Maus 1

Maus 1: A Survivor's Tale

By Art Spiegelman

p. 295

ISBN-10: 0394747232
ISBN-13: 978-0394747231

Pantheon Books

Annotation: It is the story of Vladek Speigelman, a Jewish survivor of Hitler's Europe, and his son, a cartoonist coming to terms with his father's story.

Summary:
Told with a cryptic realism not traditionally expected from graphic novels, Art Spiegelman tells the story of his families experience through the Holocaust. Nazis and the subjugated Jews are represented as the quintessential cat and mice. As the repressive actions of the Cats (Nazi) begins to restrict the actions of the Mice( Jews) moving toward a “final solution”. A solution that could spell the end of all mice kind. Though this Graphic Novel, Spiegelman examines the difficulties of age and cultural barriers even among family members. This story through haunting images that are jarring and still accessible to younger generations.

Through the quick thinking and luck by Vladek through the graphic respesentation of Art, we are able to experience the horrific tragedies of the Holocaust in a way that is still approachable. This novel will be impossible to put down once started, and will stick with you for years to come.

This novel is the perfect combination of art and history it is true to life and graphic in the descriptions of the tragedies that occurred. This novel may be a quick read but is by no means a "light" one. Readers of this traumatic story will be forever moved by its realness and unwavering honesty

Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood

Persepolis: The Story of A Childhood
By: Marjane Satrapi

160 pg.
Pantheon

ISBN

Publish Post

-10: 037571457X
ISBN-13: 978-0375714573

Annotation: The great-granddaughter of Iran's last emperor and the daughter of ardent Marxists describes her life of growing up in Tehran--a country plagued by political upheaval and vast contradictions between public and private life.

Summary:
Told through the images and story of a young girl’s experiences during the Islamic Revolution in Iran, this poignant and beautiful novel explains the tragedies and effects of war. At the beginning of the novel, Marjane is a precocious young girl with a curiosity that is encouraged by her family. However, once the regime changes, attempts are made to keep her safe and subdued, even if that means having her relocate. Things like education that have been almost expected by the wealthy Marjane are now a luxury, and things that she has taken for granted are nearly extinct.

This novel will inspire and terrify you. Satrapi does not shy away from the realities of war, such as death and destruction. Images of the then popular culture become images of the rebellion and have to be appreciated in the shadows or in the privacy of one’s own home. A stark contrast to many of the liberties we as Americans take for granted. Great for reader's of Art Spieglman's Maus series, this novel is perfect for the young revolutionary or the artist in us all.