Le Démon de midi ou "Changement d'herbage réjouit les veaux"

by Florence Cestac

L'histoire commence toujours de la même manière. D'abord, lui devient irascible, se laisse aller, rentre de plus en plus tard, prend du bidon et des poignées d'amour. Puis c'est l'excès inverse : opération remise en forme et nouveau look de rigueur. Elle, bonne poire, ne voit rien, l'imagine stressé au bureau, lui trouve tout un tas d'excuses. Jusqu'au jour où, bon sang mais c'est bien sûr : monsieur a une maîtresse. "Changement d'herbage réjouit les veaux", comme dit le sous-titre du livre... En attendant, patatra ! tout s'écroule. Que fait alors la femme éplorée ? Tout et n'importe quoi. Médicaments à gogo et bonshommesitou. Compliqué, tout ça. Surtout que lui ne sait pas trop, hésite, se tâte, revient... Pas facile à vivre, mais franchement désopilant à lire. AvecLe Démon de midi, Florence Cestac, Grand Prix d'Angoulême 2 000, met en scène avec drôlerie et talent - et un zeste de jubilation masochiste - les affres de la trahison amoureuse vécue par la femme de quarante ans.--Gilbert Jacques

Genres: Graphic Novels, Comics, Bande Dessinée

64 pages, Paperback

First published June 7, 1996

Reviews

[Caro · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a short graphic novel about the experience of a wife whose husband has left her for another woman.

The novel is told from the point of view of the wife and she describes the challenges of becoming a single mother in her forties.

The art is good but the story telling is very choppy. This book appears to have been translated from the French language and some phrases were not handled well.

Overall it was ok. If you like non-fiction graphic novels then you might enjoy this one.

Received an ARC from the publisher via Netgalley

[Robert · Rating 3 out of 5]

Universal mid-life humor with an art style I find off-putting and content that reads like Erma Bombeck.

[Wayne McCoy · Rating 1 out of 5]

'The Midlife Crises' by Florence Cestac is a graphic novel that is supposed to be funny. I found it not to be all that funny.

The story is about what happens to all men when they turn 40. They all have affairs with younger women and leave their wives to get depressed and addicted to medication and chasing after other men.

Humor can be sharp, but it's a fine line. This comes across as bitter and sad. It's apparently just me because this story was optioned for a movie.

I received a review copy of this graphic novel from Europe Comics and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this graphic novel.

[Chad · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was very dated, originally written in 1996. It's about how all husbands leave their wives in their 40's (except I never did). The art style is terrible. It looks like caricatures from a comic strip. It's about how the wife gets through life after her husband leaves her but the storytelling is very disjointed. She mainly just sounds bitter without the humor the art would imply.

[ℳatthieu · Rating 3 out of 5]

Vision du couple, de l'adultère. Un peu cliché, un peu 90s mais un peu vrai dans le fond.
Sans plus de mon côté, mais ce n'est que mon opinion de célibataire.

[Theediscerning · Rating 2 out of 5]

Early reviews suggest this is a Marmite book - one you either love to bits or hate with a vengeance. For me it is like Marmite - neither here nor there, generating no strong reaction at all, and in consequence something I'd forget about if it weren't for the cliche. And cliche is the key word here - this book uses artwork that is quite inhumanly ugly at times to convey the typical story of woman marries man, man finds a lover, woman gets crabby, and the whole thing just has no consequence or point whatsoever. It has a bit of levity, sure, but it really needed a bit of bite about it.

[Laura Duffy · Rating 3 out of 5]

A look at a very tough subject, the midlife crisis. It is made more tangible and easier to swallow with the comical art style reminiscent of old style comics such a Viz. It follows the trials and tribulations of a middle aged housewife whose life is turned upside down when her husband puts their life together at risk by falling in love with his mistress. It’s a good romp although not suitable for younger readers.

[Greagh · Rating 4 out of 5]

'The Midlife Crisis' by Florence Cestac is a graphic novel, drawn in classical comic book style.
This book outlines the possibilities of heartbreak and love surrounding a middle aged family in a comical fashion, while detailing the multiple outcomes of dealing with such events.
It hit close to home with my family but was a reminder that it happens to many of us at some point in our lives, and how we deal with it is how we become the people that we are.

[Elia · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was weird. The art style is unique French, so all the characters are ugly with big bubble noses, but that's fine, that's the style
The thing is, it's probably a story you would only really relate to if you are a woman over 40 who has been cheated on by her husband. So, it's not exactly something with broad appeal.

[Annarella · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really funny and sad at the same time. A fantastic graphic novel about love, relationship and how thing changes in a couple.
Really enjoyed it and it is strongly recommended.
Many thanks to Europe Comics and Netgalley

[J.D. DeHart · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Midlife Crisis works like a cartoon or comic strip, full of colorful images and stuffed with humor. I would recommend the book as a fine example of the comic strip form, and this would make an ideal birthday gift someone getting ready to enter a new phase in life.

[Etienne · Rating 1 out of 5]

Horrible in every way. Maybe just not my style, but I don't understand how it could or should be entertaining at all...

[GONZA · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had so much fun reading this graphic novel that I'm going to recommend it to many of my friends!

Mi sono divertita un sacco a leggere questo fumetto e lo consiglieró a molti!

[Cristie Underwood · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author wrote a great account of the personal journey they embarked on. The honest and detailed writing made it easy for the reader to feel invested in their journey.