tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4922354827535398877.post6996107945282921201..comments2023-08-20T07:42:52.010-05:00Comments on Trish's Reading Nook: The Complete Maus - Art SpiegelmanTrish @ Love, Laughter, Insanityhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17225576485797030511noreply@blogger.comBlogger38125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4922354827535398877.post-83515979270560267542009-08-07T11:40:43.751-05:002009-08-07T11:40:43.751-05:00Great review! Before I read it I had the same rel...Great review! Before I read it I had the same reluctance too. I couldn't imagine a Holocaust story told by talking animals. But like Nymeth said, it goes beyond that and it's actually the illustrations that make the story all the more moving and powerful.tanabatahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04592550784537825632noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4922354827535398877.post-88945862900615538062009-07-31T09:50:23.443-05:002009-07-31T09:50:23.443-05:00I've had my eye on these books for a while. I...I've had my eye on these books for a while. I hope to read them for the WWII challenge. Could I link to your review on <a href="http://warthroughthegenerations.wordpress.com/" rel="nofollow">War Through the Generations</a>?<br /><br />--Anna<br /><a href="http://diaryofaneccentric.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow">Diary of an Eccentric</a>Annahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08046635675540466183noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4922354827535398877.post-65816589110653176872009-07-20T14:50:45.164-05:002009-07-20T14:50:45.164-05:00*Damned Conjuror - Fuzzed seemed like a pretty go...<b>*Damned Conjuror</b> - Fuzzed seemed like a pretty good word to me. :P I do understand what you mean about the graphic novel/comic distinction and it is a shame that there is that snobbery involved. Although, I’ll admit that I have my own prejudices when it comes to certain genres. I guess sometimes those barriers are hard to break. And yes, closeness and distance is a good way to put Maus.<br /><br /><b>*Kim L</b> - I think it might be difficult to find different angles of the Holocaust, but there’s always a different person’s experience. I really liked how Spiegelman used the Graphic Novel genre (um, or comic) to portray his father’s story.<br /><br /><b>*Rusvw</b> - I really hope you’ll come back to this book. It isn’t light reading for any time of the year but definitely save it for a time when you can mull it over a bit.<br /><br /><b>*Lit Feline</b> - Had your perception of the book changed at all throughout the years? This is one I can see myself revisiting again and again and passing on to others.<br /><br /><b>*Nymeth</b> - You bring up an interesting point about not necessarily using animals to retell this story. Any way you look at it Spiegelman’s illustrations are powerful on so many different levels. And the humanity portrayed in the pictures continually moved me—there’s just so much emotion captured.<br /><br /><b>*Lisa</b> - Try the first few chapters and see what you think. I think you’ll be surprised. And when hasn’t Nymeth convinced someone to read a book? :P<br /><br /><b>*Jenny</b> - Thank you! I appreciate you dropping in and saying hello. :)<br /><br /><b>*The Black Sheep</b> - I’m not sure of the other books you’ve read in the past for your degree. They are all haunting to some degree or another—Wiesel and Levy stick out as being especially horrific—but you’re right that they are important. This one is a difficult one to read just because of the graphic nature of the pictures. Flip through a copy and see what you think?<br /><br /><b>*Tracie</b> - It’s difficult to put into words the emotions that this book stirs within people, I think. And see the above conversation with Damned Conjuror. Unfortunately there are many many people who simply don’t take this genre seriously. It’s a shame because it is such a powerful read, but I don’t think I’ll be getting my family or close friends to read it any time soon.<br /><br /><b>*Joy</b> - Yup, this is definitely one to buy and hold onto. I was very glad to get my coupon to Borders so I could buy the full thing at a nice discount. :)<br /><br /><b>*Joanne</b> - Gasp! Only read the first volume?? The second volume goes into a lot of detail about Spiegelman himself as he struggles to understand his father’s story and how he wants to write the book and why. It is an interesting companion to the first book that focuses a lot on their actual relationship. So, I repeat: Go Read It! <br /><br /><b>*3M</b> - Glad you feel the same, Michelle. This book is so powerful.Trish @ Love, Laughter, Insanityhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17225576485797030511noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4922354827535398877.post-92149142412186279392009-07-16T06:54:22.279-05:002009-07-16T06:54:22.279-05:00I felt the same way, Trish. A true masterpiece.I felt the same way, Trish. A true masterpiece.3mhttp://1morechapter.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4922354827535398877.post-16424875341454896382009-07-15T17:23:54.945-05:002009-07-15T17:23:54.945-05:00"Go read it. The End." That basically su..."Go read it. The End." That basically sums up my thoughts! I've only read the first volume, it was in junior high social studies and what a great choice the teacher made. Our class had never been so into something before. It led to so many discussions and it was amazing to see 30-some students all enjoy the same thing.Joanne ♦ The Book Zombiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02369534827454703222noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4922354827535398877.post-27956414928820604112009-07-15T14:44:42.772-05:002009-07-15T14:44:42.772-05:00I bought a copy of the individual Maus books (I &a...I bought a copy of the individual Maus books (I & II) after I read library copies. I just had to have my own! Never in a million years would I have ever thought that I would treasure such a book - a graphic memoir! Who would have thought? Glad you are in the same camp, Trish.Thoughts of Joyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05572910467988997432noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4922354827535398877.post-44897651836955570102009-07-13T19:20:10.671-05:002009-07-13T19:20:10.671-05:00I have read it; but a long, long time ago in colle...I have read it; but a long, long time ago in college. I still have the book and I wasn't too excited to read it, but then after I read it, I loved it. I can never really explain why I liked or why I'd recommend it, so I never told many people about it because I couldn't as artfully explain it as you did :)Traciehttp://www.yuletimereading.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4922354827535398877.post-16899096082258595802009-07-13T04:06:06.713-05:002009-07-13T04:06:06.713-05:00You review makes me want to read it, but I'm a...You review makes me want to read it, but I'm afraid I won't be able to brave it in the end. I took Holocaust Literature for my degree (studied German Lit.) and it gave me nightmares for months and now I'm chicken. Still, it's good to get the books out there and have people reading them. We must never forget.TheBlackSheephttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13384038059799833795noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4922354827535398877.post-43412876543676754302009-07-12T12:21:38.512-05:002009-07-12T12:21:38.512-05:00Go read it. The end. Works for me!Go read it. The end. Works for me!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4922354827535398877.post-6353167486860103242009-07-12T10:18:15.623-05:002009-07-12T10:18:15.623-05:00Hi Trish! I'm new to following your blog, and...Hi Trish! I'm new to following your blog, and I have an award for you <a href="http://takemeaway-jennala9.blogspot.com/2009/07/award_12.html" rel="nofollow"> here </a>!Jennyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14128837662718618636noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4922354827535398877.post-78268160684459197932009-07-12T08:14:14.772-05:002009-07-12T08:14:14.772-05:00This conversation is getting me closer to wanting ...This conversation is getting me closer to wanting to read this. In particular, Nymeth's last comment.Lisahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17401807675546808620noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4922354827535398877.post-38697215874561871292009-07-12T07:54:14.778-05:002009-07-12T07:54:14.778-05:00I'm glad you enjoyed it, Trish! You know, I th...I'm glad you enjoyed it, Trish! You know, I think this - "but on the other--and more importantly, it showed the ridiculousness of distinguishing between different races" - was exactly his point. I actually don't think this retells the Holocaust using animals. It seems that way from the outside, but once you read it, they're human, all of them. Yet drawing different nationalities as animals helps bring attention to all the dehumanization that was going on.Ana S.https://www.blogger.com/profile/16092495983972185943noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4922354827535398877.post-25200210114391687442009-07-11T22:12:50.988-05:002009-07-11T22:12:50.988-05:00My dad had bought a copy of Maus years ago, and wh...My dad had bought a copy of Maus years ago, and while I was home one summer from college I found myself reading it. I reread it when my husband and I first moved into our current house after pulling it out of a box as I unpacked. It is such a powerful story. Great review, Trish.Literary Felinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13079276242303738719noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4922354827535398877.post-63901627077263812682009-07-11T21:29:45.799-05:002009-07-11T21:29:45.799-05:00Wonderful review...I will most certainly pick it u...Wonderful review...I will most certainly pick it up, but not for a summer read...probably too intense for the type of summer I'm having. Definitely a late September/early October read....Thanks again for sharing! :)rusvwhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04966834832064259161noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4922354827535398877.post-4232162901098490902009-07-09T20:46:02.091-05:002009-07-09T20:46:02.091-05:00It's hard to say much about this book! I felt...It's hard to say much about this book! I felt the same way when trying to review it. It's such a powerful read, and what more can you say about the Holocaust that hasn't already been said? <br /><br />I was pretty surprised how much I actually liked this.Kim Lhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15024112944002002232noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4922354827535398877.post-5482165975055382182009-07-09T18:04:16.959-05:002009-07-09T18:04:16.959-05:00fuzzed? I meant fussedfuzzed? I meant fussedAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4922354827535398877.post-13425132199936008742009-07-09T18:02:45.322-05:002009-07-09T18:02:45.322-05:00That is a good point. It is perhaps, paradoxically...That is a good point. It is perhaps, paradoxically, both close and distance. The use of animals allows us to step back, to be in a position of behind "glass" but the very personal tale of his father and himself forces us to confront horror. If you get what I mean. I think I might have to read it again.<br /><br />I'm not really fuzzed about people using graphic novel or comic, I'm not going to scream and tear my hair out because of it :) <br /><br />I take more offence at people who say "I don't comics they're childish, I read graphic novels".<br /><br />Comics have such a stunning diversity that it always annoys me whether people say it's for children. It's like saying all books are childish. Bah! ha haAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4922354827535398877.post-30068896410931223822009-07-09T15:20:52.415-05:002009-07-09T15:20:52.415-05:00*Laura - I think this is the one that you’d enjoy ...<b>*Laura</b> - I think this is the one that you’d enjoy the most, although I’m not sure enjoy is the right word. The pictures are pretty vivid sometimes, but if you’re interested I can bring it up for you. <br /><br /><b>*Terri B.</b> - I hope you’ll read this one soon, Terri. If you have a free afternoon, it would only take a few hours. I’d be really interested in hearing your take on the use of animals in this one. Honestly, I think an illustrated version using humans might have made this book too difficult to read.<br /><br /><b>*JT Oldfield</b> - Ya, it’s really tough to review something that creates so many emotions and thoughts! Glad you really liked this one, too.<br /><br /><b>*Lisa</b> - I think that’s OK that you don’t have any desire to read these. The more I read the more I enjoy them, but a year ago I didn’t have a big desire either. I guess kind of like how I have no desire to read most YA. :)<br /><br /><b>*Veens</b> - I hope you can get to this book, Veens—it is a pretty powerful story. Hard to read, but very moving.<br /><br /><b>*Joanna</b> - I think I’m mostly bothered when animals and humans are talking to each other, but that doesn’t happen in this book. I hope you’ll read it—I don’t think you’ll find the animals bothersome—it’s actually pretty effective.<br /><br /><b>*Damnedconjuror</b> - Defamiliarization is a good way to put it—I think you’re right about the use of animals allowing us to see things in a different way, but I think it also keep things at a distance. I’ve seen a lot of debate lately of the term “graphic novel.” I use it simply because that’s how I was introduced to the genre—I must be pretty sheltered because before blogging I thought comics were limited to superheroes in serial form. Glad my eyes were opened, but I do think that you’re right about comics having negative connotations. In terms of the talking animals, what can I say. I hope I’ve convinced those who have the same prejudice to give this one a shot. I agree that this book should be read.<br /><br /><b>*Missy</b> - I’m sorry that this one didn’t work for you. I read my first graphic novel (sorry damnedconjuror) last year and kind of struggled to get into it. Even with my second and third tries with this genre it took some time to get into the book. With this one I think I finally got the hang of it. It is an adjustment to try and read <i>and</i> look at the illustrations.Trish @ Love, Laughter, Insanityhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17225576485797030511noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4922354827535398877.post-88894550859096302412009-07-09T13:54:06.271-05:002009-07-09T13:54:06.271-05:00Your review is the first one I have seen on this b...Your review is the first one I have seen on this book. I bought it brand new from Amazon and ended up letting it go on PBS. I couldn't read it. I loved the cat/mouse theme, but I found it hard to follow...maybe because it is like a cartoon strip. I wish I had kept it now! Great review!Missy B.https://www.blogger.com/profile/10291867551001087415noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4922354827535398877.post-33334389978616173182009-07-09T10:12:26.900-05:002009-07-09T10:12:26.900-05:00I've always seen Spiegelman's use of anima...I've always seen Spiegelman's use of animals as a form of defamiliarization. We immediately have to process what we see differently. We've seen hundreds of films, and books etc on the Holocaust and WWII but what Spiegelman does is subvert our preconceptions and actually allows us to look beyond the surface. It's strange, because paradoxically you'd imagine it would be hard to look beyond the fact that these are animals, but it works and we see this well-known subject in a new light. <br /><br />On another note, I'm not a fan of the word graphic novel. I see it being used as an alternative to comic because of the negative connotations that word has. If it's called a graphic novel rather than a comic then it's not just for kids. Also, the word comic brings up things like jovial, fun, happy while graphic and novel has a gravitas to it. Anyway, blah blah....<br /><br />Maus should be read. It's an important piece of literature and it shouldn't be rejected because of "talking animals".Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4922354827535398877.post-83590043428707721822009-07-09T09:56:29.199-05:002009-07-09T09:56:29.199-05:00Yeah, talking animals don't really do it for m...Yeah, talking animals don't really do it for me either... I've heard so many good things about this though that I guess it's worth a try! ;-)joannahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14952558113054391317noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4922354827535398877.post-75505771437969954132009-07-09T01:17:04.443-05:002009-07-09T01:17:04.443-05:00Awesome review..
And when u say "it showed th...Awesome review..<br />And when u say "it showed the ridiculousness of distinguishing between different races" - i felt it was so true! That makes sense!<br /><br />If i get to this book, I will definitely read it! Thnk u!The Reading Momsterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05654838944219228306noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4922354827535398877.post-82698841408319413222009-07-08T20:29:01.107-05:002009-07-08T20:29:01.107-05:00I just can't make myself want to read this. Yo...I just can't make myself want to read this. Your review is great and I can see exactly what you're saying, but I do not ever enjoy reading comics. I'm sorry, graphic novels.Lisahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17401807675546808620noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4922354827535398877.post-37163325029119990532009-07-08T17:13:13.625-05:002009-07-08T17:13:13.625-05:00I had trouble reviewing this too. You did a reall...I had trouble reviewing this too. You did a really good job though!<br /><br />here's my review:<br /><br />http://bibliofreakblog.com/creative-nonfiction/maus-ii-iby-art-spiegelmani/J.T. Oldfieldhttp://bibliofreakblog.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4922354827535398877.post-13212425004738984122009-07-08T13:36:31.899-05:002009-07-08T13:36:31.899-05:00Nice review! I do have this book on my tower of th...Nice review! I do have this book on my tower of things to read. I find the whole use of animals stereotypically thing an interesting bit to think on -- whether the author meant to use them as stereotypes, what that means in context of the story, etc.Terri B.https://www.blogger.com/profile/12215878121282668358noreply@blogger.com