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Summary: One of the best holocaust books ever.
Review: Second only to Wiesel's NIGHT, MAUS is the best fictional account of the holocaus to be published. It will change the way you look at the crucal slice of history.
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Summary: An accessable presentation of the unthinkable
Review: What began as a serializd insert to his self-published magazine "RAW (Real Art Works)" became the first graphic novel to win a special Pulitzer Prize. MAUS is an illustrated narrative of Holocaust survivor Vladek Spiegelman, edited, formatted and illustrated by his son Art Spiegelman, a veteran of the underground comix movement of the 1960's and 70's, current cartoonist for New Yorker Magazine, and teacher at NYC's School of Visual Arts.What Art did was present one man's first-hand narrative account of being a Jew in German-occupied Poland (from the days before the war, to being in the death camps, to his release) as well as Art's own coming-to-terms with his father, and presented it in small black and white boxes. But what makes the book so unique, and so controvercial, is that Spiegelman chose to represent the various national and ethnic groups as animals in an allegorical sense (ala Aesop and La Fontaine). The Germans/Nazis are shown as cats, the Jews as mice, Americans as dogs, French as frogs and, most controvercial, the Polish as pigs (I am certain that he meant no insult, since several of the Poles depicted in the book are presented sympathetically). The only other time this was done in a book about World War 2 was the French cartoonist Calvo's work "The Beast Is Dead" (He presented the French as rabbits, the Nazis as wolf-like German Shepherds, the Italians as hyenias, the Americans as bison, the Japanese as monkeys and the Russians as polar bears). Some have criticized Spiegelman for over-simplifying the horrors, while others praise him for making them more accessable. Still, no one can deny the book's impact, judging by the review postings on this page. Art Spiegelman himself wasn't ready for the international media's incredibly strong (if favorable) reaction to the book. He has turned down offers to bring it to the motion picture screen, and in the beginning of volume two, refers to how the media frenzy of volume one made him question his state of mental health (His mother, herself a Holocaust survivor, had committed suicide when he was younger). This isn't a work to be taken lightly. It is gritty, disturbing and powerful. It will linger with you long after you close the back cover. Highly reccomended.
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Summary: Maus.
Review: Just to let everyone know, it is in comic format. In my opinon the reason is to explain of the horrors of the holocaust without getting to personal and graphic (believe me it has its moments),If that makes any sense. This book is terrific, and I must say this book really touched me. I believe with the talent of the author, and the emotions he displays in his characters (which this is a compleatly true story) it really felt real. I recomend this book a hundred times over. Infact this is one of my now favorite books. Please get a copy and experience the trials and tribulations of this book.
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Summary: A Must Read about the Holocaust
Review: I have been teaching social studies for five years on the high school level. Each year I assign parts of this book when studying the Holocaust. This is the only reading assignment that I have ever given where the students ask for more and at times have gone out and bought the book. Need I say more. This is a great way to understand the Holocaust on all levels.
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Summary: This was A good book
Review: I liked this because it was a comic.I thoght this was a good book. I like to learn about the holickost. The characters are just a little strange. There is one serviver that tells the story. His son is a comic book wrighter in this story. I would recimend this book to 7th graders and up.
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Summary: Never have I seen a movie that made me cry but this book did
Review: As a Bar Mitzvah present I received the book, Maus : A Survivor's Tale : My Father Bleeds History and Here My Troubles Began by Art Spiegelman. In this book Art tells the true story of his parents in the Holocaust. When I first saw the book I was thinking that this book couldn't be good because this was a comic book and pictures were not that of people but of mice (the Jews) and cats (the Nazis). Reading the book was amazing. There will actual photographs included in the book. The idea of comparing mice and cats was a very strong one. If I could only read one book, this would be it.
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Summary: You won't put this down.
Review: As an 8th grade teacher, I conduct literature circles with my students, and this is one of the most popular narratives I use. Every 13-14 year old I have who reads this comes away thinking they've just experienced something, which is what reading is all about. Many have described this novel like watching an accident as it happens. You want to turn your head, but you just can't bring yourself to do so. Artie is the storyteller as the son of a Shoah survivor. His father, Valdek is a gruff, miserable, unlikable old man whom most of my students feel utter sympathy for. This is a novel of such power, that the cartoon format helps make the material more accessible for reader. I have never had a student, NOT read this novel in its entire. Good readers devour parts one and two in days, slow readers only slightly slower. I think this is a novel that will appeal from ages 13 and up. In fact, my sister just read this for a college class at PSU. This is my favorite novel on the Holocaust.
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Summary: Original and memorable
Review: What an interesting way to tell the story of the Holocaust! This should be must reading for anyone who wants to gain an appreciation of the horrors of the Holocaust and the different ways it affected people. The story of Spiegelman's father -- and the way it is told -- will not be easily forgotten. Nor should it be. The book truly deserves its Pulitzer Prize.
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Summary: Wich is better: Maus I or II?
Review: Maus II is the better of the two. I read them in 7th grade because my English teacher recommended them. I was the only one to read it. It was the most powerful book for me to read. It was even better because it's a comic book! Sincerly, Luke
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Summary: Education in Pictures
Review: This book is a must-read for those who want to know about the Holocaust. The book does not only tell about Vladek Spiegelman's story of survival, but also about the relationship betweeen him and his son Artie, the artist of the book. This book is great.
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