Maus
For Christmas, Amy gave me the two-volume set of “Maus” by Art Spiegelman. I first read these books when I was in high school and was really affected by them. I had checked them out of the library so I never owned the set until now. I just finished re-reading them and I am just as amazed at the story as ever. Maus tells the story of Art Spiegelman’s father who was a Jew living in Poland during World War II. He takes you though his father’s whole experience first learning about the Nazis, being moved into the ghettos, going into hiding and finally being sent to Auschwitz.
What is really unusual about this is that Art Spiegelman is a cartoonist and he tells his father’s story in comic book form. In the book, the Jews are drawn as mice and the Germans are cats. It sounds like this would take away from the seriousness of the subject or be a distraction but it isn’t at all. It’s incredibly powerful and personal. The story of Maus has a way of pulling you into it and making you feel like you are right there with the characters. You feel their fear, their confusion, their helplessness, their despair and their determination. Anyone that wants to learn about the Holocaust needs to read Maus. Here are a couple of pages from the first volume.
These books are the reason I hate the smell and taste of Cool Ranch Doritos. I was reading one of the Maus books while we were on a trip. I get sick when I read in a moving car. I was in the big blue van, eating Cool Ranch Doritos and reading Maus. The severity of the story combined with the chips, and driving made me ill enough that I might have to leave Gary because he loves those chips. *barf*
I remember you reading those books and I think that is why I knew about them. Move over Heather, 13 year old Heidi has a new older sibling to idolize.
We must have been on a trip, because I have vivid memories of reading them in the blue van, too. Although, just to prove how dead I am inside, I don’t have the same negative association. I remember being totally entranced by them. Funny, just a couple months ago I had to stop myself from buying this same set. I made myself put it off since I have been on a year long spending embargo to get out of debt. Now that it’s the new year, I think I will get them. I too think it’s interesting how the cartoon format doesn’t take away at all from the seriousness of the topic. Very clever!
I remember when you first started reading them Rob, and I always meant to read them too, I was so intrigued by the format in which he chose to tell the story. I need to look for them here so I can start.
Yeah, I remember reading them too when you had gotten them from the library, I was just talking to Mel about these the other day telling her she should read them and that it was a good story. Thanks for the reminder again…