Title:
Author: Craig Thompson
Genre: Graphic Novel, Memoir
ISBN: 1891830430
Pages: 592
Year: 2003
Publisher: Top Shelf Productions
Source: Library
Rating: 5/5
Graphic novels seem all the rage lately. Everyone is reading them. Except me. Last weekend during the readathon, I decided to change that. I wasn’t sure where I wanted to start with my plunge into graphic novels, but Nymeth from Things Mean a Lot‘s gushing review of Blankets sealed my fate. Blankets was to be that first graphic novel. And I was certainly not disappointed.
Blankets is billed as an illustrated novel, but I’m 99% sure it’s actually a memoir. It’s primarily the story of Thompson’s first love but the scenes jump around from his childhood spent sharing a bed with his little brother and eventually to his adulthood. Blankets is moving in a way that I didn’t realize graphic novels could be. This book made me want to fall in love for the first time all over again.
Blankets shows us two very different families and does not hide the ugly parts. We see the pain in Raina’s parents and the authority in Thompson’s. It tackles the tough questions so many of us face growing up in religious families. Thompson, once destined for the ministry, begins questioning the absolutes he’s been taught, and the world his faith has created starts unraveling around him.
This story in a regular format would not do it justice. The illustrations convey so much emotion. Words alone cannot describe how amazing this novel is, so I must include some “excerpts.”
This is a story for anyone who has ever fallen in love, or questioned her faith, or even those who have yet to do either. Please, please, please go read this if you haven’t. It will only take you a couple hours. Then find me on here, call me, knock on my door and share with me your love for this book.
Buy It Now: Amazon
Other Reviews:
- Well-Read Reviews
- Things Mean a Lot
- Regular Rumination
- Did I miss yours?
my books. my life. 
This sounds really great. I’ve never read a graphic novel before so maybe I should give it a go. It must have been a nice change of pace during the readathon too.
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It was a great readathon book. And a good confidence booster.
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So glad that you loved this too! 🙂
You’ve summed up why I love graphic novels too – talented artists combine the words and illustrations to convey feelings and emotions that can’t be described with just words. I think it’s a format that works especially well for memoirs, and most of my favorite graphic novels are memoirs.
Have you decided what graphic novel you want to try next?
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I own Persepolis, so I might read that one next. I think I might also do a post asking for favorites from people.
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wow, what a great review! i’ve seen another review around the book blogs–can’t remember where–and meant to write down the title. now i’m dashing it into my book journal! i’ve only read one graphic novel so far but really enjoyed it. now i’m off to read another! thanks. 🙂
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I hope you enjoy it!
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I saw the review you mention and now with your added praise I might have to move it up the wish list… even if it is a graphic novel and I haven’t read many! It looks interesting.
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It was a good beginning graphic novel for me, so I hope you enjoy it as well.
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This one blew my mind. Not only one of the best graphic novels I’ve ever read, but one of the best books period. Loved your review, I’m so glad you liked it. Here’s mine: http://regularrumination.wordpress.com/2010/01/05/blankets-touching-beautiful-perfect/
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I’ll add yours above (I like that we included the same pages).
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This sounds like a wonderful book! I have read graphic novels before, but only a “series” by one author, Marjane Satrapi. She has three graphic memoirs: Persepolis, Persepolis 2, and Embroideries. I don’t think they were written in that order, for sure, but that’s how they go if you’d like to read them as memoirs of her life. I love them! They’re essentially growing up while Iran was going through all of the changes in the past half-decade or so. So I find the topic interesting, even if they weren’t memoirs. I have also been meaning to read Maus, another memoir I believe. I think I’ll have to check this Blankets book out. You’ve sort of sold me on how great it is :o) Glad you enjoyed your first graphic novel.
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I have Persepolis and might make it my next GN.
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That sounds really wonderful! My library even has a copy of it. Might be very interesting to read it soon since I´m taking a graphic lit class this semester and then can look at how the theory of comic books is put into practice 🙂
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I bet that’s an interesting class. 🙂
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This really is a wonderful story. The romantic relationship is sooo well done, but I also thought the familial relationships were engaging. I loved that it was long, too: I’m sure it’s expensive to produce graphic novels of that length, but I wish more of them were that long, especially when so well done.
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Even at that length, it still only took me a couple hours to get through. I would have been disappointed with anything less. I wanted it to go on forever.
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I’ve seen reviews on this one. It has peaked my interests. I’m not sure about graphic novels, but I would like to give them a chance. Great review! I think i’ll have to give this one a try.
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I hope you enjoy it. 🙂
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So glad you loved it too! Blankets is one of my favorite graphic novels. 🙂
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I’m going to be asking for other favorites soon. I hope you check back and let me know what else to read.
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I browsed through this at the bookstore, but it was in German translation so I didn’t get it. I’ll have to order it!
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I think it’s probably hard to browse and understand the amazingness, German or not.
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I think I’ve seen a lot of positive reviews about this book. I don’t often read graphic novels, but I think I’d love to read this one.
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I highly recommend it as an intro to graphic novels.
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You make me want to give graphic novels a shot, though it’s not a medium I’ve ever read or wanted to read…
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Do it! It will take you approximately 15 minutes to read.
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Glad to know that you liked ‘Blankets’. I have it on my ‘TBR’ list. Graphic novels are so wonderful, aren’t they? A couple of years back I was on a graphic novel reading spree, and it looks like this year the bug has bitten me again 🙂
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I’m so glad you loved it too, Michelle! And oh, how I love those panels you posted. It makes me want to read it agan!
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My friend just gave me this book, and I was shocked at the length. It’s much bigger than I expected. I’m looking forward to read it.
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Hi there, Loved your review of blankets! pls do read mine at http://riversihaveknown.com/blankets-by-craig-thompson-a-graphic-novel-review/
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