Reviews

Maus: Racconto di un sopravvissuto. I, Mio padre sanguina storia by Art Spiegelman

jennifyr's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

4.0

I'm not typically a graphic novel reader (I prefer audio books), but chose this book for my reading challenge last month. I wanted to know what the controversy was and why people want to ban it. I've read a lot of WWII  books, so this book did not reveal anything new or surprising for me, other than the anthropomorphic element. In fact, it seemed pretty tame to me, but I've read some horrific accounts. I found the dad's story of his time in Poland during the war to be compelling, but didn't care for the present day storyline. The dad and Mala seemed very unhappy and complained a lot, as did Artie. I'm not sure how that added to the story. It also seemed to end abruptly. Maybe more will be revealed in part 2. 

klingle152's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional inspiring sad tense fast-paced

4.5

pghbookfanatic's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative sad tense fast-paced

4.0

katiereads_24's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative reflective sad medium-paced

4.5

kim_j_dare's review against another edition

5.0

Re-read in honor of all the attention that McMinn County’s recent banning has once again put on Maus.
Spiegelman’s graphic memoir remains one of the most powerful, moving works about the Holocaust ever written. As small-minded as this Tennessee school board is, the outcry of parents and teachers and students, and the determination to get this essential book into the hands of any student who wants to read it, is a testament to the importance of understanding history so that we don’t repeat it.

asummaryofsorts's review against another edition

dark emotional medium-paced

4.5

jaimie_lynn's review against another edition

2.0

Updated 5/22/20

So clearly I'm in the minority with this rating.

I read a lot of WWII books. I went to Poland in 2017 and walked the Auschwitz and Birkenau camps. My heart shattered but it also gave me a weird hunger to learn and read everything I could about that war. When I came home, a friend suggested I read this graphic novel. I bought it immediately and it has been sitting around my house since. I FINALLY decided to read it yesterday.

Obviously, it's a heartbreaking story, but I felt no connection with it whatsoever. I also found I was finishing it just to finish it -- not because I found it compelling.

I think my problem with it and that disconnect is because it's in graphic novel form and animals. I get the animals are a metaphor -- at least, I assume it is. Cats chasing mice type of thing. I should also state this was my very first serious graphic novel.

I was never into graphic novels/comics until recently and I find I'm very particular about them. That could be part of my problem as well.

I really just don't have a lot to say about it and nothing really good to say, for that matter.

jmariecapdem's review against another edition

4.0

Raw, riveting, but heartbreaking - that is war. I just finished watching a war film under Khmer Rouge revolution and while it was famtastic, it also brought me to tears. Not one war will have happy endings because there were more consequences and lives lost.

beccccam's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative reflective sad fast-paced

5.0

lillyp428's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad fast-paced

4.5