Reviews

Enlightened by Sachi Ediriweera

oneangrylibrarian's review

informative reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? N/A
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

daycia's review

adventurous informative medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.75

kristenremenar's review

informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes

5.0

Wonderful graphic novel biography of Siddhartha/Buddha.

librerika's review

informative reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot

3.0

I think this could be useful as a teaching tool for introducing kids to Buddhism, but while I enjoyed the art, the characters felt underdeveloped which made the Buddha's story less engaging than it could have been.

hellocookie's review

5.0

An incredible exploration of the origins of Buddhism, delving into the life of Siddhartha and what pushed him to seek out answers about the world. This graphic novel is beautifully illustrated and adapted to give anyone interested a great gateway into learning more about other teachings and religions.

eyeleash's review

adventurous hopeful informative reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

jax036's review against another edition

informative inspiring reflective sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

nsnyder22's review

5.0

I received an ARC of this book for my honest opinion.

I know a lot of people might be mad at me, but I wasn’t really a fan of Hesse’s Siddhartha. While Hesse’s novel is not directly about Buddha and his life, I didn’t find it as interesting or inspiring as this graphic novel. Enlightened is like a biography of the man who become Buddha, following him from a child to the figure and religion he symbolizes today. The art style is also inspired with its subtle changes as Siddhartha grows and changes and for once I really think the four-color design works wonderfully. A great book for kids and adults to learn the basics about Buddha/Buddhism.

pagebypaigebks's review

4.0

“It is better to live one day trying to understand the world than to never see it at all.”

I'd like to thank Simon & Schuster for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

I've also posted this review on Instagram and my blog.

Instagram Post

Blog Post

Content Warnings: death

I really enjoyed reading this book! The writing style and artwork made it a captivating read. The colour scheme also helped to create focus on the story and the lessons being taught. With engaging storytelling and beautiful illustrations, Enlightened is a starting off point for anyone wanting to begin learning more about Buddhism.

domiri's review

informative reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

2.0