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4.3 AVERAGE
4.3 AVERAGE
Better than I expected given the way it was presented to me over the years by fans, but at the end of the day I feel like Watchmen is similar to Donnie Darko - the impact is lessened if you didn't read it at around 16.
Alan Moore creates a world which is so different from ours, but is exactly the America we know. The heroes cruelty portray the American state and the almost comedic attitude towards violence it carries towards it's own citizens and the world. One of the great modern American stories.
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
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:
Complicated
challenging
dark
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Revisiting favourite books of my teens as an adult can be tricky, but not in the case of this masterwork. In fact, it packs way more punch now. There’s no way I could have fully grasped this epic at 15. This time around I was struck by the brilliant cross-cutting between comic-within-a-comic “Tales of the Black Freighter” and multiple stories at once. The subtle commentary on the themes of the main plot is so well done, never beating you over the head or insulting your intelligence. You make the connection between them because you’re so invested in each story.
The last time I read this was in 2009 just before Snyder’s movie adaption, which I saw opening night and remember as a corny, eye-rolling dud (“Hallelujah” scoring a sex scene in an Owl Ship? Never forget or forgive). Have not seen it since. That said, the HBO “continuation” is some of the most amazing TV ever produced. See that immediately.
Anyway, this was on sale and less than half the cover price at Mosaic Books in Kelowna, and I’m happy to have it back in the shelf family.
The last time I read this was in 2009 just before Snyder’s movie adaption, which I saw opening night and remember as a corny, eye-rolling dud (“Hallelujah” scoring a sex scene in an Owl Ship? Never forget or forgive). Have not seen it since. That said, the HBO “continuation” is some of the most amazing TV ever produced. See that immediately.
Anyway, this was on sale and less than half the cover price at Mosaic Books in Kelowna, and I’m happy to have it back in the shelf family.
BookTube channel with my awesome brother, Ed - The Brothers Gwynne
My personal BookTube channel - William Gwynne
Picked this up as it is on my university reading list, and I can see why it is so renowned and respected. Taking 'Super-Hero" in a very different way, with plenty of twists and turns, and a large focus on psychology. I love how there is such a rich history, must of which is suspended as mystery and slowly fed to us throughout the tale. I was always looking to find out more, and I was hooked by the central murder mystery which starts us off from page one.
This is dark. Very dark. A psychological analysis on why these vigilantes wanted to be vigilantes, before it being illegal and they became shunned. The jumping between timelines and the characters living their memories was handled brilliantly, and as this was far more common in the first half, that was my favourite section.
The end becomes very large and grand in scale, which personally lost my interest a little bit, as the standout aspects of Watchmen is the smaller moments, and, as I said before, the character analysis. However, it was still a satisfying conclusion, which hit home many of the messages of the story.
A classic for a reason!
My personal BookTube channel - William Gwynne
Picked this up as it is on my university reading list, and I can see why it is so renowned and respected. Taking 'Super-Hero" in a very different way, with plenty of twists and turns, and a large focus on psychology. I love how there is such a rich history, must of which is suspended as mystery and slowly fed to us throughout the tale. I was always looking to find out more, and I was hooked by the central murder mystery which starts us off from page one.
This is dark. Very dark. A psychological analysis on why these vigilantes wanted to be vigilantes, before it being illegal and they became shunned. The jumping between timelines and the characters living their memories was handled brilliantly, and as this was far more common in the first half, that was my favourite section.
The end becomes very large and grand in scale, which personally lost my interest a little bit, as the standout aspects of Watchmen is the smaller moments, and, as I said before, the character analysis. However, it was still a satisfying conclusion, which hit home many of the messages of the story.
A classic for a reason!
a medium defining work of art that dares to ask the bold question "what if batman was a total fucking loser?"
challenging
dark
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes