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snikhtha's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
3.75
Graphic: Antisemitism and War
Minor: Suicide
alix2a's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
4.75
Read this bc I had to but incredibly well written and sentimental
cdjdhj's review against another edition
4.0
After reading Maus I, I knew I would need to read the sequel to find out how the story of Vladek Spiegelman turns out. We do find out how Vladek survived the holocaust and also the impact his time in the Nazi camps had on his post-war life and relationships. Both the graphic novels Maus and Maus II constitute an important true story about one man's survival of hell on earth.
embot77's review against another edition
5.0
Although the heavily bolded lettering presented readability challenges like the previous volume, I was better equipped for the challenge, having read them back-to-back. In fact, I enjoyed this volume more than its predecessor due to the character's vulnerability, especially Art's. By including his inner turmoil and conversations with his therapist, the author normalizes mental health issues and seeing someone for them. It was also easier to understand the storyline without having to carry around the knowledge of other characters who would reappear later on.
I showed the story to my dad (he was born after WWII), and he, like myself, was pleasantly surprised by the amount of detail that went into this graphic novel. The author should be proud of this beautifully crafted historical artifact.
I showed the story to my dad (he was born after WWII), and he, like myself, was pleasantly surprised by the amount of detail that went into this graphic novel. The author should be proud of this beautifully crafted historical artifact.
jcstokes95's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
5.0
Graphic: Genocide and Violence
rynetry's review against another edition
5.0
one of the most powerful things I've ever read. An incredibly powerful story
readingthroughthelists's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
4.5
The strained bonds between parent and child, already present in Vol. 1, come to the forefront in Maus: Vol. II. Watching Art’s struggle to show patience and understanding with his miserly, contentious, and prejudiced father moved me greatly, almost as much as hearing about the horrors of the Holocaust.
Art’s portrayal of his father is sharp but not unsympathetic, even in the moments when Vladek is shown to be deeply prejudiced and even racist, as if he had learned nothing from all he suffered. Maus: Vol. II serves as a reminder that there are no perfect victims; all survivors have their traumas, their petty cruelties, their vices. And yet they are the ones who made it home, who defied the odds and survived…don’t they also deserve their happy endings?
Art’s portrayal of his father is sharp but not unsympathetic, even in the moments when Vladek is shown to be deeply prejudiced and even racist, as if he had learned nothing from all he suffered. Maus: Vol. II serves as a reminder that there are no perfect victims; all survivors have their traumas, their petty cruelties, their vices. And yet they are the ones who made it home, who defied the odds and survived…don’t they also deserve their happy endings?
Graphic: War, Violence, and Antisemitism
Moderate: Racism
kdawn999's review against another edition
4.0
A heartbreaking continuation/conclusion to Maus II. Much of the struggle of volume II is how to deal with the overwhelming depression of trying to draw the Holocaust and to care for a deeply traumatized parent. The volume, of course, serves as important documentation, but it is very hard to read. The length that the Germans went to to try to hide the camps lets us know even they knew how harshly they would be judged.