Sneha Jaiswal (Twitter | Instagram)
Going by the book cover, I was expecting “Delicacy” to be one of those intense cooking-show like stories, where the chef runs the kitchen like an autocrat. Or maybe something intriguing about the world of fine-dining, like “The Menu”, which is about an exclusive restaurant on a remote island. And while “Delicacy” does have certain familiar ingredients, and even heads to a predictable (actually, I imagined something far more gruesome than what transpires, curse my ‘horror fan’ heart) climax, but it was a very entertaining read.
Created by James Albon, the plot follows brothers Rowan and Tulip, who are living a content idyllic life on a Scottish island with their mother, until an unexpected inheritance leads them to the mainland and big city dreams. I love how the first few pages of the “Delicacy” establishes the easy affectionate relationship the brothers share, both supportive of each other’s ideas and dreams.
So when Tulip, the younger brother who is a cook, decides to open a restaurant in London, Rowan agrees to grow fresh vegetables to supply to his brother’s venture in the house they acquire in the outskirts. The cutthroat culinary scene overwhelms them at first, but a special homegrown ingredient leads the brothers to the path of success, fame, obsession, conflict and tragedy. United by their dream to serve freshly made delicacies to London crowd, the brothers also find themselves divided by the same ambition which grows like a tumor in Tulip.
The artwork in this graphic novel is splendid, with colors and strokes that have a Van Gogh-like dreamy touch to them. There’s lots of blues, yellows, and greens, however, as the plot progresses and the story becomes grimmer, the palette shifts to become gloomier and the illustrations are also morphed to become slightly nightmarish in nature. However, the art style also appears to be amateurish, perhaps deliberately so, with blurry detailing, so some readers might not be bowled over by the art. I really liked it.
“Delicacy” unfolds like a literary novel, first set in a beautiful Scottish island, where the brothers and their mother live a simple but content life. Their mother is passionately contemptuous of city folks, believing them to be morally degraded by money and fast life. So when her sons leave her for London dreams, she hopes they would tire of its pretentious facade soon enough and come running back home.
Almost 300 pages long, the graphic novel steadily changes pace, tone and tenor. “Delicacy” opens with a hopeful, energetic mood, where the young brothers are full of hopes for their new restaurant. Tulip is only able to afford a small establishment that’s almost on the edge of London, he struggles to muster up a staff to help run the place and once it’s up and running, there are days when close to no patron shows up. So the success takes its time to come to the brothers, but once Tulip tastes fame, there’s no turning back. From being a likable hardworking young lad, he transforms into a shallow, corrupt, neurotic, self-centered showman of sorts. Rowan continues to be a salt-of-the-earth kind of guy, who puts family above work, unlike his brother.
In “Delicacy,” James Albon delivers several twists, some of which take unexpectedly dark turns, setting the stage for a grim climax. Ultimately, the conclusion is tragic, yet it conveys a potent cautionary message about the dangers of unchecked ambition, where individuals may find themselves devoid of ethical constraints. The climax felt rushed, however, I really enjoyed reading this one!
Rating: 4 on 5. “Delicacy” is also available on Kindle Unlimited.
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