Blankets - Review

Title: Blankets
Author/Artist: Craig Thompson
Source: Library (but buying!)

Goodreads Summary:

Wrapped in the landscape of a blustery Wisconsin winter, Blankets explores the sibling rivalry of two brothers growing up in the isolated country, and the budding romance of two coming-of-age lovers. A tale of security and discovery, of playfulness and tragedy, of a fall from grace and the origins of faith.

My thoughts:

When I saw this book on The Relentless Reader I knew I wanted to read it when there was snow on the ground, all snuggled under my own blankets.  When I picked this up from the library, I was struck by how absolutely heavy it was; it was not an easy book to read in bed, I actually had to prop onto a pillow on my lap in order to read it.  That being said, it was a quick read, and took me about an hour, although I do want to go back and look at the illustrations more closely.

The story was more than I expected; I imagined this book would just be boy meets girl, happy happy, etc.  But this book is more - feeling trapped and helpless, guilt over failing someone who loves you but you needed protecting too; feeling outcast and separate, different from the rest. First love with someone who gets you and seems to need you too, and then hanging on them like a life raft (or a security blanket).  I thought this book was beautiful and broke my heart many times, right from the beginning.  

This book and the illustrations were so familiar to me - familiar not like I have seen them before, but familiar as I could relate to them. I grew up in the time of grunge in the midwest too.  I am from Michigan, and a portion of this book takes place in Marquette, a city I have visited and felt like I was so far north I was on top of the world.  I couldn't relate to the religious aspects of this book, how Craig the younger in the book grew up in rural Wisconsin raised by conservative Christian parents. I didn't grow up that way, but I still understood what it was like to not fit in. I felt like I knew these characters, because in many ways I did.  

And the drawings- they were gorgeous.  I can't draw at all, my attempts are embarrassing to everyone involved, but I wish I could. And Thompson's illustrations were fragile and charming and poignant, and at times I wanted to rip the pages from the book and hang them on the wall. (I didn't though) 

I think you should read this book. Don't be afraid of it being a graphic novel.  Just read it. Under a blanket.