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thenextgenlibrarian's review against another edition
4.0
Loved the novel and thought the graphic novel did a good job of holding its own. The color palette was a bit too muted for my tastes, but I liked the unique placement of the wording on several of the pages.
4 ⭐️
4 ⭐️
swtmarie's review against another edition
3.0
The illustrations were done beautifully and were reminiscent of the time period but like a few others, I felt the characters weren't distinguished well enough (Tom, Nick and Jay). They looked very similar and I had a hard time telling them apart sometimes. I imagine it would be very difficult condensing a story such as this one and turning it into a graphic novel while still encompassing all of the emotion and detail that makes the story come alive. I feel Fordham was able to get the jist of it and the "bones" of the story but it felt somewhat lacking. I haven't read The Great Gatsby since high school so this brought back many memories. Now I need to re-watch the movie and maybe reread the novel as I'm sure I will see it with different eyes than I did back in high school.
authoress233's review against another edition
5.0
I read this book in one glorious sitting. I consider myself a Gatsby aficionado and I was admittedly cautious when approaching this first graphic adaptation of one of my most beloved books. This is a gorgeous companion to the original novel, and an accessible entry point for those who struggled with the original text. What a thrilling and beautiful adaptation.
jkenna1990's review against another edition
3.0
2.5 stars. Well at least I know what it's about now. Still don't really get the hype but I've never been a fan of any classics. The graphic novel was a much better way to read it though. I've tried to read the regular version multiple times and never got through it.
sfujii's review against another edition
4.0
What a beautiful tribute to one of my favorite texts. The pictures were really stunning - for the mega major moments, there were full page almost poster worthy illustrations. Incredible.
I was pleasantly surprised at how much detail was kept throughout. They obviously parsed out a LOT of the text, but I found that it didn't take away from the story arc. Was it literary? Not really, but it stayed trued to the tone and truth of Gatsby's journey.
There were two very specific moments that were missing from the text which I was disappointed, but also - it's a graphic novel. So...
It was great and I loved it.
I was pleasantly surprised at how much detail was kept throughout. They obviously parsed out a LOT of the text, but I found that it didn't take away from the story arc. Was it literary? Not really, but it stayed trued to the tone and truth of Gatsby's journey.
There were two very specific moments that were missing from the text which I was disappointed, but also - it's a graphic novel. So...
It was great and I loved it.
sfujii's review against another edition
4.0
This was 3.5-4 stars overall, with some 5 star moments.
I was annoyed that they mixed up the content of what went in each chapter. Starting in chapter 5, there were moments where info/content from other chapters was switched around. That's a hard NO for me. LOL.
There were also some additions of text/conversation - specifically with Meyer Wolfshiem (weird choice). I prefer the text to just stay true to the original 100% or take a new angle 100%.
Finally, there were some moments that entirely left out - which I GET. I mean, you can't do it all. But some of the moments that were left out were real head scratchers. Whereas some of the moments that got a lot of time were seemingly unimportant for the story overall, but maybe fun to illustrate?
But, there were some really beautiful pictures that captured some key moments in the text. Like Jordan and Daisy "floating" about the couch in chapter 1. The images of them were so dreamy - and reminded me of how they are described in The Beautiful and the Damned - which takes the text in a whole new magical realism direction. Also, the scene of Daisy "shrinking into herself" in chapter 7, when Gatsby and Tom are fighting over her. The picture is a sequence of her getting smaller and smaller - curling up into the fetal position over the course of two pages.
There was also an image that I plan on using with my students this year, because it it hard to explain and visualize - and that is the visual of the uncut pages of the books. There is a picture of Owl Eyes holding out the book and you can see the pages still connected at the top. It's great :D
In adding this graphic novel I can see there are two others that I need :D I love reading Gatsby again in this medium. It isn't a replacement for the original, but is a wonderful enhancement by these amazing artists!
I was annoyed that they mixed up the content of what went in each chapter. Starting in chapter 5, there were moments where info/content from other chapters was switched around. That's a hard NO for me. LOL.
There were also some additions of text/conversation - specifically with Meyer Wolfshiem (weird choice). I prefer the text to just stay true to the original 100% or take a new angle 100%.
Finally, there were some moments that entirely left out - which I GET. I mean, you can't do it all. But some of the moments that were left out were real head scratchers. Whereas some of the moments that got a lot of time were seemingly unimportant for the story overall, but maybe fun to illustrate?
But, there were some really beautiful pictures that captured some key moments in the text. Like Jordan and Daisy "floating" about the couch in chapter 1. The images of them were so dreamy - and reminded me of how they are described in The Beautiful and the Damned - which takes the text in a whole new magical realism direction. Also, the scene of Daisy "shrinking into herself" in chapter 7, when Gatsby and Tom are fighting over her. The picture is a sequence of her getting smaller and smaller - curling up into the fetal position over the course of two pages.
There was also an image that I plan on using with my students this year, because it it hard to explain and visualize - and that is the visual of the uncut pages of the books. There is a picture of Owl Eyes holding out the book and you can see the pages still connected at the top. It's great :D
In adding this graphic novel I can see there are two others that I need :D I love reading Gatsby again in this medium. It isn't a replacement for the original, but is a wonderful enhancement by these amazing artists!
taun's review against another edition
Withholding my thoughts/rating on this based on the fact that I haven’t read the actual novel.
kevsunblush's review against another edition
5.0
As an 11th grade American Literature teacher and lover of both words and graphic novels, there are several things I appreciate about Woodman-Maynard's adaptation of Gatsby. First of all, her artistic style beautifully suits the novel. While I would have preferred a brunette Daisy, I like her airy watercolors and sometimes whimsical interpretations of scenes such as the first chapter depiction of Daisy and Jordan floating with the curtains or Daisy and Gatsby sitting in the pink clouds. I also loved her liberal use of many of Fitzgerald's best, most beautiful lines, straight from the book. Occasionally they're slightly shortened, but the style is kept in tact. This is what makes Gatsby such a pleasure to read in the first place.
I envision using this excellent graphic novel to supplement the main text with my students - to help those non-readers engage with the story, the language and metaphors.
I envision using this excellent graphic novel to supplement the main text with my students - to help those non-readers engage with the story, the language and metaphors.
hanjackson's review against another edition
5.0
Wow.
This graphic novel interpretation encases everything I love about Gatsby in the most gorgeous and real form.
It's not the exact text -- it wouldn't work if it was! -- but it is all the parts that ARE the story. Every iconic line is brought to life and I am so glad I have a copy.
If you've never read Gatsby... this book is for you.
If you've read Gatsby a million times and love every word (guilty)... this book is also for you.
This graphic novel interpretation encases everything I love about Gatsby in the most gorgeous and real form.
It's not the exact text -- it wouldn't work if it was! -- but it is all the parts that ARE the story. Every iconic line is brought to life and I am so glad I have a copy.
If you've never read Gatsby... this book is for you.
If you've read Gatsby a million times and love every word (guilty)... this book is also for you.
linzer712's review against another edition
4.0
I recommend this beautiful graphic novel adaptation not so much in place of reading The Great Gatsby, but for those who know and love the novel. It’s fun to see the way this adaptation weaves the poetic prose into its panels and highlights symbols and figurative qualities through the thoughtful use of colors and fantastical images. It read like like a dream, like the novel, but also clearly evokes the nightmarish emptiness of the characters.