Little Josephine: Memory in Pieces

by Valerie Villieu, Raphaël Sarfati (Illustrations), Nanette McGuinness (Translator)

A first-hand account of the most unlikely friendship between a visiting nurse and her Alzheimer's patient, Josephine.
 

When Valérie first met Josephine, she knew she would be embarking on a unique journey. Though vastly different in age, their connection was instantaneous. Humor quickly became their language, their playground, and despite the debilitating disease that Joséphine faced every single day, they were able to form a beautiful friendship that transcended the reaches of modern medicine.

Genres: Graphic Novels, Comics, Nonfiction, Ebooks, Graphic Novels Comics, Adult, Health

120 pages, Paperback

Published April 7, 2020

Reviews

[Dave Schaafsma · Rating 4 out of 5]

A first hand comics account by a nurse of her work with 84-year-old Josephine who, as the population gets older and older, is one of many in "neurological decline" and living alone, needing more intensive care. Not enough beds, so she has to get worse first to justify hospitalization. Valerie's story affirms 1:1, empathetic care as she develops a close relationship with Josephine over years, but aides are underpaid, underprepared, the system is stretched, overloaded. So this is both an affirmation and an indictment of the Parisian/French/heck, anywhere health care system so many of us are going to need to be responsive as we all get older.

And Josephine, who lived a full and rich life is not the poorest of those aging and in decline, so you can only imagine what the poorest face. But she goes for days with aides neglecting her, unfed, glasses broken for months, doesn't get outside, and so on. Heart-breaking, scary, and important to read.

[April Gray · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh, my heart! This broke it. This graphic memoir is lovely, and sad, and filled with so many feels. The author, Valerie Villieu, is a visiting nurse in France, and this story is about one of her patients who suffered from Alzheimer's, Josephine. It's a story that could've taken place in any country- caregivers who are under-trained, underpaid, and overworked, conservators overwhelmed by the numbers of people under their charge, causing the people to wait days, weeks, or months to get funds released to them for everyday needs, families who have given up on their relative who has become more than what they want to deal with. Valerie tells of her years taking care of Josephine, getting to know her, her ups and downs, the struggles with the system to try and get Josephine the care and the necessities she needed. Eventually, Josephine begins to deteriorate more quickly, and....well, you can guess how it ends. The illustrations by Raphael Sarfati add such a poignancy to the story; the use of blank space and empty panels, and the stretches of art showing the mental state of Josephine were very effective and well done. This is not the easiest read, but at the same time is not heavy-handed, and is sweet, sobering, and important. Definitely recommended.

#LittleJosephine #NetGalley

[Constance · Rating 4 out of 5]

A loving homage to her client, visiting nurse Villieu brings dignity and empathy to the last years of Josephine's life, showing the reader that there are small joys to celebrate even in the late stages of Alzheimer's.

[Emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

Graphic novel about the relationship between a visiting nurse (Valerie) and her patient (Josephine), who has Alzheimer's.

"We should never give up when faced with behavioural disorders that can seem so destabilising for us 'healty' people. We always always have to look for the link, the door that gives us access to the other person."

A beautifully told story - nearly made me cry from impotency and tenderness.

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a very well told story of the relationship between a home health worker and a woman with Alzheimer’s. It shows the emotional roller coaster that is the relationship and the frustration of providing care to a geriatric patient. Though the story takes place in Paris, this same story occurs every day here in the US. I highly recommend this book.

[Sarah Daniluk · Rating 5 out of 5]

Our elders are our greatest gift. When they begin to lose their grasp of this world, relating to them is difficult. We must never give up on them, for it is they, that give us life.

[Engin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Alzheimer hastaları ve hafıza ile ilgili sorun yaşayanlar hakkında öğretici, bilgilendirici, içten, eğlenceli ve yaratıcı bir çizgi roman. Özellikle çevresinde benzeri durumda olan insanlar olanların okumasını öneririm.

Gerçek mi yoksa kurgu bir hikaye mi bilmiyorum. Bir hasta bakıcının hafıza ve bilişsellik açısında sürekliliği olmayan yaşlı bir kadının dünyasına girip, bunu güzelleştirme, anlamlandırma ve hayatına değer katma aşamalarını adım adım ve yaratıcı bir şekilde işlemiş. Zaman zaman kadının hayatında önemli yeri olan eşyaların gerçek fotoğraflarının konulması güzel bir ayrıntı.

Dementianın aşamalarını, bu hastalıktan çeken kişilere yaklaşımın zor -özellikle Josephine gibi hayatını yalnız yaşamış, sevgi ihtiyacı hayatı boyumca tatmin edilmemiş, güven sorunu olan kişiler için- ve çok sabır gerektirdiği hissettirilmiş. En acısı, bu hastalığın tamamen iyileşmeyeceğini kesin olarak bilmek ve yine de çabalamak.

Tüm bunları başarırken aynı zamanda hasta bakıcıların sorunları da işlenmiş. Asgari ücret, küçük görülme, ırkçılık, güvensizlik bu mesleğin zorluklarından ve bu zorluklara karşın takdir edilmeyen bir meslek oluşu, psikolojik olarak yıpratıcı.

[Shannon Green-Kingery · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Little Josephine"--a true account--is nothing short of a love letter from visiting nurse Valerie Villieu to the memory of an unforgettable Alzheimer's patient by the name of Josephine Vaillant. This bittersweet memoir details the inevitable progression of Josephine's disease, but does so with infinite respect and caring for both the person Josephine was and the person that she is becoming. By deftly interweaving iconic imagery from other graphic novels such as "Little Nemo" and "The Little Prince" with the poignant illustrations of Raphael Sarfati, Josephine's feelings of "otherness" in a world that is no longer her own are intensely felt by the reader. Villieu has shed a brilliant light on a shameful aspect of "civilized" society--the dehumanization of the elderly and especially those with Dementia and Alzheimer's. This book is a lyrical masterpiece which deserves to sit beside other classics of the genre.

[Wendelle]

As our populations start aging, it becomes important to insert the lessons of empathy for the unique circumstances of the elderly into our communities. The author is a roving nurse in Paris where the elderly often feel isolated due to the hazards of city life. Her graphic novel documents the challenges and difficulties faced by the elderly and the aides who take care of them. It is alarming that elderly people like Josephine are vulnerable to issues of neglect, while their aides face issues of discrimination and financial precarity. Josephine had a rather unconcerned conservator and had her assets frozen so that her care was very minimal, or even nonexistent.

[May · Rating 5 out of 5]

A touching and creative experience of a nurse working with a patient with dementia. I loved the way the art conveyed how Josephine might have been experiencing dementia, even as the storytelling was as linear as Valerie was experiencing as the nurse.

I also appreciated how it touched on how broken and warped the system is when it comes to taking care of the elderly. Obviously this is in Paris, not the US, but the system seems much the same. There's no call to action, but it so clearly shows what it's like to be someone trying to be a good person working with a broken system, and what happens when those that are supposed to be helped by the system become it's victims instead.

[soap · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wanted to cry reading this. It’s hard to see how often older people get left behind and de prioritized. This has been even more stark in the face of a global pandemic that is increasingly dangerous to those older than 65.

The art as well really contributed to such an abstract disease as Alzheimer’s, as most people don’t really know how to explain it other than just forgetting. It definitely has layers to it and this book reshapes how we should think about/care for both our elderly populations and the diseases that affect them.

[Barbara White · Rating 5 out of 5]

Little Josephine: Memory in Pieces is a beautiful story as a graphic novel. If you've ever spent time with someone with Alzheimers, you'll know this story is true to form....the good and the not so good times. The illustrations are well done. Thanks to Goodreads First Reads for my copy of Little Josephine: Memory in Pieces. You'll shed a tear or two.

[Gavin Lobe · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wish I could give a half star because I would rate this book a 4.5. I feel that the artist was able to capture the story of someone's experience with Alzheimer's specially through the use of the panels and creating different dimensions, as well as having images overlapping the panels and out of the panel bounds. This book left me emotionally wrecked at the end.

[Steph · Rating 4 out of 5]

This took longer to read than I expected but it is such a heartbreaking subject that I found I had to take my time. There are so many seniors in our society that do not get the care they need. The author & the artist do a good job at depicting that sad reality though they also capture small moments of joy and display a great amount of compassion.

[Jane Vellichor · Rating 4 out of 5]

At once light-hearted and heart-wrenching. An emotional journey not for the faint of heart. Yet I think it is a inevitable journey. This story reminds us to treat those taking this journey with kindness and respect.

[Xaanua · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's a heart-warming real story about a woman who suffered from alzheimer and the person who cared of her. Itr's amazing how the writer explains the way that illness destroys the life of people and how importante is to take care of them, gives them patient, love them and understaing them

[Majesta · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very interesting book. The illustrations and story line are so well done and perfectly match the life of those with Alzheimer’s and other memory degenerative diseases. A must read for those who love someone like Josephine or for those who are caregivers.

[Mateen Mahboubi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Heartbreaking story of the struggles of the elderly and how the system lets them down when they need help the most. The style is great and making us feel the struggles of Josephine and Villieu is able to really bring some heart to the story.

[Rachel Little · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful and quick insight into one visiting nurse's experience with an Alzheimer's patient. This graphic novel sheds light on things that some people might not know about. I always love a good reminder to appreciate life and be patient with others.

[Ma Mo · Rating 3 out of 5]

3,5 ⭐
Je n'ai pas tellement accroché à l'histoire et aux graphismes bien que la relation patient soignant soit intéressante. Les soucis liés aux mauvais accompagnements quotidiens sont bien retranscrits.

[Ozlem · Rating 5 out of 5]

My heart is aching.

[Hannah Stowe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful, poignant, and sad.

[Maria Rowe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heartbreaking look at how many elderly people are treated from the eyes of a nurse. The illustrations worked really well, and I especially love the use of blank space.

[ChiChi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Please read this wonderful little graphic novel if you have anyone in your life with Alzheimer's Disease!

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read for GN study at work. memorable: the stuffed dog cradled in Jospehine’s arms and Josephine cradled in her caregiver’s arms — the dark and light of memory, the progression of dementia

[Aurora · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mostly sad.

[Gail · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5

[Rhonda Wise · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very perceptive view of an Alzheimer's or dementia patient from a social work or nurse's point of view. It is both hard hitting and beautiful

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😔

[Carla · Rating 5 out of 5]

Valérie examines her experiences caring for a senior with Alzheimer's through intriguing page layouts and stark visual metaphors. She conveys not only her own feelings, but those of the woman throughout, and shows systemic problems in France (though they apply more widely) facing seniors who can no longer care for themselves.