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taralorraine's review
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
I have never read the original and thought I was missing something. After reading the provided summary at the end , I realized I got the gist of it - it was just (in my opinion) just not a very good story.
There is no one really likable and most everyone dies at the end. Also, I didn’t care for the artwork - but I acknowledge that Manga isn’t my thing.
There is no one really likable and most everyone dies at the end. Also, I didn’t care for the artwork - but I acknowledge that Manga isn’t my thing.
eely225's review against another edition
5.0
8/13/18
The play that is too much. Beginning with Lear inviting his family into darker matters, paranoia and madness, authentic and donned, create a stifling atmosphere, making the play more intimidating than inviting. The plot is driven throughout, even in its mad soliloquies, there is a pulsing dread that draws each character deeper into their state as victim or victimizer.
As with any worthwhile Shakespeare play, this is mostly worthwhile for its many interpretive angles. There's so much ambiguity around Lear himself, as well as how the audience should read its central conflicts, how Edmund should come across, and the role of Edgar in reluctantly rising to the occasion. I rate this highly knowing that there's a great deal there, not knowing that I know what all is there. The greatness and the great fall of Lear, the time-defying prophecies of the Fool, the self-destructive fixations of so many: there's a lot to parse, and it's hard to do alone.
I happened to read a text that include excerpts from Harold Bloom's larger work on Shakespeare. Although it doesn't totally work as a standalone chapter, I'm glad I was able to process after reading the play with it. He highlighted several components of Lear's characterization, as well as Edgar's central role, that I missed on (2nd) reading. He must, as always, be taken with some grain of salt, but who among us must not?
7/5/19
I don't have a ton to add from when I read this last year. I think I actually found less significance in the Fool this time around. I read him more like a theatrical device, speaking directly to the audience, instead of a fantastic creature of time-defying capacity.
What stuck with me more this time around than last is a particularly old thought on Lear: just how insane is he? His rationality comes in waves and does not move in just one direction. It's interesting to see that this is not simply a tale of his coming undone, but he undoes himself on the heath, then is brought back into society, given regal stature, and is undone again. How much of this is a reasonable response and how much is he losing touch? If he is someone who "hath ever but slenderly known himself," then how much of this is a productive act of attaining self-knowledge and how much is unnecessary self-destruction?
Also, how do we square France's avowed interest in Cordelia alone with his later invasion of Britain? Was this an effort to claim the lands that should have been Cordelia's? Or some kind of rescue mission gone wrong for Lear? Is France's absence telling or skirting around a logical inconvenience? I'm not sure, but I'll enjoy engaging with these questions again.
The play that is too much. Beginning with Lear inviting his family into darker matters, paranoia and madness, authentic and donned, create a stifling atmosphere, making the play more intimidating than inviting. The plot is driven throughout, even in its mad soliloquies, there is a pulsing dread that draws each character deeper into their state as victim or victimizer.
As with any worthwhile Shakespeare play, this is mostly worthwhile for its many interpretive angles. There's so much ambiguity around Lear himself, as well as how the audience should read its central conflicts, how Edmund should come across, and the role of Edgar in reluctantly rising to the occasion. I rate this highly knowing that there's a great deal there, not knowing that I know what all is there. The greatness and the great fall of Lear, the time-defying prophecies of the Fool, the self-destructive fixations of so many: there's a lot to parse, and it's hard to do alone.
I happened to read a text that include excerpts from Harold Bloom's larger work on Shakespeare. Although it doesn't totally work as a standalone chapter, I'm glad I was able to process after reading the play with it. He highlighted several components of Lear's characterization, as well as Edgar's central role, that I missed on (2nd) reading. He must, as always, be taken with some grain of salt, but who among us must not?
7/5/19
I don't have a ton to add from when I read this last year. I think I actually found less significance in the Fool this time around. I read him more like a theatrical device, speaking directly to the audience, instead of a fantastic creature of time-defying capacity.
What stuck with me more this time around than last is a particularly old thought on Lear: just how insane is he? His rationality comes in waves and does not move in just one direction. It's interesting to see that this is not simply a tale of his coming undone, but he undoes himself on the heath, then is brought back into society, given regal stature, and is undone again. How much of this is a reasonable response and how much is he losing touch? If he is someone who "hath ever but slenderly known himself," then how much of this is a productive act of attaining self-knowledge and how much is unnecessary self-destruction?
Also, how do we square France's avowed interest in Cordelia alone with his later invasion of Britain? Was this an effort to claim the lands that should have been Cordelia's? Or some kind of rescue mission gone wrong for Lear? Is France's absence telling or skirting around a logical inconvenience? I'm not sure, but I'll enjoy engaging with these questions again.
directorpurry's review
2.0
Actual rating: 2.5 stars
I came in biased because I'm really not a huge Lear fan. I get it, it has good elements, but it's just a bit... melodramatic, I suppose.
I also don't know how I feel about this setting... While I am all for the concept of it, I found the execution lacking. It's supposed to be the 1750s in Colonialist America, with Lear as a Native American chief. Not being indigenous myself, I cannot speak the accuracy or inaccuracy of any of the character design. I also wouldn't dare to venture a guess at how similar or different the hierarchical structure would be in this scenario...
Overall, I actually wasn't a huge fan of the art in this on either. The pages were very busy and, especially in the front, the printing quality didn't seem to be quite as nice as some of the other volumes.
If I weren't trying to collect the whole series, I probably wouldn't be keeping this one... (But the same could be said for [b:Henry VIII|6657418|Manga Shakespeare Henry VIII|Richard Appignanesi|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1348780222l/6657418._SX50_.jpg|26935315] so I suppose it's not unique in that.)
I came in biased because I'm really not a huge Lear fan. I get it, it has good elements, but it's just a bit... melodramatic, I suppose.
I also don't know how I feel about this setting... While I am all for the concept of it, I found the execution lacking. It's supposed to be the 1750s in Colonialist America, with Lear as a Native American chief. Not being indigenous myself, I cannot speak the accuracy or inaccuracy of any of the character design. I also wouldn't dare to venture a guess at how similar or different the hierarchical structure would be in this scenario...
Overall, I actually wasn't a huge fan of the art in this on either. The pages were very busy and, especially in the front, the printing quality didn't seem to be quite as nice as some of the other volumes.
If I weren't trying to collect the whole series, I probably wouldn't be keeping this one... (But the same could be said for [b:Henry VIII|6657418|Manga Shakespeare Henry VIII|Richard Appignanesi|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1348780222l/6657418._SX50_.jpg|26935315] so I suppose it's not unique in that.)
rosiefrog's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.75
booknerd93's review
adventurous
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
liaweneryniel's review
4.0
I love you Shakespeare's plays and I love Manga. So one should think that this is the perfect mix for me.
It was but nevertheless the setting was quite upsetting.
Seeing Lear and Cordelia drawn as native Americans and Goneril and Regan not was quite something. The names didn't fit the setting either and what the French have to do with native Americans and Cowboys is lost to me^^
But all in all I liked it. It's a new take on Shakespeare's plays.
It was but nevertheless the setting was quite upsetting.
Seeing Lear and Cordelia drawn as native Americans and Goneril and Regan not was quite something. The names didn't fit the setting either and what the French have to do with native Americans and Cowboys is lost to me^^
But all in all I liked it. It's a new take on Shakespeare's plays.
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