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The Great Gatsby: A Graphic Novel Adaptation
A sumptuously illustrated adaptation casts the powerful imagery of F. Scott Fitzgerald's great American novel in a vivid new format.
From the green light across the bay to the billboard with spectacled eyes, F. Scott Fitzgerald's 1925 American masterpiece roars to life in Katharine Woodman-Maynard's exquisite graphic novel--among the first adaptations of the book in this genre. Painted in lush watercolors, the inventive interpretation emphasizes both the extravagance and mystery of the characters, as well as the fluidity of Nick Carraway's unreliable narration. Excerpts from the original text wend through the illustrations, and imagery and metaphors are taken to literal, and often whimsical, extremes, such as when a beautiful partygoer blooms into an orchid and Daisy Buchanan pushes Gatsby across the sky on a cloud.
This faithful yet modern adaptation will appeal to fans with deep knowledge of the classic, while the graphic novel format makes it an ideal teaching tool to engage students. With its timeless critique of class, power, and obsession, The Great Gatsby Graphic Novel captures the energy of an era and the enduring resonance of one of the world's most beloved books.
From the green light across the bay to the billboard with spectacled eyes, F. Scott Fitzgerald's 1925 American masterpiece roars to life in Katharine Woodman-Maynard's exquisite graphic novel--among the first adaptations of the book in this genre. Painted in lush watercolors, the inventive interpretation emphasizes both the extravagance and mystery of the characters, as well as the fluidity of Nick Carraway's unreliable narration. Excerpts from the original text wend through the illustrations, and imagery and metaphors are taken to literal, and often whimsical, extremes, such as when a beautiful partygoer blooms into an orchid and Daisy Buchanan pushes Gatsby across the sky on a cloud.
This faithful yet modern adaptation will appeal to fans with deep knowledge of the classic, while the graphic novel format makes it an ideal teaching tool to engage students. With its timeless critique of class, power, and obsession, The Great Gatsby Graphic Novel captures the energy of an era and the enduring resonance of one of the world's most beloved books.
240 pages, Paperback
First published January 5, 2021
211 people are currently reading
1582 people want to read
About the author
K. Woodman-Maynard
2 books44 followersK. Woodman-Maynard is an author, illustrator, and comics coach who explores acceptance and self-expression through her watercolor comics.
Her next graphic novel is an adaptation of the beloved classic Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbitt. It received starred reviews from both Kirkus, who called it “as wise and wonderful as the original,” and School Library Journal, who described it as “a must for any graphic novel collection.”
Her debut, an adaptation of THE GREAT GATSBY, was called "hugely rewarding" by the The Wall Street Journal and was featured in the The New York Times, The Guardian, and Times Literary Supplement.
She’s a graduate of Harvard University where she studied animation and worked for many years as a designer. She has a weekly Substack called Creating Comics where she encourages artists to create more and feel less bad about themselves in the process.
Her next graphic novel is an adaptation of the beloved classic Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbitt. It received starred reviews from both Kirkus, who called it “as wise and wonderful as the original,” and School Library Journal, who described it as “a must for any graphic novel collection.”
Her debut, an adaptation of THE GREAT GATSBY, was called "hugely rewarding" by the The Wall Street Journal and was featured in the The New York Times, The Guardian, and Times Literary Supplement.
She’s a graduate of Harvard University where she studied animation and worked for many years as a designer. She has a weekly Substack called Creating Comics where she encourages artists to create more and feel less bad about themselves in the process.
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October 13, 2020
This is a beautiful graphic-novel adaptation of The Great Gatsby that does justice to its source material and is a worthy companion. K. Woodman-Maynard's illustrations are exquisite, with a dreamy quality that evokes the elegance of the era and of Fitzgerald's rich setting.
I especially liked how she reinforced the personalities of Daisy and Tom with the shape of their speech balloons. Daisy's are cloud-like, with wisps that wind and curl; in a part where she's drunk, the balloons are a little messier. By contrast, the speech bubbles of her domineering husband, Tom, are box-shaped, with sharp points. Dialogue is neatly printed and clear; there's never any mistaking who's talking. Woodman-Maynard printed the actual text in creative ways, such as along a driveway or vertically along drapes.
Readers should take time to read the author's note at the end. Here, Woodman-Maynard talks of her impressive research, which ranged from studying cars to the fashion of the era. With this said, she didn't aim for exact verisimilitude; her illustrations pull from other eras and her own imagination. There's a careful continuity throughout, however, and had she not explained such creative liberties, I wouldn't have known.
She also makes clear that this isn’t a literal interpretation of the novel. She speaks glowingly of The Great Gatsby, encouraging any readers who haven’t read the source material to do so. As much as the graphic-novel format works for this story, it did limit her and she was unable to highlight all of The Great Gatsby’s themes. As she says,
Some readers may object to the changes Woodman-Maynard made, but she achieved what I believe she set out to do: create a loving homage to a favorite novel. I could continue to praise this graphic novel, but I'll stop with some personal high praise: I’m not a fan of the source material, yet I, someone who very rarely rereads anything--and never anything I disliked--was intrigued enough by Woodman-Maynard’s creation that I’d take a second look at The Great Gatsby.
NOTE: I received this as an advance reader copy from LibraryThing in September 2020. As always with ARCs, this didn't affect my rating and review.
I especially liked how she reinforced the personalities of Daisy and Tom with the shape of their speech balloons. Daisy's are cloud-like, with wisps that wind and curl; in a part where she's drunk, the balloons are a little messier. By contrast, the speech bubbles of her domineering husband, Tom, are box-shaped, with sharp points. Dialogue is neatly printed and clear; there's never any mistaking who's talking. Woodman-Maynard printed the actual text in creative ways, such as along a driveway or vertically along drapes.
Readers should take time to read the author's note at the end. Here, Woodman-Maynard talks of her impressive research, which ranged from studying cars to the fashion of the era. With this said, she didn't aim for exact verisimilitude; her illustrations pull from other eras and her own imagination. There's a careful continuity throughout, however, and had she not explained such creative liberties, I wouldn't have known.
She also makes clear that this isn’t a literal interpretation of the novel. She speaks glowingly of The Great Gatsby, encouraging any readers who haven’t read the source material to do so. As much as the graphic-novel format works for this story, it did limit her and she was unable to highlight all of The Great Gatsby’s themes. As she says,
My goal was to capture the mood of The Great Gatsby, and so there are a few areas where I took more artistic license than others. For example, I reordered certain scenes so that they better suit the pacing of the graphic novel . . .Maynard-Woodman also purposely omitted Nick’s anti-Semitic view of Meyer Wolfshiem:
Nick’s depiction of Meyer Wolfshiem is especially difficult. Although both Wolfshiem and Gatsby engage in illegal activity and are essentially gangsters, Gatsby is described as a mythic and beautiful character while the depiction of Wolfshiem is an anti-Semitic caricature of a Jewish mobster.Maynard-Woodman resolved this challenge by illustrating Wolfshiem in such a way that his intimidating and mysterious personality remains intact; that he is Jewish isn’t emphasized.
Some readers may object to the changes Woodman-Maynard made, but she achieved what I believe she set out to do: create a loving homage to a favorite novel. I could continue to praise this graphic novel, but I'll stop with some personal high praise: I’m not a fan of the source material, yet I, someone who very rarely rereads anything--and never anything I disliked--was intrigued enough by Woodman-Maynard’s creation that I’d take a second look at The Great Gatsby.
NOTE: I received this as an advance reader copy from LibraryThing in September 2020. As always with ARCs, this didn't affect my rating and review.
May 10, 2021
This is a really beautiful adaptation of The Great Gatsby; the seamless blend of the art and text was something I've never seen in a graphic novel, to the point where the text felt as if it had movement and was flowing along with the story. While the art was beautiful and vibrant, it seemed to directly mirror certain shots in the 2013 film adaptation, which left me a bit confused as to why it looked exactly like the movie when this adaptation could have made its own spin on the tale.
Putting the art aside, this book was incredibly fast-paced and sometimes threw me off, and I've read The Great Gatsby more times than I can count. Scenes jumped from one to the next and it rushed the already quick classic to the point where it felt like a race against time.
I'm not sure what readers would think of this novel if they haven't read the classic before, but I think it would leave them with a lack of connection to these horrid characters that the original text captured so well
Putting the art aside, this book was incredibly fast-paced and sometimes threw me off, and I've read The Great Gatsby more times than I can count. Scenes jumped from one to the next and it rushed the already quick classic to the point where it felt like a race against time.
I'm not sure what readers would think of this novel if they haven't read the classic before, but I think it would leave them with a lack of connection to these horrid characters that the original text captured so well
February 14, 2021
I do not like the original novel. I did not like The Great Gatsby: The Graphic Novel, the other adaptation I read a few months ago. So of course I read this newest adaptation when it came into my library, because I hate myself that much.
This one is a bit laughable with the artist adapting Fitzgerald's metaphors into actual illustrations: look at Daisy and Jordan float, look at the orchid that is also an actress. The green light looks like the Emerald City of Oz sitting on the horizon. Also, she decided to excise the antisemitic depiction of Meyer Wolfsheim (whom she calls Meyer "Wolfshiem," which I cannot tell is part of removing his Jewish roots or a simple typo), while leaving in all of Tom Buchanan's white supremacist diatribes -- because it's okay to offend Black people but not Jewish people? Huh?
Anyway, the original novel is now in the public domain so I suppose I'll be hate reading a few more of these before too long.
This one is a bit laughable with the artist adapting Fitzgerald's metaphors into actual illustrations: look at Daisy and Jordan float, look at the orchid that is also an actress. The green light looks like the Emerald City of Oz sitting on the horizon. Also, she decided to excise the antisemitic depiction of Meyer Wolfsheim (whom she calls Meyer "Wolfshiem," which I cannot tell is part of removing his Jewish roots or a simple typo), while leaving in all of Tom Buchanan's white supremacist diatribes -- because it's okay to offend Black people but not Jewish people? Huh?
Anyway, the original novel is now in the public domain so I suppose I'll be hate reading a few more of these before too long.
May 31, 2020
I love this surreal interpretation of The Great Gatsby. It is an easy way to introduce us to this wonderful novel. It is not an exact representation of the novel but K. Woodman Maynard knew how to perfectly capture each of the characters in a beautiful way.
4.5 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐💫
Thanks to netgalley and Candlewick Press for this Arc copy in exchange for a honest review
4.5 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐💫
Thanks to netgalley and Candlewick Press for this Arc copy in exchange for a honest review
December 26, 2021
This is the second comics adaptation that I have read this week of F. Scott Fitzgerald's masterpiece The Great Gatsby, a book I will work read in January 2022 with some prospective English teachers, This book is a visual rendering of the text that may be useful to readers to help them better visualize the text themselves, perhaps. Of course we have two films that are historically used in conjunction with teaching this classic in the schools--the Redford and DiCaprio--versions, but this is a shorter, punchier version that leaves out much of the language of the text, focusing mostly on (in the writing) the dialogue and (in the illustration) key images of the text. And that is perhaps inevitable i a comics adaptation. But I think this is still a good way to help readers into the book, as one interpretation.
February 14, 2025
"I walked away and left him standing there in the moonlight- Watching over nothing."
The Great Gatsby is truly a wonderful novel and an even more wonderful graphic novel. With beautiful pictures made of watercolors and sunsets and sundowns.
I truly do apply this book for being as rich and as meaningful as it is and as sad and as heartbreaking as it can be.
The main characters aren't told by the main point of view which is such a clever thing.
Truly a work of art and literature
The Great Gatsby is truly a wonderful novel and an even more wonderful graphic novel. With beautiful pictures made of watercolors and sunsets and sundowns.
I truly do apply this book for being as rich and as meaningful as it is and as sad and as heartbreaking as it can be.
The main characters aren't told by the main point of view which is such a clever thing.
Truly a work of art and literature
April 11, 2021
Hate the original. This was better because I really liked the artwork, but geez all of these people are just horrible.
Read
January 2, 2021I MUCH prefer the original, but can see how some might enjoy this graphic novel version, especially those that find the original text too daunting.
**Note: I received an advanced copy for review from the publisher via Netgalley.
**Note: I received an advanced copy for review from the publisher via Netgalley.
May 29, 2020
Every time I teach juniors, I always make sure to sign up for "The Great Gatsby," but it's not always the most accessible text for all students. The kids who can read it usually enjoy it greatly; those that struggle to read it, hate it greatly. Our department provides graphic novels as options for those kids to get the classics in a more digestible way. Graphic novel adaptations of the classics can be hit or miss, as most teachers can attest. But Woodman-Maynard's adaptation of "Gatsby" has a lot to offer the classroom teacher.
The author sticks to the original text for the most part, obviously cutting some parts of the novel out. What has been added doesn't stray too far from the story. There were a few minor rearrangements of events, but nothing that took away from the author's (probable) original intent too much. The only issue I had was the omission of the description of T.J. Eckleburg, which is crucial for some of the main themes. The artistic portrayal of the billboard wouldn't make the themes and connections apparent to lower-level readers either. The author does mention that there were some themes that weren't as evident in the adaptation for the sake of the format, but this arguably could have added one more page (or even a small little panel or two when it first pops up). I will say that other than this, I couldn't find anything else that was cut that would have made it more difficult to teach this the way I teach the original novel. I was expecting some of the less "famous" quotes to be missing, but I was happily surprised.
I enjoyed the watercolor artwork of this text, even though I wasn't completely mad about the character illustrations. The splash pages were especially noteworthy, and I think even if I don't adopt the whole novel for classroom instruction, I'll certainly buy it to use some of the full page illustrations for some scenes. There's also a few scenes that portray the self-confessed struggle Woodman-Maynard had in depicting the events of the original from the perspective of the unreliable narrator, Nick. I think those would be great discussion starters when teaching the original as well.
The author sticks to the original text for the most part, obviously cutting some parts of the novel out. What has been added doesn't stray too far from the story. There were a few minor rearrangements of events, but nothing that took away from the author's (probable) original intent too much. The only issue I had was the omission of the description of T.J. Eckleburg, which is crucial for some of the main themes. The artistic portrayal of the billboard wouldn't make the themes and connections apparent to lower-level readers either. The author does mention that there were some themes that weren't as evident in the adaptation for the sake of the format, but this arguably could have added one more page (or even a small little panel or two when it first pops up). I will say that other than this, I couldn't find anything else that was cut that would have made it more difficult to teach this the way I teach the original novel. I was expecting some of the less "famous" quotes to be missing, but I was happily surprised.
I enjoyed the watercolor artwork of this text, even though I wasn't completely mad about the character illustrations. The splash pages were especially noteworthy, and I think even if I don't adopt the whole novel for classroom instruction, I'll certainly buy it to use some of the full page illustrations for some scenes. There's also a few scenes that portray the self-confessed struggle Woodman-Maynard had in depicting the events of the original from the perspective of the unreliable narrator, Nick. I think those would be great discussion starters when teaching the original as well.
July 4, 2023
If any book can truly lay claim to the title “The Great American Novel,” it’s The Great Gatsby. Fitzgerald created characters and a model for telling the story of American life that continue to be fresh and generative for more stories and a deeper understanding of this country. But it’s not just the overarching structure that makes the book a classic—it’s also the micro level of every choice of word and phrasing. If you took out any page at random and gave no other context, Gatsby would be instantly recognizable.
But this is a review of a graphic novel adaptation, and because the original novel is so verbal, it never translates perfectly to any other medium. In this adaptation, Woodman-Maynard’s illustrations are beautiful—vibrant, whimsical, well-suited to the story. I especially love her literal picturing of Fitzgerald’s metaphorical imagery, such as Daisy and Jordan floating about the sofa, or Gatsby’s house literally falling like a house of cards. Woodman-Maynard crafts a wonderfully impressionistic overview of the basic story of the novel.
Unfortunately, because this adaptation omits so much of Fitzgerald’s language, and so many scenes are either absent or rearranged, the graphic novel is only an impression of the original. It doesn’t give me the feeling of having lived through the story with these characters, which is so important in “getting” Gatsby. It all goes by too quickly, but to the characters themselves, these few months felt like eternity itself. The graphic novel adaptation, then, ends up being only a too-quick tour of some of the important moments in the story, rendered in stunning, colorful watercolors.
But this is a review of a graphic novel adaptation, and because the original novel is so verbal, it never translates perfectly to any other medium. In this adaptation, Woodman-Maynard’s illustrations are beautiful—vibrant, whimsical, well-suited to the story. I especially love her literal picturing of Fitzgerald’s metaphorical imagery, such as Daisy and Jordan floating about the sofa, or Gatsby’s house literally falling like a house of cards. Woodman-Maynard crafts a wonderfully impressionistic overview of the basic story of the novel.
Unfortunately, because this adaptation omits so much of Fitzgerald’s language, and so many scenes are either absent or rearranged, the graphic novel is only an impression of the original. It doesn’t give me the feeling of having lived through the story with these characters, which is so important in “getting” Gatsby. It all goes by too quickly, but to the characters themselves, these few months felt like eternity itself. The graphic novel adaptation, then, ends up being only a too-quick tour of some of the important moments in the story, rendered in stunning, colorful watercolors.
July 19, 2020
I love The Great Gatsby. I mean - it's been 7 years since I've read the book but I remember really enjoying it. This graphic novel adaptation was a bit off for me. The art is beautiful, I love the watercolor feel but the placement (and font) of the text was a bit off. Some of the quotes just seemed out of place or didn't make sense, I had to reread some of the pages a couple times to understand the context.
Overall - it's pretty but I wouldn't keep it on my shelf...
Review copy provided by the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Overall - it's pretty but I wouldn't keep it on my shelf...
Review copy provided by the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
January 18, 2023
apparently i forgot to mark this as read last year
September 13, 2022
I've had this book on my TBR for a long time since I absolutely loved The Great Gatsby when I first read it for school.
The art is really nice in this story. I love this style and the use of colors throughout the book. It really suits the era as well as the story itself.
That said, as someone who has read The Great Gatsby but isn't super familiar with the plotline (it's been a few years...), I think the overall story is a little confusing. Some of the jumps from scene to scene didn't fully portray what was happening, in my opinion. Maybe it would make more sense if I was very familiar with the original story, but for someone who hasn't read it in awhile or at all, there might be a lot of confusion.
Similarly, I really liked the use of the art metaphors (like Daisy and Jordan floating), but it was something that, again, confused me initially. Not being super familiar with the original story and not realizing what intent behind the design, I spent a few moments on that page trying to figure out what I was missing.
Overall, great artwork that suits a great story, but it's probably better if you're very familiar with the original novel.
The art is really nice in this story. I love this style and the use of colors throughout the book. It really suits the era as well as the story itself.
That said, as someone who has read The Great Gatsby but isn't super familiar with the plotline (it's been a few years...), I think the overall story is a little confusing. Some of the jumps from scene to scene didn't fully portray what was happening, in my opinion. Maybe it would make more sense if I was very familiar with the original story, but for someone who hasn't read it in awhile or at all, there might be a lot of confusion.
Similarly, I really liked the use of the art metaphors (like Daisy and Jordan floating), but it was something that, again, confused me initially. Not being super familiar with the original story and not realizing what intent behind the design, I spent a few moments on that page trying to figure out what I was missing.
Overall, great artwork that suits a great story, but it's probably better if you're very familiar with the original novel.
February 20, 2021
Oh look, new day, new Gatsby adaptation for me to read and gush over.
Though this obviously doesn't come close to the original (and I did prefer the other graphic novel), I definitely enjoyed this. It's Gatsby, how could I not? I will say that the author took more liberties than others have done (some, like removing the gross anti-Semitism, work, while others dip into the absurd - but the author's note explained the reasons and it did do its job of depicting Gatsby's fantasy-esque, dream-like world he created). The colors, the way the text inches along in the clouds or up the walls of Gatsby's mansion, I was right there the entire time.
Though this obviously doesn't come close to the original (and I did prefer the other graphic novel), I definitely enjoyed this. It's Gatsby, how could I not? I will say that the author took more liberties than others have done (some, like removing the gross anti-Semitism, work, while others dip into the absurd - but the author's note explained the reasons and it did do its job of depicting Gatsby's fantasy-esque, dream-like world he created). The colors, the way the text inches along in the clouds or up the walls of Gatsby's mansion, I was right there the entire time.
July 9, 2023
Gorgeous! A delight to read. The drawings really brought this classic to life, made it breath. Woodman-Maynard did a fantastic job, made it looked easy (which I’m sure it was not). LOVED!
April 6, 2022
I think the art is lovely, but it didn’t feel as impactful as the actual novel, it hits all the base points but doesn’t hit all of the complex emotions of the characters. Overall enjoyable; but I’d rather read the book.
December 25, 2022
⭐️⭐️⭐️.5/5
As someone who has never read the original Great Gatsby novel, some of this book went over my head a bit and I found the story a bit odd… Saying that though, I very much did enjoy reading this adaptation. The art style is so unique, and I loved all the colours and different ways the text was displayed!
Reading this definitely gave me an interest in reading the original F. Scott Fitzgerald novel, so we’ll see what happens.
As someone who has never read the original Great Gatsby novel, some of this book went over my head a bit and I found the story a bit odd… Saying that though, I very much did enjoy reading this adaptation. The art style is so unique, and I loved all the colours and different ways the text was displayed!
Reading this definitely gave me an interest in reading the original F. Scott Fitzgerald novel, so we’ll see what happens.
February 7, 2026
Currently reading Gatsby again with my class and was handed this graphic novel. It is absolutely beautifully illustrated and captures the best moments of the book. A perfect companion to the novel.
November 3, 2025
Stunning images, however I think I just don’t like the story! But the colours and the art made the book so dream like and sweet, I loved that
January 17, 2021
Full Review on The Candid Cover
3.5 Stars
The Great Gatsby adapted by K. Woodman-Maynard is a great way to make The Great Gatsby more accessible in a graphic novel format. I enjoyed the slight changes the author makes to the source material, and the art style makes elements such as mood and symbolism much easier to understand. However, I also felt as though the story is rushed, and the art also makes the text difficult to read at times. Despite this, I still appreciated what the book accomplishes in terms of making The Great Gatsby easier to digest.
This book is a graphic novel adaptation of The Great Gatsby that makes the classic story more appealing for a modern audience. I always love to see classics being made more accessible, and the visual form of this book does a great job of this. This is an adaptation, so of course it is not identical to the source material, but I found it mostly faithful, and I liked the changes that the author did make. However, I also found the story a bit rushed, and the events happen so quickly that there is not much time to process them. The original novel is also quite short, which may have influenced this, but this makes the story hard to follow, and I’m not sure I would recommend this one for those who are unfamiliar with the original story.
❀ GORGEOUS ART
The art style of this graphic novel is gorgeous, and I loved the use of watercolours. This style feels light, and it makes all the literary elements of the novel much clearer. I particularly enjoyed the way the colours reflect the mood of each scene and how the shapes of the text bubbles match each of the characters’ personalities. I also appreciated the use of quotes from the original that stand out.
❀ MUTED COLOURS
That being said, I also think the art style can be considered a weakness. The placement of the quotes, while visually appealing, can be difficult to read because of their intricate shapes. These more eloquent quotes also contrast with the short, simple sentences in the dialogue, which breaks the flow of the story. I am also unsure if the use of watercolours really do Gatsby’s lavish parties justice, as the colours in this book are more muted.
❀ CONFUSING TO READ
I appreciate the efforts of the graphic novel, The Great Gatsby by K. Woodman-Maynard, to make the original story more accessible to today’s audience. This adaptation follows the source material closely, and I enjoyed the moments where the author strayed from it. However, I am still unsure how I feel about this book as a whole. I enjoyed the art style’s ability to make literary elements more obvious, but at times, the story can be difficult to read and confusing. I would recommend this one to those who already know and love The Great Gatsby, as an addition to their collection.
3.5 Stars
The Great Gatsby adapted by K. Woodman-Maynard is a great way to make The Great Gatsby more accessible in a graphic novel format. I enjoyed the slight changes the author makes to the source material, and the art style makes elements such as mood and symbolism much easier to understand. However, I also felt as though the story is rushed, and the art also makes the text difficult to read at times. Despite this, I still appreciated what the book accomplishes in terms of making The Great Gatsby easier to digest.
This book is a graphic novel adaptation of The Great Gatsby that makes the classic story more appealing for a modern audience. I always love to see classics being made more accessible, and the visual form of this book does a great job of this. This is an adaptation, so of course it is not identical to the source material, but I found it mostly faithful, and I liked the changes that the author did make. However, I also found the story a bit rushed, and the events happen so quickly that there is not much time to process them. The original novel is also quite short, which may have influenced this, but this makes the story hard to follow, and I’m not sure I would recommend this one for those who are unfamiliar with the original story.
❀ GORGEOUS ART
The art style of this graphic novel is gorgeous, and I loved the use of watercolours. This style feels light, and it makes all the literary elements of the novel much clearer. I particularly enjoyed the way the colours reflect the mood of each scene and how the shapes of the text bubbles match each of the characters’ personalities. I also appreciated the use of quotes from the original that stand out.
❀ MUTED COLOURS
That being said, I also think the art style can be considered a weakness. The placement of the quotes, while visually appealing, can be difficult to read because of their intricate shapes. These more eloquent quotes also contrast with the short, simple sentences in the dialogue, which breaks the flow of the story. I am also unsure if the use of watercolours really do Gatsby’s lavish parties justice, as the colours in this book are more muted.
❀ CONFUSING TO READ
I appreciate the efforts of the graphic novel, The Great Gatsby by K. Woodman-Maynard, to make the original story more accessible to today’s audience. This adaptation follows the source material closely, and I enjoyed the moments where the author strayed from it. However, I am still unsure how I feel about this book as a whole. I enjoyed the art style’s ability to make literary elements more obvious, but at times, the story can be difficult to read and confusing. I would recommend this one to those who already know and love The Great Gatsby, as an addition to their collection.
January 28, 2021
Like many Americans, I first ready The Great Gatsby in high school. However, unlike most of my classmates it became one of my favorite novels. And now that the novel is in the public domain I am looking forward to some creative retellings. To that end, Graphic Novelist, K. Woodman-Maynard has presented a beautiful and faithful adaptation of the original work. The story was perfectly pared down to suit the medium, all while keeping much of the metaphors and imagery intact. One of the most noticeable changes was taking out the anti-Semitic and racist scenes and descriptions. In the afterward Woodman-Maynard discusses her reasoning behind removing them. These parts of the novel are important for discussion, but are not important to the plot and so there absence doesn't take away from the story.
Aside from the story, the most amazing part of this adaptation was the art. The characters look like they stepped out of an advertisement from the 1920s. The color pallet, the lines and the movement of the characters complimented their personalities and role in the story. And the paneling and text placement were well thought out and just added to the feel of the book. This book would be a great addition when reading The Great Gatsby for school, it helps the reader visualize the metaphors in a way that helps understanding without taking the place of the original text. Honestly I loved everything about this adaptation - which is a rare thing for me.
Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
Aside from the story, the most amazing part of this adaptation was the art. The characters look like they stepped out of an advertisement from the 1920s. The color pallet, the lines and the movement of the characters complimented their personalities and role in the story. And the paneling and text placement were well thought out and just added to the feel of the book. This book would be a great addition when reading The Great Gatsby for school, it helps the reader visualize the metaphors in a way that helps understanding without taking the place of the original text. Honestly I loved everything about this adaptation - which is a rare thing for me.
Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
September 30, 2020
Thanks so much to Library Thing, Candlewick Press, and K. Woodman-Maynard for an advanced copy of this graphic novel!
I loved it! I was worried that it would lose so much as I have seen happen with other book to GN adaptation. I would definitely recommend reading the original novel before the graphic novel so that you can fully enjoy the gorgeous language and other nuances. However, K. Woodman-Freeman has done a wonderful job in keeping the important as well as subtle points of the story so that anyone can grasp it, first time or no.
The art is GORGEOUS!! Woodman-Freeman has especially nailed what I always pictured Daisy to be. I loved seeing her interpretations of first meetings, of Eckleberg, of everything. My copy is in black and white, but Candlewick Press was gracious enough to include a pamphlet containing a few pages of the finished artwork. It is STUNNING!! The colors and style are PERFECT for the time and setting of the novel, and I am very tempted to pick up a copy when it comes out!
I loved it! I was worried that it would lose so much as I have seen happen with other book to GN adaptation. I would definitely recommend reading the original novel before the graphic novel so that you can fully enjoy the gorgeous language and other nuances. However, K. Woodman-Freeman has done a wonderful job in keeping the important as well as subtle points of the story so that anyone can grasp it, first time or no.
The art is GORGEOUS!! Woodman-Freeman has especially nailed what I always pictured Daisy to be. I loved seeing her interpretations of first meetings, of Eckleberg, of everything. My copy is in black and white, but Candlewick Press was gracious enough to include a pamphlet containing a few pages of the finished artwork. It is STUNNING!! The colors and style are PERFECT for the time and setting of the novel, and I am very tempted to pick up a copy when it comes out!
November 2, 2021
I really liked this adaptation of one of my favorite books! It was a little confusing at times, so you would definitely have to know the original novel fairly well before reading this. The art was decent but I was hoping for more facial expression; there wasn't much detail in the artwork. However, for whatever reason, this depiction of Fitzgerald's novel gave me a new perspective to the story- a more negative opinion of Daisy and Gatsby. When I read the original novel, I was overwhelmed with contempt for Tom (let's face it, he deserves all the hate); however, in this graphic novel my negative opinion extended to cover Daisy's selfishness and Gatsby's naivety and dishonesty. The story is a tragedy from cover to cover, and I don't think the graphic adaptation quite captured that, but nevertheless it was a nice synopsis. Why is The Great Gatsby my favorite book? I have no idea.
February 13, 2026
This was an interesting medium to share Gatsby in. I loved the color scheme and the way fonts were used in many different methods and directions to tell the story.
My biggest complaint was that many iconic sections and quotes were cut out.
If I had never read Gatsby, this one would be hard to get the depth of the story.
This felt as if it were a bit more of an ode to the movie version, rather than the original novel.
3.5 Stars, rounded up
My biggest complaint was that many iconic sections and quotes were cut out.
If I had never read Gatsby, this one would be hard to get the depth of the story.
This felt as if it were a bit more of an ode to the movie version, rather than the original novel.
3.5 Stars, rounded up
May 2, 2021
Gorgeous illustrations and color, but too choppy to capture the beauty of the entire novel. Maybe a nice supplement or maybe an introduction to readers before they read the original.
January 23, 2021
Although my life is nothing like that depicted in F. Scott Fitzgerald's classic novel, frequently taught in high school English classes, I have always loved this book. Perhaps I was fortunate to read it on my own and not as part of the ELA curriculum many years ago. Because of my fondness for the original book, I approached this graphic novel adaptation with more than a little trepidation. "Do we really need a graphic version of Gatsby?" I asked myself. "How could anyone do justice to all the themes and scenes and descriptions of that book?" Well, as it turns out, es, we did, and yes, this story works in this format since the artist captures the era in which Jay Gatsby and Daisy Buchanan lived quite well, and this book only added to my appreciation for the original work. There is no way that all of the themes explored in the novel could fit into this version, but the artist chose scenes as well as colors wisely, and with the word balloons that contained the book's dialogue, managed to depict the characters perfectly. For instance, Daisy's words are contained in wispy, feathery balloons, and she's every bit as dreamy and frothy and oh, so desirable as she was depicted in the original story. She and Jordan Baker float above a couch in one scene, and the mansions of East Egg and West Egg are surreal, almost like wedding cakes come to life. One of my favorite scenes concerns Gatsby's wonderous library, and another favorite--a double-page spread on p. 225--contains my favorite quote from the book, summing up how individuals like Tom and Daisy Buchanan live their lives, leaving wreckage behind them for others to clean up: "They were careless people, Tom and Daisy. They smashed up things and creatures and then retreated back into their money. Or their vast carelessness. Or whatever it was that kept them together, and let other people clean up the mess they made..." (p. 225). The illustration, partially covering two pages, shows Tom and Daisy blithely tripping into the future as they climb over that wreckage with not a care in the world. As with the original book, it is hard to know what to make of Nick and his trustworthiness about everything he sees, a point the illustrator mentions in the back matter. I'm still undecided about him since there are so many moments in which he contradicts himself, but I am enthusiastic about this graphic version of the book, which has captured the sights, sounds, and feel of the 1920s with so much hedonism and disregard for anyone else's needs. Gatsby's obsession with Daisy, his own path to success, and his single-minded pursuit of the woman he lost are riddled with so many cracks as well as self-delusion that it still breaks my heart to watch this tragedy with all its twists, turns, lies, and omissions, unfold. High school English teachers would do well to use this adaptation in support of the original book even though much, including several powerful descriptions, have been omitted.
April 30, 2021
I love The Great Gatsby. For my money it’s one of the few classics that really lives up to its designation, through the timeless themes of the class distinctions, unmet romantic expectations and the failure of the American dream and the sheer beauty of the language. The story has been adapted in many different formats over the years, graphically and cinematically, to different degrees of success and this graphic adaptation is definitely on the higher end of that spectrum.
The watercolor drawings, the forgoing of the traditional panel structure, the clever use of space and gravity and equally clever allocation of text amid the scenery and tailored to it added up to a lovely sum total that manages to convey the very soul of the novel and to do so astoundingly in just 60 minutes of reading time. Granted, Gatsby isn’t a huge book, but you got to appreciate that level of conciseness.
It wasn’t exactly my favorite sort of art personally, but it worked really well here, the author made a number of interesting and smart choices that really paid off, utilizing the very best aspects of the book, right down to that legendary ending.
On a side note, having recently read Farris’ Nick, almost managed to forget what a sh*te Nick actually is in the original. A spineless milquetoast of an observer who professes his nonjudgemental values and then proceeds to judge the living daylights out of everyone around him, especially Gatsby himself. Makes Nick a very different version of the traditional unreliable narrator. Which is to say he tells the truth, but colors it very heavily with his own perspective. But at any rate, Gatsby still shines and the careless people are still every so brutally caress.
Anyway…this was lovely. A very enjoyable revisit for a beloved book. Maybe it’ll manage to bring new readership to the story. If you ever wanted to read a book, but were put off by the lack of pictures or amount of words, here’s your chance. If you already love the book, you’ll enjoy this on an entirely different level. Recommended.
This and more at https://advancetheplot.weebly.com/
The watercolor drawings, the forgoing of the traditional panel structure, the clever use of space and gravity and equally clever allocation of text amid the scenery and tailored to it added up to a lovely sum total that manages to convey the very soul of the novel and to do so astoundingly in just 60 minutes of reading time. Granted, Gatsby isn’t a huge book, but you got to appreciate that level of conciseness.
It wasn’t exactly my favorite sort of art personally, but it worked really well here, the author made a number of interesting and smart choices that really paid off, utilizing the very best aspects of the book, right down to that legendary ending.
On a side note, having recently read Farris’ Nick, almost managed to forget what a sh*te Nick actually is in the original. A spineless milquetoast of an observer who professes his nonjudgemental values and then proceeds to judge the living daylights out of everyone around him, especially Gatsby himself. Makes Nick a very different version of the traditional unreliable narrator. Which is to say he tells the truth, but colors it very heavily with his own perspective. But at any rate, Gatsby still shines and the careless people are still every so brutally caress.
Anyway…this was lovely. A very enjoyable revisit for a beloved book. Maybe it’ll manage to bring new readership to the story. If you ever wanted to read a book, but were put off by the lack of pictures or amount of words, here’s your chance. If you already love the book, you’ll enjoy this on an entirely different level. Recommended.
This and more at https://advancetheplot.weebly.com/
April 2, 2021
2.5 ish
Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a free digital copy of this book for exchange for an honest review. All thoughts are my own.
This graphic novel really just missed the mark for me. I read the original novel in January, so the novel and story line were still fresh in my mind, and reading this I found some inconsistencies. The art was very beautiful and well done. The illustrations' tone and colours did fit the tone of the graphic novel.
The graphic novel as a whole just fell flat and felt kind of disingenuous. It felt like a very superficial and basic telling of the story. A lot of the important parts were left out and there was not as much emotion that is in the book.
There isn't really much to say other than just meh
Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a free digital copy of this book for exchange for an honest review. All thoughts are my own.
This graphic novel really just missed the mark for me. I read the original novel in January, so the novel and story line were still fresh in my mind, and reading this I found some inconsistencies. The art was very beautiful and well done. The illustrations' tone and colours did fit the tone of the graphic novel.
The graphic novel as a whole just fell flat and felt kind of disingenuous. It felt like a very superficial and basic telling of the story. A lot of the important parts were left out and there was not as much emotion that is in the book.
There isn't really much to say other than just meh
July 3, 2025
I liked reading the author’s note at the end where she talks about some of what she changed/omitted and why. I’ve been loving the great gatsby for the past year so when I saw this at the library and flipped to a random page and saw a line straight from the original text “‘what’ll we do with ourselves this afternoon and the day after that and the next thirty years?’” I immediately plucked it from the shelf and whisked it away with me. I didn’t use this as a substitute for the great gatsby nor did I use this as an instructional material in a classroom, so my rating really reflects more of the fact that I like this story and love consuming it in new ways (this is number 4 for me lol maybe one day I’ll even watch one of the movies but idk). I like that they have different speech bubbles and how flowy Daisy’s was
January 11, 2021
K. Woodman-Maynard's graphic adaptation of The Great Gatsby captures the essence of F. Scott Fitzgerald's masterpiece. The art reinforces some of the most notorious aspects of the story, the characters are nicely depicted and the adaptation of the original story is well summarised.
It's been 8 years since I read The Great Gatsby, so when I saw this graphic novel adaptation I was quite curious to see how it was, and I'm glad I requested it.
Thanks to Candlewick Press and NetGalley for providing me with this e-arc in exchange for my honest review.
It's been 8 years since I read The Great Gatsby, so when I saw this graphic novel adaptation I was quite curious to see how it was, and I'm glad I requested it.
Thanks to Candlewick Press and NetGalley for providing me with this e-arc in exchange for my honest review.
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