Reviews

Maus: A Survivor's Tale. I, My Father Bleeds History by Art Spiegelman

Only show reviews with written explanations

tophatgeo's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective fast-paced

4.5

One of the most important books I've read in recent years.

It's genius getting to see both Vladek's history and the process of Art making the book. Maus managed to be so human and show how that the Spiegelman family and friends went through so many terrible events during the war. I think the worst part is knowing that this was far from an isolated case, Vladek's history is only a small fraction of the horrors people experienced.

One scene that really stuck out to me was

when we see Vladek get emotional over Art's older comic about his mother's suicide. He doesn't have a heart of stone, but he is so selective about how he shows kindness to his own family. It's a tender moment for a man who's so distant with his family.

Characterwise, Vladek is so deeply flawed - he's rude, abrasive, grumpy and independant to a fault. But his stubborn and miserly nature ended up helping him during a war where those qualities were what he needed to survive. I like how honestly Vladek is portrayed. He is far from a saint and learning that

it's always been in his nature to be extremely frugal

says so much about who he was even before the war.

That last scene is horrible but perfectly written to see how quickly he burns away any good will by saying he burnt the last remaining journals his wife wrote. Vladek is a man who cares so deeply for his possessions, but the one possession he ends up burning is the journals his late wife and son would care so deeply for. It's so sad.

I love how Art draws expressions of despair and contemplation, the faces on the characters are so simple but embody such raw emotions. The imagery particularly when you see a character distraught is so distressing that you just feel a portion of what they must have felt. The panelling was so clear and clever. It manages to make the delivery of such intense history more accessible whilst not downplaying the horrors that occured.

noragrace89's review against another edition

Go to review page

3.0

This graphic novel was dense and overwhelming to read.
I’ll definitely continue reading part 2.

nickiitay's review against another edition

Go to review page

5.0

Reread: I read this for the first time in grade seven when I borrowed it off my eldest sister’s bookshelves. It was just as amazing then as it is today. I’ll always come back to this story, and I think everyone should read it at least once in this lifetime.

ericj's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging dark emotional sad medium-paced

4.75

Heart-rending.

paokholin's review against another edition

Go to review page

medium-paced

3.75

harleyrae's review against another edition

Go to review page

5.0

Can I just say that this was AMAZING! I loved every minute of it. I honestly had a hard time putting it down. Being that this is my first graphic novel I was unsure of what to expect. I was literally blown away, I can't wait till I get to read the next one. I could not get enough of this.

The things I like:
1. The story in general. I loved how it was put together. It honestly felt like I was part of the story.
2.How while reading it you actually ached for the character. I jut loved how we grew with the character, how it honestly felt like someone was sitting in the same room as me telling me a story of their life.
3. Literately everything.

The things I didn't like:
1. Nothing.

I can't wait till I'm able to pick up the second part. All in all I loved this, I'd recommend it to anyone wanting a good historical graphic novel.