Yup, it lived up to the high expectations.
Maus (Art Spiegelman)
Stop reading. Go pick it up right now. You won't regret it.
Not convinced? Okay, let me tell you a bit more. This two volume graphic novel is about the author's father, a Polish Jew, and his experience of WWII. The structure of the story is self-reflexive in the sense that it's also about the author learning about his fathers experience so he could write this memoir. The father's story is haunting stuff as you would expect. The courage with which he protects and tries to keep contact with his wife throughout it all were especially moving. One of the interesting things the author does is in depicting the Jews as mice and the Nazis as cats--I think it would have been too much to bear to see human faces attached to these events. The author describes himself, his father, and their relationship with amazing honesty--it's definitely not always flattering but its rawness makes the emotions and insecurities resonate. The second volume had me watery-eyed throughout for a wide range of reasons. I wish it didn't have to end.
Not convinced? Okay, let me tell you a bit more. This two volume graphic novel is about the author's father, a Polish Jew, and his experience of WWII. The structure of the story is self-reflexive in the sense that it's also about the author learning about his fathers experience so he could write this memoir. The father's story is haunting stuff as you would expect. The courage with which he protects and tries to keep contact with his wife throughout it all were especially moving. One of the interesting things the author does is in depicting the Jews as mice and the Nazis as cats--I think it would have been too much to bear to see human faces attached to these events. The author describes himself, his father, and their relationship with amazing honesty--it's definitely not always flattering but its rawness makes the emotions and insecurities resonate. The second volume had me watery-eyed throughout for a wide range of reasons. I wish it didn't have to end.
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