A review by totsfions
Maus: A Survivor's Tale. My Father Bleeds History by Art Spiegelman

dark emotional reflective tense medium-paced

4.5

I have been meaning to read Maus for years. I've always heard great thing about it, but never actually picked it up. Finally I chose it to be a book discussion title for my library, as it seemed with the rise of far right extremism in the US, and with Maus in particular being the target of book banning's, now was the time to read it. It truly is a remarkable book. Spiegelman does not shy away from his father's less charitable traits, and the complexity this characterization lends to the story is vitally important. What this book does is remind you that the toll genocide takes on those who live through it lasts far longer than the violence itself. Its a fascinating exploration of intergenerational grief and trauma. No one has ever told me about the story-within-a-story aspects of this book, but I honestly don't think it would be as impactful if it was just a straightforward retelling of Vladek's experiences. I am looking forward to reading the second instalment. 
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