Maus (1)

I've not read a graphic novel in a a few years, but after I watched a video about the most commonly banned books and saw this on the list, I knew I had to pick it up. It was the right choice.

This book, of course, was challenging to read and upsetting throughout. It made the difficult choice of making all the "characters" flawed, often deeply, even when they are the ones we sympathize with and are the victims.

It's like a documentary where the director inserts themselves heavily into the narrative. It cuts to the interviews, years after the events, and shows the modern struggles and petty fights and deep family scars, then it dips back into the past to show atrocities and bravery and suffering and all the rest.

I really enjoyed the artstyle. It has a rough hewn look that I really connected with. Some of the dialogue was a little stilted, but not to the extent that it bothered me. I only flagged it at all, I would guess, because I haven't read a graphic novel in a while.

I'm excited to pick up the second part soon.

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Cover design by me.