Never too Late to Read Classics discussion

Shirley Jackson's "The Lottery": The Authorized Graphic Adaptation by Miles Hyman

The classic short story--now in full color

Shirley Jackson's "The Lottery" continues to thrill and unsettle readers nearly seven decades after it was first published. By turns puzzling and harrowing, it raises troubling questions about conformity, tradition, and the specter of ritualized violence that haunts even the most bucolic, peaceful village. This graphic adaptation, published in time for Jackson's centennial, allows readers to experience "The Lottery" as never before, or discover it anew. The visual artist--and Jackson's grandson--Miles Hyman has crafted an eerie vision of the hamlet where the tale unfolds, its inhabitants, and the unforgettable ritual they set into motion. His four-color, meticulously detailed panels create a noirish atmosphere that adds a new dimension of dread to the original tale. Perfectly timed to the current resurgence of interest in Jackson and her work, Shirley Jackson's "The Lottery": The Authorized Graphic Adaptation masterfully reimagines her iconic story with a striking visual narrative.

I just put a copy on hold at the library. They have 6 copies and 0 holds, and only one of those copies is checked out.
So I should be able to get it relatively quickly. That story has stayed with me for years.

I’m glad you could locate a copy quickly, Rosemarie. Hopefully with this particular graphic novel being adapted only a few years ago in 2016 it won’t be hard for members who’d like to read it to find a copy.

Fun fact! I just noticed that this version of Jackson’s story adapted by Miles Hyman won the 2017 Solliès Comics Festival’s Best Adult Graphic Novel award in France.

Enjoy everyone!!

Thanks, Patrick! I’m planning to dive into this over the weekend.

I’m sitting down to read this right now. Anyone have thoughts on it yet or on the original story by Shirley Jackson?

As I began reading the preface, I noticed a very cool factoid about this graphic adaptation of the classic story — the author, Miles Hyman, is Shirley Jackson’s grandson! No wonder why this is classified as “the authorized graphic adaptation”!

I'm getting my library copy tomorrow, but I do remember the original story outline, but not the details.

Rosemarie, I will tell you that much of the details in this adaptation are in the artwork. Hyman did a wonderful job there.

I wonder if Suzanne Collins took her idea for the reaping in The Hunger Games from this story.

There is also a novel, Battle Royale by Koushun Takami. I wouldn't be surprised if both novels used that story as inspiration.

I have just finished the story-it's a creepy and unpleasant story with amazing art work.

The purpose and meaning of the whole lottery is left a little ambiguous, too, which adds to the creepy factor.