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L'Aimant
Pierre, jeune étudiant en architecture parisien entreprend un voyage en Suisse afin de visiter les thermes de Vals. Ce magnifique bâtiment, conçu par le célèbre architecte suisse Peter Zumthor, au coeur de la montagne, le fascine et l'obsède. Cette mystérieuse attraction va se révéler de plus en plus forte à mesure que Pierre se rapproche du bâtiment...
152 pages, Hardcover
First published August 23, 2017
13 people are currently reading
1177 people want to read
About the author
Lucas Harari
6 books39 followersLucas Harari est né à Paris en 1990, où il vit toujours. Après un passage éclair en architecture, il entreprend des études aux arts décoratifs de Paris dans la section image imprimée, dont il sort diplômé en 2015. Sensibilisé aux techniques traditionnelles de l’imprimé, il commence par publier quelques petits fanzines dans son coin avant de travailler comme auteur de bande dessinée et illustrateur pour l’édition et la presse. L’Aimant est sa première bande dessinée publiée.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 216 reviews
February 15, 2024
Swimming in Darkness follows Pierre’s obsession with the real world architecture of the Vals Thermal Baths in the Swiss Alps. Frankly, I wanted to read this because it would be my first mystery graphic novel. Not to say, I am enticed with the book cover, giving this foreboding and mystifying feeling.
I love the illustration as well, with the grainy and tactile texture. It reminds me of the time I read Sherlock Holmes graphic novel for school and it was different than other graphic novels I've read so far; which usually give the contemporary impression. It's stunning and the book is easy to read too.
Regrettably, that's as far as my favoritism for this book goes. The plot and the flow of the book is quite choppy. I couldn't resonate with it nor could I understand why this was a significant story to the author. Sure, Pierre's path of discovery interacts with ideas of cross-cultural meaning, folklore, architecture, and reality, but I wanted to comprehend and feel the tale as the author did, except that this novel came up short.
Undeniably, it would probably have to do with the fact that I am not well acquainted with the folk tales itself since this is taken from the French's. So, it really didn't help when the book didn't end with conclusions. Another thing that should be noted is that: this book also includes nudity which I failed to foresee it. Should've took the "Adult" tag seriously.
Overall, the book isn't for me but might be for you.
I love the illustration as well, with the grainy and tactile texture. It reminds me of the time I read Sherlock Holmes graphic novel for school and it was different than other graphic novels I've read so far; which usually give the contemporary impression. It's stunning and the book is easy to read too.
Regrettably, that's as far as my favoritism for this book goes. The plot and the flow of the book is quite choppy. I couldn't resonate with it nor could I understand why this was a significant story to the author. Sure, Pierre's path of discovery interacts with ideas of cross-cultural meaning, folklore, architecture, and reality, but I wanted to comprehend and feel the tale as the author did, except that this novel came up short.
Undeniably, it would probably have to do with the fact that I am not well acquainted with the folk tales itself since this is taken from the French's. So, it really didn't help when the book didn't end with conclusions. Another thing that should be noted is that: this book also includes nudity which I failed to foresee it. Should've took the "Adult" tag seriously.
Overall, the book isn't for me but might be for you.
August 21, 2020
A strange, Twilight Zone like story about a man obsessed with the architecture of a remote bathhouse in Switzerland. It has some elements of House of Leaves in it as well, as the rooms of the bath seem to shift and change. The end wasn't very satisfying as the last 20 pages didn't make a lot of sense. Maybe it was something lost in translation from the original French. I really enjoyed Harari's art deco influenced art.
Received a review copy from Arsenal Pulp Press and Edelweiss. All thoughts are my own and in no way influenced by the aofrementioned.
Received a review copy from Arsenal Pulp Press and Edelweiss. All thoughts are my own and in no way influenced by the aofrementioned.
January 6, 2020
This very sleek looking graphic novel either lost something in the translation from the French or its too early in the year for me to handle a story involving a drop out architecture student going through an existential crisis in a thermal bath in Switzerland.
Lucas Harari has this whole cool art deco TinTin thing going on but I'll be damned if I have any idea what was happening here. There are David Lynchian doors opening in walls and people disappearing and reappearing and floating rocks and crazy mountain men who maybe aren't crazy but it all just kinda falls flat.
Lucas Harari has this whole cool art deco TinTin thing going on but I'll be damned if I have any idea what was happening here. There are David Lynchian doors opening in walls and people disappearing and reappearing and floating rocks and crazy mountain men who maybe aren't crazy but it all just kinda falls flat.
June 7, 2020
Swimming in Darkness is probably the most cinematic graphic novel I've read thus far. The art and the story perfectly captured the noir aesthetic in such a captivating way. I read this in a single afternoon -- unable to tear myself away from this strange, slightly unsettling story -- and it was unlike any other graphic novel I've read.
I would've loved a bit more conclusion out of the story, but you can't have it all.
I would've loved a bit more conclusion out of the story, but you can't have it all.
January 21, 2022
Karakarga’yı yakından takip ediyorum. Yayınlanacağını gördüğümde kapak ve isim beni yakaladı. Fakat internette çok fazla dikkat çekici inceleme yoktu. Son zamanlarda Karakarga’nın bastığı bağımsız işlerden hayal kırıklığına uğradıklarım vardı. Gizem temalı, paranormal esanslı işleri sevmiyordum. Üstelik 118 lira gibi dev bir fiyat etiketiyle sunulmuştu. Tüm bunlar birleşince almaya yanaşmamıştım bir türlü.
Sonra Dost kitabevinde şöyle bir elime alınca, çizimler, renklendirme, karelemeye şiddetli şekilde (tabiri caizse) “düştüm”. Sipariş vermek kaçınılmazdı. Bu kitapta beni kendisine çeken bir şeyler var. İçgüdüsel bir şeyler sanki. Mesela yorumlarına değer verdiğim kimi çizer ve okurlar (yine Karakarga bastığında) İtalyan Gipi’nin işlerine övgüler yağdırmışlardı fakat eserlerin bende güçlü bir tesiri (okuduğum dönem itibariyle) olmamıştı. Benim göremediğim şeyler görüyor, benim hissedemediğim şeyler hissediyorlardı belki. Bunlardan neden bahsettim? Çünkü “Dağın Kalbi” de sizin için dört yıldızlık bir iş olmayabilir.
Daha ilk sayfalardan itibaren kareler arasında boşluk bırakılmadan çizilmiş akıcı sayfalar, kompozisyon ve açılar beni kitabın içine çekti. Film noir atmosferi çağrıştıran renklendirmeleri olduğunu da düşünmekle birlikte en tuhaf bölümlerini bile (ilginç şekilde) rahatlatıcı buldum. Rahatsız edici değil. Üstelik ayakları yere basmayan, doğru dürüst bir yere bağlanmayan mistik/paranormal şeyler bile beni rahatsız etmedi. Normalde rahatsız eder. Kitabın girişindeki çakmak ve taş çizimi, dokuzuncu sayfadaki yağmurlu sayfa… İdiyopatik beğenimi kazandı. Ama puan çok rahatsız etmese de bu durumlar ve finalden kırıldı.
(Daha önce bahsettiğimiz gibi) Renkler, çizerin kamerasını/bakışını konumlandırdığı noktalar ve özellikle akıcılık, bir sinema filmi izliyor hissine yaklaştırıyor okuru. 90 doğumlu Harari’nin ilk grafik romanı için hayli olumlu. Bir de temalar hep bende, gönlümde karşılık buldu. Dağlar, İsviçre doğası, trenler seferleri, kaplıcalar, iyi mimari, tek başına yola çıkmak, yabancılarla tanışmak, hikayeler dinlemek ve bir Porsche 911 ve bir not defteri… :)
Kitabın bir finali var mı bir mesajı var mı, bilmiyorum. Yok. Böyle yaptım oldu işlerden hoşlanmam. Fakat nihayeti (bence) olmasa da bu kitap bir deneyim sunuyor. Bu deneyime talip olanlar memnun olabilir. Mevcut fiyat etiketiyle gönül rahatlığı ile öneremiyorum. Almayı düşünenler mutlaka görüp incelesinler, ilgilenirlerse alsınlar.
Not: Almanca bilenlere sormak isterim. Kitapta “Testis” isminde bir karakter var. Almanca böyle bir erkek ismi var mı sahiden?
Not2: Tema olarak ucundan, coğrafya olarak ise göbeğinden benzemesi hasebiyle yine İsviçre alplerinde mistik bir spa/sağlıklı yaşam merkezinde geçen Gore Verbinski’nin “A Cure for Wellness” filmini anımsattı. Ortam ve manzaralar yüzü suyu hürmetine izlenmişti :) Merak edenler göz atabilir.
Sonra Dost kitabevinde şöyle bir elime alınca, çizimler, renklendirme, karelemeye şiddetli şekilde (tabiri caizse) “düştüm”. Sipariş vermek kaçınılmazdı. Bu kitapta beni kendisine çeken bir şeyler var. İçgüdüsel bir şeyler sanki. Mesela yorumlarına değer verdiğim kimi çizer ve okurlar (yine Karakarga bastığında) İtalyan Gipi’nin işlerine övgüler yağdırmışlardı fakat eserlerin bende güçlü bir tesiri (okuduğum dönem itibariyle) olmamıştı. Benim göremediğim şeyler görüyor, benim hissedemediğim şeyler hissediyorlardı belki. Bunlardan neden bahsettim? Çünkü “Dağın Kalbi” de sizin için dört yıldızlık bir iş olmayabilir.
Daha ilk sayfalardan itibaren kareler arasında boşluk bırakılmadan çizilmiş akıcı sayfalar, kompozisyon ve açılar beni kitabın içine çekti. Film noir atmosferi çağrıştıran renklendirmeleri olduğunu da düşünmekle birlikte en tuhaf bölümlerini bile (ilginç şekilde) rahatlatıcı buldum. Rahatsız edici değil. Üstelik ayakları yere basmayan, doğru dürüst bir yere bağlanmayan mistik/paranormal şeyler bile beni rahatsız etmedi. Normalde rahatsız eder. Kitabın girişindeki çakmak ve taş çizimi, dokuzuncu sayfadaki yağmurlu sayfa… İdiyopatik beğenimi kazandı. Ama puan çok rahatsız etmese de bu durumlar ve finalden kırıldı.
(Daha önce bahsettiğimiz gibi) Renkler, çizerin kamerasını/bakışını konumlandırdığı noktalar ve özellikle akıcılık, bir sinema filmi izliyor hissine yaklaştırıyor okuru. 90 doğumlu Harari’nin ilk grafik romanı için hayli olumlu. Bir de temalar hep bende, gönlümde karşılık buldu. Dağlar, İsviçre doğası, trenler seferleri, kaplıcalar, iyi mimari, tek başına yola çıkmak, yabancılarla tanışmak, hikayeler dinlemek ve bir Porsche 911 ve bir not defteri… :)
Kitabın bir finali var mı bir mesajı var mı, bilmiyorum. Yok. Böyle yaptım oldu işlerden hoşlanmam. Fakat nihayeti (bence) olmasa da bu kitap bir deneyim sunuyor. Bu deneyime talip olanlar memnun olabilir. Mevcut fiyat etiketiyle gönül rahatlığı ile öneremiyorum. Almayı düşünenler mutlaka görüp incelesinler, ilgilenirlerse alsınlar.
Not: Almanca bilenlere sormak isterim. Kitapta “Testis” isminde bir karakter var. Almanca böyle bir erkek ismi var mı sahiden?
Not2: Tema olarak ucundan, coğrafya olarak ise göbeğinden benzemesi hasebiyle yine İsviçre alplerinde mistik bir spa/sağlıklı yaşam merkezinde geçen Gore Verbinski’nin “A Cure for Wellness” filmini anımsattı. Ortam ve manzaralar yüzü suyu hürmetine izlenmişti :) Merak edenler göz atabilir.
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September 4, 2021▪️ SWIMMING IN DARKNESS by Lucas Harari, tr. from the French by David Homel, 2017/2019 by @arsenalpulp
SWIMMING INTO DARKNESS is a striking artistic graphic novel, with this sleek color palette of reds, blues, and blacks. Very eye catching, and matches well with the eerie story of a French architectural student who becomes obsessed with a mysterious spa/hotel and thermal baths in the Swiss Alps, in Vals, Switzerland. It's got a cool noir look, with a Twilight Zone-style story.
The artist frames the story as if it is a true one... Not sure if this was a device, or some sort of speculation on a true story. The thermal springs in Vals and the spectacular building, designed by Peter Zumthor are definitely real!
Either way, it was great fun to read and view.
SWIMMING INTO DARKNESS is a striking artistic graphic novel, with this sleek color palette of reds, blues, and blacks. Very eye catching, and matches well with the eerie story of a French architectural student who becomes obsessed with a mysterious spa/hotel and thermal baths in the Swiss Alps, in Vals, Switzerland. It's got a cool noir look, with a Twilight Zone-style story.
The artist frames the story as if it is a true one... Not sure if this was a device, or some sort of speculation on a true story. The thermal springs in Vals and the spectacular building, designed by Peter Zumthor are definitely real!
Either way, it was great fun to read and view.
July 13, 2021
3 * voor het verhaal, was niet zo geweldig maar het tekenwerk maakte voor mij het boek zeker wel de moeite waard; vond ik mooi. Vandaar dus toch 4*.
September 28, 2022
A mopey young Frenchman is either in a mental health crisis following derailment of his architecture Ph.D. or caught up in the legend surrounding a magical bathhouse in the Swiss Alps. Or both.
Regardless of the mopiness and questionable sanity, surely in a story like this some young woman will still get naked with him, right? Just as surely as the colorful locals will befriend him and some mysterious man will follow and threaten him, yep.
No surprises, no thrills, no enthusiasm from me.
Regardless of the mopiness and questionable sanity, surely in a story like this some young woman will still get naked with him, right? Just as surely as the colorful locals will befriend him and some mysterious man will follow and threaten him, yep.
No surprises, no thrills, no enthusiasm from me.
December 16, 2024
A weird little mystery that attempts to make itself more tense and suspenseful and high-stakes than it can pull off. There's just not too much you can do with a bathhouse - even if that bathhouse should be slightly non-euclidean, like a Bath of Leaves or something. But only once a century and even then not all that much.
The events and story beats don't come together too well, things happen without there being much sense for them to happen - and the main character too takes the story for the thriller it wants to be, but the rest of the story won't play ball and so in the end his actions and motives just come across as irrational.
The art was okay, though.
The events and story beats don't come together too well, things happen without there being much sense for them to happen - and the main character too takes the story for the thriller it wants to be, but the rest of the story won't play ball and so in the end his actions and motives just come across as irrational.
The art was okay, though.
May 9, 2019
Very Tintin-esque :)
I liked it
I liked it
May 25, 2022
Je tiens à m'excuser d'avance pour la virulence de mes propos. Ils ne sont que l'expression d'une opinion propre, je ne les considère pas comme étant plus que ça. Rien de personnel envers l'auteur ni la maison d'édition.
Déception totale. Je n'attendais certes, pas grand chose de ce roman graphique, pour autant le minimum syndical aurait été dûment apprécié.
D'un point de vue narratif, c'est là où le bât blesse. L'enchaînement des évènements est gratuit et grossier. Les interactions n'ont ni queue ni tête. Le personnage : sa cause, sa quête et sa personnalité ne m'ont pas touchées. On nous met directement dans le bain (haha) d'une histoire hyper bancale, faite de conventions surfaites. Le méchant type mi-James Bond, mi-Indiana Jones (Fedora à l'appui), la belle femme : honnêtement, en quoi ont-ils servi le récit ? Les éléments ne s'imbriquent pas, tout est très hétérogène.
Je suis étonnée que personne, lors des différentes étapes de la publication n'a gentiment rappelé à l'auteur que pour nous rallier à la cause d'un parisien "paumé" (barman dans un troquet, snif snif) qui a abandonné sa thèse d'architecture (re-snif) pris d'une violente crise existentielle (bouh-hou), il fallait peut-être redoubler d'effort, si ce n'est carrément modifier l'angle.
Je conçois que les thermes sont aussi uN peRsoNnaGe à pArT eNtièRe, mais quand on choisit la fiction : il faut raconter une histoire (déjà) et si possible bien (?). Et parfois il faut savoir dire : non Lucas, ton bâtiment préf et la torpeur parisienne ne sont pas suffisants pour créer un bon sujet de fiction, retourne contempler la force sensationnelle et minimaliste de l'architecture de Zumthor dans ton appartement du 18ème arrondissement, reviens me voir quand tu auras peaufiné ça.
Je me sens une fois de plus lésée par le résultat anémique de l'inTeLLectUaliSme frOnçAiS. Donnez-nous juste une bonne histoire. Bonne histoire et personnages probants d'abord, courbettes ensuite, dac ? En fait c'est pour ça que je suis hyper salée, trop marre d'être prise pour une conne et de participer à mon insu à un idéal poussiéreux qui tourne en rond. J'ai eu des gros flashbacks de Polaris - La Nuit de Circé en lisant ça (et c'est pas un compliment).
Heureusement qu'on a eu quelques belles planches contemplatives des thermes de Vals, c'est à peu près tout ce que je retiens de cette publication.
C'est pas parce qu'on est aussi en charge de l'illustration que ça donne un laisser-passer gratuit pour ne pas savoir raconter une histoire ou créer des personnages convaincants. Ça commence à vraiment devenir fréquent. C'est quand même dommage dans une oeuvre de fiction.
Déception totale. Je n'attendais certes, pas grand chose de ce roman graphique, pour autant le minimum syndical aurait été dûment apprécié.
D'un point de vue narratif, c'est là où le bât blesse. L'enchaînement des évènements est gratuit et grossier. Les interactions n'ont ni queue ni tête. Le personnage : sa cause, sa quête et sa personnalité ne m'ont pas touchées. On nous met directement dans le bain (haha) d'une histoire hyper bancale, faite de conventions surfaites. Le méchant type mi-James Bond, mi-Indiana Jones (Fedora à l'appui), la belle femme : honnêtement, en quoi ont-ils servi le récit ? Les éléments ne s'imbriquent pas, tout est très hétérogène.
Je suis étonnée que personne, lors des différentes étapes de la publication n'a gentiment rappelé à l'auteur que pour nous rallier à la cause d'un parisien "paumé" (barman dans un troquet, snif snif) qui a abandonné sa thèse d'architecture (re-snif) pris d'une violente crise existentielle (bouh-hou), il fallait peut-être redoubler d'effort, si ce n'est carrément modifier l'angle.
Je conçois que les thermes sont aussi uN peRsoNnaGe à pArT eNtièRe, mais quand on choisit la fiction : il faut raconter une histoire (déjà) et si possible bien (?). Et parfois il faut savoir dire : non Lucas, ton bâtiment préf et la torpeur parisienne ne sont pas suffisants pour créer un bon sujet de fiction, retourne contempler la force sensationnelle et minimaliste de l'architecture de Zumthor dans ton appartement du 18ème arrondissement, reviens me voir quand tu auras peaufiné ça.
Je me sens une fois de plus lésée par le résultat anémique de l'inTeLLectUaliSme frOnçAiS. Donnez-nous juste une bonne histoire. Bonne histoire et personnages probants d'abord, courbettes ensuite, dac ? En fait c'est pour ça que je suis hyper salée, trop marre d'être prise pour une conne et de participer à mon insu à un idéal poussiéreux qui tourne en rond. J'ai eu des gros flashbacks de Polaris - La Nuit de Circé en lisant ça (et c'est pas un compliment).
Heureusement qu'on a eu quelques belles planches contemplatives des thermes de Vals, c'est à peu près tout ce que je retiens de cette publication.
C'est pas parce qu'on est aussi en charge de l'illustration que ça donne un laisser-passer gratuit pour ne pas savoir raconter une histoire ou créer des personnages convaincants. Ça commence à vraiment devenir fréquent. C'est quand même dommage dans une oeuvre de fiction.
August 22, 2020
Spare, elegant, and beautiful, this tale of an architecture student's engagement with a peculiar resort is well worth an evening. Harari's visuals are haunting, with a style that is both rich and simple. The translation is effective, and the story got its hooks into me more than I'd expected. It's very not shooty-shooty pew-pew, nor does it hew to the barely post-adolescent lumpen-tropes of much of graphic-noveldom.
It's a smart, mature and very...French...tale. It takes its time, allowing you to savor the wonderfully evocative paneling, the deft interplay of light and darkness, and the clean, architectural lines of Harari's art.
Four point three.
It's a smart, mature and very...French...tale. It takes its time, allowing you to savor the wonderfully evocative paneling, the deft interplay of light and darkness, and the clean, architectural lines of Harari's art.
Four point three.
February 17, 2024
(2.75) J’ai rien pigé.
February 16, 2024
I really, really liked this. It's a slow burn start that unravels itself and picks up this ever-growing steam through a wild finish. A nice little piece of intrigue, suspense, and mountain mysticism.
January 21, 2018
Suspense architectural? Délire poussé à l’extrême? L’AIMANT est une magnifique bd grand format, dessins pleine page, nombre limité de couleurs, ambiance étouffante. Jeune architecte parisien, qui a dû laisser tomber les études parce qu’obsédé par une construction suisse, les Thermes de Zumtor, Pierre décide de partir pour les Grisons suisses afin de s’imprégner de l’ambiance des thermes, rencontrer son architecte, se perdre dans un labyrinthe de formes. Bref, difficile à résumer, cette bd n’est pas moins fascinante!
October 24, 2020
I'm not sure I have ever felt so thoroughly dropped into a complete world in a graphic novel as I was in this one. The story centers around a PhD student writing about an incredible architectural structure: the Vals Thermal Baths in the Swiss Alps (which is a real place that looks every bit as magical in real life). There is an ever present darkness to the tone, themes and mood of the story, creating suspense. Things are not going well for this young man. There is a bit of mystery, a bit of folklore and the entire telling plays very cinematically as a noir thriller.
January 21, 2020
I like the premise, and the graphics are great, but some of the pages were hard for me to follow. I think the translation or the layout (or both) tripped me up. Once it gets going, the story really picks up and presents a compelling mystery, but then the ending felt rushed and incomplete. I feel like Harari could have done a lot more with it.
October 26, 2019
Tolle Bilder liefern eine intensive Atmosphäre und die Handlung ist flott erzählt. Das Ganze wirkt auf mich aber unnötig verschwurbelt und bedeutungsschwanger.
January 20, 2024
Totalny średniaczek, w ogóle nie porywająca historia, wszystko leży i czeka aż coś się stanie, słabiutko to wyszło. Jedyne co zasługuje na ocenę to grafika bo jest przepiękna. Moim zdaniem zmarnowany potencjał.
January 18, 2025
Unique and sleek illustrations
3.5 ⭐️
3.5 ⭐️
August 18, 2022
Zvláštny príbeh s podmanivou atmosférou, avšak na to, aby som si ho skutočne užila, mi niečo chýbalo... sama neviem čo. Príbeh, postavy, zápletka, napriek snahe mi to všetko pripadalo akési plytké. Najzaujímavejšou bola línia únikového východu kúpeľov a tajnej legendy, avšak oba motívy mi pripadali nedostatočne rozvinuté a ich prepojenie veľmi slabé.
February 3, 2020
.Generally we think in graphic novels story is not primary thing, but art is. Related to writing there is one universal law; that for a book to stand ground, it should tell a great story.
It is one such story.
Right from start it engulfs the reader and takes him on a pleasant journey through swiss mountains.
Pierre main protagonist is silent architect who wants to know secret of baths in a famous hotel.
Artwork is exemplary. Especially backgrounds showing terrains, mountains, indoors and roads are excellent.
They produce immersive reading experience and elevate the level of story. It is amazing how in a small panel extensive details are captured.
I liked all the silent captionless pages.
It is definitely a must read, an original comic book with intelligent art and writing.
Thanks edelweiss plus and publisher for review copy.
It is one such story.
Right from start it engulfs the reader and takes him on a pleasant journey through swiss mountains.
Pierre main protagonist is silent architect who wants to know secret of baths in a famous hotel.
Artwork is exemplary. Especially backgrounds showing terrains, mountains, indoors and roads are excellent.
They produce immersive reading experience and elevate the level of story. It is amazing how in a small panel extensive details are captured.
I liked all the silent captionless pages.
It is definitely a must read, an original comic book with intelligent art and writing.
Thanks edelweiss plus and publisher for review copy.
February 28, 2021
Ah...a fun story!
Harari seems to have been influenced in pacing and art by Charles Burns. Harari is a good half-step back from full Burnsian weirdness, but his story is still as engaging and his art captures the uneasy/uncertain mood just as well. Well, close to.
It's not a perfect book, the very minimal frame to the story strikes me as unnecessary (and confusing...as I had forgot about the one page intro by the time I read the one page recap 30 minutes later). And the story is perhaps too unfeasible, more from the way the characters happen to come into contact with each other, rather than the "big mystery." But damn it, I was engaged! A strong first effort. I look forward to seeing mor efrom Harari.
Harari seems to have been influenced in pacing and art by Charles Burns. Harari is a good half-step back from full Burnsian weirdness, but his story is still as engaging and his art captures the uneasy/uncertain mood just as well. Well, close to.
It's not a perfect book, the very minimal frame to the story strikes me as unnecessary (and confusing...as I had forgot about the one page intro by the time I read the one page recap 30 minutes later). And the story is perhaps too unfeasible, more from the way the characters happen to come into contact with each other, rather than the "big mystery." But damn it, I was engaged! A strong first effort. I look forward to seeing mor efrom Harari.
December 4, 2019
A man lost within his own life tries to find answers by traveling to and studying the Vals in the Swiss Alps. One of the best-looking books I have read all year in regards to the sheer beauty and page composition and storytelling. I was impressed by how each scene carries with it a distinct look especially with the use of color. The story itself is this self mediation on purpose but also elements of classic noir mystery and even a touch of fantasy. It is an eclectic grouping that works well in tandem with each other.
February 13, 2020
Fascinating intersection of mythic and architectural spookiness that... doesn't quite go far enough. Rating rounded up for the beautiful artwork and book design.
February 7, 2021
Denne tegneserien hadde så utrolig stort potensiale! tegningene er vakre og suggererende, stemningen man sitter med er en salig blanding av spenning, mystikk med en dråpe av melankoli. Dessverre klarer jeg ikke gi boken mer enn 3 stjerner.. Det er alt for uklart hva boken prøver på, og om den prøver på noe misslyktes den sterkt i mine øyne. Den største svakheten med boken er dens premiss. At det hele er basert på en sann historie og dermed at alt det magiske og mystiske som skjer faktisk har skjedd.. Det funker rett og slett ikke. Det er som avslutningen på en barnefilm hvor hovedpersonen våkner og innser at det hele var en drøm, for så å finne et objekt under puten som bekrefter at hendelsene i drømmen faktisk har funnet sted.
Dette er en barnslig men konkret beskjed til barnet som ser på: fiksjoner betyr noe! Selv om det hele var en drøm så kan vi likevel lære noe om vennskap, heltemot, moral eller oss selv. Kunst virker. I og for seg er ikke dette et problem, men det kan fort bli det om man ønsker å lage et "voksent" verk som ønsker å bli tatt seriøst.
Tegneserien begynner med at en arkitekturprofessor møter på en tidligere student på kafe. Professoren kjøper kaffe av studenten, som jobber der, og slår av en prat. Det viser seg at studenten gjennomgikk et sammenbrudd under arbeidet med avhandlingen sin og sluttet på studiet uten å si ifra til noen. Sammenbruddet beskrives som en form for manisk episode, han ønsker ikke gå i detalj, både episoden og tiden etterpå var tung. Samtalen avslutter med at studenten avslører at han skal reise og besøke Therme Vals, et (ekte) spa i Sveits tegnet av arkitekten Peter Zumthor, bygningen han i avhandlingen ønsket å undersøke. Med dette bakteppet reiser han til Sveits. Vi finner snart ut at spaet later til å ha en egen vilje, uttrykt gjennom ulike labyritiske påfunn i form av hemmelige dører og rom som åpner seg etter bygningens eget forgodtbefinnede. Mens undersøkelsene av bygningen pågår, blir den tidligere studenten presentert for lokale mytiske fortellinger og en farlig motstander som er villig til å bruke alle virkemidler for å få kloa i bygningens hemmeligheter (selv om motivasjonen til denne motstanderen oppleves som noe tvilsom).
Så til problemet: Forfattere burde alltid være sikre nok i sin sak til at tekstene snakker for seg selv. ved å påstå at dette er en sann historie (noe det åpenbart ikke er) så trygler forfatteren leseren til å ta historien seriøst (siden den tross alt er sann). Den eneste måten vi kan ta historien på ordet som en sann fortelling er å stemple studenten, som tross alt har en historie med psykisk sykdom, som psykotisk, men dette skaper paradokset med at fortellingen nå ikke bør bli tatt seriøst likevel, den er ikke annet en vrøvlet til en ung hjelpetrengende mann. Et annet dog mindre problem er antagonisten, en akademisk arkitekt som er villig til å drepe for å få skrevet (enda) en bok om det offentlige badets plass i sivilisasjonen. Boken lider ikke under dette, det er mer humoristisk enn troverdig, men slik jeg forstår det er det ikke meningen at dette skal være patetisk og morsomt.
Som skrevet over er det hele fantastisk tegnet og godt fortalt. historien kan fort leses som en slags dannelseshistorie hvor en ung mann konfronterer seg selv og villskapen i hans eget sinn, eller en form for spenning mellom det materielle (selve bygningen, folkene han møter på og relasjonene han danner seg i sveits) kontra det immaterielle (avhandlingen, abstraksjoner, akademia) og fallgruven med å gå for dypt inn i det immatrielle (man melder seg ut av verden, trår inn i galskapen). Og det finnes sikkert talløse andre perspektiver man kan lese inn i historien. Om man ikke ønsker å tenke, kan man også ta det hele for en god historie. Men dette går etter min mening kun an om historien gir avkall på å være faktisk, men innrømmer å være fiksjon, et kunstverk, som det så åpenbart er - en tegneserie.
Dette er en barnslig men konkret beskjed til barnet som ser på: fiksjoner betyr noe! Selv om det hele var en drøm så kan vi likevel lære noe om vennskap, heltemot, moral eller oss selv. Kunst virker. I og for seg er ikke dette et problem, men det kan fort bli det om man ønsker å lage et "voksent" verk som ønsker å bli tatt seriøst.
Tegneserien begynner med at en arkitekturprofessor møter på en tidligere student på kafe. Professoren kjøper kaffe av studenten, som jobber der, og slår av en prat. Det viser seg at studenten gjennomgikk et sammenbrudd under arbeidet med avhandlingen sin og sluttet på studiet uten å si ifra til noen. Sammenbruddet beskrives som en form for manisk episode, han ønsker ikke gå i detalj, både episoden og tiden etterpå var tung. Samtalen avslutter med at studenten avslører at han skal reise og besøke Therme Vals, et (ekte) spa i Sveits tegnet av arkitekten Peter Zumthor, bygningen han i avhandlingen ønsket å undersøke. Med dette bakteppet reiser han til Sveits. Vi finner snart ut at spaet later til å ha en egen vilje, uttrykt gjennom ulike labyritiske påfunn i form av hemmelige dører og rom som åpner seg etter bygningens eget forgodtbefinnede. Mens undersøkelsene av bygningen pågår, blir den tidligere studenten presentert for lokale mytiske fortellinger og en farlig motstander som er villig til å bruke alle virkemidler for å få kloa i bygningens hemmeligheter (selv om motivasjonen til denne motstanderen oppleves som noe tvilsom).
Så til problemet: Forfattere burde alltid være sikre nok i sin sak til at tekstene snakker for seg selv. ved å påstå at dette er en sann historie (noe det åpenbart ikke er) så trygler forfatteren leseren til å ta historien seriøst (siden den tross alt er sann). Den eneste måten vi kan ta historien på ordet som en sann fortelling er å stemple studenten, som tross alt har en historie med psykisk sykdom, som psykotisk, men dette skaper paradokset med at fortellingen nå ikke bør bli tatt seriøst likevel, den er ikke annet en vrøvlet til en ung hjelpetrengende mann. Et annet dog mindre problem er antagonisten, en akademisk arkitekt som er villig til å drepe for å få skrevet (enda) en bok om det offentlige badets plass i sivilisasjonen. Boken lider ikke under dette, det er mer humoristisk enn troverdig, men slik jeg forstår det er det ikke meningen at dette skal være patetisk og morsomt.
Som skrevet over er det hele fantastisk tegnet og godt fortalt. historien kan fort leses som en slags dannelseshistorie hvor en ung mann konfronterer seg selv og villskapen i hans eget sinn, eller en form for spenning mellom det materielle (selve bygningen, folkene han møter på og relasjonene han danner seg i sveits) kontra det immaterielle (avhandlingen, abstraksjoner, akademia) og fallgruven med å gå for dypt inn i det immatrielle (man melder seg ut av verden, trår inn i galskapen). Og det finnes sikkert talløse andre perspektiver man kan lese inn i historien. Om man ikke ønsker å tenke, kan man også ta det hele for en god historie. Men dette går etter min mening kun an om historien gir avkall på å være faktisk, men innrømmer å være fiksjon, et kunstverk, som det så åpenbart er - en tegneserie.
October 5, 2024
I picked this graphic novel up while wandering around the library with some coworkers. The art style seemed interesting and I loved the focus on architecture and the natural landscape. It laid in wait while I finished another book, and then I jumped in over the course of about an hour and a half.
The art was even better than I had seen in my initial skim at the library. Harari's art is really great. Though it's not the same style, it reminded me of Tom Gauld, whose work I find both atmospheric and pleasing to the eye. Certainly, the same can be said for this book.
The real brilliance of the book, though, is in the relationship between the structure of the panels and the architecture of the Therme Vals, which features at the center of the book's mystery. The square panels are arranged in ways which reflect the quarried, straight stone of the thermal baths. The "meander" that Peter Zumthor facilitated with the built environment is captured well on the page, as the absence of gutters means that your eyes can trace the images without feeling like they are artificially separate from one another. In a choice that I absolutely adore, the meandering of the protaganist is sometimes depicted by a triptych, in which a primary scene is connected and fluid across three panels (no gutters), but the character moves across this space, using the panel lines to establish a passage of time and movement. It's used a few times to great effect, and works wonderfully at isolating the character from a dynamic surrounding environment. And of course, it still retains the character of the architecture at the heart of the story.
The other art is fine - character designs are good, the landscapes are very pretty, and the shading and texture maintain the clarity of the images while still creating a refined, vintage aeshetic. I think the real challenge of the book is the plot, which struggles in the beginning, picks up in the middle, then takes a strange detour and concludes too early. The mystery at the heart of the plot is interesting, but the path by which it is resolved diverges away from the thermal baths themselves, which I would have enjoyed more. Exploring the place itself would be more engaging than the romantic plot that's added in. I do like the character that is introduced in that section, but wish her role were different than it ended up being. The ending, which I really liked, comes a little too quickly and then finishes with a "wrapper" story that distracted from the core plot and added nothing at all.
Overall, very glad I read the book and would love to print some of the images as decoration in my apartment. I've also added the Therme Vals to my bucket list, so it may take on additional meaning later. But I'm left with the feeling that with a coauthor to trim the fat and expand the meat of the story, there could have been something a lot stronger. I'd recommend this to my friend Russ.
The art was even better than I had seen in my initial skim at the library. Harari's art is really great. Though it's not the same style, it reminded me of Tom Gauld, whose work I find both atmospheric and pleasing to the eye. Certainly, the same can be said for this book.
The real brilliance of the book, though, is in the relationship between the structure of the panels and the architecture of the Therme Vals, which features at the center of the book's mystery. The square panels are arranged in ways which reflect the quarried, straight stone of the thermal baths. The "meander" that Peter Zumthor facilitated with the built environment is captured well on the page, as the absence of gutters means that your eyes can trace the images without feeling like they are artificially separate from one another. In a choice that I absolutely adore, the meandering of the protaganist is sometimes depicted by a triptych, in which a primary scene is connected and fluid across three panels (no gutters), but the character moves across this space, using the panel lines to establish a passage of time and movement. It's used a few times to great effect, and works wonderfully at isolating the character from a dynamic surrounding environment. And of course, it still retains the character of the architecture at the heart of the story.
The other art is fine - character designs are good, the landscapes are very pretty, and the shading and texture maintain the clarity of the images while still creating a refined, vintage aeshetic. I think the real challenge of the book is the plot, which struggles in the beginning, picks up in the middle, then takes a strange detour and concludes too early. The mystery at the heart of the plot is interesting, but the path by which it is resolved diverges away from the thermal baths themselves, which I would have enjoyed more. Exploring the place itself would be more engaging than the romantic plot that's added in. I do like the character that is introduced in that section, but wish her role were different than it ended up being. The ending, which I really liked, comes a little too quickly and then finishes with a "wrapper" story that distracted from the core plot and added nothing at all.
Overall, very glad I read the book and would love to print some of the images as decoration in my apartment. I've also added the Therme Vals to my bucket list, so it may take on additional meaning later. But I'm left with the feeling that with a coauthor to trim the fat and expand the meat of the story, there could have been something a lot stronger. I'd recommend this to my friend Russ.
September 25, 2020
Een spannend, mysterieus, en soms ietwat verwarrend (door hoe de panels lopen op tijden) verhaal over een man die geintrigeerd is door de thermen in Vals (zowel voor zijn thesis als persoonlijk). Het voert een aantrekkingskracht op hem uit. Alleen is hij niet de enige. En zo begint een spannend avontuur met een geweldige hoofdpersoon die nog meer kan dan hij denkt. We zien allerlei gebeurtenissen gebeuren, zo ziet hij meer kamers in de Thermen dan mogelijk, hij eindigt buiten terwijl hij net binnen was, en er is ook iets met stenen te doen. We leren ook wat meer over hoe de legende van de Thermen begon en hoe dat weer verbindt met onze hoofdpersoon. Ik ben echt door het verhaal heengevlogen al vond ik het einde ietwat jammer, ik had net wat meer willen weten. Natuurlijk kan ik een goede gok wagen gegeven wat we zien, maar ik wil niet gokken, ik wil gewoon zien wat er echt is gebeurd.
Ik vond het leuk dat om de MC te zien tekenen.
De art was redelijk, het paste wel erg goed bij het mysterieuze verhaal.
Ik vond het leuk dat om de MC te zien tekenen.
De art was redelijk, het paste wel erg goed bij het mysterieuze verhaal.
March 21, 2022
Bardzo dobrze wykonany komiks. Świetny pod kątem czysto technicznym. Jak na historię dotykającą architektury przystało, narysowany z dbałością o idealne oddanie perspektywy, pokazujący geometrię budynku, który jest przedmiotem badań bohatera, a do tego z ciekawie "zaprojektowanymi" układami kadrów i ładnym graniem stonowanymi kolorami, co przy offsetowym papierze i dużym formacie daje kapitalne efekty. Historia jest ciekawa, niestety skrupulatnie budowana fabuła urywa się nagle, zostawiając czytelnikowi więcej pytań niż odpowiedzi. Może to efekt celowy, jednak ja odłożyłem na półkę z niedosytem.
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