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fictionfan 's review for:
Manga Classics: Pride & Prejudice
by Po Tse, Stacy King
Manga?? Seriously?? Oh, yes...
I’ve never read any manga before – in truth, I wasn’t at all sure what it really is other than being some form of graphic novel, but honestly! Look at the cover! How could I possibly resist?
Once I’d worked out that you have to read this from back to front and from right to left, I settled down to see just how awful it would be. And for the first few pages I really thought the answer might be pretty awful! And then…and then…I began to smile, then giggle, then chuckle unrestrainedly…and the sun came out, gloom was banished from the world and joy began to burst out all over! This is an utterly charming, witty and affectionate adaptation with some really fabulous artwork by Po Tse, (who is apparently a manga-ka, whatever that might be). Apart from the cover all the artwork is black and white, which apparently is the norm for manga, but this really doesn't detract from the enjoyment. Most of the social commentary has been thrown out, but all the fun and romance of the original has been retained – enhanced, even - by the great marrying together of the original text with a beautifully modern outlook. I can see how this adaptation might annoy Austen purists (and that usually includes me). But this is done with such skill and warmth that it completely won me over.
Wickham is deceptively sweet-looking while Darcy is outrageously sexy, and Lizzie’s huge eyes twinkle with mischief. Some of the pages made me positively guffaw with laughter. Mrs Bennet is a joy – drawn to perfection and often appearing in odd corners of pages just being her awesomely awful self. Because it’s so flowing there can be a tendency to speed through the pages, especially for someone like me who’s not used to the graphic format – but it’s essential to slow down and really look, ‘cos there’s all kinds of little humorous touches in the backgrounds. We often say a book is a ‘real page-turner’ – well, this one certainly is. I found I couldn’t wait to get to some of the big scenes – the ball, the proposal, the wet shirt scene (oh yes, it may not be in the original, but it’s become an essential scene now!).
Clever, lovely, light, refreshing – can you tell that I really enjoyed this? I hope, I hope, I HOPE they’re going to do Northanger Abbey…
NB This book was provided for review by the publisher, Udon Entertainment.
www.fictionfanblog.wordpress.com
I’ve never read any manga before – in truth, I wasn’t at all sure what it really is other than being some form of graphic novel, but honestly! Look at the cover! How could I possibly resist?
Once I’d worked out that you have to read this from back to front and from right to left, I settled down to see just how awful it would be. And for the first few pages I really thought the answer might be pretty awful! And then…and then…I began to smile, then giggle, then chuckle unrestrainedly…and the sun came out, gloom was banished from the world and joy began to burst out all over! This is an utterly charming, witty and affectionate adaptation with some really fabulous artwork by Po Tse, (who is apparently a manga-ka, whatever that might be). Apart from the cover all the artwork is black and white, which apparently is the norm for manga, but this really doesn't detract from the enjoyment. Most of the social commentary has been thrown out, but all the fun and romance of the original has been retained – enhanced, even - by the great marrying together of the original text with a beautifully modern outlook. I can see how this adaptation might annoy Austen purists (and that usually includes me). But this is done with such skill and warmth that it completely won me over.
Wickham is deceptively sweet-looking while Darcy is outrageously sexy, and Lizzie’s huge eyes twinkle with mischief. Some of the pages made me positively guffaw with laughter. Mrs Bennet is a joy – drawn to perfection and often appearing in odd corners of pages just being her awesomely awful self. Because it’s so flowing there can be a tendency to speed through the pages, especially for someone like me who’s not used to the graphic format – but it’s essential to slow down and really look, ‘cos there’s all kinds of little humorous touches in the backgrounds. We often say a book is a ‘real page-turner’ – well, this one certainly is. I found I couldn’t wait to get to some of the big scenes – the ball, the proposal, the wet shirt scene (oh yes, it may not be in the original, but it’s become an essential scene now!).
Clever, lovely, light, refreshing – can you tell that I really enjoyed this? I hope, I hope, I HOPE they’re going to do Northanger Abbey…
NB This book was provided for review by the publisher, Udon Entertainment.
www.fictionfanblog.wordpress.com