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bookcaptivated's review
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
liesljrowe's review
3.0
A fun tale of feminism and first years at university. So much of this story was eerily familiar, capturing perfectly the environment of some of my own times as a fresher, so I can't help but have a soft spot for it. Story-wise, things rumble along between a series of vignettes with three ongoing story threads which are resolved towards the end, so this probably isn't for you if you are looking for something more narrative focused. I liked the episodic nature of a lot of the action, how it felt more realistic in capturing university experiences, and while I haven't read the comics (I now intend to), I'm assuming this is also a throwback towards the original stories which inspired the book. Not entirely sure where I'd categorise this as a genre: it feels very YA, but at the same time, a lot of my enjoyment came out of how perfectly it captured finding new friends at university, so I'd be tempted to say this is the perfect book to go buy as you struggle through the first few weeks of being a fresher.
Thank you Netgalley for giving me an ARC copy in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you Netgalley for giving me an ARC copy in exchange for an honest review.
nematome's review
2.0
This book was mildly amusing, but it pales in comparison to the wildly entertaining comic book series. I am left wondering: who is the target audience here?
Fans of the comics don’t need to read this – it covers a lot of the same ground as the first volumes, and the new material really isn’t groundbreaking. The author even appears to painstakingly describe elements of the comic books in sections, much like a nature documentarian would for a herd of lions. Here we see Esther, wearing knee high black leather boots, a skull t-shirt, and a mischievous expression… (not an actual quote). The repetition of details that I already knew left me feeling bored and disengaged.
Likewise, I can’t see any reason for non-fans to pick this up. If you haven’t read the comic book series, WHY NOT? They’re incredible and guaranteed to cure sadness. Esther, Daisy, Susan, Ed, and McGraw have gotten me through some very stressful times. If you’ve read them and didn’t care for them, WHY NOT? You need to examine your personal taste because it’s obviously flawed. However, EVEN YOU can still skip this novel version.
So who should read this? Maybe there’s a case to be made for this as a great alternative version for blind or visually-impaired folks who want to enjoy Giant Days. Libraries may want to purchase a copy of this for that reason, but overall this book is highly skippable.
Fans of the comics don’t need to read this – it covers a lot of the same ground as the first volumes, and the new material really isn’t groundbreaking. The author even appears to painstakingly describe elements of the comic books in sections, much like a nature documentarian would for a herd of lions. Here we see Esther, wearing knee high black leather boots, a skull t-shirt, and a mischievous expression… (not an actual quote). The repetition of details that I already knew left me feeling bored and disengaged.
Likewise, I can’t see any reason for non-fans to pick this up. If you haven’t read the comic book series, WHY NOT? They’re incredible and guaranteed to cure sadness. Esther, Daisy, Susan, Ed, and McGraw have gotten me through some very stressful times. If you’ve read them and didn’t care for them, WHY NOT? You need to examine your personal taste because it’s obviously flawed. However, EVEN YOU can still skip this novel version.
So who should read this? Maybe there’s a case to be made for this as a great alternative version for blind or visually-impaired folks who want to enjoy Giant Days. Libraries may want to purchase a copy of this for that reason, but overall this book is highly skippable.
jbrooxd's review
4.0
[I received an electronic review copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]
A quirky story based on a series of graphic novels about three very different girls in their first year of college. It’s an interesting look at the search for identity and belonging. It took a little bit to get to the crux of the story, and each of the girls was sidetracked from their friendship which led to the big ending. I got a kick out of these characters, and I loved how they came together in the end.
A quirky story based on a series of graphic novels about three very different girls in their first year of college. It’s an interesting look at the search for identity and belonging. It took a little bit to get to the crux of the story, and each of the girls was sidetracked from their friendship which led to the big ending. I got a kick out of these characters, and I loved how they came together in the end.
emilyesears's review
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
3.0
lisapaige13's review
2.0
I am a huge fan of the Giant Days graphic novels and was really interested when I heard there was going to be a book version. There were things I liked about Giant Days (the book) and a few I didn't. Ultimately, I thought the book was ok, but it added nothing to the story and I would recommend the graphic novels first and foremost. If someone just couldn't get enough of Esther, Susan, and Daisy, then I'd suggest the book.
First, I loved the friendship between the three girls. It feels real and it has ups and downs. I like that this is a YA book that really doesn't have a romance. It is focused on the girls and their lives at college. The girls are likable and relatable and each of them are their own person.
However, the book jumps from point of view without warning. It would have been better (in my opinion) to focus each chapter on a different girl and her POV instead of just jumping to whomever when the author felt like it. It took me out of the story and made it just feel off.
You need to be familiar with the graphic novels to understand what is going on in the book, too. I was expecting a standalone book that would be able to stand on its own without knowing the graphic novels. I was expecting a story of how the girls met or more of their backgrounds that we don't see in the graphic novels. Instead this felt like another story that could have just been an issue for the comics and it probably would have worked better.
All in all, this book is a fun, quick read that Giant Days fans will like. But if you are not already familiar with the story, characters, and world, I would suggest starting with the graphic novels.
*I received an ARC from netgalley*
First, I loved the friendship between the three girls. It feels real and it has ups and downs. I like that this is a YA book that really doesn't have a romance. It is focused on the girls and their lives at college. The girls are likable and relatable and each of them are their own person.
However, the book jumps from point of view without warning. It would have been better (in my opinion) to focus each chapter on a different girl and her POV instead of just jumping to whomever when the author felt like it. It took me out of the story and made it just feel off.
You need to be familiar with the graphic novels to understand what is going on in the book, too. I was expecting a standalone book that would be able to stand on its own without knowing the graphic novels. I was expecting a story of how the girls met or more of their backgrounds that we don't see in the graphic novels. Instead this felt like another story that could have just been an issue for the comics and it probably would have worked better.
All in all, this book is a fun, quick read that Giant Days fans will like. But if you are not already familiar with the story, characters, and world, I would suggest starting with the graphic novels.
*I received an ARC from netgalley*
sheabooks's review
5.0
*I received a digital copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*
I initially started this book with a lot of trepidation. I absolutely love the Giant Days graphic novel series, and was very worried that it wouldn't translate well into novel format. However, I am happy to say that I was wrong!
The story follows university freshmen and new friends Daisy, Esther and Susan. Each character has their own distinct storyline that ties well into the plot of the book: Esther is trying to show her fellow Goth classmate that they should become best friends, Susan grapples to open up about her past, and Daisy has combated her social anxiety by signing up for every club imaginable. What happens next is just as hilarious and heartwarming as the original series. Since I read the graphic novels before picking this up, I was able to picture the plot as a comic in my mind's eye. I would definitely recommend this book for any lovers of the comics or anyone interested in a quirky college story!
I initially started this book with a lot of trepidation. I absolutely love the Giant Days graphic novel series, and was very worried that it wouldn't translate well into novel format. However, I am happy to say that I was wrong!
The story follows university freshmen and new friends Daisy, Esther and Susan. Each character has their own distinct storyline that ties well into the plot of the book: Esther is trying to show her fellow Goth classmate that they should become best friends, Susan grapples to open up about her past, and Daisy has combated her social anxiety by signing up for every club imaginable. What happens next is just as hilarious and heartwarming as the original series. Since I read the graphic novels before picking this up, I was able to picture the plot as a comic in my mind's eye. I would definitely recommend this book for any lovers of the comics or anyone interested in a quirky college story!
xbookwormyx's review
DNF at page 36
I think I’ll buy the graphic novels instead of reading a novelisation of them. I didn’t really care what was happening and I couldn’t visualise anything for some reason.
I think I’ll buy the graphic novels instead of reading a novelisation of them. I didn’t really care what was happening and I couldn’t visualise anything for some reason.
morgarelibrare's review
5.0
One day about two months ago, I was browsing the YA section of Netgalley, as I do, taking in all the new and interesting titles for request, when something caught my eye: Giant Days, by Non Pratt. My heart started to flutter, my eyes widened (probably to the size of saucers) and my fingers could not click the request button fast enough. Could this be?? My FAVORITE graphic novel series being adapted into a full length novel? Oh yes, it most absolutely could.
Let me just start out by saying you don’t have to have read the graphic novels to understand this book and enjoy it. The characters are introduced in a way that it’s easy to fall in with them without there being too much info dumping. The college setting is for lack of a better word, set up perfectly, and the plot is just wacky enough to still be believable, which is one of the things the Giant Days graphic novels excel at so well.
I was pretty sure going into this I was going to love it, and I can now one hundred percent say that I did. I loved this book so hard.
As a lover of the graphic novel series, this felt like getting one giant omnibus of the story at one time instead of waiting month to month for a new issue, which is what I have been reduced to after binge reading all the bound up volumes last year. It’s a good thing I live down the street from a comic book store. The plot itself is completely new in regards to the already existing story, feeling more like a side story arc that could have taken place in the early pages of the graphic novel, but off screen/page. There are mentions to things that did occur in the graphic novel (such as a particular time my favorite, Susan, plays a somewhat humiliating prank on my other favorite, McGraw) but not in a way that makes it hard to understand anything that’s going on. The references just act more as Easter eggs, planted for the fans of the graphic novel.
Susan, Esther, Daisy, McGraw, Ed, and all the supporting characters are written beautifully and fully embody and feel true to their original iterations. This book one hundred percent felt like reading an issue of the comic, just without the graphics to go along with the story, which I feel is the key to any successful adaptation.
This book left me laughing and crying and smiling and yearning for more, so I very much hope that as the graphic novel series continues, this YA adaptation also continues. I will absolutely be here to keep reading both.
*Thank you to Amulet Books and Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.*
Let me just start out by saying you don’t have to have read the graphic novels to understand this book and enjoy it. The characters are introduced in a way that it’s easy to fall in with them without there being too much info dumping. The college setting is for lack of a better word, set up perfectly, and the plot is just wacky enough to still be believable, which is one of the things the Giant Days graphic novels excel at so well.
I was pretty sure going into this I was going to love it, and I can now one hundred percent say that I did. I loved this book so hard.
As a lover of the graphic novel series, this felt like getting one giant omnibus of the story at one time instead of waiting month to month for a new issue, which is what I have been reduced to after binge reading all the bound up volumes last year. It’s a good thing I live down the street from a comic book store. The plot itself is completely new in regards to the already existing story, feeling more like a side story arc that could have taken place in the early pages of the graphic novel, but off screen/page. There are mentions to things that did occur in the graphic novel (such as a particular time my favorite, Susan, plays a somewhat humiliating prank on my other favorite, McGraw) but not in a way that makes it hard to understand anything that’s going on. The references just act more as Easter eggs, planted for the fans of the graphic novel.
Susan, Esther, Daisy, McGraw, Ed, and all the supporting characters are written beautifully and fully embody and feel true to their original iterations. This book one hundred percent felt like reading an issue of the comic, just without the graphics to go along with the story, which I feel is the key to any successful adaptation.
This book left me laughing and crying and smiling and yearning for more, so I very much hope that as the graphic novel series continues, this YA adaptation also continues. I will absolutely be here to keep reading both.
*Thank you to Amulet Books and Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.*