Official Second Book Club Discussion: Blankets by Craig Thompson - Oct 31 to Nov 30 (may contain spoilers)

[Tasha]

My copy came in the mail on Monday. I was suprised at the size of the book, but reading it went very quickly. I liked it a lot considering so much of it was a love story which I usually hate.

[Sérgio]

I had read this already before this discussion, at the time it was one of the first indie comics I’d read so it was really an impactful book for me. Coming to this again after some years I have to say I still like it very much although it doesn’t seem so amazing.

It’s funny that both the books that were chosen in this book club so far are mainly about teen hood, a tendency is forming here perhaps?
The art in this book is really great. Thompson’s free-line style is really expressive and elegant and it definitely shows the influence of Blutch (since there hasn’t been any translation in english of this great cartoonist, through his work, Thompson is almost Blutch’s ambassador).

I really like the way the story was told. Instead of trying to heighten the dramatic potential that his child and teen years could have had, he seems to want to try to translate the experience to this book and to introduce some interesting themes through that (first love, belief in religion, the effects of divorce in a family, memories and the passage of time, etc). I think he does a good job at that although this makes the story really mellow, there’s no big dramatic moment, but I think it’s probably for the best – it’s more realistic that way so the reader gets emotionally involved with it more easily I think.

As a flaw I can maybe point that both Craig and Raina could be somewhat annoying in the typical teenage way they thought, but it was believable. This is probably the reason because in this second reading I wasn’t as moved by their relationship but more by moments like Craig’s comments about memories, like the cave episode with his brother almost at the end.

[Yvonne]

I finished reading the book yesterday and I have several things to say about it. So I'll start by parts:

About other people's reactions: I've never heard about this book or author, but apparently both are very popular. Immediately got responses when I tweeted that I got the book with people saying how much they loved it -- in 140 characters or less. And while I was reading it at a pub, a guy (a bit tipsy I think) was telling me how much he loved it and that some parts made him shed a tear and he wasn't ashamed to say it.

About the love story: I'm not one for romance novels, but when a love story is well done I enjoy it very much. In this case, the romance was heart warming to me, but I saw it as what it was, first love that's not meant to last. It's like a "llamarada de petate" which doesn't have an exact translation but it's like when something burns rapidly and fiercely only to die just as quickly. But while it was burning, it was magnificent, same thing when it comes to the first love.

About religion: Jeez....why even bother with life if all you can hope for is dying and getting into heaven?

About sex: It's everywhere! In the drawings, the language, the plot, the abuse. It's natural, it's beautiful, it's vile, it's sinful.

About religion/sex: Even though everything about sex and a naked body is clearly vilified as a sin, I'm very glad it didn't stop Craig being with Raina or that he didn't make her feel like a "scarlet woman" because of his own desires. And besides, Jesus smiled at him when he was in bed with her so it's all good!

About siblings: A recurrent theme of the two brothers being forced to be together, but as soon as they're apart they get back together. Touching and very true in my experience. The author also tapped very well into the guilt of being the older sibling and not daring to protect the younger ones from harm.

About the drawings: What I liked the most about the way Craig Thompson draws is the expressions in the characters' eyes. The eyes were nothing more than a dot, but they expressed devotion, love, naivete, worry, excitement, and many more emotions. And all that snow, really made me want to be bundled up while I was reading it.

Summary: I enjoyed the book very much, it brought back memories, it made me think, it made me cringe and as Sergio pointed out in his review, there's no big drama in it. In a way it's just life and for me that makes it interesting and worth a peek into other people's lives.

[Oscar]

I really enjoyed this graphic novel when I read and have to say that while my upbringing was somewhat different, I related to the story and the teenagers felt real.

The religious aspect of the story fascinates me because I didn't grow up religious, but like most teenagers, I was given the lectures regarding sex and what have you. Here, however, Craig has to balance his urges with the religious beliefs that he genuinely believes in, not to mention having to deal with the general sexual awkwardness that's present during that age.

This works as a really good coming of age story and I could definitely see it being taught in an adolescent literature course.

[eHawk]

I will definitely agree that this was a great coming of age story, and I found as much rewarding moments as any other coming of age story, but what I particularly loved about this story was the amount of identifiable every-day moments, and how it was brought to life through art in a way that made "hanging out" for a week special. In the same way that something stupid like sitting and reading in the same room with another person *can* make life timeless and wondrous.

[Carl]

I enjoyed Blankets. I’ve seen it a lot but never been compelled to read it, so I’m glad it was suggested on here. It does look a bit daunting, in fact my flatmate (who happens to be religious, whereas I am not) ironically said it looked like a bible. You do glide through it, though. The art is simplistic but effective and I found myself rather absorbed by it.

I liked the title, “Blankets” as it seemed to have no fixed meaning. Blankets came up a lot. Craig would share a bed with his brother as a child, pulling at the same blanket. Blankets of snow cover the landscape for most of the story. I’m sure there are metaphorical blankets in there, too. Perhaps Craig was burdened and blinded by the blanket of strict Christianity he carried with him for the first part of his life? Actually, I felt the visual style lent itself very nicely to metaphor, ideas leaking out into the panels, blending fantasy with reality, dreams and emotions manifesting in the everyday. There was a good use of reoccurring motifs and imagery, too. The forked tree springs to mind. Also, there was something nice, almost cosy about the story, perhaps it was the idea of the harsh show outside? I particularly enjoyed the boys’ imaginations made real as their bed-time restlessness became wild, sea-faring adventures.

As someone with no particular faith but with an open mind (I would consider myself agnostic), I tend to find interest in issues of religion versus science and of questioning religion, especially from the point of view of a strict upbringing. Craig’s journey from devout, even self-hating, Christian to mature free-thinking adult, raised many interesting questions and it was handled in a very accessible manner. There’s no lecturing on either side here.

The love story, which formed the thrust of the narrative, was realistic if not typically angsty. I could understand the frustrations of the geeky kid with the beautiful girlfriend left confused by the social calendar of the popular girl, but really, I could happily have punched my fist through the page at times, such was his woeful despair. Probably I’m too old. Having said that, I recently read the wishy-washy Suburban Glamour by James McKelvie, which dealt with similar issues, and this handled the difficulties of teenage life way better than that.

[Benjamin]

I just finished Blankets on New Years Eve, before I even knew this group existed, but regardless, I really enjoyed the story. I was raised in a very strict fundamentalist religious household very similar to Craig Thompson's story, and like the main character I too became disillusioned with all the crap as I grew older. I found the storyline to be spot on with the emotions and internal conflict of that specific situation and setting.

[Brian]

Great book for a review. I enjoyed the humanist aspect of the book and was quick to grab more by this author. While I did not find his travel book as interesting I am excited to see his Habibi book and have it on my to read list. Five stars to this book too!

[Cyndi]

This book is in the top echelon for me.

A story of first love, reconcilliation of nature/nurture, finding self acceptance and survivorship.

So well drawn and told...I too was brought to tears a number of times.

Great choice!!

[Adam]

Finally read this over the weekend, and absolutely loved it. The story felt natural and the characters were believable. What surprised me most about it is how much I enjoyed Thompson's artwork - I just found it really absorbing, whereas with most of the comics I read my focus is almost entirely on the text.

Looking forward to starting Habibi now...