Book-It 'o11! Book #40
The Fifty Books Challenge, year three! (Years one and two, just in case you're curious.) This was a library request.
Title: The Kite Runner (Graphic Novel) by Khaled Hosseini (illustrated by Fabio Celoni and Mirka Andolfo)
Details: Copyright 2011, Riverhead Trade Books
Synopsis (By Way of Front Flap): "The spellbinding story of the unlikely and inseparable friendship between two boys caught in the tragic sweep of history-- from the final days of Afghanistan's monarchy through the horrific rule of the Taliban-- The Kite Runner has become a beloved classic and international phenomenon since its 2003 publication. Propelled by passionate word of mouth, the book steadily climbed the bestseller lists, soon becoming a number one New York Times bestseller and remaining on that list for more than two years. But it is The Kite Runner's universal story of fathers and sons, friendship and family, regret and redemption, that has earned it a place in the heart of every reader.
The Kite Runner has touched millions of readers through its story of two boyhood friends torn apart by situation and war. Published in the aftermath of the United States' invasion of Afghanistan, Khaled Hosseini's haunting writing brings a part of the world to vivid life that was previously unknown. Now, this graphic adaptation, based on the novel by Khaled Hosseini, will make this beloved story accessible to a new generation of readers."
Why I Wanted to Read It: I stumbled across this book on a search for another and I must admit I did not know The Kite Runner had a graphic novel adaptation (and generally I pay closer attention to the world of graphic novels, for obvious reasons).
How I Liked It: I've had some unfortunate experiences with books that have been "adapted" to graphic novel form ( The 9/11 Report: A Graphic Adaptation, for example) since I think it lessens the vision of both the graphic novel and the original book. Obviously, a work of non-fiction (keep quiet, Truthers!) like The 9/11 Report is an easier adaptation just by nature and yet it still was poorly executed.
I have not read The Kite Runner so I was somewhat less invested in this book than I would be in other graphic novel adaptations, but I knew it was a work of great social and political importance, and a masterful read besides.
This graphic novel? Not so much.
The art, particularly the coloring, is stunning, even if faces at times take on a Disney-in-the-last-of-the-pen-and-ink-period (think The Little Mermaid or Aladdin) quality of cartoonishness. There's a lack of subtlety that comes across so eloquently in the artists with whom Neil Gaiman works and with Terry Moore (of Strangers in Paradise fame) that can be glaring at times.
But most importantly, the book contains some glaring omissions and condensations that are obvious even to someone who's never read the book. It cheapens the story and manages to water down what sounds like a magnificent ending. All that the original book no doubt instills and provides (back stories and insight, greater context that binds the reader to the characters) is largely missing and with it much of the magic of the story.
Still, the book is not without its charms as well as uses. It's probably an excellent primer for the work it's adapted from and it's certainly an impetus to seek out and read said work, since this is a mere shadowy outline of what sounds like greatness.
Notable: In the front flap, I discovered something I noticed before with The 9/11 Report and a few other adaptations: make this story "accessible to a new generation of readers." By that, I'm assuming it means kids (particularly since with the novel itself only out eight years, the movie only four, it's unlikely to need a generational reboot). This is something that irks me since it's the suggestion, as Stephen King once said, "that comics mean dumb" (he was arguing against that mindset).
If you know of someone too young for reading a book as long as The Kite Runner in its original form, I will guarantee that he or she is also too young for the content of the book itself (particularly when rendered in illustration as it is in the graphic novel).
Title: The Kite Runner (Graphic Novel) by Khaled Hosseini (illustrated by Fabio Celoni and Mirka Andolfo)
Details: Copyright 2011, Riverhead Trade Books
Synopsis (By Way of Front Flap): "The spellbinding story of the unlikely and inseparable friendship between two boys caught in the tragic sweep of history-- from the final days of Afghanistan's monarchy through the horrific rule of the Taliban-- The Kite Runner has become a beloved classic and international phenomenon since its 2003 publication. Propelled by passionate word of mouth, the book steadily climbed the bestseller lists, soon becoming a number one New York Times bestseller and remaining on that list for more than two years. But it is The Kite Runner's universal story of fathers and sons, friendship and family, regret and redemption, that has earned it a place in the heart of every reader.
The Kite Runner has touched millions of readers through its story of two boyhood friends torn apart by situation and war. Published in the aftermath of the United States' invasion of Afghanistan, Khaled Hosseini's haunting writing brings a part of the world to vivid life that was previously unknown. Now, this graphic adaptation, based on the novel by Khaled Hosseini, will make this beloved story accessible to a new generation of readers."
Why I Wanted to Read It: I stumbled across this book on a search for another and I must admit I did not know The Kite Runner had a graphic novel adaptation (and generally I pay closer attention to the world of graphic novels, for obvious reasons).
How I Liked It: I've had some unfortunate experiences with books that have been "adapted" to graphic novel form ( The 9/11 Report: A Graphic Adaptation, for example) since I think it lessens the vision of both the graphic novel and the original book. Obviously, a work of non-fiction (keep quiet, Truthers!) like The 9/11 Report is an easier adaptation just by nature and yet it still was poorly executed.
I have not read The Kite Runner so I was somewhat less invested in this book than I would be in other graphic novel adaptations, but I knew it was a work of great social and political importance, and a masterful read besides.
This graphic novel? Not so much.
The art, particularly the coloring, is stunning, even if faces at times take on a Disney-in-the-last-of-the-pen-and-ink-period (think The Little Mermaid or Aladdin) quality of cartoonishness. There's a lack of subtlety that comes across so eloquently in the artists with whom Neil Gaiman works and with Terry Moore (of Strangers in Paradise fame) that can be glaring at times.
But most importantly, the book contains some glaring omissions and condensations that are obvious even to someone who's never read the book. It cheapens the story and manages to water down what sounds like a magnificent ending. All that the original book no doubt instills and provides (back stories and insight, greater context that binds the reader to the characters) is largely missing and with it much of the magic of the story.
Still, the book is not without its charms as well as uses. It's probably an excellent primer for the work it's adapted from and it's certainly an impetus to seek out and read said work, since this is a mere shadowy outline of what sounds like greatness.
Notable: In the front flap, I discovered something I noticed before with The 9/11 Report and a few other adaptations: make this story "accessible to a new generation of readers." By that, I'm assuming it means kids (particularly since with the novel itself only out eight years, the movie only four, it's unlikely to need a generational reboot). This is something that irks me since it's the suggestion, as Stephen King once said, "that comics mean dumb" (he was arguing against that mindset).
If you know of someone too young for reading a book as long as The Kite Runner in its original form, I will guarantee that he or she is also too young for the content of the book itself (particularly when rendered in illustration as it is in the graphic novel).