Thank you to Candlewick Press for sending me this BLAD in exchange for my honest review! I also accessed a full version on Netgalley.
From the green light across the bay to the billboard with spectacled eyes, F. Scott Fitzgerald's 1925 American masterpiece roars to life in Katharine Woodman-Maynard's exquisite graphic novel--among the first adaptations of the book in this genre. Painted in lush watercolors, the inventive interpretation emphasizes both the extravagance and mystery of the characters, as well as the fluidity of Nick Carraway's unreliable narration. Excerpts from the original text wend through the illustrations, and imagery and metaphors are taken to literal, and often whimsical, extremes, such as when a beautiful partygoer blooms into an orchid and Daisy Buchanan pushes Gatsby across the sky on a cloud. This faithful yet modern adaptation will appeal to fans with deep knowledge of the classic, while the graphic novel format makes it an ideal teaching tool to engage students. With its timeless critique of class, power, and obsession, The Great Gatsby Graphic Novel captures the energy of an era and the enduring resonance of one of the world's most beloved books. So, The Great Gatsby. An iconic 20th century American novel. I personally love it, I know others hate it, but such is the way of things with classics. Being that TGG is widely known amongst Americans, myself included, and often part of school curricula, I’m not reviewing characters, plot, or anything to do with the original novel. Instead, let’s talk adaptation! A graphic novel is an inherently different form of storytelling from a traditional novel. In this adaptation, that meant Woodman-Maynard made some choices about what to keep from the original text and what to translate, including slimming down the themes while working to keep that uneasy ethereal quality to the oeuvre. I think she was successful in this endeavor. The soft watercolor palette translates better on paper than online, so I encourage readers to preorder hard copies! I loved the airy quality to the work. Gatsby’s world is a semi-constructed fantasy, so elements like having text on walls and characters that at times appear not to occupy limiting forms, add a new dimension to the novel. One of my favorite parts is the color palette. Gorgeously saturated and calm due to use of watercolors as a primary medium, chapters are interspersed with monochromatic multi-page layouts as well as full-detail full-color panels. Woodman-Maynard made smart choices about using the simultaneous sumptuousness and translucence of watercolor to represent TGG’s opulent world. I think it’s a good idea to read The Great Gatsby as a novel, first, though. This is good supplemental material, but there’s so much nuance in Fitzgerald’s original that much had to be cut in order for the adaptation to not feel cumbersome. It’s wonderful from an artistic perspective, and obviously loyal to the plot and characters, but if you’re looking for the intricacy of language to convey theme… well, it’s a graphic novel. Look elsewhere. I would have loved to see more bulk, plot-wise. I think it would have been okay to extend the novel by 20-30 pages in order to capture more text and stay involved in the themes of the original. Overall, I give The Great Gatsby: A Graphic Novel Adaptation 4/5 stars, and I would definitely add it to your TBRs! Out January 5, 2021—a great start to our new Roaring ‘20s!
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The BaronessHey, I'm Shreya! I love to read, write, travel, and drink tea. Disclosure: I am an affiliate of bookshop.org and I will earn a small commission if you click the above link and make a purchase.
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