As You Like It (Manga Shakespeare Edition)

So this hurricane did a doozy on everyone didn't it? It legit just chilled in the Bahamas. Didn't move at all. For DAYS. Insane. 

It didn't not go to Alabama. It was never going to go to Alabama. Anyone with a brain would note that. 

Everything is flooded here but I have internet now so that's exciting enough. I've also got an emergency meeting with my volunteer group tonight to mobilize for the food pantry and homeless shelter in the area. So I'm not sure how these posts are going to go up. I might just try an catch up on all my sub-boxes. 

For this book, it's a Shakespeare work of course (slightly abridged) but written using manga/graphics/comics. I love this type of work because I think it's a great way for people to be introduced to Shakespeare. 

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Title:  As You Like It (Manga Shakespeare Edition)
Author: William Shakespeare; illustrated by Chie Kutsuwada, adapted by Richard Appignanesi
Page Number: 208 pages (paper back)
Genre: Classic book, Manga, Graphic Novel, Fiction, Romance
Publisher: Self Made Hero; Harry N. Abrams
​Year: 2008

In As You Like It, Rosalind, dressed like a boy, falls in love with Orlando. A mistaken-identity comedy follows, with a happy ending (or the ultimate justice served) for those who deserve it. ​

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I've mentioned before (in my review of Much Ado About Nothing and The Secret Diary of Lizzie Bennet) that I really like retellings and trans-media concepts of older works. These aren't new ideas (theater and puppet-shows, etc.) but I like newer media (like Vlogs) being brought into this as well. 

I didn't get into Shakespeare in high school or even college until I had to finish my requirements for a degree with an advanced literature class. The only option available to me was an advanced class on Shakespeare. I groaned but signed up. I had such a great teacher who really managed to make the class come alive (without anything other than lectures and books) but I came away LIKING Shakespeare. I prefer his comedies over all else but I'll read his histories without qualms...noting that they are propagandist at the core. 

 The artwork here is quite nice and I believe the illustrator has worked on other Manga Shakespeare works. The publisher website has a link to Chie Kutsuwada's website and more images from the book. 

Here's the thing about this graphic novel. It's great...for personal enjoyment. It's abridged (otherwise this thing would be over 1000 pages) and probably won't help you pass a class. Obviously, you should read Shakespeare in it's original format but if you need a refresher this is fine. If you're more visual...watch a play. I think these are a nice introduction to all types of readers though. They aren't meant to help you pass an advanced English class though. For example, the setting is the same yet it's now Japan (still a forest, but in Japan). 

If we're going through all of Shakespeare's comedies, As You Like It isn't one of my top favorites. It's decent enough and it can be fun to watch but it's not the best. ​Richard Appignanesi does explain the plot in a summary at the back of the book in case the Elizabethan verbiage is too hard to follow and he does a good job with the segues and the plotting. The overall structure remains the same as the original (less monologues though). 

Shakespeare is old enough to be out of copywrite, so this play is available online for free if you want to read the original. Also, the resource from Shakespeare's Birthplace Trust has a summary ("Rosalind and her cousin escape into the forest and find Orlando, Rosalind's love. Disguised as a boy shepherd, Rosalind has Orlando woo her under the guise of "curing" him of his love for Rosalind. Rosalind reveals she is a girl and marries Orlando during a group wedding at the end of the play") and a more detailed Act by Act summary. The Royal Shakespeare Company also has a page with summary and explanations, as this play is one of the more popular plays for the average theater goer. 

I didn't go too indepth here because I kinda feel odd about posting images from graphic novels. The plot is the same but the story is shorter (most of the monologues have been cut or shortened). This is the play with the famous monologue "All the World's a Stage." This book is great for those who enjoy graphic novels, retellings, want a short reintroduction to the work or want to introduce advanced younger readers to Shakespeare (I say advanced because the writing is Shakespeare).