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Chico & Rita
Cuba, 1948. Chico is a young piano player with big dreams. Rita is a beautiful singer with an extraordinary voice. Music and romantic desire unite them, but their journey brings heartache and torment. From Havana to New York, Paris, Hollywood, and Las Vegas, two passionate individuals battle impossible odds to unite in music and love. Javier Mariscal’s art perfectly captures the steamy, vibrant atmosphere of 1940s Havana and transports the reader back to a time filled with music and romance. Based on the true story of Grammy Award–winning Cuban pianist and bandleader Bebo Valdes, this graphic novel is adapted from the animated feature film Chico & Rita, directed by Trueba and Mariscal.
220 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2010
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177 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 62 reviews
March 15, 2019
3 1/2 stars
August 29, 2016
I wavered between three and four stars for this one. Mariscal's art, the deepy affecting ending, and the sense of place in the various locales made me lean towards four. But the importance of music to the story, which we don't get from the graphic novel, but which presumably adds immeasurably to the movie it's adapted from, made me think three. On the balance, three seems closer to the mark. I haven't seen the movie yet, but from the way the musical sections are staged in this book, I assume they're lyrical and moving in ways that the printed page can't convey, and music seems too important to this story to just be let go like that.
So Chico, a Cuban pianist of some talent, meets Rita, a beautiful woman who becomes his muse and the love of his life, though their relationship is extremely rocky. He pursues her through more than one country, but just when he seems to have won her heart ... but that would be telling. And ... but so would that. You get the idea. This is a lovely book, but presumably a significantly lovlier movie. A graphic novel isn't the best way to tell this story, or so I surmise, but props to the creators for trying.
So Chico, a Cuban pianist of some talent, meets Rita, a beautiful woman who becomes his muse and the love of his life, though their relationship is extremely rocky. He pursues her through more than one country, but just when he seems to have won her heart ... but that would be telling. And ... but so would that. You get the idea. This is a lovely book, but presumably a significantly lovlier movie. A graphic novel isn't the best way to tell this story, or so I surmise, but props to the creators for trying.
April 25, 2013
A lively and colorful graphic novel spanning decades, celebrating AfroCuban music, Havana and NYC with great drawings by Javier Mariscal. Maybe the story collapses too much time, too many decades, into too short a space, but it was great to read... Chico and Rita are two musicians who fall in and out of love and over time are in and out of relationships but always are crazy about/from each other... a passionate book about music, Cuban culture, great cities, love and sex...
This book is based on a movie they made... and since it dwells on two musicians, we miss the music, but not having seen the movie--yet--I still liked it a lot, enough to want to see the movie, for sure.... Really liked it!
This book is based on a movie they made... and since it dwells on two musicians, we miss the music, but not having seen the movie--yet--I still liked it a lot, enough to want to see the movie, for sure.... Really liked it!
February 8, 2015
Pues el arte está bien pero la historia está bastante como meh, no se tal vez no soy tan romántico así que me pareció medio forzada. Y con plot holes muy grandes. Luego me enteré que hay una película. Espero sea mejor.
October 3, 2019
Beautifully drawn sad love story with an eventual happy ending.
January 6, 2023
Una historia de amor entre dos músicos ambientada entre Cuba y NY en el SXX. Amé las referencias musicales y la crítica social que la acompañó. Quedé con ganas de ver la película para escuchar el piano de Chico y la voz de Rita.
June 3, 2024
Une histoire « d’amour » comme on aimerait ne plus en lire.
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August 19, 2024Helt mid- men veldig fornøyd med å ha lest min første spanske bok!!!
June 2, 2022
En esta novela gráfica conoceremos a Chico, un pianista cubano, y Rita, una maravillosa cantante cubana. Y veremos como sus vidas se van entrelazando y separando de forma constante.
La novela en si me recuerda mucho a la película de "La la Land" guardando varios paralelismos.
Me gusta especialmente ver como la historia aborda la música desde diferentes ámbitos y en diferentes ciudades (La Habana, New York, París,...) así como los diferentes aspectos sociales relacionados con la misma (el racismo existente en EEUU y las absurdas prohibiciones y normas que se tenían).
Sin duda una novela que te hace aprender y te traslada a los años 50 haciéndote revivir la sociedad de ese entonces.
Los dibujos son de estilo europeo y a color, tienen muchísimos detalles, cada viñeta se puede ver, escuchar y algunas de ellas incluso oler. Son muy expresivos.
Lo recomiendo a todas las personas mayores de 15 años, por algunas escenas de sexo, que disfruten leyendo novelas gráficas y/o tengan un interés especial en la música y su relación con la sociedad de los años 50 en Cuba y EEUU, principalmente.
La novela en si me recuerda mucho a la película de "La la Land" guardando varios paralelismos.
Me gusta especialmente ver como la historia aborda la música desde diferentes ámbitos y en diferentes ciudades (La Habana, New York, París,...) así como los diferentes aspectos sociales relacionados con la misma (el racismo existente en EEUU y las absurdas prohibiciones y normas que se tenían).
Sin duda una novela que te hace aprender y te traslada a los años 50 haciéndote revivir la sociedad de ese entonces.
Los dibujos son de estilo europeo y a color, tienen muchísimos detalles, cada viñeta se puede ver, escuchar y algunas de ellas incluso oler. Son muy expresivos.
Lo recomiendo a todas las personas mayores de 15 años, por algunas escenas de sexo, que disfruten leyendo novelas gráficas y/o tengan un interés especial en la música y su relación con la sociedad de los años 50 en Cuba y EEUU, principalmente.
August 9, 2011
“Chico and Rita” is a graphic novel based upon an animated feature film recently released and which has also spawned a CD of the music in the story. It tells the decades long story of two musicians, one a talented pianist called Chico and the other a beautiful singer called Rita, as they begin their tale of love and betrayal in pre-Revolutionary Cuba to the present day.
The story bounces along as the two meet, the two play, they create beautiful music and fall in love which is ok if you like romance and whatnot, but the story never goes beyond this structure – Chico/Rita become lovers then someone betrays the other, they don’t speak, they reunite, repeat ad nauseam.
One of the problems of the book is that a great portion of it has music and lyrics as the main action in the scene – music is not something graphic novels/comics does well. It’s one thing to show musical notes, lyrics, and the characters soulfully playing instruments/singing/dancing, and it’s another to actually hear it. I wasn’t swept up in the music as the characters were in the book so maybe if you really want the best out of this book you’d have to buy the CD that was released along with the film?
The art is very colourful and reminds me of Rutu Modan’s work with some excellent large page spreads of cities like Havana and New York. Overall though it’s quite a shallow story of two people who are sexually promiscuous but want to be faithful to one another. The romance is clichéd, the story far from original or very compelling, and the book, while lavishly illustrated and produced, doesn’t feel as epic or sweeping as it tried to be. I wouldn’t recommend it highly to comics fans but it’s an alright read.
The story bounces along as the two meet, the two play, they create beautiful music and fall in love which is ok if you like romance and whatnot, but the story never goes beyond this structure – Chico/Rita become lovers then someone betrays the other, they don’t speak, they reunite, repeat ad nauseam.
One of the problems of the book is that a great portion of it has music and lyrics as the main action in the scene – music is not something graphic novels/comics does well. It’s one thing to show musical notes, lyrics, and the characters soulfully playing instruments/singing/dancing, and it’s another to actually hear it. I wasn’t swept up in the music as the characters were in the book so maybe if you really want the best out of this book you’d have to buy the CD that was released along with the film?
The art is very colourful and reminds me of Rutu Modan’s work with some excellent large page spreads of cities like Havana and New York. Overall though it’s quite a shallow story of two people who are sexually promiscuous but want to be faithful to one another. The romance is clichéd, the story far from original or very compelling, and the book, while lavishly illustrated and produced, doesn’t feel as epic or sweeping as it tried to be. I wouldn’t recommend it highly to comics fans but it’s an alright read.
May 20, 2011
[Dutch]
Over muziek is al menig boekwerk geschreven. Over de liefde is zelfs nog meer op papier gezet. En de combinatie van beide is ook geen onbekende binnen de literatuur. De graphic novel Chico & Rita voegt daar een nieuw hoofdstuk aan toe.
Lees verder op 8WEEKLY
Over muziek is al menig boekwerk geschreven. Over de liefde is zelfs nog meer op papier gezet. En de combinatie van beide is ook geen onbekende binnen de literatuur. De graphic novel Chico & Rita voegt daar een nieuw hoofdstuk aan toe.
Lees verder op 8WEEKLY
December 19, 2014
Una historia increíble de amor, desamor, música y la fantasía que esta novela gráfica transmite desde el primer momento.
September 10, 2019
Aww! This graphic novel is so cute!
I started reading graphic novels last year and every now and then I like to read one as it takes my mind off dense, thick and suspenseful novels.
When I saw this one at work, I knew I was gonna get it sooner or later (It is actually an adaptation from the movie Chico & Rita) and it didn't disappoint me!
Although the present time in the novel is 2008, the story they refer takes place in Cuba in 1948 and, one of the main characters, Chico is remembering what happened that year. That year he met the love of his life, Rita. A couple "brought together by music, torn apart by success and reunited by love"! Their start wasn't easy. Jealousy, lies, work, third people and more, made their relationship an impossible one.
But, will it stay like that for ever?
The story itself is a romantic one but I loved the role the music plays in it. I don't know much about Cuba in the 40's or about music, but I did enjoy reading this novel and knowing a bit more about the situation in Havana a few years ago.
The art work is amazing. The colours are so vibrant, the faces and expressions and the character's gestures were so good. All the details, landscapes, scenes... I really really liked it a lot!
I am really happy I read this book and, although it is not my fav graphic novel, I highly recommend it!
I started reading graphic novels last year and every now and then I like to read one as it takes my mind off dense, thick and suspenseful novels.
When I saw this one at work, I knew I was gonna get it sooner or later (It is actually an adaptation from the movie Chico & Rita) and it didn't disappoint me!
Although the present time in the novel is 2008, the story they refer takes place in Cuba in 1948 and, one of the main characters, Chico is remembering what happened that year. That year he met the love of his life, Rita. A couple "brought together by music, torn apart by success and reunited by love"! Their start wasn't easy. Jealousy, lies, work, third people and more, made their relationship an impossible one.
But, will it stay like that for ever?
The story itself is a romantic one but I loved the role the music plays in it. I don't know much about Cuba in the 40's or about music, but I did enjoy reading this novel and knowing a bit more about the situation in Havana a few years ago.
The art work is amazing. The colours are so vibrant, the faces and expressions and the character's gestures were so good. All the details, landscapes, scenes... I really really liked it a lot!
I am really happy I read this book and, although it is not my fav graphic novel, I highly recommend it!
July 16, 2017
I first saw the movie last year and fell in love with it. Seen it multiple times since.
Then I found out there was an actual graphic novel based on the movie. I rushed to buy it!
The book is incredible as well, it explains better, ever so slightly, a few questions I had unanswered in the film. The story flows well and it's nearly a step-by-step copy of the movie. I wish I had seen the book first as to not have a comparison point and judge it by its own merit... still, the book is an amazing companion to the movie.
The art is beautiful and, as I said, the writer did a great job with the flow of the story.
My only complaint, and it's a minor one, considering the limitations of a graphic novel when it comes to this type of story, is the fact that the music is not as important as it is in the film. I know it is difficult to convey sound, and especially music, into drawings, but I do believe they could've figure out a better way to show how important music was in the lives of the protagonists.
Still, definitely worth reading and adding to any fine graphic novel collection!
Then I found out there was an actual graphic novel based on the movie. I rushed to buy it!
The book is incredible as well, it explains better, ever so slightly, a few questions I had unanswered in the film. The story flows well and it's nearly a step-by-step copy of the movie. I wish I had seen the book first as to not have a comparison point and judge it by its own merit... still, the book is an amazing companion to the movie.
The art is beautiful and, as I said, the writer did a great job with the flow of the story.
My only complaint, and it's a minor one, considering the limitations of a graphic novel when it comes to this type of story, is the fact that the music is not as important as it is in the film. I know it is difficult to convey sound, and especially music, into drawings, but I do believe they could've figure out a better way to show how important music was in the lives of the protagonists.
Still, definitely worth reading and adding to any fine graphic novel collection!
May 2, 2018
This book is difficult for me to review. It wavers on three stars and four stars, unfortunately I decided to give it a three. This book is very passionate on its material. Music, Cuban culture, cities, love their all held in high regard in this book and its wonderful to see it. That being said I feel that the biggest flaw to this book is the music itself. It did not translate well to the comic. Sure it shows musical notes, and lyrics but it feels flat without hearing it. Also I have a personal gripe with the main character. Some of his actions in the story made me dislike him. Still this is a unique book that deserves to be read.
March 8, 2021
I really enjoyed the story and the art, Javier Mariscal and Fernando Trueba did an amazing job in capturing the era and the locations. Havana in the 1940s felt alive, as did New York City. But ultimately the real star of the story of Chico & Rita is the music and no graphic novel can truly capture that. As much as you become wrapped up in the story of the two lovers, without the music something magical about this story is just missing.
April 24, 2024
Very pretty pictures but the characters are flat and hard to like or feel empathy for. The "love story" seems to be just a fatal infatuation with lots of jealousy, lousy snappy exchanges and severe emotional immaturity at play. The attitudes of the male characters and the way the female characters are portrayed both reek of misogyny and machismo. Overall I found the book more irritating than enjoyable despite the beautiful visuals.
November 20, 2017
One of those ones where I can sense the richness, tell that it would make a really great movie, with the music and all of that piped in, but as a story in a book, doesn't quite get all the way there. Still, old people, young people, revolution, love, warm summer nights, swoon, etc. It wasn't half bad.
April 2, 2020
Chico and Rita truly takes the reader to many places both physically and emotionally. The story evoked excitement, sadness, and anger at the decisions made by the characters in me. The art style was appropriate given the topic of lovers and the era depicted. Overall, a solid graphic novel that uses the medium well to tell an important and serious story.
September 16, 2022
It is a comic about music and half the panels have songs so… something was lacking just having to imagine it all. It looks like a romantic storyline, but the dialog is clunky and some pages in, you can just tell it’s written by a man. An endless one way chase and naked women fighting like, sure dude, let’s just call that the 40’s.
Skip it.
Skip it.
December 23, 2017
Graphic novel with the Cuban and the American world as protagonists. Love is in the air, beautiful color illustrations and music as frame, make of this book a really fun and easy to read. You feel the beauty of the cities, the bars, the night life with all the difficulties of the 80’s.
October 14, 2018
Beautifully illustrated. That’s probably my favorite aspect of this graphic novel. I’ve never seen the animated film. I think something was definitely lost w/out the music. Themes of loss, envy, racial discrimination, romance.
May 17, 2025
La película la vi hace muchos años y solo recuerdo que me dejó un poco frío. Sin embargo el comic me ha encantado. Me ha dado ganas de revisionar la película, porque si algo te pide esta historia es escuchar la música que acompaña a la historia y los personajes.
Historia de amor profundo y doloroso donde el autor nos lleva de la mano acompañando a los personajes por La Habana y Nueva York, con un dibujo excelente lleno de color.
Historia de amor profundo y doloroso donde el autor nos lleva de la mano acompañando a los personajes por La Habana y Nueva York, con un dibujo excelente lleno de color.
November 4, 2017
Buenos dibujos, Mariscal hace un trabajo genial. La historia se lee rápida, pero me ha encantado pararme a mirar como las imágenes dicen más que las palabras.
January 28, 2018
Viñetas hermosas. Es un argumento entretenido pero sin saber cómo van las canciones la historia pierde un poco de su "magia" Creo que valdría la pena ver la película.
October 9, 2018
Jamás había leído una novela gráfica con ta tanta musicalidad, espectacular.
November 7, 2018
61 Una bella novela gráfica sobre Cuba, la música y una historia de amor. Bien por los colores para esta adaptación
April 1, 2020
I really love the book, the art work is great as well as the dialog. This is well worth the read.
May 31, 2020
Muy bonita historia de amor. El dibujo y el color magnífico.
March 28, 2021
I need more jazz in my life
Displaying 1 - 30 of 62 reviews