The Great Gatsby: A Graphic Novel Adaptation

 

My Thoughts:

This adaptation by K. Woodman-Maynard tries to capture the tone and frenetic rhythm of the Fitzgerald original through the use of watercolor scenes of opulence, decadence and mystery. The party scenes at Jay's mansion, that desperate spider web attempt to lure Daisy in, parallel with the way Myrtle holds court in the apartment that she and Tom use in the city in some garish dance of "putting on the ritz" that holds no intimacy or humanity." 

In order to try and adapt this classic for a contemporary audience, Woodman-Maynard picks and chooses some of the most iconic quotes to use in the adaptation like Daisy's, "I hope she'll be a fool--that's the best thing a girl can be in this world, a beautiful little fool." as well as Nick's final, "So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past."

Perhaps the most striking part of this graphic novel is that as the narrator, Nick's comments and opinions are woven onto the scenery as if they are concrete poems that act as curtains or waves. 

Although this novel adaptation is better used as a "second reading" of Gatsby, it is still a good way to start some of the many discussions possible around this piece of literature even if it does not get into some of the more contemporary lenses of this classic that English teachers are now discussing (like the LGBTQ lens). What Woodman-Maynard chooses to use and what is not used is another conversation piece with classes. Perhaps more graphic readers will have a leg up on the conversation, and if so, this is a good source of bridging material for these types of learners. 

From the Publisher:

From the green light across the bay to the billboard with spectacled eyes, F. Scott Fitzgerald’s 1925 American masterpiece roars to life in K. Woodman-Maynard’s exquisite graphic novel—among the first adaptations of the book in this genre. Painted in lush watercolors, the inventive interpretation emphasizes both the extravagance and mystery of the characters, as well as the fluidity of Nick Carraway’s unreliable narration. Excerpts from the original text wend through the illustrations, and imagery and metaphors are taken to literal, and often whimsical, extremes, such as when a beautiful partygoer blooms into an orchid and Daisy Buchanan pushes Gatsby across the sky on a cloud.

This faithful yet modern adaptation will appeal to fans with deep knowledge of the classic, while the graphic novel format makes it an ideal teaching tool to engage students. With its timeless critique of class, power, and obsession, The Great Gatsby Graphic Novel captures the energy of an era and the enduring resonance of one of the world’s most beloved books.