shakespearereadalong

The Tempest the Graphic Novel: Quick Text Version | William Shakespeare, Gary Erskine, John McDonald, Jon Haward

so-so

This was my second read of the Tempest, and I picked the graphic novel format. At second read, I followed the story, and appreciated the language and characters a lot better. I found the art so-so: I liked the story design, effects and use of format, but the character art was clunky and too literal, especially of Caliban, whose nuances as both a monster and a victim of colonial oppression were lost in the depiction. ⭐️⭐️⭐️
#shakespearereadalong

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Gezemice

The Tempest the Graphic Novel: Quick Text Version | William Shakespeare, Gary Erskine, John McDonald, Jon Haward

#shakespearereadalong took me to my 800th book marked as read on Goodreads. Thank you guys - and thanks for all inspring Littens to help keep me reading!

#milestones #goodreads

tessavi Nice! ✌️ 6d

Crazeedi 👏👏👏congrats! 6d

Gezemice @tessavi @Crazeedi Thanks! 6d

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erzascarletbookgasm

The Tempest | William Shakespeare

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A surprisingly impressive and interesting play. An exiled Duke who uses magic power to control and manipulate others resulting in many theatrical scenes while exploring themes of sovereignty and colonisation. I‘m ambivalent about Prospero..mostly vengeful, manipulative, abusive, yet at the end so forgiving. Love the epilogue and reading fellow #shakespearereadalong discussion comments about 👇

erzascarletbookgasm ..(cont.) it very well being the speech of the Bard himself makes this play the more brilliant. Thanks for hosting @merelybookish . I enjoyed this very much. 1w

Hamlet “Surprisingly”? 1w

erzascarletbookgasm @Hamlet I was apprehensive how this comedy-tragedy play will pan out. 1w

Hamlet Oh, I see. Thanks! 7d

50 likes4 comments

Trashcanman

The Tempest | William Shakespeare

Finished my meal prep for the week and now starting act 5 0f the tempest with one of my all time favorite movies in the whole wide Universe playing. Today has been a great day. @Graywacke @merelybookish #shakespearereadalong

Graywacke Ok. Can‘t tell what movie that is. 1w

merelybookish Happy to see this! 🎉 1w

ChasingOm Nice job with the meal prep! 1w

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readordierachel Life Aquatic? 1w

Trashcanman @readordierachel You are officially bad ass. Yes that is my favorite Wes Anderson film followed by the Gran Budapest Hotel 1w

readordierachel @Trashcanman Nice! I love Wes Anderson, too. The soundtrack to that one is amazing. Royal Tenenbaums is my favorite, but Acquatic is a close second. You have good taste 😁 1w

Graywacke @readordierachel @Trashcanman - never heard of it ... 😶 1w

Tanisha_A I love The Grand Budapest Hotel, what a movie! 1w

Flaneurette I love everything about this post and I really need to start meal prepping! Good job! 1w

Trashcanman @Flaneurette thank you!🤗🤗🤗 1w

Trashcanman @Tanisha_A it's an awesome movie 1w

Trashcanman @Graywacke definitely check them out. It isn't for everyone but his movies are amazing 1w

MommyWantsToReadHerBook I love you even more for loving Wes Anderson although I DO NOT know this movie 😱 1w

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Graywacke

The Tempest | William Shakespeare

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The way it ends, like those almost satisfying chips you just keep eating, it left me just almost and yet not and yet.

I maybe could have reviewed this if I hadn‘t read the afterward (by Bloom) which added yet more contradictory angles. There‘s just so much to think about, little 🧠 can‘t decide on a direction. The language, anyway, felt perfect. Elegant, propelling - but toward what, I don‘t know right now.

Graywacke #shakespearereadalong @merelybookish 1w

batsy I know what you mean! It's hard to write the reviews when we're not done thinking about a book yet...but I think it's a good sign where the book/work of art is concerned. (I'm thinking about Will here, and also Willa :) 1w

Graywacke @batsy. Right, definitely a good sign, expanding the little brain cells demanding them to relook at and rethink things again. Nature of art in that thought process somewhere, maybe. I‘ll have another go at working out and gathering my thoughts in this, for LT and GR. Just a mental snapshot here. 1w

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Gezemice @Graywacke I have not reviewed some of the books that most affected me. I just couldn‘t figure what to say - what can you add? Two of those are The Blind Asassin and The Sympathizer. 7d

Graywacke @Gezemice oh, reviews of my favorite books are all so inadequate. Sometimes you can only say, “I liked it and you‘ll have to read it to understand” (or, worse, “and you‘ll have to read it like I did.”) Doesn‘t exactly apply here, as this wasn‘t really an attempt. But...completely understand. ( I really liked The Blind Assassin too! ) (edited) 4d

Gezemice @Graywacke Yes! I am glad to hear you liked The Blind Assassin, too. I figure one day I re-read it and maybe I can write a review... BTW I saw you managed a very nice review, after all :) 2d

Graywacke @Gezemice thanks! 🙂 1d

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merelybookish

Tempest | William Shakespeare

Act V! The play ends with Prospero, again showing he's the man in charge! He gives up magic but not before dazzling his captives and audience one last time. LOTS of beautiful speeches! I do love this play!
But what say you #shakespearereadalong friends? A satisfying ending? What's to become of Caliban? And Ariel? Does Prospero get what he wants? Who will he be without his magic? Does his brother get what he deserves? And why the epilogue?

merelybookish @GingerAntics @readinginthedark @batsy @graywacke @thebookhippie @CoffeeNBooks @Lcsmcat @Rachbb3 @gezemice @catebutler @Sunraven @Riveted_Reader_Melissa @NeedsMoreBooks @Trashcanman @IamIamIam @jewright @MoonWitch94 @jewright @erzascarletbookgasm @readordierachel @saresmoore @kathedron @Susannah @wife @CSeydel @anna40 @Balibee146 @rabbitprincess @IndoorDame @InLibrisVeritas @KatieanneF @Mtroiano @MellieAntoinette 1w

merelybookish @wanderinglynn @teainthelibrary @faibka @ladyneverwhere @aeeklund @zsuzsanna_reads 1w

merelybookish Thanks again to all of you who read and participated! As always, your comments bring so much to the experience. (And my apologies for being a somewhat absent host. This past month has been busy!) Our next read is the great tragedy King Lear, perfect for darkening days and rainy weather! @GingerAntics will be hosting! 1w

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merelybookish @sace Sorry for the late tag. Just learned your new Litsy handle! 😀 1w

Sace No worries! I'm just grateful y'all let me lurk 🤣 1w

Graywacke Bewildered. First he, Prospero, let‘s it all go after everything goes right, then the Epilogue!, then Harold Bloom‘s afterword tells me “Prospero” in Italian = Faustus in Latin (means “favored one”), and Bloom forces me to reconsider Caliban all over again. Now my wires are crossed. (“And my ending is despair unless I be relieved by prayer which...frees all faults. ?? !!) 1w

Gezemice It is a nice tying up of everything in a little bow. Prospero shows everyone who is boss then forgives everyone magnanimously. It is all about theatrics. This was my second read and I liked it better this time. Maybe I understood it better. The language is certainly one of his best. 1w

Gezemice Maybe that‘s why it is considered as Shakespeare‘s self-expression: going out with a bang but not with a vengeance. Leave a legacy behind and hang up the magician‘s robe. 1w

IndoorDame I‘m wondering if you mailed the last #lmpbc r6 book? I‘m not in a rush. I just don‘t want it to get lost so if I should be looking for it let me know? 1w

TheBookHippie @Graywacke I am so with you. I now need to give it another read through! Language wise this is one of my absolute favorites! (edited) 1w

TheBookHippie @merelybookish thanks for hosting like I live!!! It works well for all of us I think. The language in this one just stellar! You could fill a book with quotes! I have to say the ending was like a what in the world oh forevermore toss hands up moment!!! 🤣🤣🤣 still not a fan of Prospero 🙄😬🤷🏽‍♀️ haughty haughty.. 1w

GingerAntics I think I have the rather unpopular opinion that it was just eh. I found Prospero to be annoying. I wanted to slap him most of the time. Not sure if Shakespeare was inventing the anti-hero here and I just didn‘t catch on or what. 1w

Lcsmcat I agree with @Graywacke that it‘s confusing to analyze. The language is beautiful but Prospero? He wreaks all this vengeance and then at the merest request from Alonso, he kind of shrugs and says “yeah, OK.” And the Epilogue implies the Prospero knows he‘s the one who needs forgiveness, but he‘s asking the audience? Not those he wronged? 1w

MoonWitch94 @GingerAntics I agree! I found Prospero to be incredibly annoying, but I know most do not agree with us. I had a professor refer to him once as “full of whimsy & sass”. Nope, not me. @merelybookish thank you for hosting this read, it was great! I enjoyed reading it again with fresh eyes. I agree with @TheBookHippie that the language is beautiful & stellar. 1w

Graywacke @TheBookHippie this immediately becomes one of my favorites too (don‘t tell @GingerAntics ☺️) 1w

Graywacke @Lcsmcat my thought process changes the more I think about it. Maybe he figured out he was wrong the whole time. Maybe he got what he wanted (a royal and upward marriage for his daughter) and so mission accomplished - or mission required peace to really be accomplished. Maybe Caliban taught him the futility of trying to control everything? ????? (edited) 1w

Gezemice @GingerAntics @MoonWitch94 It is not my favorite, either. This is my second time and I liked it better than the first time, though. I think the story is really convoluted, but the language is definitely one of his best. It probably improves if you already knows the story. 1w

merelybookish @Sace Lurk away! 😁 1w

merelybookish @Graywacke Ignore whatever Harold Bloom has to say, that was my motto in grad school. 😉 But I am curious why it has you rethinking Caliban? 1w

merelybookish @Gezemice Yes everything is resolved quite quickly! 1w

merelybookish @TheBookHippie I found myself like Prospero more in this final act probably because of the language. And because he wasn't necessarily being a jerk to anyone..but still I get it! He's only being nice because he got what he wanted. 1w

merelybookish @GingerAntics is is possible we never agree on these plays? 🤔😛 1w

merelybookish @Lcsmcat Very good point! I did expect a more forceful takedown of his brother! It's also hard.to.imagine Prospero returning to be Duke of Milan. Still in power but without any magic to aid him. Are we supposed to feel he is.weary of the burden? 1w

GingerAntics @Graywacke lol to each their own. I‘m sure I have some favourites the baffle others. I‘m glad you enjoyed it. 1w

merelybookish @MoonWitch94 Glad you could join us! To be clear, I liked the play which is not the same as liking Prospero. I get that he is a controlling ass. Still, he's fascinating. And can put together a pretty speech! 😀 1w

Graywacke @merelybookish 😂 I haven‘t read Bloom but it was a good essay. He discards Caliban‘s colonial aspects (which is weird) and focuses in on other aspects. Is Caliban human? Is he Prospero‘s failure since he could be trained in language but not in morality? Is the attempted rape, underplayed by critics, the key aspect of Prospero‘s failure with Caliban? That kind of thing. And he digs into choice parts of the text regarding him. And...👇 1w

GingerAntics @Gezemice maybe. The language was nice. I guess I was so annoyed by Prospero, any time he speaks is like the teacher on Charlie Brown so I totally lose Shakespeare‘s wonderful writing. 🤷🏼‍♀️ 1w

Graywacke @merelybookish and Bloom notes that Caliban is one of the bards most distinct creations, along the lines of Falstaff. 1w

GingerAntics @merelybookish lol could be. I think we‘ve agreed on a few at some point. I think we all end up liking something slightly different about Shakespeare, so in the end we agree sometimes and disagree other times. 1w

Graywacke @merelybookish i‘m remembering more. As Ariel is wind and fire, Caliban is water and earth. And the earth part is in a quote...👇 1w

Graywacke @merelybookish PROSPERO
Shake it off. Come on;
We'll visit Caliban my slave, who never
Yields us kind answer.
MIRANDA
'Tis a villain, sir,
I do not love to look on.
PROSPERO
But, as 'tis,
We cannot miss him: he does make our fire,
Fetch in our wood and serves in offices
That profit us. What, ho! slave! Caliban!
Thou earth, thou! speak.
CALIBAN
[Within] There's wood enough within. 1w

merelybookish @Graywacke Oh man, OF COURSE Bloom discards the colonial angle! 🙄 Now I remember why we ignored him in grad school. He represented the kind of literary critic who doesn't want to sully art by involving things like politics. It is interesting to see Caliban as one of Shakespeare's most original creations. But I think that's in part because he is writing an other (a colonial subject) and still imbuing him with some complex humanity. 1w

Graywacke @merelybookish hmm Too much posting by me. Sorry. There‘s the curses. Caliban as powerless except for uttering toothless curses. “You taught me language, and my profit on‘t
Is, I know how to curse. ” 1w

Graywacke @merelybookish 👍 That fits on this Bloom essay and, of course, on Caliban‘s originality (edited) 1w

TheBookHippie @Graywacke right?!?! 🤣 I need to reread with new eyes yet again. 1w

merelybookish @Graywacke Hmmm. I do think the attempted rape is important. And I don't know if it's intended to justify how Caliban is treated or to be seen as proof of his savagery. Still it's hard for me.not to read Caliban as a victim too. 1w

TheBookHippie @merelybookish I did not like him at all 🙄😭🤷🏽‍♀️😜 he is what we call an asshat. Probably why people don‘t like the play he can really grate on one. @GingerAntics 1w

merelybookish @Graywacke Never too much posting! I appreciate it. And find Caliban the Crux of this play in many ways. Plus I'm fascinated by how much my own reading of him has changed..I think as an undergraduate, I would have accepted Bloom's interpretation. But now the issue of colonialism is too glaring. Also,.I'm still unclear on Caliban's fate in the end. Does.he get to stay on the island? 1w

merelybookish @GingerAntics Agreed! Shows there's something for everyone with the old Bard! 😄 1w

TheBookHippie @GingerAntics Prospero reminds me of trump 🤮 1w

Graywacke @merelybookish i can‘t overlook the colonial aspect too. It‘s so there. But it‘s hard to see that and other issues too. And for the moment I see Caliban as a victim first, Prospero is the real failure, if you like. And - the bard doesn‘t tell us Caliban‘s fate. 😕☹️ (edited) 1w

GingerAntics @TheBookHippie that is a GREAT way to put it. That‘s that best comparison. 1w

GingerAntics @merelybookish exactly! That‘s why he‘s so awesome! 1w

batsy Thank you for hosting! It's been a great readalong with everyone's comments and the discussion. That we don't know what happens to Caliban kind of frustrates me, as well. I don't know if Prospero gets redemption, as such, which makes the ending a bit darker than I expected. 1w

batsy I'm still mulling over the depiction of Caliban & the rape issue, as well. Rape at the time being less about the violation of women & more about the "theft" of the property of another man. The action is vile, but I'm not sure if Shakespeare meant for it to be read as a particular quality of the "native savage", or as a sign of just how disobedient Caliban is to attempt to rape the daughter of his (self-declared) master. Ugh on all counts, tho ? 1w

erzascarletbookgasm I love reading everyone‘s comments. Interesting and insightful. On the surface this seems a ‘happy‘ ending? Prospero got back his duke title (or rather demands it) and forgives all his betrayers; Alonso reunited with Ferdinand who will be marrying Miranda.. but we don‘t know the fate of Caliban? I assume he‘ll be free once Prospero returns to Milan. Vague ending. 1w

erzascarletbookgasm One thing that I find ‘weird‘ or caught my attention..why the heck were Miranda and Ferdinand playing chess ♟ of all things?! 1w

merelybookish @erzascarletbookgasm Yes! Agreed! When I went looking for artwork for this act, most of the pictures were of them playing chess. 🤷 Is it some reference to them developing the necessary skills as future politicians? 1w

Gezemice @erzascarletbookgasm Yeah, I thought that was a bit odd, too. I think he was meant to show they were together and playing an innocent passtime - being in love but also obediently virtuous. Chess must have been well known at the time. 1w

Graywacke @merelybookish Harold Bloom passed away yesterday. RIP... 1w

Graywacke This morning I started reading James Baldwin‘s No Name in the Street and he is describing his perspective of the then French attitude towards Algerians (in the 1950‘s). The language: “unable to civilize”, “couldn‘t trust”, “in a word they were rapists”. Caliban. It‘s somehow more deeply disheartening with this play in mind. 1w

merelybookish @Graywacke That's weird! Haven't thought about Harold.Bloom in years! I went on Twitter and then I read about his sexual harassment. 🙁 6d

merelybookish @Graywacke I can see how that would be jarring..how long those stereotypes live on! 6d

Graywacke @merelybookish per Bloom - oye. 6d

jewright @Graywacke Wow, I remember citing Harold Bloom in a lot of papers, but I haven‘t thought about him in a long time. (edited) 6d

merelybookish @jewright I know! @graywacke and I had a conversation him in relation to the Tempest. And next day, he died. But like you, he hadn't crossed my mind in 10+ years.🤨 6d

Graywacke @merelybookish @jewright a strangely timed conversation, indeed. And now I know he‘s both worth reading and really flawed. He‘s not the only one, of course. Authors make a strange bunch. 4d

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batsy

The Tempest | William Shakespeare

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A marvellous play; it dazzled & enchanted me even if certain parts were frustrating. Many layers at work re: the nature of magic/art, philosophy, politics & underneath it all, the ugly aspects of society that when seen through modern eyes can't be explained away (patriarchal power, colonialism, racism). Shakespeare is always interesting because in a lot of his plays these opposing forces & tensions are constantly in argument. #shakespearereadalong

batsy @merelybookish 1w

Cathythoughts Such a lovely review, you have a way with words Suba ♥️beautifully put 1w

batsy @Cathythoughts You're so sweet, Cathy! Thank you ❤️ 1w

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QuintusMarcus There are some awesome movie adaptations, if you are interested. Prospero‘s Books is superb but hard to find; the 2010 movie with Helen Mirren as Prospero is also excellent. 1w

merelybookish Wonderful review! As you say, so many relevant themes and SO MUCH brilliant language. The last act blew me away. Thanks for joining us for another #shakespearereadalong! And I'm still up to read the Cesaire version. Just need to get a copy. 1w

erzascarletbookgasm Fabulous review! I need to read the last Act but I know I‘m liking it more than Midsummer. 1w

Graywacke ❤️ your review. Marvelous and frustrating indeed. 1w

rohit-sawant Been meaning to check out this and King Lear for sometime now. Will definitely try and get to this sooner after your brilliant review! 🙌🏼 1w

readordierachel Great review 💙 1w

batsy @QuintusMarcus I'd love to check these out, thank you for the recs! I'd forgotten about Helen Mirren's Prospero! 1w

batsy @merelybookish Thank you! My copy of Cesaire's play recently arrived so just let me know when you want to read it, I'm good to go. This is one of those plays that's making me seek out supplementary reading. 1w

batsy @erzascarletbookgasm @Graywacke @readordierachel Thank you, friends! 1w

batsy @rohit-sawant Thanks Rohit, this is to me one of his more memorable ones & it's quite amazing to see how he pulls it off. Join us for the King Lear readalong if you want :) 1w

rohit-sawant @batsy I'd love that! 1w

batsy @rohit-sawant It'll be hosted by @GingerAntics next :) Would you like her to tag you for the schedule and updates when she posts? 1w

rohit-sawant @batsy Absolutely, looking forward to it. 😀 1w

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merelybookish

King Lear | William Shakespeare

What do you do when you have no time to read? Buy more books, of course! Stopped at Goodwill today for boots for my son and instead got the next
📚#shakespearereadalong pick
📚In Cold Blood (in case @readordierachel and @batsy and I get around to reading it. 😁)
📚A pretty copy of The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie

LeahBergen That IS a pretty edition of Spark! 1w

Chrissyreadit In Cold Blood is amazing! 1w

batsy I was just thinking about In Cold Blood today 😁 @readordierachel 1w

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Aimeesue Lovely Spark! Obviously la crème de la crème. (edited) 1w

readordierachel Very pretty copy! And, yes, I still want to read In Cold Blood one of these days! 😃 @batsy 1w

Reviewsbylola In Cold Blood is fantastic! 1w

merelybookish @readordierachel @batsy Want to try for nonfiction November? 1w

merelybookish @Chrissyreadit @Reviewsbylola I have only ever heard raves! Need to bump it to the top of the #TBR 1w

merelybookish @LeahBergen @Aimeesue Thanks! Creme de la.creme indeed! 😁 1w

batsy @merelybookish @readordierachel Yes! Let's do it 🙂🤞🏽 1w

readordierachel @batsy @merelybookish I'm down! 1w

merelybookish @batsy @readordierachel okay! It's on!! Let's make it loose, anytime in November! I'll make a post and see if anyone else wants to join. Of course, we may be the only people who haven't read this classic yet. 😆 1w

readordierachel @merelybookish Sounds great!👍🏼 1w

batsy Wonderful! Thank you :) 1w

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