Generations - Softcover

LIBRARY JOURNAL -- After breaking up with his lover in Milan, Matteo stumbles home to his provincial family unwillingly. He's been estranged from his father since coming out, his beloved grandmother Nan is declining fast, and he gets a checkered reception from the trio of aunts caring for her. Plus, supported financially by his lover for three years, he now lacks skills or experience, floundering at loose ends until pushed into the role of Nan's nurse. Biondi's (La giusta mezura) slice-of-life story develops in microprogressions as Matteo gradually finds reward and pleasure in helping his grandmother. And as he spends time with the family, he realizes that he's been self-centered most of his life. Yet he can change, and joy in belonging can come to him. The black-and-white art uses greyscale with a light touch, conveying subtle emotion through faces, poses, and background cutaways. VERDICT This perceptive portrait of emotional maturing shows how one's misstep or step forward sets off a resonance throughout the interlocking cultural system that each family creates. Fans of manga by Natsume Ono and Fumi Yoshinaga should like this one.-MC


COMICS WORTH READING -- Generations is the first graphic novel by Flavia Biondi translated from Italian to English, and it's a strong debut. Matteo ran away from home three years ago to Milan, but now he's slinking back to his small country town to live with his grandmother and his three aunts. He's embarrassed that his life hasn't been working out as planned, he feels like a failure, and he hasn't spoken to his father because Matteo doesn't believe dad accepts his coming out as gay. The art is European, which means to me detailed, with a focus on character expression and unspoken feelings. Yet it's unique in style, without too many fiddly bits, focusing only on what's important to tell this story and establish these people as substantial and relatable in a fully realized environment.

After three years in Milan, Matteo returns home to the provincial country town where he was born and from which he had fled. Coming out as a young gay man in a provincial country town had led to ugly clashes with his conservative father, and the urban metropolis of Milan had been a welcome change from the stifling small town life of his childhood and the anger and bewilderment of some members of his family. But now, Matteo finds himself with little choice but to return home, with no money, no job, and an uncertain future, like so many other young people of his millennial generation. Afraid of encountering his estranged father, he instead takes refuge with his extended family, at a house shared by his grandmother, three aunts, and his very pregnant cousin. As he tries to rebuild his life, reconnecting with the women of his family and old hometown friends, he warily confronts a few truths about the other generations of his family―from their bigotry to their love, and tolerance, and acceptance―and a few truths about himself, including his fears of confrontation and commitment.