Book: Maus Vol.II: And Here My Troubles Began by Art SpiegelmanGenre: Graphic Memoir
Rating:★★★★☆
For: Fun
From: Bought for my daughter for school years ago
Short Synopsis: This one started where the other one ended, with our family getting thrown into Auschwitz. We are taken through all the experiences they had here, being separated, figuring out ways to see each other, using skills to his advantage and how much it helped, and sometimes hurt, all the worries about the ovens and the showers. And how it all ended.
My Response: I loved the flashing back and forth between the dad "now" as an old grandpa and dealing with his son and his wife that left and old age, and the dad as the young guy surviving in a concentration camp. The contrast is really amazing between the onery old guy and the competent and resourceful young one. Anyway, such a sad and crazy story, as they all are and once again I'm always left wondering how people made it through these things. I truly did enjoy this graphic art way to tell the story. Quite effective really, and I was surprised how well I actually enjoyed this method.
Bottom Line: Read this.. first the first one and then the second. Just do it.
Let's Talk About: The old Vladek is pretty ornery and mean. But do you blame him? How would you expect a survivor of the Holocaust to act during the rest of their days? I mean... really.
Other Reviews:
Overall, however I think this set of novels is unmatched when it comes to the history of WWII from the perspective of the common Polish Jew. I will be forever marked by it. From You've GOTTA Read This!
Spiegelman adds to the documentation of Holocaust survivors with his father's story, and in the end, makes the story even more real by including a copy of an actual photo of his father. From Bookish
Reading it reminded me of an interview I did with a holocaust survivor when I worked at a daily newspaper. I remember being shocked by how angry he was. In my naïveté I assumed he would feel only gratitude for the fact that he survived, but there are some wounds that you can never truly forgive. From Avid Reader's Musings
If you thought the first one was heart-felt and moving, wait until you get to this one. From Becky's Book Reviews
I can't remember who said it, but it seems to me as if Vladek didn't really survive and his attitude later in life shows that. But, like you said, I can't blame him nor can I say how he should act since I didn't experience the things he experienced. As you said, I'm surprised anyone survived at all.
ReplyDeleteSuch an incredible book! This is the graphic novel I always recommend to people if they're new to the genre. I'm so glad you loved it too!
ReplyDeleteIt has been so long since I read these books, but I remember them being so powerful. I should dig out my copies and revisit them again.
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