Lisa's Reviews > The Complete Maus

The Complete Maus by Art Spiegelman
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it was amazing
bookshelves: 2012, graphic-novel-comic, favorites, best-of-2012, feels

oh my god.

description

This burrowed it's way deep into my heart. This made me feel so much. This was an experience, not just a "read". This was real and I can't even explain how this affected me because it was the most emotional thing I've ever read. Not made-up emotion. This was REAL and it affected me.

Vladek. He reminded me of my Grandfather, a little. I loved my Grandfather and I loved Vladek. His story, as told to his son Art Spiegelman, was one of the most powerful stories I've ever experienced.

This was a story about survival and deep love. The love shown between Vladek and Anja mesmerized me and broke my heart seeing them go through so much cruelty and suffering.

description

The Complete Maus are two graphic novels combined to form the story of Vladek Spiegelman's life during World War 2. It is drawn masterfully in beautiful black and white. Jewish people are drawn as mice, German people are drawn as cats, Polish people are drawn as pigs and people from the U.S are drawn as dogs.

From Wikipedia:
"In making people of a single nationality look "all alike", Spiegelman hoped to show the absurdity of dividing people by these lines. In a 1991 interview, Spiegelman noted that "these metaphors... are meant to self-destruct in my book — and I think they do self-destruct."

One of my favourite parts of Maus was the relationship between Art and Vladek. Art has a lot of guilt over having such an easy life when his parents went through a hell he couldn't even imagine. Even so, Art and Vladek have a pretty normal father/son relationship. I felt so bad for Vladek at times with the way Art would treat him but it was a normal father/son relationship in the way that sons don't always treat their fathers the best.

Despite this, you could feel the love radiating from the pages. The love Art and Vladek had for each other. I loved the little funny moments in the novel, like when Vladek throws out Art's coat and gives him a "warm" coat, which Art hates because it isn't fashionable. Or when Vladek goes to the supermarket to return an open box of cereal, along with other used/opened groceries.

Just the way Art draws his disapproving father made me smile. It was done with such warmth and love. Art's father was definitely a very funny man, even if he didn't mean to be. I loved Vladek so much and in the last few pages, you are shown a picture of Vladek during World War 2. At that moment, I had to stop myself from crying because after reading his incredible story, I saw a picture of the actual Vladek. And it instantly broke my heart. I felt so much love for him, it was unreal.

This story is not a pleasant one but it is incredible. It's not easy to read at times but it's essential. It's about so many things. If you read this and it doesn't affect you, you are heartless.

I recommend it to everyone. Seriously. Even if graphic novels aren't usually your thing. This is my favourite graphic novel now. There is no way that can change now. This was unforgettable and deeply moving. I LOVED it with all my heart and can't even properly express the love.

Read it. Don't miss out on something so emotional and powerful. I hope you love it like I do.
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Reading Progress

November 5, 2011 – Shelved
January 7, 2012 – Started Reading
January 7, 2012 – Finished Reading
January 8, 2012 – Shelved as: 2012
January 8, 2012 – Shelved as: graphic-novel-comic
January 8, 2012 – Shelved as: favorites
January 11, 2012 – Shelved as: best-of-2012
August 20, 2012 – Shelved as: feels

Comments Showing 1-16 of 16 (16 new)

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message 1: by Elliott (new)

Elliott Sibley Just read this book for summer homework and I'm so glad I did. There is an innumerable amount of these moments in this book.


message 2: by [deleted user] (new)

Wonderful review.
Maus us a stunning piece of work.


Reuben Seldou I agree with every word you wrote, what a great read indeed. Powerful, stirring and heart-breaking. This is easily one of the best books ever written.


Petra Great review! I completey agree with the part about seeing Vladek`s real photography in book. I was devastated.


Heart Books I love your review ❤️❤️


Zachary Lyons Really want to read this book I love world war 2 books especially graphic novels but the problem is there aren't many line those so I'm glad I found this book


message 7: by S (new) - rated it 3 stars

S Singh I didn't understand why the family wasn't killed straightway when they were told upon by someone ..That they were hiding above the chandelier? That's what happened that time right( according to the book)? People trying to hide/ run were killed instantly? I didn't understand.It was like a movie.


Helen Thank you for putting into words so many things I was struggling to say.


Suhasa Just finished it. Could resonate to every thing you mentioned.


brenda I was amazed by the real feelings he expressed in both books. Besides, he managed to be funny in all the suffering of his father. Loved the book


message 11: by Jeremy (new) - added it

Jeremy I couldn’t say it any better than you have here.


message 12: by Emma (new) - rated it 5 stars

Emma Leyland Thank you


MoonStar this book is really good and sad i started crying


Maëva Love your review❤️


message 15: by Trve (new) - rated it 1 star

Trve Prophet mid review and mid book, if you fall for this might as well take bioweapons masked as experimental vaccines- oh wait...


message 16: by Jessica Dykens (new)

Jessica Dykens The book seems interesting and now I wanna read it


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