295 pages
French language
Published Dec. 3, 1998 by Flammarion.
L'épigraphe de ce livre singulier annonce la couleur et la douleur : "Les Juifs sont indubitablement une race mais ils ne sont pas humains" et c'est signé Adolf Hitler. Il s'agit de la vie d'un rescapé des camps nazis racontée, par son fils, en bandes dessinées. Les Allemands sont des chats et les Juifs des souris et le ton métaphorique se rapproche plus de Kafka que de "Mickey Mouse" ou "Felix the Cat".
L'épigraphe de ce livre singulier annonce la couleur et la douleur : "Les Juifs sont indubitablement une race mais ils ne sont pas humains" et c'est signé Adolf Hitler. Il s'agit de la vie d'un rescapé des camps nazis racontée, par son fils, en bandes dessinées. Les Allemands sont des chats et les Juifs des souris et le ton métaphorique se rapproche plus de Kafka que de "Mickey Mouse" ou "Felix the Cat".
I am fascinated by World War II and the Holocaust. This is an amazing story. I've read it several times.
I am fascinated by World War II and the Holocaust. This is an amazing story. I've read it several times.
Tells an amazing story about incomprehensible tragedy
Vladek and Artie are flawed and complicated--which adds so much humanity
Had a great conversation with ChatGPT about nuances in the style of the art: "present day" is in sharper focus while Vladek's memories are sketchier and rougher
It would be amazing to really listen to someone else's story the way Artie tried to hear his father
Tells an amazing story about incomprehensible tragedy
Vladek and Artie are flawed and complicated--which adds so much humanity
Had a great conversation with ChatGPT about nuances in the style of the art: "present day" is in sharper focus while Vladek's memories are sketchier and rougher
It would be amazing to really listen to someone else's story the way Artie tried to hear his father
I first received a copy of MAUS in high school back in the 90s. My mom knew I liked comics and I guess she heard this was good or something. She doesn't even remember giving me it, but it legitimately changed my view of what could be done with comics as a medium.
That said, it's an incredibly personal look into one man grappling with his father's history with the Holocaust, his relationship with both that and his own father, and the imperfections found everywhere in those wrought relationships. Smarter folks than I have commented on how it doesn't take a nationalistic/Zionistic approach to the Holocaust that most stories on the subject matter. I consider it a required reading.
I first received a copy of MAUS in high school back in the 90s. My mom knew I liked comics and I guess she heard this was good or something. She doesn't even remember giving me it, but it legitimately changed my view of what could be done with comics as a medium.
That said, it's an incredibly personal look into one man grappling with his father's history with the Holocaust, his relationship with both that and his own father, and the imperfections found everywhere in those wrought relationships. Smarter folks than I have commented on how it doesn't take a nationalistic/Zionistic approach to the Holocaust that most stories on the subject matter. I consider it a required reading.
We've had these two books for many years, I didn't really understand what they were. Since they looked like comic books they must be silly. My ignorance. I picked them up because some people wanting to ban them from public libraries. I couldn't stop reading them. The young man interviewing his hard to get along with father, who survived the Holocaust, was an extremely effective way to tell the story. Vladek Spiegelman and his family went through hell, many died horrific deaths. The Nazis committed evil beyond my comprehension. Its even more difficult to read today, as the wheel of history has turned and some in the U.S.A. show respect for these evil people.
We've had these two books for many years, I didn't really understand what they were. Since they looked like comic books they must be silly. My ignorance. I picked them up because some people wanting to ban them from public libraries. I couldn't stop reading them. The young man interviewing his hard to get along with father, who survived the Holocaust, was an extremely effective way to tell the story. Vladek Spiegelman and his family went through hell, many died horrific deaths. The Nazis committed evil beyond my comprehension. Its even more difficult to read today, as the wheel of history has turned and some in the U.S.A. show respect for these evil people.
Spiegelman is on record saying he doesn’t like Maus being used to teach about Holocaust, but honestly I can’t think of many better texts for it. He prefers Maus being used to discuss relationships, and I’m just thinking “por que no los dos?”
In this novel the author shows his father’s story of survival through the holocaust, and the long term impact on his physical and mental health. He delves into the intergenerational trauma associated with survivor’s families.
Spiegelman said in an interview with Australian Radio National that he wanted to challenge the myth that everyone who goes through such a crucible inherently becomes a better person His depiction of his father, Vladek, is loving but unyielding. When Vladek, who suffered so much during the Holocaust, sees his son wanting to pick up an African-American hitchhiker, he responds with the exact kind of racist stereotypes he himself faced …
Spiegelman is on record saying he doesn’t like Maus being used to teach about Holocaust, but honestly I can’t think of many better texts for it. He prefers Maus being used to discuss relationships, and I’m just thinking “por que no los dos?”
In this novel the author shows his father’s story of survival through the holocaust, and the long term impact on his physical and mental health. He delves into the intergenerational trauma associated with survivor’s families.
Spiegelman said in an interview with Australian Radio National that he wanted to challenge the myth that everyone who goes through such a crucible inherently becomes a better person His depiction of his father, Vladek, is loving but unyielding. When Vladek, who suffered so much during the Holocaust, sees his son wanting to pick up an African-American hitchhiker, he responds with the exact kind of racist stereotypes he himself faced as a young man. He should’ve know better, and yet here we are. It’s a powerful moment.
I’ve taught Maus for a few years now and always find the students gobble it up, with few exceptions. Holocaust, relationships, visual literacy, symbolism; this is such a powerful novel with so much to offer a classroom. It’s great to follow up with encouraging students to reflect on their own relationships in visual form (even if that’s just stick figures!).
I wanted to read a Graphic Novel and my partner told me about this one. It’s really good! But it’s sad. I caught myself in tears in many moments while I was reading. It’s not an easy topic (Nazism and the story of a Polish Jew who survived Auschwitz concentration camp). Extremely touching. We cant’ forget this horror as to not repeat it again, ever.
Di Maus si può dire solo bene, perché parlarne male sarebbe come parlare male della Divina Commedia. Questa Graphic Novel, infatti, non è un semplice romanzo a fumetti: è un monumento, un testo che dovrebbe essere fatto studiare a scuola... tutti i libri, i film, le analisi sulla Shoà impallidiscono di fronte a quest'opera che non ha eguali in quanto a ispirazione, potenza narrativa e sensibilità... Lo si può aprire in una pagina a caso e leggerne 3 vignette di seguito anche senza capire l'impianto della trama per essere letterlmente inondati da emozioni fortissime e da un'empatia che si possono provare solo raramente leggendo un'opera letteraria!!
Di Maus si può dire solo bene, perché parlarne male sarebbe come parlare male della Divina Commedia. Questa Graphic Novel, infatti, non è un semplice romanzo a fumetti: è un monumento, un testo che dovrebbe essere fatto studiare a scuola... tutti i libri, i film, le analisi sulla Shoà impallidiscono di fronte a quest'opera che non ha eguali in quanto a ispirazione, potenza narrativa e sensibilità... Lo si può aprire in una pagina a caso e leggerne 3 vignette di seguito anche senza capire l'impianto della trama per essere letterlmente inondati da emozioni fortissime e da un'empatia che si possono provare solo raramente leggendo un'opera letteraria!!
I liked reading it. The father and son hate/love relationship was funny and engaging. The depictions of father's narration of holocaust was detailed but sometimes it felt like just reading events one after the other without much progress in the story.
I liked reading it. The father and son hate/love relationship was funny and engaging. The depictions of father's narration of holocaust was detailed but sometimes it felt like just reading events one after the other without much progress in the story.
Magnificent way of bringing a horrifying true story.
I recently read an interview with Art Spiegelman. It felt like it was time to read Maus again. I'm glad I did. The story of ordinary, flawed human being and extraordinary and inhuman cruelty is a good reminder if what we're up against.
I recently read an interview with Art Spiegelman. It felt like it was time to read Maus again. I'm glad I did. The story of ordinary, flawed human being and extraordinary and inhuman cruelty is a good reminder if what we're up against.
A very gripping narrative on two levels. Totally blew over all my expectations. And it's not even fiction.
A very gripping narrative on two levels. Totally blew over all my expectations. And it's not even fiction.
Amazing! A must-read on father-son relationships and the Holocaust.
Wow. This definitely deserves to be a classic. The hardbound compilation is a handsome book, too. [return]The dreadful story of the Holocaust is distanced through the modern day re-telling to the son, and the less than attractive character of the narrator.
Wow. This definitely deserves to be a classic. The hardbound compilation is a handsome book, too. [return]The dreadful story of the Holocaust is distanced through the modern day re-telling to the son, and the less than attractive character of the narrator.
I am really skeptical of Holocaust books written in comic book form, but I found this moving and honest narrative to be effective and engrossing. I read it while I had a terrible flu, and I had to keep stopping to moan in agony, take more medicine or throw up. But I still could not put it down and rest until it was all over. I think this would be excellent in a middle school or even under challenged high school classroom.
I am still shocked and disturbed with every new Holocaust memoir and this one was no exception. After reading it I went on a Wikipedia binge and ended up reading about Holocaust deniers. That crap really gets my goat.
