Maus Book 1-2 (6 Points)

 Maus definitely lives up to all the good things I have heard about it since I first became interested in comics. It had always been on my list, and I am glad to have finally had the time and opportunity to read such a monumental work. Its storytelling is straight to the point, and chronologically shares the story of the author's father, who was was a Jewish man in Poland during World War II, and how he and his wife survived through sheer luck, kindness, and resourcefulness.  This isn't all these books provided, as between parts of the story, we are taken to the present day, where Art, the author, is in the process of interviewing his father. We are shown a window into the rest of Vladek's life, and that they do not get along very well, but love each other much the same, even if it isn't said within the story itself. These two intertwining stories leaves the reader on the edge of their seat. I for one, would be desperately reading through each section, wanting to know not only how the young Vladek escaped, but how Older Vladek and Art's relationship will come to a close. The two almost feel as if they would be separated into their own stories,  those books would be much more boring, they work together in perfect harmony, keeping the reader engaged, and not too bogged down by the heaviness of what Vladek had to go through during the war. I find it interesting with the part of the story focusing on Art's interview, how he had written both books in a way to have a plot structure, where there was most likely not one so easily when adapting directly from reality. For example, in the first book, the structure focused on Art's mother's diary, which was somewhere in the house supposedly. It was not revealed until the end of the book that Vladek had actually burned it, and Art was furious. His final line in the book was "murderer". I believe that he did not say this just because he was angry that he did not have this resource for this book, but also because this was something his mother had left, and were her memories, her thoughts, her spirit that she had left behind for Art to read someday. He called his father a murderer because he literally killed the physical evidence and legacy and in some part her final remaining pieces of her being. I would not say I was 'delighted' by this reading, rather, honored and amazed by the power of this story and how beautifully it was told. I am still unsure if this is the right way to say it, but I really loved reading Maus. I guess I find it hard to say as it is a story so harrowing and dark at times, how could someone *love* reading it?

(485 Words)