One
of the best scenes in the book is when Andre is twelve and a friend of his father's
is driving him to school. The friend obviously thinks Andre is a lot older than
he is. Since the friend doesn't realize that Andre is only twelve, he asks
Andre if he wants a cigarette. This is the first time I've ever read about a
twelve year old being mistaken for an adult. I really understood the comedic direction
the book was going after this scene.
I
don't think that the Andre The Giant in the book looks like the real Andre The Giant, but
it's ok because I think he's supposed to look cartoonish. I really like the cartoony style. It's simple yet pleasing to the eye. When he's holding bottles that are dwarfed in comparison to his hand it shows you what everyday life is like for him. The simple art helps you concentrate on the main focus of the picture, unlike a picture that shows every detail of a setting.
I
think this book is appropriate for all ages, but I think only ages 12 and above
would enjoy or
As a long-time fan of Princess Bride and Andre the Giant, I was excited to see this graphic biographical novel exists! Thank you for a concise, descriptive account - did you borrow a copy from the library? If you own it, I'd love to read it!
ReplyDeleteYes, I look forward to sharing it with my son, also a huge fan of the Princess Bride. And I agree about the "cartoony" graphics, I like them, but they don't look like Ander. I wonder if people ever just called him Andre, instead of the whole descriptive name... As always, enjoyed your review!
ReplyDelete"from age 12 to age dead." OMG, you kill me. :)
ReplyDeleteWas the friend Samuel Beckett of "Waiting For Godot" fame? He used to drive Andre to school because he couldn't fit on the bus.
I didn't even know this book existed. Can't wait to read it. But this is still the definitive Andre the Giant biography if you ask me... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=krJhmTxG11w
ReplyDeleteMilo, I agree with you; the simple graphics are just right. Can you believe that by the time he was 12, he was 6 feet and 3 inches tall? No wonder he was mistaken for an adult. I think I am going to watch The Princess Bride again. Thanks for the review.
ReplyDeleteHi Milo,
ReplyDeleteI was excited to read your review, as I was able to read a shorter version of the book the author made into a zine a few years ago--I really enjoyed it, and I'm glad to hear that the book has been published! I agree with what you said about the simple drawing style--it was representative rather than being super-detailed, but it suits the subject matter well. Have you seen The Princess Bride, and did you like it?
I am sad to say I don't know much about Andre the Giant except his over sized presence in "The Princess Bride". Guess I need to read the book, which you so graciously reviewed.
ReplyDeleteHere's a bit of Princess Bride trivia and the video has a bit of Andre memories and memorabilia.
http://laughingsquid.com/the-princess-bride-cast-reunites-celebrates-films-25th-anniversary/
Keep up the good work.
sandye
Good reading thiss post
ReplyDelete