Aline And The Others by Guy Delisle
Publisher: Petits Livres ISBN: 978-1-897299-12-5
Review by Simon Chadwick
I missed this the first time round and when I spied it was being reprinted I was quick to snatch a copy. This is not a cartoon book you can share with the kids as it's resplendent with adult themes, but it's still very funny and very clever nonetheless. The book is divided up into chapters concentrating on a different female character, starting with Aline and running alphabetically through, each telling a brief and often surreal tale. The stories are broken down to fifteen panels per page and Delisle sticks to this throughout, illustrating with a confident simple style balanced with clever use of colour and tone and not a single word balloon.
I particularly like the strip with a couple dressed for dinner walking to a restaurant when they come across a puddle. The gent takes off and lays down his jacket and they step across. They come to another puddle and he is forced to repeat the gesture by removing his trousers, and then again by removing his shirt. Of course, he can now no longer enter the restaurant, so the lady grabs the arm of another dapper gent, dines, gets snuggley and they leave together, only to come across yet another puddle. As they hesitate, underpant-clad first gent dives across it and they climb across him, leaving him gazing after still hopelessly in love.
This book will make you smile and although it can be a bit close to the knuckle at times, Delisle's cartooning style charms you into accepting and enjoying it. If I was doing a book of the month, this would be it.
And if you liked that: Try Albert & The Others by the same author.
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