Gatbsy as a seahorse, Daisy as a powderpuff dadelion - too perfect for words. What I loved about this graphic novel is that way in which Nicki Greenberg has been able to illustrate the characteristics through her clever, clever, insightful renderings of these somewhat unattractive characters. I really didn't like any of the characters in the novel - Nick was just spineless, Daisy simply immoral, Tom is a thug and Gatsby is impossible to nail down - but ultimately not authentic to himself but only to his era. I think that Greenberg's visual representations are inspired. They are able to really capture as sense of the time, place and morality (or absolute absence of morality) in this hedonistic Jazz Age. I have always been amazed at the "nowness" of Fitzgerald's writing - I have wondered if the age followed his prescription (almost as a self-fulfilling prophecy) or if he really was that brilliant at highlight the essence of an age. A bit of "chicken and egg" argument - so hard to really know. I have loved the novel and now I am totally besotted with the graphic novel version - and it speaks to me in a whole new way - so clever - I wish I had thought of it - ALAS I did not.
The interesting thing about this book was that the boys grabbed it and enjoyed it for the comics. The short comics on her website are also very clever - great stuff for additional material for belonging.
Gatbsy as a seahorse, Daisy as a powderpuff dadelion - too perfect for words. What I loved about this graphic novel is that way in which Nicki Greenberg has been able to illustrate the characteristics through her clever, clever, insightful renderings of these somewhat unattractive characters. I really didn't like any of the characters in the novel - Nick was just spineless, Daisy simply immoral, Tom is a thug and Gatsby is impossible to nail down - but ultimately not authentic to himself but only to his era. I think that Greenberg's visual representations are inspired. They are able to really capture as sense of the time, place and morality (or absolute absence of morality) in this hedonistic Jazz Age. I have always been amazed at the "nowness" of Fitzgerald's writing - I have wondered if the age followed his prescription (almost as a self-fulfilling prophecy) or if he really was that brilliant at highlight the essence of an age. A bit of "chicken and egg" argument - so hard to really know. I have loved the novel and now I am totally besotted with the graphic novel version - and it speaks to me in a whole new way - so clever - I wish I had thought of it - ALAS I did not.
ReplyDeleteThe interesting thing about this book was that the boys grabbed it and enjoyed it for the comics. The short comics on her website are also very clever - great stuff for additional material for belonging.
ReplyDelete