#59 Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen. Graphic Novel adaptation by Nancy Butler and Sonny Liew
Sisters Elinor and Marianne Dashwood couldn't be any more different. Elinor is reserved and sensible, and Marianne is passionate 
and vocal. After the death of their father, they find themselves suddenly penniless, as their older brother inherits everything. Sense and Sensibility is a story of sisterhood and romance, as well as a glimpse on what it was like to be a woman during the Regency Era. The graphic novel adapts Jane Austen's classic story into one slim volume.
Sense and Sensibility is a story that I have experienced in multiple ways: I have read the novel, listened to the audiobook, seen Emma Thompson's wonderful film version, and now I have read the graphic novel adaptation. Upon picking up the graphic version, I found myself somewhat skeptical that a sufficient adaptation could result from what's basically five issues of a comic book series. Fortunately, Jane Austen's wonderful novel remains pretty intact. The most significant changes are certain sequences that took places in letters in the novel now occur face to face. This makes sense, given the more visual medium. Although the result can feel a little jam packed at times (especially with all of those dialogue bubbles!) the result retains the integrity of the characters and the romance that the book is best known for.
One thing I really want to draw attention to is the artwork by Sonny Liew, who's work I was not familiar with up until this point. The art has a simple, sketchy, almost quirky style to it, with a subdued color pallet. I found that it to fit the Regency era (not to mention the Dashwood sister's grim situation) strangely well. There are some sequences where the characters are given large heads in an almost chibi-like manner. This effect proves to be humorous scenes involving Mrs. John Dashwood (Elinor and Marianne's stingy sister in law). Since Sense and Sensibility is such a character centric story that lacks much of the action one might expect to find in comics, it's important that the audience be able to understand their thoughts and emotions of the characters, through both body language and facial expression. This is something that Liew does well, or espeically when it comes to Elinor's carefully concealed pain.
Reading Sense and Sensibility in graphic form took me back to the first time I picked up the novel. It's hard not to feel for both sisters (even though I relate to Elinor much more than Marianne), and wish for the best in them as they fall in love and discover shocking truths about their potential suitors. One thing that's important to mention: if you have not read the book Sense and Sensibility beforehand, do not read the forward in this graphic version. It spoils pretty much every twist, assuming that most readers are already familiar with the story. I would recommend this version to fans of Jane Austen who want to see an old favorite story in a new light.
Rating: four and a half stars
Length: 120 pages
Source: paperbackswap
Other books I've read by this author: I have read all of Jane Austen's novels, although this is the first time I have read anything by Susan Butler
Next I will be reviewing God’s War by Kameron Hurley and The Big Four by Agatha Christie
xposted to temporaryworlds, bookish, and goodreads
and vocal. After the death of their father, they find themselves suddenly penniless, as their older brother inherits everything. Sense and Sensibility is a story of sisterhood and romance, as well as a glimpse on what it was like to be a woman during the Regency Era. The graphic novel adapts Jane Austen's classic story into one slim volume.
Sense and Sensibility is a story that I have experienced in multiple ways: I have read the novel, listened to the audiobook, seen Emma Thompson's wonderful film version, and now I have read the graphic novel adaptation. Upon picking up the graphic version, I found myself somewhat skeptical that a sufficient adaptation could result from what's basically five issues of a comic book series. Fortunately, Jane Austen's wonderful novel remains pretty intact. The most significant changes are certain sequences that took places in letters in the novel now occur face to face. This makes sense, given the more visual medium. Although the result can feel a little jam packed at times (especially with all of those dialogue bubbles!) the result retains the integrity of the characters and the romance that the book is best known for.
One thing I really want to draw attention to is the artwork by Sonny Liew, who's work I was not familiar with up until this point. The art has a simple, sketchy, almost quirky style to it, with a subdued color pallet. I found that it to fit the Regency era (not to mention the Dashwood sister's grim situation) strangely well. There are some sequences where the characters are given large heads in an almost chibi-like manner. This effect proves to be humorous scenes involving Mrs. John Dashwood (Elinor and Marianne's stingy sister in law). Since Sense and Sensibility is such a character centric story that lacks much of the action one might expect to find in comics, it's important that the audience be able to understand their thoughts and emotions of the characters, through both body language and facial expression. This is something that Liew does well, or espeically when it comes to Elinor's carefully concealed pain.
Reading Sense and Sensibility in graphic form took me back to the first time I picked up the novel. It's hard not to feel for both sisters (even though I relate to Elinor much more than Marianne), and wish for the best in them as they fall in love and discover shocking truths about their potential suitors. One thing that's important to mention: if you have not read the book Sense and Sensibility beforehand, do not read the forward in this graphic version. It spoils pretty much every twist, assuming that most readers are already familiar with the story. I would recommend this version to fans of Jane Austen who want to see an old favorite story in a new light.
Rating: four and a half stars
Length: 120 pages
Source: paperbackswap
Other books I've read by this author: I have read all of Jane Austen's novels, although this is the first time I have read anything by Susan Butler
Next I will be reviewing God’s War by Kameron Hurley and The Big Four by Agatha Christie
xposted to temporaryworlds, bookish, and goodreads