All women want a fulfilling life whether they are alone, or with one or more companions (friends, lovers, loves etc.). For some, being a mom is the dream, for others work and friends. For Céline Gandner, after 21 years as a journalist at France 5, she feels the "call of the belly" and leaves everything to start her solo motherhood project. But it is a difficult and challenging process, with no guarantee of results. Even more so when you are single and in your forties. In "PMA: In Search of a Little Soul," Céline gives us her obstacle course! Emotions and upheavals assured… 
Making an ART: We remove taboos
In this comic, readers are confronted with a problem that affects many people: infertility, the desire for pregnancy postponed until later, the anxiety of having a child by a "clinical" rather than "romantic" method. ART (Medically Assisted Procreation) is a process that arouses many emotions, both positive and negative. It is a complicated and expensive process that is not necessarily open to all (depending on the country where you live). Through his pen impregnated with a slight humorous tone, this comic is not only a diary relating all the key stages of an ART journey; It also serves as a potential guide for those who would like to hear a testimony to understand the impacts and management of this big life project. With a clear language, dotted with references from "pop culture", the author explains in a very simple way the different medical terms that can be heard during this journey. Without restraint, the reader is exposed to a passionate and exciting account of parental desire. 
PMA: Quite a Fight
In this comic full of irony, humor, hope and also despair, the reader is touched by the honesty and fragility of the author. She wants a child and she will have one. In a simple, clear and flowery way, we meet a Céline a few years before who is forced to do her treatment in Belgium. What for? Because in 2017/2018 the ART for homosexual women and couples OR heterosexual and single is PROHIBITED! Céline tells us about her failures, her multiple attempts at insemination, her doubts and her pain. His fragility and emotions can only touch readers. We see through his eyes the impact of the different stages of the journey not only on his body, but also on his psychological health. We live the ups and downs with her, and it's sometimes hard to take. What is excellent with this comic is that the author could very well have sunk and wrapped herself in her pain and pursued only this angle throughout the story. Not at all! Céline keeps her self-derisory humor that tears small smiles from readers until the end and hope transpires through all the pages of the book. She skillfully handles lightness and seriousness without the reader finding himself reading a text that is too serious or caricatured. It also relates key dates in French law that will finally allow all women in France to be able to access ART (it took until 2021 to set some record straight but quiet, everything is fine…). 
A realistic and touching comic:
Be careful, this comic explores a theme that remains painful for many people. Infertility or so-called "late" pregnancies are not topics too often explored in the world of comics. But the author does it extremely well. With modesty, she exposes her hazards, gives voice to her questions and shows that she is prey to her doubts, like any human being. Some readers will find themselves in the visceral reactions of the characters. Drawings imbued with metaphors are another asset of this book. They will give life to emotions that cannot necessarily be described with words. In a particularly emotional scene, we see the important effects of words coming from people around him. Certainly, the words are benevolent, but she receives them like a bullet in the heart. This book is a unique moment for the reader who has an acquaintance/loved one who will begin this complicated process. 
Although this book concerns the journey of a white woman, alone and heterosexual, it is open to all. For some, it can serve as a valuable testimony to what to expect from an ART Pathway. It can also be an education manual, clearly explaining the medical terms, financial costs and legal advances (explained with some brevity) made in France on this procedure. Finally, it serves as a bit of a diary for the author without being intimate. By laying bare her feelings, she finds a way out, a valve to evacuate the overflow she may have felt during the different stages of the course. 
Final assessment
Whether we are men or women, we all have something to learn from this book, whether we want a child or not. We recognize each other from moments of joy, doubts, anxieties or disappointments. We all need a support system and this book shows the importance of being kind to ourselves and others. In short, this comic is a MUST for all. PMA: À la recherche d'une petite âme" by Céline Gandner is available now at Delcourt editions and in bookstores.
