Loss of Innocence (Jew in Communist Prague) (v. 1) [Paperback]

Vittorio Giardino (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 2003 | Series: Jew in Communist Prague (Book 1)

A brilliantly written graphic novel about the real human experience of living behind the iron curtain from one of Italy's leading comic artists.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

In Czechoslovakia in 1950 a young boy and his father spy a cicada while on a picnic in the woods. The father notes that the insect doesn't trust humans: "They're not completely wrong. There are children who put them in cages. Then they stop singing and die very quickly. They can't stand to be locked up," he says. Two months later, without any warning and with precious little cause, the father is arrested for his supposed counterrevolutionary activities; in reality he is arrested because of the state's anti-Semitic resentment. Thus begins Vittorio Giardino's extraordinary masterpiece A Jew in Communist Prague. It is the story of Jonas Finkel, a boy who grows up all too soon; cares for his frantic, grieving mother; and fights off wave after wave of prejudice. There is sincerity in every one of Giardino's lines. He writes, "I spent hours trying to write down, in a few words, a simple and honest presentation of Jonas Finkel's story, but it just got increasingly difficult." The result of his careful work is well worth any reader's time.

From School Library Journal

YA?Suspenseful and full of danger, this story tells of a Jewish family in post-world War II Prague. After Jonas Finkel's father is arrested and taken from his home in the middle of the night, the family hears no news of him for many months and their fortunes rapidly decline. "Bourgeois tendencies" are rumored to be the reason for the arrest but anti-Semitism seems more likely. Jonas is not allowed to attend school and his mother eventually loses the right to tutor students in French. They eventually get word of Dr. Finkel from another prisoner. The graphical images aid the text in relaying the intense paranoia and fear during this time and place. Who can you trust? No one.?Betsy Levine, San Francisco Public Library
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 48 pages
• Publisher: Nantier Beall Minoustchine Publishing (January 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1561631809
• ISBN-13: 978-1561631803
• Product Dimensions: 11.6 x 8.6 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.5 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,564,615 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Captivating, a must-read, May 12, 2000

By 

Raymond Wong - See all my reviews

This review is from: Loss of Innocence (Jew in Communist Prague) (v. 1) (Paperback)

When you first pick this book up, do not scoff at it simply because it is full of pictures. A Jew in Communist Prague is a fine example of what a graphic novel or any book should be modelled after. The story is a truly captivating tale, providing a down-to-level, human look into the life of Jonas Finkel and the brutish treatment of his family because they are Jewish. All of this is told wonderfully, as the writer displays his brilliance for storytelling, pacing, characterization, and dialogue. And complimenting this marvelous plot are the equally fantastic illustrations, which style manages to perfectly mesh with this story of social and political issues in Communist Czechoslovakia. This is a very intelligent read and is recommended for fans of all genres.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Wonderful Begining, August 10, 2001

By 

A. Ross (Washington, DC) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Loss of Innocence (Jew in Communist Prague) (v. 1) (Paperback)

The first in Italian cartoonist Giardino's series about a Jewish boy growing up in Communist Prague introduces us to Jonas Finkel and his pleasant middle-class life in Prague. His professor father is arrested for allegedly being a counterrevolutionary, although the unstated truth is that he's the victim of unofficial state anti-Semitism. The book is at its best in showing Jonas and his mother gradually sliding into poverty while they try to penetrate the state beauracracy to learn of the father's whereabouts and sentence. When Jonas is not admitted to high school due to his father's alleged crimes, he enters the workforce and awkwardly encounters the stirrings of hormones. The art is done in the lovely realistic style I tend to associate with European cartoonists, with appropriately washed out coloring. It'll be great to see all the books together.

3 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars this one stands as one of the greatest GNs ever...., October 1, 2005

By 

The Dreamer "Hartford" (Q city) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Loss of Innocence (Jew in Communist Prague) (v. 1) (Paperback)

"A JEW IN COMMUNIST PRAGUE VOL. 1: LOSS OF INNOCENCE" TP
writer/artist: Vittorio Giardino




Vol. 1:

The story begins in 1950's Prague, Czechoslovakia. The Prague government arrests Dr. Finkel(for no apparent reason). Jonas Finkel is his son.

The government goes to controls their assets, forbids his son to school, forbids his wife to looks for good work, etc.

Jonas Finkel is the lead character of this book. It is in a comicbook format(graphic novel).


Vol. 2:

Jonas is a teenager now.

The official reason for the arrest is counter revolutionary activities & espionage.

Jonas looks for work to helps his mother. He frequently moves from one labor work to another. Jonas does not finishes his school, although he is a bright student.

He lands a job he likes(finally) in a small neighborhood bookstore.

He joins a treasonous movements(of teens). They study & learn forbidden books.


Vol. 3:

Jonas' boss(bookstore owner) finds trouble with the authorities. He fights the law with his forbidden books. He is a recalcitrant(turns out).





Vittorio Giardino's script & art are very good. He is the best of this genre(also see "No Pasaran" TPs).


These books have explicit sexual scene(vol. 1) & brief sexual suggestion(vol. 3).





Great graphic novels that must be read:

. A Treasury Of The Victorian Murder: Jack The Ripper HC(Rick Geary)
. Book Of Jack HC
. Clyde Fans Vol. 1 HC
. Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon Vol. 1-4 TPs(Andy Seto)
. Dead Memory HC
. Desperadoes: A Moment's Sunlight TP
. Desperadoes: Quiet In A Grave TP
. Four Women TP
. Hey, Wait...TP
. Jar Of Fools TP
. Last Day In Vietnam TP
. Maus Vol. 1 & 2 TPs
. No Pasaran Vol. 1 & 2 TPs
. Samson: Judge Of Israel TP(Metron Press)
. The Cartoon History Of The Universe Vol. 1-2 TPs
. The Dreamer TP(Will Eisner)
. The Fixer HC
. The Picture Bible HC(Iva Hoth)
. To The Heart Of The Storm TP




Worst graphic novels that should not be read:

. A Contract With God TP
. Ante Genesen Vol. 1 HC
. Comics Poetry: The Adapted Victor Hugo HC
. Fables Vol. 1 TP
. Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde HC
. Ghostworld TP
. Harlequin Valentine HC
. Minor Miracles TP
. Preacher Vol. 1 TP
. Remembrance Of Things Past Vol. 1 TP(Stephen Hueut)
. The Magic Flute TP
. The Tower Of Bois Maury Vol. 1 HC
. V For Vendetta TP
. Y The Last Man Vol. 1 TP







Final Analysis:
"A Jew In Communist Prague Vol. 1-3" TP
5 of 5 stars
***** = a "must Own"
Rating: A




One of the greatest GN ever!
The best of the best!
A top echelon GN!
A classic!
A must read!



P.S.- vol. 1 subtitles "Loss Of Innocence"(eg. A Jew In Communist Prague Vol. 1: Loss Of Innocence), vol. 2 subtitles "Adolescence", & vol. 3 subtitles "Rebellion".





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HIGHEST POSSIBLE RECOMMENDATION!!!