Parable of the Sower - Octavia E. Butler, Damian Duffy & John Jennings (graphic novel)

I was expecting something less unfinished.

Last year I reviewed on Goodreads Duffy's adaptation of Kindred and, although I hadn't read the original book that graphic novel is based on, it made me curious about picking it up in the near future. I had a similar —yet not as good— experience with this one.

However, although I know I received an advanced copy, the unfinished illustrations made it quite difficult for me to follow the narrative thread. I should point out that they were colorless —and sometimes faceless— drafts and, there being so many characters, sometimes it was impossible to fathom who was speaking to whom. Again, I know this is an ARC, but reviewers should at least be able to distinguish one character from another, and I think they should have waited to have that aspect somewhat deducible before releasing it for review.

Moreover, I felt that the dialogue and overall text was overly simplified to make it a shorter and faster read, I felt there was much information and context missing.

I will definitely be reading the original Parable of the Sower, though, because, if I enjoyed most of the story in spite of all the above, I’m sure I will love the full version.

Thank you Netgalley and ABRAMS for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Rating: 2.5 out of 5 stars

Original language: English

Language read: English 

Publisher: ABRAMS

Edition: ebook

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/43908991-parable-of-the-sower

My review of the Kindred adaptation: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2832636556

Heavier than Heaven - Charles R. Cross

ENGLISH REVIEW
(scroll down to see the review in Spanish // Reseña en español debajo)

I have mixed feelings about this biography.

On the one hand, I noticed that several anecdotes were incomplete or "trimmed", or had no atibuted source. That gave me the impression that the idea was for those stories to be understood in a certain way, in order to make the suicide version and evidence more feasible. As many others point out in their reviews, the author takes a significant creative license when narrating the last period before Kurt's death, and he takes for granted facts and actions that are impossible to prove have happened in that way, because supposedly nobody was in the crime scene when whatever happened happened.

Now, on the other hand, it is clear that Cross did a detailed and thorough investigation. Also, even though I read it translated into Spanish, it is written in a way that made it almost compulsive for me to keep reading.

And finally, I want to point out that this is not the updated version that went on sale recently, so I don't know if they managed to amend those things that bothered me in any way. As soon as I have the opportunity to read that new appendix, I will add it to this review.

Do I recommend it? Definitely.

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Original language: English

Language read: Spanish
Publisher: DEBOLS!LLO

Edition: paperback

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1325482.Heavier_Than_Heaven

RESEÑA EN ESPAÑOL

(Scroll up to see the review in English // Reseña en inglés arriba)

Tengo sentimientos encontrados acerca de esta biografía.

Por un lado, noté que varias anécdotas estaban incompletas o "recortadas", o carecían de fuente, y me dio la impresión de que la idea era que sonaran de cierto modo, para hacer que "cerrara" un poco más la versión y los datos del suicidio. Como dijeron muchos otros en sus reseñas el autor, se toma una licencia importante en cuanto al último período anterior a la muerte de Kurt, y da por sentado hechos y secuencias de actos que son imposibles de probar, porque se supone que nadie estaba en ese lugar cuando sucedió lo que sea que haya sucedido.

Ahora, por otro lado, es evidente que Cross hizo una investigación minuciosa y completa. Además, a pesar de que la leí traducida al español, está escrita de una manera que se convirtió en una lectura casi compulsiva para mí, y no veía la hora de volver a agarrar el libro para seguir leyendo.

Y, por último, quiero destacar que esta no es la versión actualizada que salió a la venta hace poco, así que no sé si lograron enmendar de alguna manera esas cosas que me molestaron. En cuanto tenga la oportunidad de leer ese apéndice nuevo, lo voy a agregar a esta reseña.

¿La recomiendo? Definitivamente.

Estrellas: 4 de 5 

Idioma original: inglés 

Idioma de lectura: español (traducción de Ángeles Leiva)
Editorial: DEBOLS!LLO

Edición: tapa blanda

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/43601.Heavier_Than_Heaven_Kurt_Cobain_La_Biograf_a