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A review by jenbsbooks
The Giver (Graphic Novel), Volume 1 by Lois Lowry
5.0
I don't know that I'll ever be a reader of graphic novels, but I've gained such an appreciation for them, especially adaptations of classics - just another presentation to something already out there, that I've already read. I was very impressed by [book:To Kill a Mockingbird: A Graphic Novel|38359009], how true it stayed to the story, yet highlighted some things that I didn't really remember during my read (I seriously had to go back to the novel and look up that section). Again for [book:Long Way Down: The Graphic Novel|41812473] - I loved the audio and the original, but the illustrations really brought it to life in a new and different way.
It's been a while since I read The Giver originally - probably did a re-read (although I only had it noted once on GoodReads) and then went on and read the others in the quartet. Very fond feelings toward it. I remember when the movie came out and WHAT? The most basic premise and storyline were the same but they changed so much. I think that's what I am loving about these graphic novels, they stay remarkably true to the original (in my opinion). Nothing is really changed, some things are left out for space, like an abridgement, but so often the dialog and text is taken word for word from the original. Add in some illustrations, and it just introduces things visually and presents them in a new way.
As with my other graphic novel reads - I had the original close by for reference. So interesting to compare and see how the original words have been adapted to this form. My main complaint with graphic novels is that they are a little hard to read ... smaller text, different fonts, cramming SO MUCH into such a small space. I have tried reading digital copies where some enlargement is possible, but it's a little hard to navigate. I've returned to physical books for graphic novels ... and maybe I need to put on reading glasses.
I LOVE the cover image ... great representation of the story. Here in illustrated form, the early flashes of color (the apple, Fiona's hair) have a bigger impact, because you can actually SEE it. In a community sans color, you'd expect a basic black and white ... but the illustrator here did some blue shading that still gives the visual of b&w, but with more interest. There's an interview with the author (Lowry) and the illustrator (Russell) at the end, and both are very interesting and add depth and details worth knowing.
This illustrated version really made me more aware of Jonas's "light eyes" (funny eyes/pale eyes) ... BLUE eyes. It's interesting, having read the book a couple of times (the original) how much this version cements so much of it into my memory. I could recap the story and discuss it much more after adding the graphic novel version to my mind (I did also do a re-read/listen to the audiobook of the original).
I'd absolutely recommend this to anyone who has already read The Giver, and also think it would be fine as a first introduction to the story.
It's been a while since I read The Giver originally - probably did a re-read (although I only had it noted once on GoodReads) and then went on and read the others in the quartet. Very fond feelings toward it. I remember when the movie came out and WHAT? The most basic premise and storyline were the same but they changed so much. I think that's what I am loving about these graphic novels, they stay remarkably true to the original (in my opinion). Nothing is really changed, some things are left out for space, like an abridgement, but so often the dialog and text is taken word for word from the original. Add in some illustrations, and it just introduces things visually and presents them in a new way.
As with my other graphic novel reads - I had the original close by for reference. So interesting to compare and see how the original words have been adapted to this form. My main complaint with graphic novels is that they are a little hard to read ... smaller text, different fonts, cramming SO MUCH into such a small space. I have tried reading digital copies where some enlargement is possible, but it's a little hard to navigate. I've returned to physical books for graphic novels ... and maybe I need to put on reading glasses.
I LOVE the cover image ... great representation of the story. Here in illustrated form, the early flashes of color (the apple, Fiona's hair) have a bigger impact, because you can actually SEE it. In a community sans color, you'd expect a basic black and white ... but the illustrator here did some blue shading that still gives the visual of b&w, but with more interest. There's an interview with the author (Lowry) and the illustrator (Russell) at the end, and both are very interesting and add depth and details worth knowing.
This illustrated version really made me more aware of Jonas's "light eyes" (funny eyes/pale eyes) ... BLUE eyes. It's interesting, having read the book a couple of times (the original) how much this version cements so much of it into my memory. I could recap the story and discuss it much more after adding the graphic novel version to my mind (I did also do a re-read/listen to the audiobook of the original).
I'd absolutely recommend this to anyone who has already read The Giver, and also think it would be fine as a first introduction to the story.