Epileptic

Quite simply one of the best graphic novels I've ever read (and I've read a fair few). Deals with complex themes explored in a fascinating and candid way and the illustrative style is phenomenal.

The book is very interesting, but the items were not strong packaged and the right corner of the books are a little bit damaged.

A truly amazing book - This should be on curriculum - they say fact is stranger than fiction. This is book is the proof.

This graphic autobiography explores David B's life growing up with an epileptic brother. What started out as an idyllic childhood playing on the streets of France with his brother, Jean-Christophe, and sister, Florence, quickly turned into a life of anger and frustration when Jean-Christophe is diagnosed with epilepsy. David and his siblings are dragged from place to place as his parents search for a cure, which always ends in disappointment.David's account is touching and incredibly honest. The way he talks about his feelings towards his brother is both brutal and compelling. I have to say I was impressed by the sheer openness. However, it didn't do anything to improve my understanding of the illness. As he himself wasn't afflicted by it, I'm not convinced David himself truly understood either (although it is interesting to look at an illness from the viewpoint of someone who is affected but not afflicted by it). The story is also quite difficult to follow in parts. The time frames jump regularly but in no particular pattern and usually without warning. I struggled to understand the relevance of some of the stories he included. The book is much longer than it needs to be.That being said, this is of course a graphic novel and is therefore driven by images rather than words - a thing a graphic novel newbie like me struggles with. I did not find the images particularly skilful or attractive to look at, which I think is the main reason I did not get on very well with this book. The characters look the roughly the same throughout, which made understanding their age and progression almost impossible. I wouldn't recommend this book to anyone who does not already have a strong interest in either epilepsy or graphic novels.

Great book !Gripping story actually and artwork went with the story really well adding to atmosphere

Absolutely amazing. Masterpiece. Although not collectible edition, the copy is very decent with nice paper (paperback).

Epileptic is the seminal work by David Beauchard, the French writer better known as `David B.' Described as a `six-volume autobiographical epic', Epileptic tells the story of David's relationship with his brother, and of his brother's struggles with epilepsy.Originally split in to six volumes that were published in France between 1996 and 2003, Epileptic was originally titled `L'Ascension du Haut Mal' and was quickly published in English, going on to receive critical acclaim and winning David the Ignatz Award for Outstanding Artist. Publishers Weekly called it"one of the greatest graphic novels ever published."And it's easy to see why - David's black and white drawings are instantly haunting, from the moment you first inspect the cover. There's surrealism throughout, twisted faces looming from the shadows in his memory and demons that symbolise his brother's epilepsy.The narrative is heart-warming but tragic, focused on David's childhood and adolescence as he watches his brother's condition deteriorate. Their parents try everything, even moving to a macrobiotic commune, but nothing seems to help.Epileptic has survived translation remarkably well, and that transition enabled the book to gain transatlantic appeal. Ironically, the title itself was the only thing lost in translation - confused? Let me explain...The original title, `L'Ascension du Haut Mal', literally means `The Rise of the High Evil'. The thing is, it has multiple meanings in French - `haut mal' is an out-dated term for epilepsy that literally means `high evil' or `great sickness', and `ascension' can either mean `rise' or `climb'. This second meaning is reflected throughout the story in the images of the family climbing steep slopes in search of a cure that doesn't exist.At its simplest, Epileptic is about the bond between brothers. You really feel for Beauchard and his family - this is a novel that's written as well as it's illustrated. Epileptic might not be perfect if you're looking for something to make you feel warm and fuzzy inside, but if you want something to grab at the heartstrings and pull them, get a copy now.

I'm surprised that this book has such a small star rating so far. I'm not a big one for writing reviews, in fact this is the first I've written on here, but I think David B deserves a fair crack of the whip.This is a frank and honest account of growing up, isolation, and a disappearing brother. There's no bull$hit political correctness going on here. Self indulgent? -Maybe so, but why shouldn't he be? All creativity is self indulgent, ..it's his story, he can say what he likes. Stories are good like that.We mainly object to things that we don't understand, and to see a loved one suffering from something that one can't find an answer to, would, I think make one mad, especially at times with the person in question.Who knows, maybe I saw something more in it because I have an older brother, and to share a close childhood, and then go seperate ways hurts, whether it's through illness, or whatever. Especially hard I think when it's someone you look upto.The rich symbolistic imagery in this book is a joy to behold, although sometimes I found the blackness slightly overwhelming, but then again, maybe that's the point. -Although the story itself isn't bleak. Really quite humerous in places.I've read it twice.

I really like the product. It came very fast. Awesome illustration. I Enjoy every minute of it. It was like new.

I have a daughter that has a seizure disorder, so I was interested in reading this memoir. Upon receiving it and reading it, however, I am somewhat disappointed.The book's strong points include the artwork and the raw honesty of the narrative. The art is designed to provoke your emotions, and it succeeds. I was saddened by some of the pictures, offended by others. The chaotic nature of the pictures help to portray the chaos that ensues with any chronic illness, epilepsy included.My disappointment was in the narrative itself. I was not so much interested in knowing all the details of the author's family tree. These I feel detract from the main point: how this family deals with epilepsy.I don't think this is a good glimpse of how a family generally deals with epilepsy, but one unique to this family. Thought-provoking, yes. This book is tragic, and left me feeling very sorry for this family and all they've been through. It makes me angry at all those who prey on people in desperate situations. Having dealt with this disease first-hand, I know how much one longs for that drug, treatment, diet, etc. that will be the miracle that takes away his loved one's suffering.I am not keeping this book, primarily because many of the pictures and language are offensive and inappropriate for children and teens.

Epilpetic by David B. is a gloriously-illustrated book that takes on difficult subject matter with a unique approach that yields significant rewards. I'm not sure that some of those rewards are what the author intended, however. * The book isn't about epilepsy or the effects of the condition on a family. Instead, it concerns one man's failures as a human being; his family's failure to appropriately deal with a difficult situation; and the author's displacement of responsibility for his own happiness and troubles. * The author ran away from dealing with his brother's epilepsy, just as his brother retracted into the condition. * No matter how one can articulate it as such, epilepsy can never be anyone's "muse". It's ridiculous believe that someone else's suffering can be the source of one's whole lifetime of inspiration and torment. It's callous and shallow to ignore that these outcomes are the result of one's own interpretation of the world -- all of it, and not just the part that seems most socially embarrassing -- and that ultimately it is one's self that is responsible for joy or sorrow. * The author is French and writes extensively about French conflicts (Algerian War, World War I, World War II, etc.) and places them in contrast to his family's war against epilepsy. In all instances, failures pile upon failures and the family runs from one skirmish to another, without much analysis or consideration for the reasons behind their actions. This mindless thrashing around for a miracle cure, into which the whole family was submerged for months at a time, seems incredibly peculiar. * The author suggests, over and over, that all of his troubles and those of his family are caused by other people -- doctors, therapists, quack gurus, ancestors, parents, and siblings. There's little substantive self-examination, beyond the introspective pseudo-psychological mind-maulings administered like a medieval leech doctor. This unquestioning displacement of blame is, I think, the most abhorrent suggestion in the entire book.I say all this as someone with a very close relative who has epilepsy, and who started to suffer from its effects when I was about 5 years old -- the same age as David B. How relatives deal with a loved one's epilepsy is a personal reaction, and peculiar to each of us. I believe that David B.'s reaction is very exceptional (both in its peculiarity and the art it has partly inspired) but no-one should look to this book for anything other than that: one man's peculiar interpretation of the effects of epilepsy upon him and his family.

Not as interesting as I expected.

The Kindle edition is literarilly unreadable. The resolution is very bad and it is impossible to read. I own the 9in kindle, I can't imagine how this could look in the 6in Kindle.