Customer Reviews

Aya of Yop City

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I discovered the Aya series while in Paris. I don't speak French, but bought all three books because the illustrations are BEAUTIFUL. Clement Oubrerie's illustrations depict Africans in such a beautiful manner. I can make out the story via the illustrations and love it. I can't wait to purchase the English editions!!!!! Whether you purchase this book in French or English, you won't be disappointed. Lovely, just lovely.

Aya wonderfully captures the true look, feel, and...ENERGY!!! of an African city, in both its lighthearted storytelling and spot-on illustrations! The street scenes, the disco bars, and characters in their 70's duds is just sooooo perfect! Having lived on the Continent for 2 plus years, I go to this book when I want to be swept back there. If you have a love of Africa, or a love of simple storytelling, buy this book!!

I was excited to see a serious graphic novel about Africa. But after reading it, I'm not sure why. I read the jacket info which is very clear; it says this story takes place in 1970's Ivory Coast, when the country was stable thanks to foreign investment. But it also states that the foreign investment would later disappear. Is this going to be a book about Africa before the "troubles"?
In a lot of ways, AYA is like a long stare at post-independence Ivory Coast. There's nothing terribly special about the story; you have some young women, going through the usual ups&downs of work, school, boyfriends, etc. You almost forget that this is the 1970's and their world would later be destroyed by civil war.
Perhaps AYA is really about nostalgia. It reminded me a little of the book "A TIME BEFORE CRACK" which documents early-1980's Harlem; a time when Harlem wasn't a good place to live, but wasn't yet ruined by crack.
AYA is like A TIME BEFORE CRACK. It's a serious story, not terribly unique or dynamic, but you know that whatever happiness the girls know will soon be over.

Reading "Aya" was truly a unique experience for me. Having enjoyed the graphic novels of Art Spiegelman [Maus] and Marjane Satrapi [Persepolis], I was excited about "Aya", being the debut graphic novel by Marguerite Abouet and Clement Oubrerie. This book won the pair the 2006 award for Best First Album at the Angouleme International Comics Festival[originally published in French], and after reading it I can understand the accolades.

Set in 1978 in a working class neighborhood called Yop City in the Ivory Coast, the story revolves around a 19-year-old young woman named Aya,who differs from her friends in that her mind is not 100% occupied with boys and partying but ambition [she wants to be a doctor]. Her character in itself seems counter to the stereotypes that we are presented in many other stories about the countries in Africa - the poverty, the sense of a doomed future, AIDS etc. Not that these problems aren't real, but Aya is such a refreshing character for her optimism and belief that her ambition is achievable, even in the face of parental objection and peer pressure to just be a girl and have fun, and despite the fact that she lives in the Ivory Coast, a poor nation that is notorious for child labour and 'blood diamonds'.

The story is one that we can all identify with - about growing up and being happy with friends and family, of life in a neighborhood, of having dreams both small and big, and perhaps this is what both Abouet and Oubrerie wish to get across - that despite economic disparities and cultural differences, different issues and concerns, "we" [being the world at large] do share similarities, perhaps more than most of us are aware of.

Abouet's intelligent, and humorous writing is beautifully complemented by Oubrerie's use of vibrant colors and expressive drawings [especially the character's faces]. This is a wonderful collaboration and a promising one indeed. I can't wait for the sequel!

I read the first Aya book after several years of avoiding comics and really enjoyed it. The artwork was fresh, the story (though somewhat soap opera-ish) was enjoyable, and the world seemed familiar to Westerners yet distinctively African. I picked this sequel up after a few years of reading hundreds and hundreds of comic books and found it to be not at all what I was expecting it to be.

The artwork is ok but the story is just too slight to make up an entire book. Aya is an independent woman who isn't throwing her life away too early by becoming a single mother and then abandoning hope of a career or a life outside of Yop City. Commendable but then she doesn't really do much else but observe her friends and family doing the opposite. Her friend is pregnant - but who's the father? Her dad's having an affair! And that's about it. Some romantic misunderstandings and it feels very much like a comic book version of your average soap - slight, brainless, and ultimately a waste of time.

I wanted to like this series but having discovered a wealth of comic books available that offer far more substantial content, I've found that "Aya of Yop City" isn't one of them.

Better comic books: "Habibi" by Craig Thompson, "War Stories" by Garth Ennis, "Transmetropolitan" by Warren Ellis, "It's a Good Life If You Don't Weaken" by Seth, "Fun Home" by Alison Bechdel, "Hark a Vagrant!" by Kate Beaton, "Paying for It" by Chester Brown.

It seems like everyone these days is hopping on to the Graphic Novel bandwagon! But with Aya, Marguerite Abouet and Clement Oubrerie present a rare side of Africa that one rarely sees. Written from the point-of-view of some tweeny-aged characters, 'Aya' is witty, comical and easy for any reader to relate to. If Abouet's goal was to equalize all youth in the realms of love, hope and sex, then she has certainly done it.
The illustrations and color choices are also amazing. Each character is memorable and distinct.
There are even illustrated recipes in th back!
This is a must-buy!

This is on par with Wil Eisner, Alison Bechdel and Art Spiegelman.. a wonderful, honest look at growing up in Cote d' Ivoire. Wonderfully refreshing in it's detail, art, and topic. A must have for graphic novel fans!

A friend turned me onto this book, and I have to say that at first glance I wasn't as impressed as I thought I would be. BUT, by the third page I was hooked. Really hooked and read it through in one sitting.

I love the fact that it is peppered with local slang and language from the village. Nothing that would require footnotes, but it does have a glossary in the back for about a dozen words used in the book.

It also has a recipe for Chicken Kedjenou, a dish mentioned in the book. It also has a very cool step-by-step illustration for how to tie the pagne around your baby in order to carry it on your back.

At the very end, there is an interview with Marguerite Abouet by Angela Ajayi called "Drawing on the Universal Africa".

I think this book would be a great young adult and adult graphic novel/comic. It wasn't too preachy, nor was it written outside the grasp of a young adult. I found the story to be very entertaining and had a nice pentameter to it. Great character development, too.

I highly recommend this book.

Americans have so many stereotypes of Africa. This tale will both enlighten and entertain beyond expectations! You will be overjoyed with its humor, wit, and playfulness!

The artists depictions are unique. He is able to perfectly blend images into this excellent story!

While it may not take long to read at 100 pages, it will bring a smile to your face for days! ( the punchline ending alone had me laughing out loud! )

The world is blessed by AYA's publishing! I hope this dynamic duo has the opportunity to repeat their success!

I really enjoyed reading Aya of Yop City it gave me a wonderful perspective on life in Yopougon during the 1970's. Also I liked the dialogue between Aya her family and friends. Each character has a definite uniqueness. Aya gives you the chance to read and see a West African village through word and vivid livley art.