One of my favorite things to do at conventions is find books new to me. That’s not always easy, since I hear about a lot of upcoming titles through press releases and such. Even better at shows is when I get to meet the artist and find out more about the book from them directly.
Love Languages was one such from TCAF. Author James Albon created this story of two women falling in love across countries and languages, and it’s charming.
Sarah is English, living in Paris for work. She’s miserable and doesn’t speak much French. After being tripped by mimes, she encounters Ping, who is from Hong Kong, speaks Cantonese, and works as an au pair. Meeting again in the Louvre, the two become friends, learning each other’s languages and muddling through in shared French.
Comics is brilliant for this, as the dialogue balloons in non-English languages have little tails attached with the bits Sarah understands in English. The book is mostly narrated by her, through captions, giving it the feel of a diary and allowing us to understand her emotions clearly. I admire how many different languages make an appearance, suitable for a cosmopolitan city; kudos to Albon for doing the work!
The painted art (watercolor, I think) is lovely and unpretentious, with the moody feel of crowded city life. The colors have lots of blues (monotonous office) and yellows and golds (friendship and light).
I loved this story. It’s so hard to meet people you truly resonate with as adults, and the leisurely pacing makes it feel more realistic, getting to know someone. The two women spend a lot of time on their phones, texting or translating, and with that and the global influences in their lives, this feels very current and hopeful for what the world can be. It’s all about communication, and finding the style that works for you and your loved ones.
On top of all this, I have a sketch in my copy. James asked what I wanted him to draw, and not having read the book at that time, I said, well, it’s an international story, we’re in Canada although we both live elsewhere, how about something Canadian? So now I have a hockey player and a great memory!
English (US) · 