170 reviews for:

Zaduszki

Rutu Modan

3.91 AVERAGE


kinda boring. but i still kinda liked it. i wasnt angry i read it or anything.

this has been another edition of pulitzer prize winning reviews by niki

комикс о прошлом и трагедии существования национализма

Story: 3/5
Art: 3.5/5
emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad 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
adventurous emotional informative mysterious sad fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Plot
Strong character development: Complicated
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes
emotional hopeful reflective medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Plot
Strong character development: No
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: No

Lovely and warm with illustrations to match.

Hermoso, como todo lo que hace Modan. Una historia simple, hermosamente ilustrada.

Much like a family reunion, The Property starts off mundane but builds into an emotionally-rich exploration of relationships and history. One of the things I love about this book is that it's not just about the main character (or the main two characters). Modan takes time to develop the relationships and familial ties to the supporting cast, which in turn works to further develop everyone.

As Regina Segal (Grandma) is searching for something from her past, Mica (Granddaughter) is learning about her grandmother and making new memories. Time slips between present-day and memory, poignantly marking the contrast between generations and subtly noting some similarities.

Reading this book was, for me, a reminder that our elders are three-dimensional humans. I know I have the bad habit of subconsciously assuming that older adults have 'always been like that,' without wondering enough about their experiences and the decisions they have made along the way.

The characters that Modan writes about feel very real. They are funny, charming, and flawed; they have secrets and misunderstandings and pain they're not sure what to do with. Modan's artistic realism matches well-- her line art is good, but I think it's her use of color that rocks in this book. The book has a defined palette that's limited to colors you'd see in real life, but different scenes use the colors in different percentages, so I didn't feel bored visually and I felt a sense of place during these different moments.

This book is definitely worth a second or third read. I reread it immediately after finishing, and there were many little moments that struck me differently the second time around. Behavior makes more sense (particularly Mrs. Segal's/Grandma's), moments that echo the past seem louder, and I teared up more at the end.

If you're willing to read through a slow buildup, The Property is really worth the finish. It's what I would call a 'slow burn,' and while it is less dramatic/epic than the stuff I usually prefer reading, it really got me thinking.

It is difficult to describe how much I enjoy this graphic novel. I just finished reading the library's copy, and now I'm making sure I own a copy for myself. Highly recommended.