A Contract With God
by Will Eisner
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other reviews (showing 1-20 of 256)
Read in March, 2008
recommends it for:
Comics readers, literary readers
The black and white print pulls some of the childishness out of the blocky art style that was very similar to simple cartoons of its time. It alternates between panels and storybook-style pages, and the first story in particular has a very storybookish narrative, even though its subject matter is intensely grave. The eponymous story, "A Contract with God," deals with the worst pain in religious life - not the loss of faith in God's existence, but coming to hate Him. It's written with e...more
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Read in June, 2008
recommended to Dan by:
Leerecommends it for: Graphic Novel Fans, Comic Afficionados, Jews
This is credited with being the first graphic novel. It is a collection of four stories, set during the 30s in the Tenements on the fictional Dropsie Ave in the Bronx. The four stories are:
1) A Contract with God
The story of a Hassidic Jew who's adopted daughter dies, partially autobiographical about Will Eisner's daughter.
2) The Street Singer
The story of a wino who sings in the alleys behind Tenements.
3) The Super
The sto...more
1) A Contract with God
The story of a Hassidic Jew who's adopted daughter dies, partially autobiographical about Will Eisner's daughter.
2) The Street Singer
The story of a wino who sings in the alleys behind Tenements.
3) The Super
The sto...more
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Read in March, 2008
recommends it for:
fans of the non-violent sides of Stray Bullets and Scorcese
Considered to be the first graphic novel, this tells the story - in 4 parts - of New York circa the Great Depression. The characters are caricatures of lives from Eisner's past, and while it is a primarily Jewish neighborhood, I think anyone with a brain and heart pumping blood, etc can identify with the scenese painted here. It tackles those subjects that stuff like "The Wire" still tries (and fails) to capture today - those sinews that bind each life together, and ultimately keep th...more
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Read in July, 2008
recommends it for:
fans of Jewish history
I read this for a course I'm taking at the local library in July about Jewish literature, identity and imagination - the course is being taught solely through graphic novels. So far, the course is terrible, but this book was intriguing. Since I'm not Jewish, I didn't have a ton of context behind my reading. I found the main story to be allegorical - man is good, makes a contract with god, which all Jews have from birth. Life takes a bad turn, man loses faith and, in the story, literally toss...more
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Read in July, 2007
recommends it for:
searchers
Eisner himself admits in his multiple introductions to this volume that "A Contract With God" was in some ways an experiment which led him to develop the skills he'd use in a far more serious way on "Dropsie Avenue." "Dropsie Avenue" is indeed the superior work.
That caveat out of the way, "A Contract With God" is one of the more moving, deep, and visually surprising graphic novels ever, despite it being the first. The writing is sensitive, empathetic...more
That caveat out of the way, "A Contract With God" is one of the more moving, deep, and visually surprising graphic novels ever, despite it being the first. The writing is sensitive, empathetic...more
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Read in March, 2008
recommended to Gloria by:
Librarianrecommends it for: Graphic novel enthusiasts
My first graphic novel is ... well, the first graphic novel. I accidentally stumbled upon this book which I learned is credited with launching the graphic novel genre. It compelling illustrates the lives of Jewish immigrants in New York during the Great Depression and war relocation years. It reminds us of the strong will to survive that we all hold within us, and reminds us how your world can turn upside down quickly.
The artwork definitely transported me right to the tenement neighborhood d...more
The artwork definitely transported me right to the tenement neighborhood d...more
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Read in August, 2008
I'm not very knowledgable when it comes to the graphic novel, but I've been helping our local public library on a program on Jewish literature and the form, and this was our first book, so we met last night for an utterly enjoyable discussion group. My own feelings were that the visuals were well suited to the Jewish quarrel with God theme in the title story. The first three pieces have the same basic structure: an unlikable character goes through a tragic/ugly/seedy experience only to end up on...more
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Huh well color me underwhelmed. I mean it's fine, the art is beautiful and the parables are reasonably clever (aside from the one about the Pedophilic Nazi Superintendent and the predatory girl that one plays like the strangest EC Comic ever written).
But well its all a little on the nose.
Not exactly what I was expecting from what is supposed to be one of the greatest comics of all time.
But well its all a little on the nose.
Not exactly what I was expecting from what is supposed to be one of the greatest comics of all time.
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1 comments
Read in October, 2007
recommends it for:
people
I like this pretty much in the altogether, except for the last story about people making whoopie in the country. My favorite story was probably the one about The Super. The drawings were great--really drippy and droopy, with dopey looking women abounding. Fast-paced but not breakneck. I can see why people make such a big deal of it, I think.
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apa yang membedakan sebuah "comic book" dengan "graphic novel"? tidak ada! Eisner menunjukkan kepada dunia, inilah "seni gambar bertautan" yang selama ini hanya kita kenal lewat tokoh-tokoh super berpakaian ketat. Kedua istilah itupun semakin baur, karena buku ini bahkan kemudian menembus batas antara "novel sastra" dan "comic book".
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Read in September, 2007
just a very simple, haunting book. the illustrations are deceiving--at first, they seem fairly elementary (especially when compared with the hyper-vivid inking of current graphic novels) but there's so much more there, a sadness, a quiet attention to incredible detail. they are, at times, more powerful than the stories themselves.
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Read in September, 2008
This is the graphic novel that started it all, when Will Eisner decided to illustrate four stories about life that took place in and around one tenement in the Bronx and leave the superheroes out of it.
Heart-wrenching and soulful moral tales, this is a must-read for anyone who loves graphic novels.
Heart-wrenching and soulful moral tales, this is a must-read for anyone who loves graphic novels.
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Read in August, 2007
My husband had me read this one as part of his living in the Bronx educational series.
It's pretty depressing and I didn't enjoy reading it, but I know that it's historically important and it is well written.
It's pretty depressing and I didn't enjoy reading it, but I know that it's historically important and it is well written.
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Eisner is the grandfather of the graphic novel, and this is his first major work. Many of the stories are dreary and cathartic. There aren't many happy endings, but every story rings true.
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Read in September, 2008
Quick, easy, very well put together. Revolutionary at the time (apparently, I wasn't there), which I believe as I think I've read echoes of this in Gaimen and others.
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Read in January, 2007
Powerful semi-autobiographical story of Will Eisner. The first book to ever received the title "graphic novel."
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Considered the first graphic novel, this is one of the best by the master, Will Eisner.
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Read in November, 2007
This wasn't what I expected it to be. A bunch of depressing stories about ugly people.
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Read in January, 2008
This graphic novel is an ambitious, honest look at Jewish life in and around New York.
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Read in February, 2007
a didn't know a graphic novel could be like this. wow.
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