Blue Pills: A Positive Love Story

February 9, 2011

A sweet, fun read with a heavy theme, Blue Pills: A Positive Love Story tells Frederik Peeters’ own story of meeting and later falling for Cati, who has HIV, as does her three-year-old son. Cati and Fred have such a sweet, tender relationship, although the shadow of AIDS looms in the background, such as when the condom breaks and they visit the doctor, panicked.

This is such a touching graphic novel, but at the same time, not overwrought or over-sentimental when it comes to talking about AIDS. There is such honesty and affection in this graphic novel, as well as a surprisingly funny and frank doctor who helps them see past their situation and realise their true passion for each other. However, I stumbled my way though the final pages, where Fred has a philosophical dialogue with a woolly mammoth… perhaps the translation was at fault?

Peeters’ beautiful illustrations, which make full use of very effective close-ups, speak volumes. Blue Pills is the first of the Swiss artist’s works to be translated into English. Hopefully there will be more English translations of his other works soon! I particularly like the cover of Pachyderme.

Written by olduvai Posted in Books, Graphic Novels, Reading Tagged with books, Graphic Novels, reading