This was a very quick read for me. My grandmother occasionally lends me books and she really wanted me to get into this. She had the hardcover that held both books in it. Grandma is a history junkie as well as I.
So this book is certainly unique. A graphic art novel depicting the holocaust. More than that, but also the relationship between a survivor and his son.
First off, I’m amazed that Vladek survived. I understand he was able to gather some additional resources by building relationships within the camp, but even still, the ongoing lack of food and overall dread was horrendous. This man lost nearly all of his family, his business, his child, and his health. As an old man, he lost his wife to suicide.
The impact of his experience shaped him as an old man and we see Artie’s frustrations there. His dad is clearly well off financially. But the thing is, his dad has lost all of his wealth before. His dad wants to do all of the work around the house, even though he has the money to hire someone, but somewhat knowing how to do miscellaneous jobs gave his dad better jobs in the camps, plus hoarding wealth gave him opportunity that saved his life in the ghetto. A man that has starved never wants to part with food, even if saving a little to give to someone.
He has been staying in survival mode even though he’s been very well off.
I feel for Art. He is all that is left to his dad from Anja. Art lost his mother to suicide and all of her belongings were gone due to his father’s grief. It would have been amazing to really hear her accounts as well.
by Grandaddyspookybones