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labunnywtf's review
5.0
Received via Netgalley in exchange for a fair and unbiased review.
I literally just finished a re-read of the original Dickens, and I still can't tell if any real artistic liberties were taken here. Why can't my brain process classics? What is wrong with me?
Nevertheless, I really and truly enjoyed this manga. I'd read the similarly done version of The Scarlet Letter and was so blown away, so I was really excited for this one. And I think this is a must-read for anyone who, like me, isn't quite intelligent enough to read, understand, and enjoy classic novels.
The artwork is so gorgeous. Estella is breath taking, and Miss Haversham is beyond intimidating and actually kind of scary in some parts. The language and storyline flow so smoothly, it doesn't feel like you even need to have read the original. Kids needing to do book reports, maybe take note?
There are a few more of these Manga Classics out there, and I really want to get on the ball and read those originals so I can enjoy the Mangas, as well. Maybe I'll read the manga versions first, actually.
I literally just finished a re-read of the original Dickens, and I still can't tell if any real artistic liberties were taken here. Why can't my brain process classics? What is wrong with me?
Nevertheless, I really and truly enjoyed this manga. I'd read the similarly done version of The Scarlet Letter and was so blown away, so I was really excited for this one. And I think this is a must-read for anyone who, like me, isn't quite intelligent enough to read, understand, and enjoy classic novels.
The artwork is so gorgeous. Estella is breath taking, and Miss Haversham is beyond intimidating and actually kind of scary in some parts. The language and storyline flow so smoothly, it doesn't feel like you even need to have read the original. Kids needing to do book reports, maybe take note?
There are a few more of these Manga Classics out there, and I really want to get on the ball and read those originals so I can enjoy the Mangas, as well. Maybe I'll read the manga versions first, actually.
geekwayne's review
5.0
Manga Classics continues to put out great content with their adaptation of Great Expectations. This is a great adaptation with great art.
Young Pip helps an escaped prisoner near his home, and the act has the kind of repercussions he can't imagine. He lives with his sister and her blacksmith husband Joe. He his days visiting creepy Miss Haversham's house to play with the beautiful but distant Estella. When he gets older, he finds himself with an anonymous benefactor out to make him a gentleman. Pip finds himself on a new course in life, and he finds he has no time for those he's left behind. He's convinced his benefactor must be the strange Miss Haversham, and that she must be grooming him for Estella, but could he be wrong?
It's a pretty faithful adaptation of the story. I loved the art by Nokman Poon, especially the scenes of Miss Haversham's moldering house. The details of her rotting wedding dress and the cobwebbed feast are memorable indeed. The characters are all drawn unique enough to keep track of them, and it's a pretty big cast this time around. Crystal Chan's Japanese translation is translated back by Stacy King. The ending is a kind of compromise between the two known endings of the story, and that is discussed in an afterword. There is also some information about the artist and his character sketches. I can't say enough about how great this series really is.
I received a review copy of this manga from UDON Entertainment and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this great manga.
Young Pip helps an escaped prisoner near his home, and the act has the kind of repercussions he can't imagine. He lives with his sister and her blacksmith husband Joe. He his days visiting creepy Miss Haversham's house to play with the beautiful but distant Estella. When he gets older, he finds himself with an anonymous benefactor out to make him a gentleman. Pip finds himself on a new course in life, and he finds he has no time for those he's left behind. He's convinced his benefactor must be the strange Miss Haversham, and that she must be grooming him for Estella, but could he be wrong?
It's a pretty faithful adaptation of the story. I loved the art by Nokman Poon, especially the scenes of Miss Haversham's moldering house. The details of her rotting wedding dress and the cobwebbed feast are memorable indeed. The characters are all drawn unique enough to keep track of them, and it's a pretty big cast this time around. Crystal Chan's Japanese translation is translated back by Stacy King. The ending is a kind of compromise between the two known endings of the story, and that is discussed in an afterword. There is also some information about the artist and his character sketches. I can't say enough about how great this series really is.
I received a review copy of this manga from UDON Entertainment and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this great manga.
caroline_2605's review
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
nikki_b's review
3.0
Remember using CliffNotes or SparkNotes in high school? Sometimes for books you hadn't read? (I know I wasn't the only one. Sorry, The Iliad.)
Imagining what my book report would have looked like if I had used this adaptation as my source for Great Expectations (I did read that one, though) is kinda hilarious. This manga is entertaining and a good way to review the novel in a quickly digestible format, but only if you have some idea of the plot beforehand.
It's been about twelve years since I read GE so I only have brief impressions left of it now. I know that the plot is cray... Miss Havisham wears an old wedding dress... and Pip is in love with Estella for God knows why. According to the manga, I remembered it correctly. But it also helped me to remember other important plot points - so, hey, success!
The story is all over the place, but so is the source, so I commend Stacy King for keeping all of the storylines together.
Like with Manga Classics: Pride and Prejudice, I enjoyed the art for the most part. It's not particularly memorable... In fact, the only parts I remember are the not-so-great panels combined with awkward writing. Miss Havisham looked a little too similar to a Sailor Moon villain at times.
Manga Classics: Great Expectations is a good review and teaching tool, especially when trying to make the classics accessible to different audiences.
This book was received from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Imagining what my book report would have looked like if I had used this adaptation as my source for Great Expectations (I did read that one, though) is kinda hilarious. This manga is entertaining and a good way to review the novel in a quickly digestible format, but only if you have some idea of the plot beforehand.
It's been about twelve years since I read GE so I only have brief impressions left of it now. I know that the plot is cray... Miss Havisham wears an old wedding dress... and Pip is in love with Estella for God knows why. According to the manga, I remembered it correctly. But it also helped me to remember other important plot points - so, hey, success!
The story is all over the place, but so is the source, so I commend Stacy King for keeping all of the storylines together.
Like with Manga Classics: Pride and Prejudice, I enjoyed the art for the most part. It's not particularly memorable... In fact, the only parts I remember are the not-so-great panels combined with awkward writing. Miss Havisham looked a little too similar to a Sailor Moon villain at times.
Manga Classics: Great Expectations is a good review and teaching tool, especially when trying to make the classics accessible to different audiences.
This book was received from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
bmpicc's review
2.0
DONE! Finally!
"I'll listen to the audiobook while we drive to Georgia." - failed. The... narrator... was... so... boring... "I'll read the book." - failed. I reread the same paragraph approximately 8 times.
"I'll read the young readers version. - failed. I read a whole chapter and don't recall anything except the name Pip.
I finally settled on the graphic novel and I made it all the way through. I know there is a lot missing from this, but at least I can be part of the discussion now. I was surprised by a few plot twists & I appreciated what I perceived as the moral of the story. Wealth does not fix problems or make life "great". Loyalty, honesty, love... those are where our true wealth lies.
"I'll listen to the audiobook while we drive to Georgia." - failed. The... narrator... was... so... boring... "I'll read the book." - failed. I reread the same paragraph approximately 8 times.
"I'll read the young readers version. - failed. I read a whole chapter and don't recall anything except the name Pip.
I finally settled on the graphic novel and I made it all the way through. I know there is a lot missing from this, but at least I can be part of the discussion now. I was surprised by a few plot twists & I appreciated what I perceived as the moral of the story. Wealth does not fix problems or make life "great". Loyalty, honesty, love... those are where our true wealth lies.
adelavmb's review
5.0
http://vanillamoonbooks.blogspot.ro/2015/09/review-manga-classics-great-expectations.html
Having read all previous titles in the Manga Classics collection, I've decided to dive yet again into a new classic brought to life in manga form. It seems to have become a tradition now to end up wanting to read the original work after falling in love with the graphic novel, as it was the case with Great Expectations, this time beautifully illustrated by Nokman Poon.
Unfamiliar with the plot of Great Expectations, I found it to be a very interesting story that I would love to learn more about. According to the note at the end, the manga adaptation doesn't stray from the original work of Charles Dickens, but only leaves secondary plots aside so as to fit perfectly in the format of around 300 pages Manga Classics has used us with.
The story follows Pip, a young boy who helps a prisoner with some food, an act which ends up changing his life in ways he would have never imagined. Pip, who lives with his sister and her husband, after visiting Miss Havisham and her adopted daughter several times, dreams of a better life for himself, one as an educated gentleman which is later granted to him by a mysterious benefactor whom he believes is Miss Havisham herself. As he gets accustomed to his new life, he completely changes himself, no longer feeling comfortable around his old friends and acquaintances who remind him of his old lifestyle.
As for the artwork, while the artist is a different one from the other Manga Classics titles, his style is very pleasant to the eye, and the characters are drawn uniquely enough so the reader won't get confused and follow the story easily.
Like always, I recommend all Manga Classics titles, either as an alternative to a chunky book, or as a way to remember a classic you already read and loved. People reading a manga adaptation of a classic they haven't tried before might be surprised to realize they will end up picking the original work soon after reading the manga. They're that good.
Having read all previous titles in the Manga Classics collection, I've decided to dive yet again into a new classic brought to life in manga form. It seems to have become a tradition now to end up wanting to read the original work after falling in love with the graphic novel, as it was the case with Great Expectations, this time beautifully illustrated by Nokman Poon.
Unfamiliar with the plot of Great Expectations, I found it to be a very interesting story that I would love to learn more about. According to the note at the end, the manga adaptation doesn't stray from the original work of Charles Dickens, but only leaves secondary plots aside so as to fit perfectly in the format of around 300 pages Manga Classics has used us with.
The story follows Pip, a young boy who helps a prisoner with some food, an act which ends up changing his life in ways he would have never imagined. Pip, who lives with his sister and her husband, after visiting Miss Havisham and her adopted daughter several times, dreams of a better life for himself, one as an educated gentleman which is later granted to him by a mysterious benefactor whom he believes is Miss Havisham herself. As he gets accustomed to his new life, he completely changes himself, no longer feeling comfortable around his old friends and acquaintances who remind him of his old lifestyle.
As for the artwork, while the artist is a different one from the other Manga Classics titles, his style is very pleasant to the eye, and the characters are drawn uniquely enough so the reader won't get confused and follow the story easily.
Like always, I recommend all Manga Classics titles, either as an alternative to a chunky book, or as a way to remember a classic you already read and loved. People reading a manga adaptation of a classic they haven't tried before might be surprised to realize they will end up picking the original work soon after reading the manga. They're that good.
kice7788's review against another edition
2.0
I love being able to read the classics in this form! I love reading but sometimes it hard for me to read the old English. This makes them so much easier to read and actually know the classics! I had heard about this of course but never really knew it. After reading this graphic novel I have learned that I do not really like this story. It just seemed choppy and the author had ideas but didn’t know how to put them together and just decided to one night. I saw deeper meanings but the craziness of the story covered them up. All in all it was ok but I’m okay to not want to look into it more.
susani_'s review
3.0
I obtained a free copy via Netgalley for a true and honest review!
I found this such fun read! I don't really read magna comics but I really enjoyed this.
I found this such fun read! I don't really read magna comics but I really enjoyed this.
introverteddragonscribbles's review
4.0
Great Expectations starts out when Pip, the main character, is a young boy. He is sitting by the grave of his parents when a stranger bound in chains comes along and demands Pip give him his food. Then he has Pip agree to bring him more food and a file so that he can remove his chains. This single event changes the whole of Pip's future.
Charles Dickens never disappoints when it comes to interesting characters. Pip is a kind, gentle boy, with large ambitions. His sister is fiery, his uncle gentle, and Estelle, the daughter of the mysterious Mrs. Hibbins, is a puzzle unto herself. Each of the characters were created like puzzle pieces, each one to fit snuggly in a specific way around Pip.
While the plot is similar to many of his other works, like Oliver Twist, in the sense that it is a rags-to-riches story, it is still different enough to be compelling. I know from experience that sometimes when it comes to writing out plots, there are certain kinds of plots that you want to explore from all angles, and since a story can only end one way, it's fun to make up another story that is similar, with a different, more satisfying and/or dramatic ending. And Great Expectations didn't end exactly as I thought it would.
Once again, the artwork of these manga books is just wonderful. The sweeping, gentle illustrations in scenic pictures always lends the story an air of historical essence. I can't help but enjoy each and every picture on the pages.
Manga Classics: Great Expectations is a fun and fascination read paying tribute to the original classic.
I Rate It: 4 1/2 stars
NOTE: I received a complimentary copy from the publisher through NetGalley for review purposes only. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Charles Dickens never disappoints when it comes to interesting characters. Pip is a kind, gentle boy, with large ambitions. His sister is fiery, his uncle gentle, and Estelle, the daughter of the mysterious Mrs. Hibbins, is a puzzle unto herself. Each of the characters were created like puzzle pieces, each one to fit snuggly in a specific way around Pip.
While the plot is similar to many of his other works, like Oliver Twist, in the sense that it is a rags-to-riches story, it is still different enough to be compelling. I know from experience that sometimes when it comes to writing out plots, there are certain kinds of plots that you want to explore from all angles, and since a story can only end one way, it's fun to make up another story that is similar, with a different, more satisfying and/or dramatic ending. And Great Expectations didn't end exactly as I thought it would.
Once again, the artwork of these manga books is just wonderful. The sweeping, gentle illustrations in scenic pictures always lends the story an air of historical essence. I can't help but enjoy each and every picture on the pages.
Manga Classics: Great Expectations is a fun and fascination read paying tribute to the original classic.
I Rate It: 4 1/2 stars
NOTE: I received a complimentary copy from the publisher through NetGalley for review purposes only. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
counting_sunsets's review
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Loved getting to revisit Pip’s story.