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isabellabruno's review against another edition
fast-paced
3.0
I really appreciated how the author illustrator researched Andres life to create this book. I hadn't realized how little to truth might be available to understand Andre, so I'm grateful for the opening essay and the closing citations!
johnnymacaroni's review against another edition
4.0
I gave this to my husband for his birthday yesterday and I basically read it in one sitting. Though I am not a wrestling fan who doesn't love Andre? This is a fascinating story with intriguing insights into the world of wrestling. Expertly told as a graphic novel, it really works since wrestling is so visual and Andre was so big. It's also quite a sad story.
erincataldi's review against another edition
4.0
I've always been a huge fan of Andre the Giant, ever since I discovered The Princess Bride as a child. This graphic novel pieces together Andre's life and it comes apparent pretty quickly that it wasn't all rosy. Andre was ridiculed as a child, and when he finally made it to the doctor as an adult he was told that with his condition he wouldn't live past 40. Despite all the odds, he made a career in wrestling and gained popularity all over the world. He may not have been a saint, but he was a lost soul, looking for acceptance and a pain free life. Fantastic, albeit depressing, graphic novel. A must read for wrestling fans, or anyone who ever admired Andre the giant.
aoosterwyk's review against another edition
2.0
This graphic biography shows Andre the Giant, warts and all. His size and growth disorder made his life incredibly difficult and painful and his response was to self-medicate. The book shows how ignorant and mean people can be to someone who's different. It's an honest book, not a feel good book.
kinx128's review against another edition
4.0
The Princess Bride is one of my all-time favorite movies which means I’m a fan of the lovable giant rather than the pro-wrestler. That is the reason I wanted to read Andre the Giant: Life and Legend. However, after reading about his life, I’m left with a sadness on how Andre lived his life.
Box Brown really captured the loneliness of Andre’s life. All of his life he was treated with disdain. People feared him. However, once Andre discovered wrestling, his life changed. When he was in the ring, people loved him, but outside of it, he was an outcast who was feared and tormented by the same people who cheered him. This fear, loneliness, and abuse caused Andre to turn to alcohol to ease his pain; both mental and physical.
After reading this book, I felt that Andre was never comfortable in his body. He couldn’t be alone; or maybe he was afraid to be alone. He truly wished for a normal life; however, that wasn’t possible. Furthermore, Andre was a very flawed man. He was not only an alcoholic but he was a mean and abusive one at that. He made bad decisions and sometimes abused his friends. But it seemed they always forgave him for his shortcomings.
Andre’s body was not his friend. I couldn’t imagine that pain he endured just to remain mobile. However, he never gave up and remained in the ring until the end. Andre lived a full life; but, he lived a very sad and lonely as well. He died alone; but he will always be remembered. He is a true legend; a flawed one but a legend all the same.
Does anyone want a peanut?
Box Brown really captured the loneliness of Andre’s life. All of his life he was treated with disdain. People feared him. However, once Andre discovered wrestling, his life changed. When he was in the ring, people loved him, but outside of it, he was an outcast who was feared and tormented by the same people who cheered him. This fear, loneliness, and abuse caused Andre to turn to alcohol to ease his pain; both mental and physical.
After reading this book, I felt that Andre was never comfortable in his body. He couldn’t be alone; or maybe he was afraid to be alone. He truly wished for a normal life; however, that wasn’t possible. Furthermore, Andre was a very flawed man. He was not only an alcoholic but he was a mean and abusive one at that. He made bad decisions and sometimes abused his friends. But it seemed they always forgave him for his shortcomings.
Andre’s body was not his friend. I couldn’t imagine that pain he endured just to remain mobile. However, he never gave up and remained in the ring until the end. Andre lived a full life; but, he lived a very sad and lonely as well. He died alone; but he will always be remembered. He is a true legend; a flawed one but a legend all the same.
Does anyone want a peanut?
kintha's review against another edition
3.0
Andre is perhaps the last legend, in that enough of him exists on video that anything is credible, but little enough exists that "it's not on video" is not a real argument. Before Andre everything is a myth. After Andre we knew or we don't. Accordingly, I've always loved "Andre stories" and was excited to learn about this book.
I really wanted to love this. But the art is okay, the narration is okay, and the stories are the well documented rather than the legends. But it's still cool, because it's Andre. Assuming you love Andre.
I really wanted to love this. But the art is okay, the narration is okay, and the stories are the well documented rather than the legends. But it's still cool, because it's Andre. Assuming you love Andre.
sqeeker's review against another edition
2.0
- I was really disappointed with this book.
- I was hoping for more of Andre's life and him dealing with his physical condition. Instead the story is about Andre's career as a wrestler and the wresting world.
- I wanted more on his role in The Princess Bride. The movie only got a couple pages, and it didn't go into detail on anything it was just a few fun panels.
- I didn't like how Andre was portrayed. Cary Elwes describes him as a very kind and gentle soul. He only had high praise for Andre, and this graphic novel paints him in a darker light with very little to no mention of his kinder side.
- There is a lot of F-bombs. It was a bit ridiculous how often that word showed up.
- Overall, I wouldn't recommend this. If you want to know about Andre, read As You Wish.
- I was hoping for more of Andre's life and him dealing with his physical condition. Instead the story is about Andre's career as a wrestler and the wresting world.
- I wanted more on his role in The Princess Bride. The movie only got a couple pages, and it didn't go into detail on anything it was just a few fun panels.
- I didn't like how Andre was portrayed. Cary Elwes describes him as a very kind and gentle soul. He only had high praise for Andre, and this graphic novel paints him in a darker light with very little to no mention of his kinder side.
- There is a lot of F-bombs. It was a bit ridiculous how often that word showed up.
- Overall, I wouldn't recommend this. If you want to know about Andre, read As You Wish.
davygibbs's review against another edition
3.0
A little disappointing, actually. What's here is fine, but as a whole, the story feels incomplete. The anecdotal style of the narrative is not a bad thing in and of itself, but they never came together in a satisfying way for me. I don't feel like I know anything about Andre the Giant I hadn't already read in the Wikipedia entry.
saidtheraina's review against another edition
4.0
People are just people, folks. We all have our own stresses, perspectives, lenses, experiences, biases, talents, desires, skills, challenges, weaknesses, and strengths. But we're all just people.
Andre the Giant was no exception.
Prior to reading this book, my primary reference point for him (like many people), was The Princess Bride. After reading this book, and googling a bunch of photos of the guy, I feel a bit more expert on the man.
Andre Roussimoff's story makes me contemplate:
Using potential challenges to your advantage
Being in the public eye
Where the line is between capitalizing on yourself and being a victim
Stardom
Sadness
Alcoholism
Professional wrestling
He comes off as a well-meaning sweetheart, a tragic figure, affable, and practical.
I enjoyed Brown's approach and attention to the scholarship of his story - he includes a Foreword about Professional Wrestling, and Source Notes at the end.
I really wish I could take it to middle schools, but decided that for me, it's more of a high-school book.
Andre the Giant was no exception.
Prior to reading this book, my primary reference point for him (like many people), was The Princess Bride. After reading this book, and googling a bunch of photos of the guy, I feel a bit more expert on the man.
Andre Roussimoff's story makes me contemplate:
Using potential challenges to your advantage
Being in the public eye
Where the line is between capitalizing on yourself and being a victim
Stardom
Sadness
Alcoholism
Professional wrestling
He comes off as a well-meaning sweetheart, a tragic figure, affable, and practical.
I enjoyed Brown's approach and attention to the scholarship of his story - he includes a Foreword about Professional Wrestling, and Source Notes at the end.
I really wish I could take it to middle schools, but decided that for me, it's more of a high-school book.