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ilnyarienici's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
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? Yes
4.0
alisarae's review against another edition
3.0
I'm nervous about offending a lot of people, but I didn't really enjoy this. I kept pushing on to see how it got better, but it never really did. Perhaps I just had set my expectations too high. I am more interested in dystopian stories that focus on characters feeling the effects of governmental oppression, or that are prophecies of the smaller details of the government. But this is neither.
mooseabs's review against another edition
4.0
It is scary to see the way this book turned out to be an augury for emerging fascist powers, in one case having even the same taglines ('Make Britain Great Again').
Written in the 1980s, the book is set in a futuristic Britain (1999), wherein fascist powers have used the tumult of war to establish a totalitarian regime, complete with all kinds of intelligence agencies. Amidst this, V, a former victim of a 'resettlement camp' starts disrupting the empire and its mechanisms, with all the pomp of a Broadway performer.
I liked how V was written. I did not enjoy them at first. They exhibited the same monstrosities in one instance that the fascists are blamed of. But I think V wasn't meant to be a likeable character, they were an extreme, the other end of extreme that represented authoritarian forces. And one thing that was said in the book had a profound effect on me: it was about how happiness is a prison, when it comes to living under such regimes. It allows us to deflect the necessity of a revolution.
Written in the 1980s, the book is set in a futuristic Britain (1999), wherein fascist powers have used the tumult of war to establish a totalitarian regime, complete with all kinds of intelligence agencies. Amidst this, V, a former victim of a 'resettlement camp' starts disrupting the empire and its mechanisms, with all the pomp of a Broadway performer.
I liked how V was written. I did not enjoy them at first. They exhibited the same monstrosities in one instance that the fascists are blamed of. But I think V wasn't meant to be a likeable character, they were an extreme, the other end of extreme that represented authoritarian forces. And one thing that was said in the book had a profound effect on me: it was about how happiness is a prison, when it comes to living under such regimes. It allows us to deflect the necessity of a revolution.
jaquelyn13lopez's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
informative
inspiring
mysterious
tense
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
4.75
mrsbooknerd's review against another edition
3.0
About quarter of the way through ‘V for Vendetta’ I thought, I’m not going to enjoy this… I couldn’t get my head around the political set up and I couldn’t remember which character was in charge of what, and married to who, or working where, or had been killed, and who was the replacement...
But the more I read, actually the more and more absorbed I became, even if I still couldn’t remember the names of, or distinguish between, the male characters.
I enjoyed how it started off with the vendetta and the story of V - and that the time was taken to set that up and give you the foundation - and how that whole storyline has continued throughout the book (because that is an interesting story, but I’m not sure it would have had as much of an impact if it had been the sole focus of the whole book. A bit ‘Kill Bill’) But my favourite aspect has been the introduction of the secondary characters, because that added the depth to the whole book. Yes, V has done x, y and z for these reasons, but how has that impacted the world beyond V and all those other people?
For instance, It meant that the whole novel wasn’t all about V.
I thought reading a graphic novel would be quite an easy read, but I have had to really concentrate because the plot and the interweaving of characters, motivations and narratives are actually rather complex.
I wouldn't say that I enjoyed it but I was certainly absorbed by it.
But the more I read, actually the more and more absorbed I became, even if I still couldn’t remember the names of, or distinguish between, the male characters.
I enjoyed how it started off with the vendetta and the story of V - and that the time was taken to set that up and give you the foundation - and how that whole storyline has continued throughout the book (because that is an interesting story, but I’m not sure it would have had as much of an impact if it had been the sole focus of the whole book. A bit ‘Kill Bill’) But my favourite aspect has been the introduction of the secondary characters, because that added the depth to the whole book. Yes, V has done x, y and z for these reasons, but how has that impacted the world beyond V and all those other people?
For instance,
Spoiler
I love that V kills Rose’s husband (I think that he was Derek?) and then the continuation of Rose’s story beyond V; her reliance on men and the lack of support from the party and then the dancing, and her disillusionment with the state. How that disillusionment then bought her full circle and back to impact the main V plot again. The same with Finch and the Dr. Seemingly a small plot point at the time, but actually it mushroomed and became very important again by the end.I thought reading a graphic novel would be quite an easy read, but I have had to really concentrate because the plot and the interweaving of characters, motivations and narratives are actually rather complex.
I wouldn't say that I enjoyed it but I was certainly absorbed by it.
marouli's review against another edition
4.0
I think I like the movie better but that doesn't mean the comic is bad. I just liked the alterations in the movie better. One thing I loved in the comic but we didn't get in the movie is V talking to the statue of justice. That scene should've been included in the adaptation, its dramatic and weird, it's perfect for V.
bugnate4's review against another edition
dark
hopeful
tense
fast-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
4.25
jcoryv's review against another edition
4.0
I get the basic story, but I’m not sure I followed all the subplots exactly. Still cool. And it makes me want to read more graphic novels.
mozbolt's review against another edition
5.0
Such a timely book to read in 2020. I don’t usually go for graphic novels, but this one made me want to read more of the classics.