Maus-Art Spiegelman

This marks my blog's first graphic novel! I had a class in high school where I had an entire graphic novel unit, which left me for a great appreciation for the medium, so I was excited to jump back into it. In that sense, it's fitting that I'm reading one of the most popular modern graphic novels, Maus by Art Spiegelman.

This novel has transcended traditional attitudes about graphic novels ("they're just picture books!" cry the elitists) and has been integrated into many school curricula. I know my own brother read it in his middle school holocaust unit and enjoyed it very much. The word "enjoyed" might sound odd in the context of a book about the holocaust, but that enjoyment seems to come from the emotional resonance that arises from the personal testimony of the author's father.


The story is told through the perspective of the author/illustrator's father, a jewish holocaust survivor named Vladek, as a series of stories he relates to him. This gives the novel an extremely personal and often heartbreaking tone. To see the fear and unimaginable cruelty Vladek faces is extremely impactful. Think back to when you learned about the holocaust in school: was it through personal accounts, or from a more objective, historical perspective? If you got the privilege of reading accounts from survivors themselves, I think you'll agree that the atrocities of this period hit your right in the pit of your heart when attached to a single person. This book is no different.

At the same time, Vladek is not an idealized figure. He is shown to have many bad qualities, including selfishness, frugality, and racist attitudes. He frequently annoys his son with these habits. I think it's fascinating to have a survivor who is not a perfect person, and Vladek's imperfections are acknowledged throughout the novel. Many of his traits are related to the experiences he had during the holocaust.



All in all, I really enjoyed this novel and would recommend it to those getting into graphic novels, history buffs, or anyone really! It'll stick with you long after you're done reading.

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