Review by Matthew Nielsen
Hostage by Guy Delisle is a graphic novel telling the story of Christophe André’s kidnapping and time spent as a hostage in Chechnya. A young Frenchman working for Doctors Without Borders, André was taken from his office and driven away to remote unknown locations.
Delisle provides a gripping story in capturing the immense expanses of time that André spends in solitude. As days and days go by, the reader is often left alone with André, his prison cell, and the thoughts that go through his mind.
The artwork is stylized and sketchy, but it works, especially with the minimalistic settings and interiors that feature prominently throughout stories like these. Even if the style isn’t immediately your cup of tea, give it a try for the story, and maybe it’ll grow on you. I quite enjoyed this book and found it to be memorable, inspiring, and overall an excellent graphic novel.
