина разводит пчёл на крыше здания на Манхэттене. В доме напротив живёт своей тёмной жизнью странный мужчина. На переулке давно и безрезультатно дежурят полицейские инспекторы. В ближайшем парке маленькая девочка ловит жаб и приделывает им крылья. Судьбы всех этих людей причудливым образом переплетены, каждая фигура по-своему трагична, и над всеми ними нависает большой серый город.
Вау. Обычно я читаю комиксы, как и любые другие книги, в несколько заходов, но "Грамерси-парк" как открыл, так и не смог уже оторваться. Сюжет по сути своей представляет собой классический нуар — будто перед тобой ещё одна глава прекрасного "Criminal" Брубейкера/Филипса, но при этом с невероятно свежей, неземной манерой изложения. Как в гениальном "Клыке (2009)" Йоргоса Лантимоса, поначалу совершенно не понятно, что здесь вообще происходит, ты лишь ясно чувствуешь действие некой величественной, загадочной силы, которая завораживает тебя и уводит за собой в таинственную кроличью нору. Потом мозаика начинает постепенно складываться, но ощущение присутствия при некой космологической хореографии остаётся с тобой до самого конца.
Потрясающее произведение. Большого, французского формата книга, которую приятно держать в руках, как всегда прекрасный перевод Михаила Хачатурова, как всегда классные шрифты Захара Ящина. Не уверен, что мне импонирует художественная манера, отсылающая к импрессионистам и раннему Пикассо (оба главных героя будто сошли с "Девочки на шаре"), но при этом комикс здорово покрашен и обладает чудесным визуальным языком — прекрасно дополняющим мечтательно-поэтический язык словесный.
В целом мне кажется, что если вот "Блэксэд" — это такой классный, красочный антропогенный нуар как бы для детей (где простенький сюжет с лихвой компенсируется захватывающим дух рисунком), то "Грамерси-парк" получается тогда восхитительным, серьёзным, глубоким нуаром для взрослых (где на первый план выходит именно рассказанная графическим образом история). Не то чтобы один подход был хуже другого; мне лично очень нравятся оба, и вам тоже настоятельно рекомендую.
И спасибо "Комиксбуму" за рецензию, без которой я бы не узнал и не обратил бы внимания на то, что стало для меня лучшей книгой года.
Прикладываю фотогалерею (без спойлеров).
Вау. Обычно я читаю комиксы, как и любые другие книги, в несколько заходов, но "Грамерси-парк" как открыл, так и не смог уже оторваться. Сюжет по сути своей представляет собой классический нуар — будто перед тобой ещё одна глава прекрасного "Criminal" Брубейкера/Филипса, но при этом с невероятно свежей, неземной манерой изложения. Как в гениальном "Клыке (2009)" Йоргоса Лантимоса, поначалу совершенно не понятно, что здесь вообще происходит, ты лишь ясно чувствуешь действие некой величественной, загадочной силы, которая завораживает тебя и уводит за собой в таинственную кроличью нору. Потом мозаика начинает постепенно складываться, но ощущение присутствия при некой космологической хореографии остаётся с тобой до самого конца.
Потрясающее произведение. Большого, французского формата книга, которую приятно держать в руках, как всегда прекрасный перевод Михаила Хачатурова, как всегда классные шрифты Захара Ящина. Не уверен, что мне импонирует художественная манера, отсылающая к импрессионистам и раннему Пикассо (оба главных героя будто сошли с "Девочки на шаре"), но при этом комикс здорово покрашен и обладает чудесным визуальным языком — прекрасно дополняющим мечтательно-поэтический язык словесный.
В целом мне кажется, что если вот "Блэксэд" — это такой классный, красочный антропогенный нуар как бы для детей (где простенький сюжет с лихвой компенсируется захватывающим дух рисунком), то "Грамерси-парк" получается тогда восхитительным, серьёзным, глубоким нуаром для взрослых (где на первый план выходит именно рассказанная графическим образом история). Не то чтобы один подход был хуже другого; мне лично очень нравятся оба, и вам тоже настоятельно рекомендую.
И спасибо "Комиксбуму" за рецензию, без которой я бы не узнал и не обратил бы внимания на то, что стало для меня лучшей книгой года.
Прикладываю фотогалерею (без спойлеров).
December 27, 2020
Started off as a cute little story that's easy for eyes and for the mind, but pleasurable enough to keep reading. In the last few pages crystalized for what it is. Complexity disguised as simple thing that everybody can understand, do or be. Which, like all the best things in life, it proved not to be.
December 4, 2024
Такий собі нуарчик.
December 3, 2022
Here’s the thing: I’m a bit of a magpie for books. One catches my eye and it’s pretty much a given that I’m taking it home with me. I also happen to work in a library, so I get to see hundreds of books everyday and have the brilliant benefit of no loan limits. It’s inevitable then that I’m gonna read a few duds.
I enjoyed the style of this but that’s the one good thing I have to say about it. The storytelling was patchy at best, the characters were flat (despite painful, overly simplistic attempts to the contrary). But the really heinous thing about this? The use of a person’s skin colour as a plot twist device. I’m not about that.
I enjoyed the style of this but that’s the one good thing I have to say about it. The storytelling was patchy at best, the characters were flat (despite painful, overly simplistic attempts to the contrary). But the really heinous thing about this? The use of a person’s skin colour as a plot twist device. I’m not about that.
October 23, 2019
This was one the most disappointing graphic novels I've read.
I liked the illustrations and some catchy phrases.... and that's it. I considered re-reading it to try to understand what's so great about it or at least what was the point of the story, but then I figured that even 97 pages of this is not worth my time.
Sad.
I liked the illustrations and some catchy phrases.... and that's it. I considered re-reading it to try to understand what's so great about it or at least what was the point of the story, but then I figured that even 97 pages of this is not worth my time.
Sad.
November 19, 2019
This starts as a bit of a frustrating read. A narrative purposely vague as you have these two opposing characters secluded in their selective homes atop of the city landscape with a hidden history shakily keeping them connected. It is approached in a way that acts as if you have all the knowledge of the situation by dropping you into the middle with no explanation. As their story unfolds & their history is revealed the direction becomes quite clear.
Having that initial frustration evolve into intrigue and eventually to deep investment. The stillness and patience is what got me especially considering the cover had me thinking this would he some sort of Neo-Noir action thriller when that could not be further from the truth
Having that initial frustration evolve into intrigue and eventually to deep investment. The stillness and patience is what got me especially considering the cover had me thinking this would he some sort of Neo-Noir action thriller when that could not be further from the truth
November 13, 2019
This is a curious thing. An adventure mystery in New York, featuring a woman and written and illustrated by Frenchmen.
The script, by de Fombelle is a neat, closed circle that, nevertheless, had me wondering where this was going until I entered the last ten or so pages of the book. The pieces then started to fall into place, with the closing panel ending this chapter on Madeleine's storied existence and beginning a new, barely comprehensible one.
We meet her, in melancholy mood, tending to her beehives, incongruously perched on the top of a skyscraper, observing one man and his entourage. Day and night, we return to her watching him and him, secretly, watching her, wondering. His tough-guy gang boss credentials are laid out carefully - it's clear he's important in Madeleine's life, but it takes a while to understand why.
In cut-scenes, the history of Madeleine's existence is played out, from the breathless joy of discovery of love in Paris after WWII through the tough years and hard work and grime of New York in the early 1950s.
Then we discover enough of the relationship to understand her fascination with him.
The illustrator, Cailleaux, plays this all out with muted colours and highly structured layout that emphasises the urban setting, but sometimes it feels too constrained, with both form and palette restricting emotional range. Some of the most important scenes, with good line-art, feel flatter than they should be as a result.
The 96 page publication of this new edition from the Eurocomics imprint is hardcover, thread-bound and printed on super high quality satin finish paper that shows off the artwork to its' best. The translation, by Edward Gauvin has the plot and character interactions working seamlessly - as I don't read French, my best compliment is that this reads as an English first novel, albeit with European sensibilities.
I really enjoyed this tale - so much so that I will be re-examining the pages for the clues that I missed early on (they're undoubtedly telegraphed, and it's just my daftness that I missed them). The fact that I'm willing to do this might give you an idea that I liked it!
The script, by de Fombelle is a neat, closed circle that, nevertheless, had me wondering where this was going until I entered the last ten or so pages of the book. The pieces then started to fall into place, with the closing panel ending this chapter on Madeleine's storied existence and beginning a new, barely comprehensible one.
We meet her, in melancholy mood, tending to her beehives, incongruously perched on the top of a skyscraper, observing one man and his entourage. Day and night, we return to her watching him and him, secretly, watching her, wondering. His tough-guy gang boss credentials are laid out carefully - it's clear he's important in Madeleine's life, but it takes a while to understand why.
In cut-scenes, the history of Madeleine's existence is played out, from the breathless joy of discovery of love in Paris after WWII through the tough years and hard work and grime of New York in the early 1950s.
Then we discover enough of the relationship to understand her fascination with him.
The illustrator, Cailleaux, plays this all out with muted colours and highly structured layout that emphasises the urban setting, but sometimes it feels too constrained, with both form and palette restricting emotional range. Some of the most important scenes, with good line-art, feel flatter than they should be as a result.
The 96 page publication of this new edition from the Eurocomics imprint is hardcover, thread-bound and printed on super high quality satin finish paper that shows off the artwork to its' best. The translation, by Edward Gauvin has the plot and character interactions working seamlessly - as I don't read French, my best compliment is that this reads as an English first novel, albeit with European sensibilities.
I really enjoyed this tale - so much so that I will be re-examining the pages for the clues that I missed early on (they're undoubtedly telegraphed, and it's just my daftness that I missed them). The fact that I'm willing to do this might give you an idea that I liked it!
December 20, 2019
Septembre 1945. Madeleine est danseuse à l'Opéra de Paris quand elle rencontre un militaire américain, Jeremiah Whitman. Par amour, elle quitte tout et part s'installer à New York.
Dix ans plus tard, c'est une femme solitaire et déprimée qu'on retrouve sur le toit d'un immeuble en train de s'occuper de ses ruches. Mélancolique, distante et froide, elle ne semble prêter aucune attention à l'agitation peu commune dans l'immeuble d'en face.
Pourtant, un homme ne la quitte pas des yeux. Et sait tout sur elle. Cet homme, George Day, vit cloîtré dans son appartement. Il a autour de lui une garde rapprochée pour veiller sur sa fille et lui. Au coin de la rue, une patrouille de police guette aussi ses moindres faits et gestes.
Tous retiennent leur souffle. Chaque dimanche, à onze heures, George Day prend sa voiture pour rouler deux heures au nord de la ville. Un jour, Madeleine décide de le suivre...
Très impatiente de découvrir cette bande dessinée écrite par Timothée de Fombelle, j'ai découvert une ambiance étonnante avec une intrigue rondement menée, à la fois sombre, énigmatique et inquiétante.
Construction habile, suspense tendu au cordeau... on se laisse guider à l'aveugle dans le dédale des rues new-yorkaises, s'accrochant pour repérer qui est qui, sans perdre le fil dans la notion du temps (il y a beaucoup de flashbacks). On se croirait dans un polar américain d'une autre époque. Madeleine est une héroïne énigmatique - meurtrie dans sa chair, isolée dans sa bulle. On ne soupçonne absolument rien du dénouement et on se soumet au pouvoir de cette lecture... farouche et romantique dans un genre bien à part.
Le duo Timothée de Fombelle et Christian Cailleaux fonctionne à merveille - d'un côté, une prose envoûtante et un climat pesant ; de l'autre côté, des dessins capables d'exprimer la langueur contemplative puis de basculer dans les scènes d'action. Cela nous donne une bande dessinée remarquable & au scénario admirable.
Dix ans plus tard, c'est une femme solitaire et déprimée qu'on retrouve sur le toit d'un immeuble en train de s'occuper de ses ruches. Mélancolique, distante et froide, elle ne semble prêter aucune attention à l'agitation peu commune dans l'immeuble d'en face.
Pourtant, un homme ne la quitte pas des yeux. Et sait tout sur elle. Cet homme, George Day, vit cloîtré dans son appartement. Il a autour de lui une garde rapprochée pour veiller sur sa fille et lui. Au coin de la rue, une patrouille de police guette aussi ses moindres faits et gestes.
Tous retiennent leur souffle. Chaque dimanche, à onze heures, George Day prend sa voiture pour rouler deux heures au nord de la ville. Un jour, Madeleine décide de le suivre...
Très impatiente de découvrir cette bande dessinée écrite par Timothée de Fombelle, j'ai découvert une ambiance étonnante avec une intrigue rondement menée, à la fois sombre, énigmatique et inquiétante.
Construction habile, suspense tendu au cordeau... on se laisse guider à l'aveugle dans le dédale des rues new-yorkaises, s'accrochant pour repérer qui est qui, sans perdre le fil dans la notion du temps (il y a beaucoup de flashbacks). On se croirait dans un polar américain d'une autre époque. Madeleine est une héroïne énigmatique - meurtrie dans sa chair, isolée dans sa bulle. On ne soupçonne absolument rien du dénouement et on se soumet au pouvoir de cette lecture... farouche et romantique dans un genre bien à part.
Le duo Timothée de Fombelle et Christian Cailleaux fonctionne à merveille - d'un côté, une prose envoûtante et un climat pesant ; de l'autre côté, des dessins capables d'exprimer la langueur contemplative puis de basculer dans les scènes d'action. Cela nous donne une bande dessinée remarquable & au scénario admirable.
June 4, 2025
so hitchcock, so golden age of american cimena. this was a really neat read. reading other reviews, this may be unpopular but i thought the art and colour pallet was so excellently done. the muted overall tone really worked to set the novel in the correct place, and the art not being too detailed worked with the colour and together it felt like being inside of new york in the 50s. one star off because i feel like im still missing some motivations and character development from mr. day, and it was hard to distinguish the detectives from the criminals and i’m still not sure if they are connected in any way 😭 good storytelling, good circular plot, support women’s wrongs!!!!!!!!!!
November 29, 2022
A neo-noir crime book wrapped up in the aesthetic of a French or Italian art film from the 50s or 60s.
Some of the characters have a certain cold detachment about them, but IMHO this was a deliberate stylistic choice and works well with the story.
The art on this really drew me in and the writing was well done.
This kind of thing is right up my alley, but will probably fly under the radar here. If you like crime and drama graphic novels, give this a shot.
Some of the characters have a certain cold detachment about them, but IMHO this was a deliberate stylistic choice and works well with the story.
The art on this really drew me in and the writing was well done.
This kind of thing is right up my alley, but will probably fly under the radar here. If you like crime and drama graphic novels, give this a shot.
April 7, 2024
Je ne m’attendais à rien de cette bd et j’ai passé un moment super. Les illustrations sont belles et l’histoire est vraiment captivante.
Ça commence très doucement : le récit s’installe progressivement, de façon presque poétique. Puis le twist et ce n’est plus tout léger et toutes les pièces s’imbriquent pour comprendre où va l’histoire. L’histoire est construite comme dans un bon film policier / polar.
J’ai passé un très bon moment de lecture.
Ça commence très doucement : le récit s’installe progressivement, de façon presque poétique. Puis le twist et ce n’est plus tout léger et toutes les pièces s’imbriquent pour comprendre où va l’histoire. L’histoire est construite comme dans un bon film policier / polar.
J’ai passé un très bon moment de lecture.
January 17, 2020
This one was a bit of an anti-climax. Started reading it on the V-Line at Rockbank Station, and finished it by the time the train got to Sunshine, so thank goodness there wasn't much time wasted on it. The writer and illustrator want you to fill in the gaps to the narrative, and unless you are willing to do so, don't bother.
Read
October 6, 2020Quite tale of two people in New York city. You think! Read it and be surprised. Lovely storytelling. The art is a bit sketchy (in a good way). Sober colours. It's nice that this type of comics with complex low key stories gets translated to English these days. It shows that the medium has a lat to offer for other readers than your typical comics buff.
December 12, 2020
Paikoin aivan huikean kauniita ruutuja, mutta tarina aukesi hitaasti ja oli vähän sekavan oloinen.
October 3, 2023
Excellent
January 10, 2024
Beautiful art and a surprising well told story
October 8, 2018
Un départ complexe mais intrigant. Une belle fin qui permet une belle appréciation à l’ensemble.
December 18, 2018
Sympa, sans plus. C’est un peu tiré par les cheveux. Les dessins sont originaux, je les ai bien aimé.
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews