Rating: 4/5
Disclaimer: I received a free ecopy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This is a review of the graphic adaptation of The Good Earth rather than the original novel. The story is about a poor family in rural China that receives a change in fortune. It progresses through the life of Wang Lung with some great insight into the hardships these families face and ending off with the rise of communism.
I love how unapologetic this book is. It shows some of the difficult decisions that people face and doesn't shy away from the negative aspects. There are positive moments as well, so it isn't all depressing. I found myself disliking Wang Lung for some of the things he does, but the writing kept me interested in what would happen next. The events that shape the story are significant, but don't always get a proper introduction.
As a graphic adaptation, the art is the very important. It adds an element to the story that makes it more visceral. The art is simplistic and doesn't really follow current trends in comics, which is perfectly fine. It uses a lot of exposition and supplements it with poignant images. They are not over the top and match the tone of the story well. Often it is an image of the characters with some background details thrown in. Reading this adaptation is a nice way to discover the story.
No comments:
Post a Comment