Comments on eclectic / eccentric: Book Review: The Complete Maus

Great review! And wonderful for the World Religio...

2010-03-05T11:19:05.458-06:00

Great review! And wonderful for the World Religion Challenge. Are you doing the Graphic Novel Challenge as well?

Here's my review:

http://bibliofreakblog.com/creative-nonfiction/maus-ii-iby-art-spiegelmani/

Jenners - You have it right Jenners. It was defin...

2010-01-31T09:32:08.620-06:00

Jenners - You have it right Jenners. It was definitely a "more personal book that happened to have Nazis in it" and that is not what I was expecting.

I've heard this book praised to the moon quite...

2010-01-30T20:47:52.114-06:00

I've heard this book praised to the moon quite a few times ... but just this past week, I've read two "I didn't really love it" reviews (yours included). It sounds like it was a more personal book that happened to have Nazis in it rather than strictly a WWII book. Great review... very balanced and thoughtful.

Cara - I can't wait to read your review! Rebe...

2010-01-25T09:19:59.437-06:00

Cara - I can't wait to read your review!

Rebecca - Good point. The inclusion of the present does show the long term effects...primarily on Art. I mean, I can see how some of Vladek's grouchy old man personality could come from his Holocaust experiences, but then again I know quite a few grumpy, miserly old men who didn't go through WWII.

It's possible I went in to this book with a false impression and high expectations.

I think what I loved about it WAS the focus on the...

2010-01-25T06:59:09.985-06:00

I think what I loved about it WAS the focus on the present as well as the past. True, it's a memoir of a son coming to terms with his father's experiences -- not a poignant first hand account of the holocaust. But for me, it showed the long term effects of a tragedy. It didn't just end and the book closed. Art is still struggling to come to terms with it!

I haven't read some of the others you mention! I need to read more, obviously.

I've read this but haven't reviewed it. I&...

2010-01-24T14:09:45.169-06:00

I've read this but haven't reviewed it. I'll review it now: I agree with everything you wrote.

Michelle - It had definitely been awhile since I p...

2010-01-24T10:34:53.585-06:00

Michelle - It had definitely been awhile since I posted. The start of the semester is always a busy time for me so blogging and reading have to take a backseat. :)

Stephanie - I would definitely let younger readers read this, but I'm also pretty liberal when it comes to stuff like this.

Amanda - I'm glad I'm not the only one who didn't want to marry this book.

I agree other books on this subject were more powe...

2010-01-23T21:26:27.155-06:00

I agree other books on this subject were more powerful.

I wish I could have gotten into this one, but I just couldn't.

I have had my eye on this for a long time. I never...

2010-01-23T16:45:17.029-06:00

I have had my eye on this for a long time. I never expected it to be the quintessential Holocaust story -- just something serious, thoughtful and unique. Thanks for the great review. Is this something that might be OK for kids (say ages 10+)?

And here I was thinking, it's been a long time...

2010-01-23T14:38:12.009-06:00

And here I was thinking, it's been a long time since you last posted! =)

I've read this one, and definitely found it very interesting. Loved it.

But I think you're probably right. It's not easy, I guess, to try and portray war via graphic means. And anyway, thanks for the suggestions of other book titles that deal with the Holocaust. I might be looking into some of them later on.