Advance Review: Tunis To Sydney
Coming soon from Fairsquare Graphics
A new graphic novel, Tunis To Sydney, will be released on July 24, 2024. It deals with grief over many miles. I was lucky enough to have an advanced look at it from Fairsquare Graphics.
Lilia and Bill enjoy a quiet life in the heart of Sydney, Australia. Bill is a local, while Lilia hails from Tunisia, making them an unconventional but inseparable pair. Their happiness has always been unshakeable, until that day.
When Lilia receives the devastating news of her parents' tragic death in a car accident, a staggering ten thousand miles away, she's consumed by a profound sense of shock. The weight of unspoken questions surfaces. Did she fail her parents by not being there for them throughout the years?
As they hastily journey to Tunis for the funeral, Bill stands steadfastly by Lilia's side, offering unwavering support. Yet, this journey unveils the fault lines in Lilia's life, leading her to confront a cascade of profound questions. An olive tree, symbol of peace and healing, owned by Lilia's parents, becomes the center of attention, and triggers a dramatic situation that will change her forever.
Dive into a poignant graphic novel that delves into the labyrinth of grief, resilience in the face of loss, and the complexities of human relationships.
(W) Meriam Carnouche, Christian Carnouche (A/CA) Sam Rapley
Wow!
This is a powerful comic, and I dived right into it. I didn’t feel like I took a breath from start to finish, and it was a highly charged read throughout.
Lilia and Bill are interesting characters, and Lilia gets some terrible news, which catalyses this story. After her par’ death, she goes back to Tunis to make some arrangements and spend some time with family and friends as the fallout from the accident hits her hard.
As we work our way through the story, the empathy we feel towards Lilia, mainly, is evident, and it truly is an emotive story. Combining the thoughts that we may all have and those surrounding her—family and friends—we can see the way the sadness and anger bubble up through her.
It is a gradual process dealt with with calm and sensitivity, which is extremely well done. The characters don’t seem to be acting out or contradicting what we expect.
In addition to this, the art adds a clever dynamic with the scenes, colouring and general tone of the story, making it something extremely special.
There is an excellent pace of the story, with slow moments of quiet and serenity mixed with the pace of running through the marketplace chasing ghosts; there is the calm of the sea and the plants along with the hustle and bustle of family and friends being around. It is very true to life and makes it very relatable.
This is a truly special book, and I feel honoured to have read it. Anyone who has lost a parent would appreciate the sentiments within, and the special ending makes it a highly recommended book.
