What do you think?
Rate this book
Macaroni!
Quando i migranti eravamo noi. La storia degli italiani che andarono a lavorare nelle miniere del Belgio, raccontata da un nonno al nipote.
Una settimana di vacanza a casa del nonno, “quel vecchio rompiscatole” che vive in una grigia città del Belgio, in una casa senza nemmeno la televisione. Non è una gran prospettiva, per l’undicenne Romeo. Ma la visita si rivelerà ricca di sorprese. Perché dietro l’apparenza scorbutica e taciturna nonno Ottavio nasconde i ricordi di una storia piena di sofferenze e sacrifici: la sua storia, quella degli italiani emigrati nel dopoguerra per lavorare, in condizioni durissime, nelle miniere del Belgio, che hanno affrontato fatica e pregiudizi, diffidenza e disprezzo. Poco alla volta il nonno racconta, anche il padre di Romeo si apre al figlio… e la vacanza diventa un’occasione speciale per sollevare il velo del silenzio e riannodare il filo con le proprie radici.
Un graphic novel commovente, che narra l’odissea dei migranti sotto ogni cielo. Ma anche un libro che parla dell’incomunicabilità, della difficoltà di raccontarsi di chi, per tutta la vita, è stato abituato a tacere.
Vincitore del Prix Cognito 2016 per il miglior fumetto a carattere storico.
Una settimana di vacanza a casa del nonno, “quel vecchio rompiscatole” che vive in una grigia città del Belgio, in una casa senza nemmeno la televisione. Non è una gran prospettiva, per l’undicenne Romeo. Ma la visita si rivelerà ricca di sorprese. Perché dietro l’apparenza scorbutica e taciturna nonno Ottavio nasconde i ricordi di una storia piena di sofferenze e sacrifici: la sua storia, quella degli italiani emigrati nel dopoguerra per lavorare, in condizioni durissime, nelle miniere del Belgio, che hanno affrontato fatica e pregiudizi, diffidenza e disprezzo. Poco alla volta il nonno racconta, anche il padre di Romeo si apre al figlio… e la vacanza diventa un’occasione speciale per sollevare il velo del silenzio e riannodare il filo con le proprie radici.
Un graphic novel commovente, che narra l’odissea dei migranti sotto ogni cielo. Ma anche un libro che parla dell’incomunicabilità, della difficoltà di raccontarsi di chi, per tutta la vita, è stato abituato a tacere.
Vincitore del Prix Cognito 2016 per il miglior fumetto a carattere storico.
144 pages, Paperback
Published February 22, 2018
2 people are currently reading
58 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
March 4, 2018
Macaroni! is a graphic novel that is based on the real story of Ottavio Rosetto: an Italian who became a miner in Belgium. The narrative spans through three-generations and depicts about the hardships of those who worked in the mines and the ghosts of the past.
Ottavio, or Romeo’s grandpa in the story, is an Italian immigrant who chose to become a miner in order to support her wife and son. Throughout the story, his past haunts him that makes him a bitter and an always irritated man. But the visit of Romeo has opened the door to the life and struggles his grandpa has encountered.
The story of Macaroni! will teach us about empathy and love for our family, and on how we should try to reach out to our older relatives, just like our grandparents. We should spend some time getting to know them because not only we can learn a lot from their experiences in life, but caring for them is a way of respect and showing our gratitude for all of what they have sacrificed.
Ottavio, or Romeo’s grandpa in the story, is an Italian immigrant who chose to become a miner in order to support her wife and son. Throughout the story, his past haunts him that makes him a bitter and an always irritated man. But the visit of Romeo has opened the door to the life and struggles his grandpa has encountered.
The story of Macaroni! will teach us about empathy and love for our family, and on how we should try to reach out to our older relatives, just like our grandparents. We should spend some time getting to know them because not only we can learn a lot from their experiences in life, but caring for them is a way of respect and showing our gratitude for all of what they have sacrificed.
February 22, 2018
This is a lovely story about a young boy who goes to stay with his grandfather. He doesn't really know his grandfather that well and he doesn't like staying with him, but as the days pass he gets to understand his grandfather as a person. He also gets to know a bit more about his grandfather's life. All of this is set against the backdrop of the young boy's life, but change is coming to his own life as well and it is his grandfather's story that will help him get through the change.
I thought the art was lovely with such bright and beautiful colouring and I also enjoyed reading the story because the underlying message in the story is that people should value the time that they have and live as fully as possible. It is also an underlying message about the importance of dreams and family. My only disappointment was the abrupt ending but I thoroughly enjoyed reading it.
Copy provided by publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an unbiased review.
I thought the art was lovely with such bright and beautiful colouring and I also enjoyed reading the story because the underlying message in the story is that people should value the time that they have and live as fully as possible. It is also an underlying message about the importance of dreams and family. My only disappointment was the abrupt ending but I thoroughly enjoyed reading it.
Copy provided by publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an unbiased review.
October 17, 2022
Volim dela koja pričaju više od onoga što je napisano (nacrtano).
Kroz jednu vrlo jednostavnu priču, gde unuk provodi nedelju dana kod svog dede koga inače retko viđa, dobijamo čitavu priču o tri generacije, dva geografska lokaliteta i pregršt manjih životnih situacija kao što su rat, izbeglištvo, rad u rudnik, prve dečije ljubavi, razvodi,...
Ovaj strip na nekoliko strana pokušava da oslika puno toga a dosta se mora naslutiti mimo onoga što je nacrtano i napisano. Da je ovaj strip pesma bila bi Balaševićeva.
Kroz jednu vrlo jednostavnu priču, gde unuk provodi nedelju dana kod svog dede koga inače retko viđa, dobijamo čitavu priču o tri generacije, dva geografska lokaliteta i pregršt manjih životnih situacija kao što su rat, izbeglištvo, rad u rudnik, prve dečije ljubavi, razvodi,...
Ovaj strip na nekoliko strana pokušava da oslika puno toga a dosta se mora naslutiti mimo onoga što je nacrtano i napisano. Da je ovaj strip pesma bila bi Balaševićeva.
November 7, 2019
The artwork , the colors, the easy & simple story, but with some memories about the life of an italian immigrant in the Belgium of WW2, after fighting for Mussolini, were a blast!
I like it a lot, even if the closure was not so evident or clearly made, but still a great effort!
Recommended!
I like it a lot, even if the closure was not so evident or clearly made, but still a great effort!
Recommended!
September 19, 2021
Terriblement touchant.
July 18, 2018
Il motivo per cui do solo due stelline è presto detto: non c'è approfondimento. Mi aspettavo di trovarmi di fronte a una storia di minatori, fatta di duro lavoro al buio, con la paura costante che qualcosa possa andare storto. E poi mi aspettavo una storia di difficile integrazione nel nuovo Paese di residenza. Invece tutto ciò è solo accennato, si percepisce la sofferenza del nonno per la vita che ha vissuto, ma il più viene taciuto.
Per di più la storia si interroga bruscamente, senza una vera conclusione. Che ne è del nonno?
Un'altra domanda che mi sono posta è quale sia la funzione del personaggio della vicina di casa. Certo stimola il protagonista a provare empatia per il nonno, ma si ferma tutto lì.
Insomma l'impressione generale che ho avuto di questa lettura è che sia una storia solo abbozzata. Sono convinta che la si sarebbe potuta sviluppare meglio.
Per di più la storia si interroga bruscamente, senza una vera conclusione. Che ne è del nonno?
Un'altra domanda che mi sono posta è quale sia la funzione del personaggio della vicina di casa. Certo stimola il protagonista a provare empatia per il nonno, ma si ferma tutto lì.
Insomma l'impressione generale che ho avuto di questa lettura è che sia una storia solo abbozzata. Sono convinta che la si sarebbe potuta sviluppare meglio.
October 20, 2017
Romeo, a reluctant boy is sent by his dad to stay with his grandpa.
He is forced to do chores everyday for the grumpy old man. They have their ups and downs.
There's a mystery surrounding why grandpa lost his thumb.
When he finally tells the story, it made me cry.
This is a beautiful piece about male bonding between family members from three generations.
He is forced to do chores everyday for the grumpy old man. They have their ups and downs.
There's a mystery surrounding why grandpa lost his thumb.
When he finally tells the story, it made me cry.
This is a beautiful piece about male bonding between family members from three generations.
August 4, 2020
Simply fantastic!!
January 21, 2024
Quelle belle histoire sur un garçon, son père et le père de son père.
March 28, 2018
Con un prólogo de Salvatore Adamo (sí, ése mismo, como hijo de inmigrantes italianos), este cómic nos cuenta la historia de un abuelo italiano que vive en Bélgica y la relación tanto con su hijo como con su nieto, que de a poco va descubriendo todo lo que vivió su abuelo cuando joven. Es una historia sencilla, muy bien contada y los personajes son adorables. En eso contribuye mucho el dibujo y los colores de Campi, incluyendo la aparición de los recuerdos brumosos del abuelo en tonos de gris y negro. Muy bonita.
August 3, 2020
A nice little story about Italian history and male silence. Would have been nice to have a little more detail about some of Ottavio's experiences, but I guess that his reluctance to talk is the whole point. This also applies to the absent female characters.
The art beautifully visualises the intrusion of dusty memories into the present.
The art beautifully visualises the intrusion of dusty memories into the present.
February 18, 2023
Dirljivo na toliko razina!
December 24, 2020
Ne parlo un po’ sul mio blog Dispersione di spore insieme ad altri libri a tema emigrazione.
Con questa graphic novel ho anche annunciato il nuovo progetto Pagine dal Sud dedicato alla letteratura del sud e sul sud.
Maggiori info QUI
Con questa graphic novel ho anche annunciato il nuovo progetto Pagine dal Sud dedicato alla letteratura del sud e sul sud.
Maggiori info QUI
February 6, 2018
This is a deceptively simple book - it's not just about a young lad with his modern, cosseted, city way, struggling when forced to live with his smelly old grandfather and work on the man's vegetable plot. It's about family history, the silence inherent in man and his reluctance to share, and so much more. The book doesn't really have to be about Italian immigrants to anywhere, either, for I saw it as pretty much universal. I really was pleasantly surprised by this, and the artwork for the ghosts when they turn up is just exceptional, turning them into blotched images, rather like a bodged and incomplete Banksy figure. Definitely a book to recommend.
February 24, 2018
Macaroni! is a sad and slow-paced story about memories, the past and above all, life. The story is set in Belgium where a 11-year-old Romeo is learning to know his grandpa. Romeo's dad dumped him there for the summer vacation and the boy has to work and tend the pig, Mussolini. The grandpa is an Italian immigrant and the past now haunts him due to Alzheimer's. Romeo gets to know about his past and the choices he had to make, and also he needs to battle his own demons as his parents are getting a divorce. The gap between the grandson and grandpa is huge, they are from different centuries and the clashes are big and makes you think. In a way there's hardly anything in the comic, but it's perfect like that. The minimal movement and the beautiful sorrow in it makes the reading truly a pleasure. Also, the historical setting is interesting and I didn't know about the Italian immigrants in Belgium.
The art is simple and like a light scratch. The panel structure is wonderful in its simplicity and the movement is great. The story is easy to read and it moves a lot without words just with the atmosphere alone. The colors are deep and rich like the autumn. The combination of art and colors is very rich and really, the best possible. In a way I wished the comic would've been longer, since I would've wanted to know more about the war and the past and to get inside grandpa's head. Macaroni! is a wonderful comic for both kids and adults.
The art is simple and like a light scratch. The panel structure is wonderful in its simplicity and the movement is great. The story is easy to read and it moves a lot without words just with the atmosphere alone. The colors are deep and rich like the autumn. The combination of art and colors is very rich and really, the best possible. In a way I wished the comic would've been longer, since I would've wanted to know more about the war and the past and to get inside grandpa's head. Macaroni! is a wonderful comic for both kids and adults.
September 16, 2019
L'histoire vraie est évidemment touchante mais racontée telle quelle elle ne décolle pas narrativement. Peu de rebondissements, une histoire assez lisse, des personnages qui changent de comportement un peu facilement, bref, on suit un récit sans pouvoir vraiment s'y attacher par une autre porte que celle de l'histoire vraie... C'est le problème des récits qui sont extraordinaires dans la bouche de ceux qui les ont vécus mais nécessitent d'être adaptés lorsqu'on les raconte sur un autre médium, surtout celui de la BD qui ne pardonne pas le manque de profondeur.
November 20, 2022
I think this is some of my favorite art I’ve seen in a graphic novel. Each scene exudes emotion with exquisite line work and color, which suits this sad story of cyclical inter-generational conflict between a father and his son, and his son. Facial features warp and weft to fit the moving and tense dialogue. Again, some of the best I’ve seen depicting human emotion.
February 11, 2023
Faut vraiment que les mec arretent avec les personnages feminins (ici la petite fille) qui disent "faut pas croire tout ce que disent les filles" genre si elle dit non ca veut dire oui ? Et d'arrêter avec leur fantasme que les gamines veulent toutes se faire embrasser. Non les gamines ne veulent pas toute un bisou du protagoniste du livre.
September 26, 2025
L'ho letto, rapidamente, in biblioteca.
Interessante, ma non mi ha convinto al 100%; ho trovato troppo piatti alcuni tratti della storia/personaggi e soprattutto non mi è piaciuta la ragazza che dice che non vuole essere baciata e poi si lamenta che le donne lo dicono ma non lo vogliono. Non il massimo e non molto moderno
Interessante, ma non mi ha convinto al 100%; ho trovato troppo piatti alcuni tratti della storia/personaggi e soprattutto non mi è piaciuta la ragazza che dice che non vuole essere baciata e poi si lamenta che le donne lo dicono ma non lo vogliono. Non il massimo e non molto moderno
November 2, 2025
2.5
Le fond était là (confidences d’un grand père italien ancien mineur ayant servi pendant la 2e GM dans l’armée mussolinienne à son petit fils) mais la forme était décevante (le récit n’apporte…. rien c’est trop court ça n’avance pas le côté historique n’est pas du tout exploité)
Dommage également que l’UNIQUE personnage féminin soit un love interest lol
Le fond était là (confidences d’un grand père italien ancien mineur ayant servi pendant la 2e GM dans l’armée mussolinienne à son petit fils) mais la forme était décevante (le récit n’apporte…. rien c’est trop court ça n’avance pas le côté historique n’est pas du tout exploité)
Dommage également que l’UNIQUE personnage féminin soit un love interest lol
February 25, 2023
Tužne i tmurne sudbine uhvaćene toplim bojama u čarobni moment otkrivanja svijeta u sebi i oko sebe. Priča s kojom se možete povezat i ako niste talijan, imigrant, na umoru, rastavljeni ili izgubljeni.
January 21, 2018
Un joli moment de lecture.
December 22, 2018
story of a boy and of family/history
May 5, 2019
Una storia vera basata su racconti della figlia di ottavio... apprezzata la ricerca di queste informazioni ma non il filo della storia, mi aspettavo più un racconto del passato con pezzi del presente
February 10, 2020
Ah mais c'est tellement jolie cette histoire. Ça m'a réchauffé le cœur.
June 9, 2020
Un po' di tutto: condizione sociale ed umana, Storia, rapporto tra generazioni.
May 5, 2022
Fière d’être l’héritière d’un macaroni !
February 9, 2023
Bel hommage, j'étais moins attiré par le style graphique de la BD. Dommage pour le personnage de Lucille qui aurait pu être autre chose qu'un love-interest (une fois de plus...).
November 10, 2023
A sad and touching story of 3 generations of Italian immigrant men, simply trying t figure out life and coping with age, illness and a lot of regrets.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews