sarahelainereads's review against another edition
3.0
As a lover of Hamilton, the Broadway musical (because, hello, who doesn't love it??) I was completely on board with this book from the moment I laid eyes on it! And boy, did I enjoy it! Whether you're a fellow Hamiltrash member or you just love history, I'm sure you'll enjoy this book!
The visuals were very well done and the story of Alexander Hamilton was told very creatively on these colorful pages. Sometimes, all of the pictures became just a tad overwhelming; there are a lot of images jammed on to one page. But if you want to spruce up your reading and go for a bit of comic book style, this is the book for you.
Would recommend to: people who enjoy history, illustrations, and comics.
The visuals were very well done and the story of Alexander Hamilton was told very creatively on these colorful pages. Sometimes, all of the pictures became just a tad overwhelming; there are a lot of images jammed on to one page. But if you want to spruce up your reading and go for a bit of comic book style, this is the book for you.
Would recommend to: people who enjoy history, illustrations, and comics.
amysutton's review against another edition
4.0
Overall, this was a really nice biography that kind of expanded into the political content from the musical while not quite going into all of the details of the 800 page Chernow biography. Like the book, this biography focuses more on the American Revolution and Continental Congress proceedings which I really like. I love the musical, but if you’re looking for less about Hamilton’s personal affairs and more about his existence in the grand scheme of the creation of our country, then this is definitely a great read.
Positives and Negatives:
+ I love how they used actual quotes from pamphlets and letters to piece together dialogue.
+ The information in this was great! At times it felt like they had copied word for word from Chernow…. But I think that could be a good thing? Assuming they had permission.
+ I really liked how information was given about the state of affairs in the world. Even though this was a biography on Hamilton, I learned a lot about the other countries fighting in the Revolution.
+ The focus on the political negotiations after the war was very detailed. That is one of the most fascinating time periods to me, so I loved getting to revisit all of the strategy behind the conventions.
- The art was kind of awful. The scenery, backdrops, layouts, and coloring were all very nicely done, but the actual illustrations were sloppy and many times characters didn’t look the same from frame to frame. At one point I felt like a detective - “Well, Laurens had a ponytail in the last frame so I guess this is a close up ofa potato Laurens?”.
- The pacing at the end was a bit abrupt.
I was given an ebook from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Positives and Negatives:
+ I love how they used actual quotes from pamphlets and letters to piece together dialogue.
+ The information in this was great! At times it felt like they had copied word for word from Chernow…. But I think that could be a good thing? Assuming they had permission.
+ I really liked how information was given about the state of affairs in the world. Even though this was a biography on Hamilton, I learned a lot about the other countries fighting in the Revolution.
+ The focus on the political negotiations after the war was very detailed. That is one of the most fascinating time periods to me, so I loved getting to revisit all of the strategy behind the conventions.
- The art was kind of awful. The scenery, backdrops, layouts, and coloring were all very nicely done, but the actual illustrations were sloppy and many times characters didn’t look the same from frame to frame. At one point I felt like a detective - “Well, Laurens had a ponytail in the last frame so I guess this is a close up of
- The pacing at the end was a bit abrupt.
I was given an ebook from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
ljrinaldi's review against another edition
4.0
If you are looking for the Hamilton musical in this, you won't it here. That is not a bad thing. Just a caveat. This graphic novel is a very well researched story of what we know about Alexander Hamilton, as well as what we don't know. Because he was ashamed of his past, there is very little reference to what came before he came to the American colonies. If he wrote about it later, or if others did, or if there was a court case, then we have the documentation, otherwise, we can only speculate, and speculate is what this story does. And it explains that it is doing it. If something is not know, the author states that as well.
A lot of Hamilton's life, was of course, wrapped around the American revolution, as well as the building of American that took place after that. If you get bored with battles and theory's and politics, then this graphic history might not interest you, but if you want to know about his life, there are some interesting bits, such as how he had an extra-marital affair, was blackmailed by the husband of the woman, and then had to defend himself because he was bieng accused of graft.
Interesting, though heavy reading. But well written. Would recommend it to people who want, if not the lighter version of history, perhaps a more accessible version.
Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.
A lot of Hamilton's life, was of course, wrapped around the American revolution, as well as the building of American that took place after that. If you get bored with battles and theory's and politics, then this graphic history might not interest you, but if you want to know about his life, there are some interesting bits, such as how he had an extra-marital affair, was blackmailed by the husband of the woman, and then had to defend himself because he was bieng accused of graft.
Interesting, though heavy reading. But well written. Would recommend it to people who want, if not the lighter version of history, perhaps a more accessible version.
Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.
taylorstakeoff's review against another edition
4.0
Full review up on taylorelizareads.wordpress.com Wednesday August 30, 2017
cloudwriter's review against another edition
3.0
I read this in preparation of seeing the musical, hoping for an interesting biographical narrative. What I got instead was a history lesson in the graphic novel format, and, as others have said before me in their reviews here, I‘m not absolutely sure the graphic novel is the best format for this subject. There was a lot of interesting text, and while I liked that quotes were put into speech bubbles of cartoon verions of the historic people who said them, I felt that there was too little narrative non-fiction to warrant the format.
However, the author goes into great detail, enlightening at places some of the facts that I already knew, whereas in other instances he left me confused.
However, the author goes into great detail, enlightening at places some of the facts that I already knew, whereas in other instances he left me confused.
sammah's review against another edition
3.0
Note: I received an eARC of this graphic novel from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review!
First off, I will preface this with what others before me have said: if you are a big fan of Hamilton: An American Musical and are looking for some sort of extended illustration contend, this is not the droid you are looking for.
If you are, however, a lover of both history and graphic novels (like me!) then this just might be well suited for you! I must first of all stress that the art was beautiful! I really loved all of the visuals, and I thought they well suited the story. While it was a bit dry now and then, I think that's to be expected. It is, after all, being written about a historical figure from a time in history that, while very exciting, was also itself sort of dry. A lot was happening, but it was also all very political in nature. Politics can always be a bit blasé, but it was all very necessary to the story of our ten dollar founding father
It filled in a few gaps and bits that were left out of the musical, without the daunting task of picking through a thick biographical tome. It was just right for someone who wants to learn more about Alexander Hamilton, but who may be a bit strapped for time. It was all just fun to read, at least for me. Maybe that's a history buff thing, I can't speak for everyone, but I did enjoy it!
First off, I will preface this with what others before me have said: if you are a big fan of Hamilton: An American Musical and are looking for some sort of extended illustration contend, this is not the droid you are looking for.
If you are, however, a lover of both history and graphic novels (like me!) then this just might be well suited for you! I must first of all stress that the art was beautiful! I really loved all of the visuals, and I thought they well suited the story. While it was a bit dry now and then, I think that's to be expected. It is, after all, being written about a historical figure from a time in history that, while very exciting, was also itself sort of dry. A lot was happening, but it was also all very political in nature. Politics can always be a bit blasé, but it was all very necessary to the story of our ten dollar founding father
It filled in a few gaps and bits that were left out of the musical, without the daunting task of picking through a thick biographical tome. It was just right for someone who wants to learn more about Alexander Hamilton, but who may be a bit strapped for time. It was all just fun to read, at least for me. Maybe that's a history buff thing, I can't speak for everyone, but I did enjoy it!
bowienerd_82's review against another edition
3.0
At times a bit biased, and it glanced over a number of important parts of Hamilton's life, but still a pretty well put together graphic novel biography. Honestly, I think my biggest complaint was that I wasn't much of a fan of the art, and a number of characters looked almost nothing like their existing portraits.
But this is probably a good alternative for those who aren't into reading giant, lengthy biographies, and for the most part it actually holds together thematically.
But this is probably a good alternative for those who aren't into reading giant, lengthy biographies, and for the most part it actually holds together thematically.
calistareads's review against another edition
3.0
This was a long read. It is very detailed and in-depth. It wasn't really fun either. It was a slough in some ways. Then again, the information was interesting.
I'm not sure if the is about Ron Chernov's Hamilton or not. Hamilton was quite a figure. It goes into details about his life from beginning to end. He made our banking system and he helped hold our country together. He started some poor practices with corporations that only got worse too. He is a very grey figure. He did good things and not good things. It is no doubt that he helped found this country more than most at the time. He was a force in our country for better or worse.
I'm glad I read this, it's just there is a ton of dialogue. I know more now than I did before reading it.
I'm not sure if the is about Ron Chernov's Hamilton or not. Hamilton was quite a figure. It goes into details about his life from beginning to end. He made our banking system and he helped hold our country together. He started some poor practices with corporations that only got worse too. He is a very grey figure. He did good things and not good things. It is no doubt that he helped found this country more than most at the time. He was a force in our country for better or worse.
I'm glad I read this, it's just there is a ton of dialogue. I know more now than I did before reading it.
sethsam's review against another edition
5.0
A fantastic, deeply researched graphic history of a complicated and fascinating American patriot. Highly recommended.
jilljemmett's review against another edition
3.0
Alexander Hamilton was born in the West Indies in the 1700s. His mother died when he was young and his father abandoned him. He wished for a war to start, so he could make a name for himself in the world. Years after arriving in America he got his wish. He fought alongside George Washington to make America an independent country. Following that, he became a lawyer and polititian.
This story tells about the early America, under the influence of Hamilton. He is just a part of the narrative. It tells about things happening around his life, but not just about him.
The graphics are really nice in this book. Each frame shows a different place, from South America to New York. They are great depictions of the time period.
There wasn’t enough dialogue in this book for me. The only speech parts were taken from real quotes. Graphic novels can be great teaching tools for young readers, but there was so much narrative and not enough story, so I think kids would get bored. Just because it’s a historical story, doesn’t mean it has to be boring and just state the facts. It could tell the story in an exciting way to entertain as well as teach, but I don’t think this story did that. It felt like more of an essay with pictures than a graphic novel.
This story tells about the early America, under the influence of Hamilton. He is just a part of the narrative. It tells about things happening around his life, but not just about him.
The graphics are really nice in this book. Each frame shows a different place, from South America to New York. They are great depictions of the time period.
There wasn’t enough dialogue in this book for me. The only speech parts were taken from real quotes. Graphic novels can be great teaching tools for young readers, but there was so much narrative and not enough story, so I think kids would get bored. Just because it’s a historical story, doesn’t mean it has to be boring and just state the facts. It could tell the story in an exciting way to entertain as well as teach, but I don’t think this story did that. It felt like more of an essay with pictures than a graphic novel.