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4.45 AVERAGE
4.45 AVERAGE
challenging
dark
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
LongWayDown follows Will, who is dealing with his grief in the aftermath of his brother’s murder in the only way he knows how; following the rules, no matter what.
I simply do not have the words yet as a reviewer to talk about this book in the way that I want to. It was one of the most heartbreaking stories I’ve read so far. My only regret is that I didn’t read the book before the graphic novel (it’s on my tbr now and I WILL be reading it the first chance I get).
As Will enters the elevator, he is met with the ghosts of a different person from his community and his own family on each floor on his way down. With each ghost and the story they tell of how they died, we see how one decision can shift the way your entire life plays out. We see how blindly following a set of unspoken rules, how a history of cyclical violence, can not only tear an entire family apart but doom them all to the same fate.
A couple of things, like the ending, or what the cigarettes/cigarette smoke symbolizes, is left unexplained. Not due to poor writing, but to leave the readers space to draw their own conclusions and make their own interpretations. The conversations I’ve read about these very aspects prove what an excellent choice that was. Speaking of the cigarettes… the illustrations. These gorgeous, gut wrenching illustrations! Oh, like I said, I simply do not have the words.
Everything about the way that this was written and drawn was so human, raw, and very very real. Easily a 5/5 read for me and I cannot wait to get into more works from this author!
I simply do not have the words yet as a reviewer to talk about this book in the way that I want to. It was one of the most heartbreaking stories I’ve read so far. My only regret is that I didn’t read the book before the graphic novel (it’s on my tbr now and I WILL be reading it the first chance I get).
As Will enters the elevator, he is met with the ghosts of a different person from his community and his own family on each floor on his way down. With each ghost and the story they tell of how they died, we see how one decision can shift the way your entire life plays out. We see how blindly following a set of unspoken rules, how a history of cyclical violence, can not only tear an entire family apart but doom them all to the same fate.
A couple of things, like the ending, or what the cigarettes/cigarette smoke symbolizes, is left unexplained. Not due to poor writing, but to leave the readers space to draw their own conclusions and make their own interpretations. The conversations I’ve read about these very aspects prove what an excellent choice that was. Speaking of the cigarettes… the illustrations. These gorgeous, gut wrenching illustrations! Oh, like I said, I simply do not have the words.
Everything about the way that this was written and drawn was so human, raw, and very very real. Easily a 5/5 read for me and I cannot wait to get into more works from this author!
challenging
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
challenging
dark
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence
dark
emotional
sad
fast-paced
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
challenging
dark
reflective
sad
tense
fast-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
I have not yet read the original of this, but I definitely plan to after reading the graphic novel. It is a stunningly haunting story about cyclic violence. The art really added a lot to the story, especially the unique lettering. I recommend this to all.
dark
emotional
sad
fast-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
I read this book immediately after listening to the audio version of the original novel, and I found it so moving to read with the events and poetry fresh in my mind - but I also think it would stand on its own to a new reader. Just like any graphic novel adaptation, some of the words are omitted, but the illustrations in this book speak volumes. I loved that soft watercolor images were used in contrast to the super saturated comics often used in graphic novels to depict such a nuanced story and characters. Whether you choose the graphic novel or the original book, you need to read this.
dark
emotional
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
dark
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes