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the_sunken_library's review against another edition
5.0
A sensitive and terribly necessary graphic novel exploring the harsh realities of how the horror of the Holocaust effected one man and his family, even for decades after the war ended.
Thanks to the use of animals it makes this a much more palatable book than it might have been. It does not dampen the monstrosities that the nazis committed against the Jewish community but it does make it more digestible which is incredibly important. It is a subject we must never forget, must continue to engage with in order for it to never happen again and therfore it cannot be so raw that people become too distressed to look at it.
Needless to say this brought tears to my eyes, but not always ones of guilt and heartbreak; tears for the moments where I was touched by the recollections of simple kindnesses Art's father experienced throughout the war and his fight and determination to live. He refused to give up and he helped those he could to survive with him. But he was not a flawless man and this was demonstrated throughout the book, expesically highlighted during a particulaly uncomfortable moment where Vladek is explicitly racist about a black hitchhiker. As a simple quote sums it up in the books 'those that survived were neither good or bad, just lucky' and thats what Vladek was (well with an extra sprinkling of ingenuity!).
Thanks to the use of animals it makes this a much more palatable book than it might have been. It does not dampen the monstrosities that the nazis committed against the Jewish community but it does make it more digestible which is incredibly important. It is a subject we must never forget, must continue to engage with in order for it to never happen again and therfore it cannot be so raw that people become too distressed to look at it.
Needless to say this brought tears to my eyes, but not always ones of guilt and heartbreak; tears for the moments where I was touched by the recollections of simple kindnesses Art's father experienced throughout the war and his fight and determination to live. He refused to give up and he helped those he could to survive with him. But he was not a flawless man and this was demonstrated throughout the book, expesically highlighted during a particulaly uncomfortable moment where Vladek is explicitly racist about a black hitchhiker. As a simple quote sums it up in the books 'those that survived were neither good or bad, just lucky' and thats what Vladek was (well with an extra sprinkling of ingenuity!).
punkrockingnerd's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
4.5
(The fonts made it difficult to read in parts, and that's the only reason this isn't a perfect 5.)
This is one of the most haunting books I've ever read, and its story (particularly concerning how suffering doesn't equal personal growth/insight) is more relevant today than ever before. Free Palestine.
This is one of the most haunting books I've ever read, and its story (particularly concerning how suffering doesn't equal personal growth/insight) is more relevant today than ever before. Free Palestine.
darkereader44's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
sad
tense
fast-paced
5.0
wenzelslaus's review against another edition
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
4.75
iconicavocado's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
5.0
Book 📖: 5/5 stars
What an incredible, painful story of survival and love. Love between a husband and wife and the complicated relationship of Art and his father, Vladek. It's the story of the Holocaust in a way that is so raw and unflinching that I'm struck with both horror and awe of Vladek's journey.
There's a reason this book won awards and changed the landscape for comic books and biographic stories. Highly recommend reading.
What an incredible, painful story of survival and love. Love between a husband and wife and the complicated relationship of Art and his father, Vladek. It's the story of the Holocaust in a way that is so raw and unflinching that I'm struck with both horror and awe of Vladek's journey.
There's a reason this book won awards and changed the landscape for comic books and biographic stories. Highly recommend reading.