It should come as little surprise to all of you that I love the classics. But, I also know the struggles and roadblocks that readers often find concerning these texts. They’re too dry. They’re too long. They’re boring. Which makes me terribly sad, because so many of these stories are really excellent, but we’ve become conditioned to think they’re not. If I handed you The Count of Monte Cristo which is over 1,000 pages long, would you want to read it? You’d probably think I was giving you some huge dusty book and that it would be incredibly dull. But, what if I told you that it was a story of revenge, of a man who had everything taken from him and who went to extreme lengths to cause suffering and ruin to those who had betrayed him? And what if I told you that you could read it as a manga?
Today, I want to talk about two awesome ways to get your daily dose of the classics without having to read the original books. And both of these can be found through a new resource at your library: ComicsPlus. Accessing awesome comics has never been easier–just log in with your library card and pin number to have 24/7 access to a whole slew of titles! And we’re not just talking classics here. Graphic novels, superheroes, manga…this is a comic lover’s dream!
The Manga Classics series is one of the best adaptations of classic novels that I’ve ever seen. I’ve devoured quite a few of these volumes, which are beautifully illustrated and very faithful to the original works. By presenting these titles in a new way, you often realize that the stories themselves are excellent! It’s just the writing-style or our own preconceptions that prevent us from enjoying them. (Case in point, I could not stand reading The Scarlet Letter in high school. But, I loved the manga adaptation!) At the time of this writing, there are almost 20 manga classics on ComicsPlus, ranging from Pride and Prejudice to Frankenstein, although The Count of Monte Cristo is easily my favorite. If 1,000+ pages of solid text is intimidating, try 400 pages of beautifully illustrated revenge tale. Trust me, you won’t be sorry!
If you are looking for something a bit more traditional, ComicsPlus also offers the Classics Illustrated series. When I was a kid, I explored so many of the classics through these books, since my grandmother, who knew how much I loved to read, kept buying me sets of them. I always regretted that I never got to finish the series, but now I have the chance! From Great Expectations to Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, readers of all ages can enjoy even more classic tales in comic book format.
So, whether you’re a classics fan looking to experience your favorite stories in a new way, or a comic book reader who is looking to tackle the classics, there is a ton to experience here on ComicsPlus. Come for the classics and stay for the rest of the comics.
