Art Spiegelman was born in Sweeden and immigrated to the USA when he was young. His parents are both Holocaust survivors and, after his mother's death, he was compelled to tell their story. To read more about the author Art Spiegelman go to http://lambiek.net/artists/s/spiegelman.htm.
As you begin to read Maus, what are your first impressions? Have you ever read a GRAPHIC NOVEL? What do you think about the genre? Have you read any other graphic novels? Is this genre appropriate for conveying history?
Although i have never read a graphic novel before,I am enjoying this book. It is a refreshing take on the holocaust, other than just the textbook version. I am not sure what the genre is but I do think that it is appropriate for convaying history because it displays the true facts. I think that it should be used to give a more personal feel to learning about this subject, but shouldnt be used to teach the entire holocaust because it doesnt give all of the facts.
ReplyDeletePaige Bohn
I am not a huge fan of graphic novels and I have only read a very limited number of them. I do think the genre serves a purpose however. I agree with Paige that it is "a refreshing take on the holocaust." The genre has definite appeal to a certain audience (students in particular) and the likelihood that they would actually read this book on their own rather than as an assignment increases. For fans of graphic novels, it's more likely that they would read this particular one because they "want to" rather than they "have to." I believe this genre can be used appropriately to convey history accurately. Of course, as with any other genre, it cannot convey the entire history of the Holocaust but it is definitely effective in not only informing the reader historically but also encouraging more critical thinking.
ReplyDeleteI think it is interesting to read graphic novels. Although I have never read any before I am enjoying this one so far.I think the genre could be useful to convey history because it is easier to read than regular books. It is nice to see drawings with the dialogue it makes the story seem more interesting and easier to understand. Graphic novels could be useful in learning as long as they are accurate but as Paige said only as an additional learning tool.
ReplyDeleteKelsey Leibelsperger
I was impressed by the book. Maus is very interesting and easy to read. I've never read a graphic novel before. The genre seems to be able to convey stories easily. As method to teach history, Graphic novels have appeal to younger generation. However, They should only be used as a additional tool because it is harder to convey the numerous facts needed to explain a historical event.Graphic novels are a different way of learning the personal feelings and situations of an event.
ReplyDeleteJen Schlegel
Having never before read a graphic novel, I was unsure what to expect when starting the book Maus. I found that the story is very easy to read, and it allows the reader to see pictures associated with the text instead of reading pages of descriptions. It is a good method to teach history, because instead of explaining it shows, and it also appeals to many people in the younger generation. It should not be the only tool used to teach history, because it is limited in ways, but it can be a good supplimental tool.
ReplyDeleteBeing my first graphic novel, Maus is more enjoyable to read than the common book and is much more to the point than some boring english books. Maus is written in a more personal level with a down to earth approach in relaying the story of Holocaust survivors. This genre works well with the generations of today because it is an easy read and the way it relates with the reader. Although, this genre is best used in addition to common methods in teaching about the world's biggest tragedy.
ReplyDelete-Patrick Schukraft
PS couldnt get it to post my email thing :(
Though Maus is my first graphic novel, I found it to be an easy adjustment, and I also have found that this type of graphic novel, for me at least, is easier to follow. My first impression was that it seems to be a refreshingly creative approach to a holocaust story, as Spiegelman creatively uses the cat and mouse theme to portray the Jews and Nazis as a whole. The genre is certainly more visually entertaining than a regular novel, and though it may be less informative, it creates a personal aspect that is not quite present in the average novel. I find this genre to be both a creative and appropriate way of conveying history as it provides readers with a very personal, story-like aspect rather than the conventional approach of using facts and figures to describe a time in history, as a text book would do. Though a graphic novel may fall short of providing the thorough details that a text book would, it gives a good general view of the situation as well as a personal insight into history.
ReplyDeleteI have never before read a graphic novel,I didn't know what to expect when starting the book Maus. The story was very easy to read I thought,while allowing the reader to see pictures that go with the text instead of reading pages of descriptions. It is a good method for history, because instead of explaining it shows for those people that have troubles reading, and it also is good for the younger generation because alot of kids I know don't like reading long books. I think im going to have to agree with everyone else only an additional learning tool.
ReplyDeleteThis is my first graphic novel, so I wasn't sure what to expect. I found that it is an interesting alternative to regular novels, as the reader can truly see the picture that the author has in their head. This genre is definitely appropriate for conveying history, as the reader can get a more accurate picture of what is going on. It is easy to read, so it can appeal to younger readers, but it is also interesting and informative.
ReplyDeleteI rarely read graphic novels so this gives an interesting twist in how I read stories. Even though words can describe very specific scenarios, they are never as good as a picture display. This genre is actually the best genre for discribing a story like this because an animal is a very good example on how low some people were treated compared to how high other people were treated. This story provides an interesting read and it provides me with interesting stories
ReplyDeleteMaus is the first graphic novel I've read and I am enjoying it so far. I think it is a different way to read a book but it is also more interesting. The genre is very appropriate to convey history in my eyes because the book is very easy to read and understand with the pictures on each page.
ReplyDeleteIt shows a very original representation of the Author's Father's holocaust experience. I have never read a graphic novel and I am thoroughly enjoying the novel. I think that it accurately conveys the holocaust with a nice surprise in a more easy to read way. I sometimes find holocaust books to just continuously drag on while this one flows very smoothly.
ReplyDeleteAt first, I was wondering why all the characters were animals, but as I read further and further into the book, I realized that there was a purpose to this. I have not read any novel as "graphic" as this one, I liked this story because it was a simple but still interesting read. It tells the story of the Holocaust in a whole new, interesting way. And I believe this genre is perfect for depicting the horrors we call the Holocaust, because it shows in a sense, the way it happened easier.
ReplyDeleteAt first I though it was very interesting to see these animals, talking and whatnot. and I quickly caught on to what species represented what group of people in real life. This book is reenacting the Holocaust with cats as German nazis and mice as the Jews, and many others as well. I have read other graphic novels, but none quite like this one. This book does indeed make it easier to learn about the Holocaust as reynick1 said.
ReplyDeleteSo far, I believe Maus is a great book, but its is very graphic. It was cool how the author established each race as different animals throughout the book. It was neat how the rats would wear pig masks to pretend that they were Polish. I have never read a graphic novel before but after reading Maus I think I should start reading more. Maus describes and helps illustrate a picture in my mind of what had happened during the Holocaust. This book helps portray how cruel the Nazis were to the Jewish people and it helps reamind us of the past. This is a great book to convey the history and is appropriate for learning about the Holocaust.
ReplyDeletei will start by saying, that this is my first graphic novel, and it is very interesting. So far i have enjoyed it, and because there are pictures, it makes it much more relaxing to read and more enjoyable. As for using graphic novels to portray history, I think that Maus pulls it off quite nicely.Maus is enjoyable, and teaches you about the history history of the Holocaust.
ReplyDeleteThis novel is the first graphic novel novel I have ever read. So far I have found this book to be very fascinating. I like this genre of books because the pictures accurately present the events of the holocaust. I have only read one other graphic novel about the Iraq War; "Sunrise over Fallujah" by Walter Dean Myers. I believe this book id interesting so far and I am looking forward to reading the rest of it.
ReplyDeleteThis was my first graphic novel i have read. But it was interesting how the author used animals to portray a race. How Jews were mice and Nazis were cats and cats hunt mice. I did not like how the book was in a sense a comic book. I am not use to reading books like this. I did like the book though, it helps give a better understanding about the holocaust by using the animals because the hunting mentality that cats have on mice is similar to the mentality of Nazis killing the jews.
ReplyDeleteMy first impression was that this novel was going to be very interesting. This is the first graphic novel that I have read, I think that this genre of graphic novel is very interesting and it is appropriate to convey history because it is about events that actually happened.
ReplyDeleteMy first impression was that this novel was based on a passed time event. This was the first graphic novel i read. I understand the holocaust more in reading this book by having a different understanding on what happened.
ReplyDeleteMy first impression of this book was that it would be easier to read and could be more fun as well.I have not read a graphic novel before and this book i believe is great for a graphic novel starters. I do think that this is an appropriate way to convey the history because it is easier to understand the way its portrayed.
ReplyDeleteI have to go with Alec on this one. I was hoping since it is a comic that it would be more fun and way more entertaining than a regular book. I have read a graphic novel before. I have actually read two. They were Spy vs. Spy and Calvin and Hobbes. Those are two of my favorite graphic novels ever. Literally. I have liked this book so far because yes it is a comic, but also because it is very interesting and it talks about the Holocaust in a way that is amusing.
ReplyDeleteMy first impression of this book was that it was going to be easy to read and also very interesting. I think this book is very easy to read because of the characters because of the different animals representing different peoples. I have never read a graphic novel before, so this is my first one. I think that it is very appropriate for conveying history because ti is easy to understand what is happening by the pictures.
ReplyDeleteI had never read a graphic novel until I started with Maus. I found it to be easy to read because it is a comic, never the less it is a very personal story. I think this is genre appropriate and would appeal to people around our age specially men. Because it is a comic anybody can read it and immediately be captured. The graphic part of it struck me because I thought of a comic as action or comedy not sadness and cruelty.
ReplyDeleteI had never read a graphic Novel before, so when I first began to read Maus I thought that since it was a cartoon based book with not as much words that it would be more child oriented. Having finished the book what I had first believed was not entirely true. Maus is filled with gruesome details, such as the explicit stories of the concentration camps or on page 108 the heinous way that the Nazis treated children.
ReplyDeleteI have never read a graphic novel like this. For me personally, I find it easy to read because it deals with artwork and it helps me remain focus. I am a person that can not just sit down and read a book just filled with lines of text. I find it difficult to remain focus, but that is just me. The art also helps give the reader a better point of a view and understanding of the conflict in the scene.I find this appropriate especially for us guys because guys tend to like more graphic, war-like things (typical stereotype). yes, I do find it appropriate to convey history because it is history, except in a different form. For those who say it may be a little inappropriate because it deals with graphic and it is about something that is huge in history (the Holocaust), you can simply make the same assumption and reason for a movie. There is a point where it can go to far, but I find this appropriate.
ReplyDeleteI have not read a graphic novel before and I love the book. It is very intresting to me, being able to look at pictures with the words I'm reading, it also can give you a different thought of whats going on in the book if you were to read without pictures.
ReplyDeleteThis is the firlst graphic novel I have read. I liked have picture with the book because it helped me visualize what was happening. Most holocaust. Books start to become boring but the pictures in this book help u maintain focus on the book
ReplyDeleteI have never read a graphic novel before although i have read a decent amount on books relating to the Holocaust and I find them all very interesting. This novel in particular because of the text in which it was written making it seem almost like a movie. Also the way that every race was represented by a different animal was interesting because it would be how the German's from that era viewed the specific race of people. If you are going to read any Holocaust book you should have the idea that it will be very sad and gruesome.
ReplyDeleteThis was my first graphic novel. I actually loved this book. It was very easy to understand. Like pablo said it was like watching a movie because each illistration told the story page by page. If more books were like Maus it would be more interesting to read.
ReplyDeleteI'm not calling myself a fan of graphic novels but I really enjoy how the author uses visual examples of personal experiences of his own life. I agree with Pablo and Keith in how they said it was like watching a movie. I tend to be more interested in a book that uses more pictures and less words to interact with the reader and keep their excited while reading each page. The book also does a very good job at conveying history exactly how it happened.
ReplyDeleteI have never read a graphic novel before, but i found it very intereswting. The reading went very quickly, and was more entertaining than reading a reular book. Although it is not a conventional way of portraying history, if used correctly like it is in Maus than it can be very effective. The way the author protrayed the characters was unusual, but helped me to get into the same mindset as the author may have been, and it was useful to see how he thought of other people.
ReplyDeleteI haven't read graphic novels before i read Maus. My first impression was that it looks quite easy and entertaining to read compared to other books, but it is still a hard story to hear about happen. I do think that it portrays the history of all the events that happened in a way that makes it easier to read.
ReplyDeleteI have never read a graphic novel, like a lot of people here. I found it very entertaining and kept me reading through the book without getting bored
ReplyDeleteI believe this genre is appropro because its a way of getting readers that dont read often to have a new, fun way of reading
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed the structure of the story, but i usually used the novels to make my own picture. I personaly dont think this is a good way of teaching history becasue it seems a little to playful.
ReplyDelete@ elliot
ReplyDeleteyou said it was a quick read. was that a reason why you enjoyed it or did you enjoy it for the structue and writings?
Forgive me if this sounds insensitive, but it's strange how replacing humans with animals in any situation almost makes it comical to see play out. Not that the Holocaust under any circumstances is humorous
ReplyDelete@unknown
ReplyDeleteI was actully thinking the same thing but the reason the do that is so that kids can have a better understanding for the holocaust because i know that I have always been a bit confused about it myself
I have never read a graphic novel before but after reading it I feel it was an appropriate use of the type of novel for what the story was about.
ReplyDeleteAlso- I thought I had posted on this one a long time ago but I checked and saw it was gone which is why this reply is so late.
My first impression of Maus was that it was interesting. Unlike typical books, Maus took a different approach to a rather depressing story. To be honest I have never really read any graphic novels like this before but this book will has definitively sparked my interest. I think this novel is a perfect example on how to show younger people the tragedy of Holocaust through pictures and art.
ReplyDelete@Paige
ReplyDeleteI disagree with your statement. I think any piece of literature from a survivor of the Holocaust can be used to teach others about it. Although it does not give exact details on what happened around Europe, it shows what life was like in ghettos and camps during WWII. It also displays human emotions rather than facts in a book about the Holocaust.
@ Greg Barajas
ReplyDeleteYour statement brings up an interesting point. This book is a great example for younger people to learn about the Holocaust. It tells a personal story but with comics and it tells us what actually happened without being completely graphic.
This was the first graphic novel i have ever read. It is an excellent book overall. It has its trist and turns, its ups and downs, but overall it is amazing story. Thanks to this book, i know much more about the Holocaust. This book really brought out your emotions. I loved it.
ReplyDeleteAs i began reading this book i was very intrigued as to what what the different aspects of a graphic novel could do for a reader. i believe that this was a good new take on the holocaust for me. it gave me a much greater understanding of how people really lived their lives and how they were seen among their peers. By using pictures and animals to describe and characterize the people in the book it truly made me understand the social outlook that they had at this time in history. overall, i loved how tis book made me look at the holocaust in a whole new perspective. hopefully i will be able to read more graphic novels that are as interesting as this one one was. great choice in books Mrs. Macvay!
ReplyDeleteMy first impression was that the book seemed interesting. The depiction of the people as animals seemed to create a new side to the story. I enjoyed the comic style of this graphic novel very much.
ReplyDeleteI have never read a graphic novel before and I got to say after 15 years I missed out on a lot. Overall great book. I got to understand a point of view from a survior. I also learned that little objects can make a difference. First Imperssion: Intresting.
ReplyDelete