This week I read Blankets, by Craig Thompson. I've never read the book in its entirety before, and I was surprised. I didn't expect a religious memoir at first, and I didn't entirely relate, but as I read on I think anyone who has even ever gone to church before (or even, has ever been a teenager or had a first love before) can probably relate to this novel. And honestly, the experience of reading the book isn't even all about whether or not you can relate to the subject material. What is important is that you are experiencing a very deep and personal story that the author has to tell, and he does it in such a down-to-earth and involving way that it's hard not to lose track of time while you are reading this book. I found myself starting to care about Craig's experiences and wonder how this played out and how it affected him later in life.
Blankets brought to mind another graphic novel memoir that stands out strongly in my mind to this day-- Stitches, by David Small. Stitches is gritty and delves deep into his complicated family life and how the events of his childhood impacted him later on. Thinking about it, it reminds me that one of the most engaging traits of a memoir-style graphic novel is how personally and deeply it can vibe with you. Something about the way that these people choose to visually portray these memories as well as how they tell them adds another layer of meaning to the entire experience. The way that many artists draw often ties in directly with their life experiences and the kind of person they are, even in the most subtle ways-- and when you add that to the fact that this person is using drawing to tell their personal stories, it's no wonder why these comic memoirs become so popular.
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