Blankets

This story of Craig’s adolescence is very well crafted and told in a very compelling fashion. The storyline kept me hooked for the duration of novel and I really cared for the characters. The artwork is easy to follow and attractive to the eye. I also liked that this was a longer graphic novel, so it had enough substance to make it feel like it was worth my money. My one regret is that I read this in the middle of the summer, but it would be a perfect read for those cozy winter days by the fire.

This book reminded me of my my own coming of age. Blankets is relatable, curious, and lovely. Craig is a tacit teenager who after new exciting experiences (with the help of a carefree friend) and his inner narrative eventually encourages him to blossom into his own person. Thompson's craftsmanship is extraordinary. His graphics are not only sumptuous, his attention to detail is perfectly in tandem with the story. This book very well might mirror your past, and/or possibly cause you to reflect upon your present and future self. A MUST READ!!!

And it was so rewarding and evoked such a great feeling I feel the need to let it out so I can get to sleep (12:03) even if it fails to interest anyone or illicit a response. This wonderful piece of sentimental, personal and introspective literature was one Blankets by Craig Thompson. It's a graphic novel that is raved and revered by many in and out of the business of digesting works of literature with panels, word balloons and artistic renderings (of which I'm far from a stranger to). The graphic novel itself is just another vehicle of delivery for delivering a good story and I hate to see anyone cast it aside solely due to pre-notions that it's adolescent or low-bro or anything less than a good written story that can be just as poignant and from the heart as anything else.

Anyway, the story deals with the author's adolescent upbringing and devotion to christianity through to his young adulthood and the trial and tribulations we all face growing up and fitting in with our surroundings. It deals not only with struggling to find one's identity, but particularly trying to live by the grace of God and true to one's faith, especially when struggling with feelings of isolation, love, guilt, fear etc. It also reflects back to the author's relationships as a child and teenager with his brother, strict religious parents and eventual first love and it's loss. So a good portion of the story is devoted to the eventual onset of meeting someone to connect with and the first feelings of love and need and awkwardness of forming a relationship and the frailty of it when forced to bend to the rigors of life and responsibilities that eventually prove stronger or at least take hold. It's a personal story, and it's easy to connect with for anyone that has experienced the joy and loss of a relationship that felt like the world, but couldn't last or be - the loss and picking up the pieces to remember, forget and move on and then maybe remember again some day.

There's a bit more to it as well. And some great allegories to snow, how it come and goes and its presence and absence being a reflection of our lives and relationships we define throughout. I can't do it justice, suffice to say it's a wonderful, realistic, honest read that I'd recommend to anyone.

I'm a bit new to the graphic novel scene, so when asking around about what to buy, my friends immediately recommended Craig Thompson's Blankets. I'm glad they did, as it opened up another realm of storytelling I didn't know existed. Emotions are portrayed so well here, I was nearly scared about how well I could relate to them. If you're like me, you get frustrated when you have a battle going on in your head, and trying to express it just falls flat. Craig does this gracefully with a culmination of simple words and stunning visuals. Everything comes from his soul very clearly and elegantly...

Reading Blankets gave me some comfort in understanding life, and that I'm not alone in my feelings about Christian lifestyle. I can't say it was a happy read the entire way through, but to have a connection with a graphic novel this deep is something I've never experienced in any other media. Careful to those of you who are weak, as it can bring you to tears. The book hinges, I think, on how relate-able it is, so undoubtedly its not for everyone. Its a book for the 20-somethings like me, who are looking for some clarity about life's trials.

If you were raised by tough Christian parents, you need to read this. If you've ever felt you fell out of the crowd in grade school, you need to read this. If you ever fell in love, you need to read this. If you like drawing and ever doubted yourself with art, you need to read this.

Please read Blankets. It's a book that hits near and dear to my heart, and I'm sure it will for you as well.

Much has been made in recent years of how the graphic novel-and as a result, the comic book-has matured and come into its own. This is indeed, true, as subject matter and approach in the comics industry has become much more fluid. Yet, most stories were still serialized before they were printed in book form, and the ones that struck out on their own and did it in one-go (including some by my own company, Oni Press), were significant, but not yet reaching the full breadth that the word "novel" implied.
Enter Craig Thompson. Nearly five years ago, he released his first major work, GOODBYE CHUNKY RICE. It was an excellent piece of sequential fiction, but much like, say, the first album by Nirvana or Andi Watson's SKELETON KEY (or even THE COMPLETE GEISHA) or Todd Haynes' POISON, it was only a glimmer of what was to come. Since that time, Thompson has locked himself away and honed his first masterpiece-an ambitious narrative clocking in at nearly 600 pages. Sure, you can write it off as a coming of age story (a coming of age story in an art form that still is coming up with its standards for most literary genres, and thus still coming of age itself), but that would be to say THE BELL JAR is merely the story of a depressed poet or GOODFELLAS about a guy who gets an interesting job. BLANKETS is the story of an artist in a state of becoming, a boy walking down a road where people in the houses on either side are attempting to get him to stop and play in their yard. It's the tale of said boy figuring out how to stick to the middle, and stay true to himself.
Semi-autobiographical, BLANKETS outstrips the standard coming-of-age novel by giving it a perspective that only the comic book would allow him. Not even in movies could the story of an artist have that artist's vision so expertly rendered (think of how, in CRUMB, Zwigoff had to look over Crumb's shoulder to see what the illustrator saw). While the narrative thread of BLANKETS is straightforward, Thompson uses his pen to bend the world he portrays. Thus, you can step into an abstract world in the short span of a panel, see it as Thompson sees it himself. And there you get what makes the difference. The story of a boy discovering who he will be is also a book where an artist discovers a new form of expression.
And there we are, back to the beginning. This is a comic book that understands what a novel is, and a novel that has figured out how to be a comic book. There is going to be a lot of hype about this one, and the sorts of people who read and talk about "comix," needing the crooked letter to make them feel cooler, will likely come down on BLANKETS for not being cool enough, but ignore all that and trust yourself and trust the book. It's emotional and expressive and engrossing, and possibly the best thing you'll read this year-in any medium.

With this book I learned something: the graphic novel is an art form of its own and not a derivative. Not an illustrated novel, not comics. Not a kiddies medium.
Another thing: having spent a good part of my life in snowy rural places and some of it in the US mid-West, I - as someone also with a passion for drawing - can tell Craig Thompson has the perfect touch for rendering snow scenery with such a minimalist medium: every page exudes winter magic.

Now the content: three days after reading it I am still haunted by that book. One of the most poignant and spellbinding I ever read - and I have read a lot. There is something to it that goes beyond a nostalgic stint on adolescent romance. The tragic dimension slowly unfolds from what starts as an innocuous blend of childhood memories and ordinary challenges in young adult lives, as the nobility of the characters is precisely what gives hold to the forces silently at work to pull apart this first love.

I did not grow-up in US and the kind of culture that Craig depicts is largely foreign to me.
But there are a few books that hit something universal and fundamental in the human soul, and this is one of these. Part of the spell is that it is achingly clear that ten years later, at the time he writes that story, the author is not over with the aftermath of that first love yet, with such loving details and an impeccable memory of it all. I hope the catharsis of relating it worked for him, but now we the readers are the ones afflicted.
- Jacques Durand

This graphic novel mirrors life in a most honest, aching way. I'm a teenage girl, so maybe that could explain away why I cried a few times as I read this novel, but what could also explain it is that I saw myself and my experience of life in these pages. His relationship with his brother, the joy yet the cruelty, and the guilt, contained within it; and his relationship with his peers, the feelings of isolation and rejection; and his struggles with God, the confusion in trying to reconcile the beauty he sees in the human being with the guilt and shame he believes he must feel before the divine. Here is contained what life comes down to, at times, at least in my sight. What it is to be human: relationships with oneself, others, and God. There was sadness in this graphic novel, some hilarity as well (I laughed crazily at many of the scenes between the brothers; those were great); but through it, there was more beauty than anything else. I noticed a critic on the book cover commented that this novel is like poetry. I agree. As poetry, this book invites us to experience life within its words. It is worth reading. :)

I picked up this book today from the library at the recommendation of a friend who knows a little about how I grew up. I'm on page 130 and I can't stop crying. It's bringing up so many old memories and feelings of my youth as a Christian, all the pain and negativity I felt while desperately trying to be a child of (
God. I know I'll continue to cry through the rest of this book. It's heartbreaking.

This book is excpetionally well done because of the use of the words that correspond to each picture(s) that it narrates. The way the words are written or scrawled makes the pictures that more intense and in depth simply because each picture itself is full of detail. Plus the use of black and white doesn't draw attention away from any one point in the picture that needs to be concentrated on.
Aside from the pictures and whatnot, the story of the book is exceptional because it's based on life, but it's not imbelished nor does it concentrate on awkward life achievements. It's based on life in general and the progression of one through loss and various other experiences that come about in life.

This book definitely has all the detailed works of any other successful author. The only difference is that the illustrations are just as meaningful and better than the words themselves. Each word and ultimate sentence has it's own connection to each illustration(s) that it corresponds to. Making each word in the entire novel extremely meaningful.
The overall experience of reading this novel was so profound simply because it unveiled a lot in my own life that was once obscure. It's kind of wondrous how something as obvious as life can be used to make sense of so many complicated things. Which is exactly what this novel does, it takes the life of any other ordinary person like yourself, and it shapes it into a tool, one so powerful that it can define a new meaning to whom you are.

Just an excellent comic all around. Good art, good story, good for all ages 15 and up.

Craig uses a very simple style to tell a very deep story, a story about teenage love, loss, and growing up. I think the simple style helps in some ways, because it allows us to inject our own dreams and memories into the comic. In some ways it reminds me of Maus, which used a very simple style to tell a deeper story. I actually prefer it to Maus, but I think the nature of the story is quite different.

The only qualm I had about this book was that it was over way too quickly, being a 500 page book, it can be read in about two hours. If you liked Jimmy Corrigan, Maus and bittersweet true life stories, check this one out.

Craig Thompson, Blankets (Top Shelf, 2005)

Blankets is a book that has gotten so much good press over the past year that it seems almost superfluous to write anything else about it if you've got a single good word to say. And for the record, it is a good book. I'm just not sure if it's all that and a bag of Fritos.

Another entry in the "graphic novel memoir" category, Blankets is Thompson's exploration of his own childhood-- specifically, falling in love for the first time, but there is a great deal of other stuff that goes along with that and takes us through his whole childhood. There's a lot of material to cover here (which shouldn't be surprising given the book's almost-six-hundred-page doorstop status), and perhaps the most impressive thing about Blankets is how unobtrusively Thompson is able to cover it all within the scope of the main storyline he pursues; there are a lot of flashbacks to his childhood, some of which cover some pretty thorny ground (and kudos to Thompson, doubly, for not overplaying some scenes that most authors would have made the central events of their books), but Thompson never allows them to grow far enough in importance to sidetrack his story. Structurally, the book's a marvel of restraint, and for that reason alone, not only graphic novelists, but writers of all stripes, should be using Blankets as a textbook for how to present emotional sucker-punches for maximum effect.

The downside to this structural mastery (there's always a downside, isn't there?) is that it exposes Thompson's powers of emotional manipulation. And, again to his credit, Thompson eschews the normal American emotional shortcuts so prevalent in our books, movies, and other media; Thompson's building of character and relationship is almost Japanese in its simplicity and willingness to simply let the actors' actions telegraph their emotions. This is all too rare in American letters, and it is welcomed with open arms.

Oddly, despite myself, I seem to be writing a rave review of a book which, in the final analysis, I enjoyed, but wasn't really taken in by. I think the reason for this is, ultimately, just like it was with Chester Brown's I Never Liked You (which covers much the same ground, but without anything approaching this sort of scope and majesty), it's nothing we haven't seen before many, many times. Blankets is deliriously popular with the emo-kid set because it covers much the same ground as all those same-sounding bands they listen to-- coming of age, falling in love, blah blah blah. And the messages to be found here are no different than the ones you're going to hear in any random Hawthorn Heights or Fall Out Boy song you care to listen to/endure. My hope, however, is that some of the devotees of this book will realize the subtle differences in quality that turn it from basic teen-angsty emo dreck into something literary, understand them, and (when said devotees inevitably do) wander off to create their own poetry, music, graphic novels, whatever, will think about those differences and use them to raise the benchmark, however slightly, for the quality of teen angst art. Lord knows it could use some benchmark raising. *** ½

Today I read "Blankets" by Craig Thompson, a nearly 600 page illustrated work aka comic. It's only been a few hours and I can't yet entirely put into words how and why it resonated with me. It is almost perfect, and maybe that imperfection at the end just makes it more so. It's hands down the best depiction of Christian teens dating that I've ever come across, in any medium. And it is so much more than that. The protagonist's relationship with Raina, their different worlds... it was intensely real and bittersweet. I lived some of these scenes, and others which at first seemed extreme and foreign I soon realized were not so far from my experiences growing up. There are little things that I now realize must be universal among guys like me, like tucking the girl's hair behind her ear as she lays there because you can't bring yourself to do more but you have to touch her. The "psalm" in appreciation of, and thankfulness for, her creation is sublime. This book has rocked me.

Don't let my 3 star rating fool you, I love Craig Thompson and recommend this book to anyone. I think Thompson is one of a growing group of writers who continue to prove that a comic book doesn't have to be about muscled heroes in colored leotards. A graphic novel can employ images and words to tell a story in ways that a traditional book or film cannot. Not necessarily better or worse than those other formats, just different. Thompson is a master of the form.

Blankets, as others have pointed out, is a semi-fictionalized autobiography. It does a great job of capturing the feel of life in the upper Midwest. Maybe I'm seeing what I want to see, winters might have the same feel and look in other parts of the country, but the sense of place in his illustrations was spot on.

My three star rating comes mainly from the fact that I found his first book ("Good Bye, Chunky Rice") to be much more interesting. It had a poetic, magical, and somewhat abstract quality to it, where Blankets is a more literal narrative leaving less to the reader's imagination.

Gorgeous book that is beautiful, intimate and most importantly—deeply vulnerable. When an artist exposes this much of himself, it doesn't create a vacuum where you're trapped with solely THEIR story and THEIR experience. Instead, this amazing things happens where it speaks to YOUR own story and YOUR own experience. Highest recommendation for this work.

This is the first graphic novel that I've ever read. Graphic novels are a different breed entirely in my opinion, and I think will take some getting used to because I'm more interested in the words than the pictures and that shouldn't be the case. I'm sure there were things I missed, because there were several pages with no words and I tended to just glance at the picture and keep going. This is your typical coming of age first romance tale with a narrator who lives in rural Wisconsin. His parents are uber-religious leading him to think that he must lead a holy life or risk damnation. He meets this girl at church camp and falls in love with her. He even goes so far as to travel to Michigan to spend one of his holiday breaks with her (which would never have happened in my house, but whatever, it's fiction). Of course things don't work out the way he wants them to, but it wouldn't be a love story if they did. Besides the love story at the forefront of this book, Blankets also deals with issues like child molestation (though in a rather tangential sense), religious intolerance, and sibling rivalry. I thought it was good and an excellent choice for a first graphic novel.

I read all 587 pages in one afternoon. The story is compelling and really made me think about my life and the choices I've made. The symbolism throughout, as well as intense emotional scenes, make this a must read for anyone, even if they aren't interested in graphic novels and comics. Buy this book, support this author.

When you first get this book you're a little intimidated. It comes in at over 500 pages and looks huge, but by the end, you wish there were another 500. It's that damn good.

Adolescence is something we can all relate to on a human level. We all go through it and have our horror stories to tell. Love, Lust, Questions and so much more are dealt with in this "graphic" novel and it is done so perfectly I am truly surprised anyone was able to give this anything lower than 4 stars.

Buy this book. Even if you don't read graphic novels, buy this book. It's that good.

I have long been a fan of comics, graphic novels, penny dreadfuls, whatever you decide to call them. I've read a lot of exceptional comics; Sandman, Jimmy Corrigan, Maus, Watchmen....the list goes on. However, none of thses books, with the possible exception of Maus, touched me on such a personal level. "Blankets" is a masterfully told tale of love and loss, a beautiful story rife with powerful imagery, incredible storytelling and a looming sense of inevetibility. Craig Thompson, on an artistic level, may well be the next Art Spiegelman. Spiegelman has long been the best in my mind, in his inate ability to draw anything. Craig Thompson follows in his footsteps with the incredible art in this heartbreaking book. When "Blankets" first arrived on my doorstep, i had thought the art to be ridiculously cartoony and the writing to be almost trite. That was the first page. After that, i fell into a moving, realistic and wonderfully non-pretentious story that grabs you by the throat and doesn't let go even after you've closed the book. Craig's doomed romance with Raina, the failing relationship of her parents, the awkward atmosphere between Craig and Raina's adopted brother Ben, and characters that moved and spoke realistically enough to make the entire world that Craig Thompson tells his story through entirely believable, a spitting image of our own, flaws and all. The other wonderous thing about his world is that his art really works with his characters. He's not one of those artists who draw cartoon people and photorealistic buildings, or vice versa. His world looks like his characters would actually live there. The story was almost too real for the art, however. His conservative christian life was utterly believable, as was his relationship with other people and especially the way they talked. Not like Alan Moore dialogue, like realistic, but more like his people did not ask stupid questions that are all too common in most mainstream comics. Each character had their own voice, and they never lost it throughout. The end of the story honestly made me cry. More than the despair of Maus or the intensely depressing story wraught by Jimmy Corrigan, this story made me cry at the end because the end was not sad. It was hopeful, and said that even after the things that happened, even after events unfolded the way they did, the world did not end. This story alone continued past the pages for me. I saw the miracles Thompson spoke so reverently of, and felt that things would just keep on going beyond the eye of the mind. Easily the best effort made in comic form in memory. BUY THIS BOOK!!

When you first come into physical contact with this book, taking this brick-sized 600 page monster into your hands and cracking open the covers - the heft alone should tell you that this is no ordinary graphic-novel/comic-book. A few pages into this book and you'll immediately be hooked. Your fingers will flip through page after page and before you know it you'll already have consumed several hundred pages of what will surely go down as a monument to the medium of the graphic novel the way Art Spiegelman's, 'Maus,' did in the 80's and Neil Gaiman's, 'Sandman' series offered throughout the 90's.
'Blankets,' at its core is a simple, timeless story (coming of age, first-love, alienation, anxiety, pursuit of spiritual identity, teen-angst) told thousands of times over the millenia (books, poems, songs, movies, television) but perfectly captured, perhaps for the first time, in comic-strip form. This book is exquisitely plotted, paced, written and drawn and by the end of it all one can't help but be left dazed at the sheer artistic excellence demonstrated by Thompson, from start to finish, through thousands of panels. Visually, the black and white artwork is a stunner but perhaps the most noteworthy aspect of all is Thompson's gift for prose with not a wasted word to be found in his minimalistic narrative that still manages to be filled with layer after layer of subtext.
This truly is a title not to be missed by anyone with an appreciation for the written word, not to mention the graphical novel format. The stylish cover design and paper quality also lends itself very well as a gift-giving item.

I respond to this book as I do to Mozart: it is hard to believe that such an artistic accomplishment is possible. The illustrations and drawings coordinate beautifully. The story transcendently illustrates human expressions from childhood to adulthood. It deals with family, faith, peers, and first love in a way that enables even a senior to experience again their nature. I put the book down briefly once. It was a joy to experience.

This is the reason I started to be passionated about Graphic Novels.
This graphic novel is beautiful, sad, entertainment and extraordinary.
If you like stories about "normal people" with "normal problems" you will love Blankets.
Besides, it is the biography of the author's youth.
I have read Habibi by the same author and I did not like at all.
Blankets is great as well as MAUS.

I just finished reading this book while at work and for the last half hour, I have had tears in my eyes while barely supressing the urge to go outside and sob. It's not really tears of sorrow that I feel like shedding after reading this book, but rather from raw emotions recollected from childhood and late adolescence.
From page one, Thompson grabbed my attention with his memories of blanket wars and parental intervention. A gentle smile spread across my face and I often broke into laughter at some hilariously illustrated incident. I'm trying here not to just repeat what everyone else has said about this book, but it's hard not to go off about the fact that he has this method of capturing in a couple of frames what would take pages of narrative in an ordinary novel. I guess what I really appreciated about this book was that he spoke directly to me in my language of a fundamentalist background, coupled with a history of feeling like an outcast. I can relate perfectly to his relationship with Raina, especially when they first meet. My first love happened almost exactly the same way: us both feeling like outcasts, me just kinda standing there against the wall, and then I saw her; all blue eyes and yellow curly hair, and the way she moved towards me (you'll get the picture)......that moment on page 90 is a moment we all feel at some point in our lives. I love how Thompson so delicately sprinkles his philosophy througout the book and how Craig is constantly conflicted about his feelings for Raina. I can SO relate to that. I suppose the best page in the book would have to be page 571...so beautifully illustrated.
The feeling of loss and emptiness that Craig feels are so wonderful because it's almost too painful for me to read this book (although I will read it over and over again) because he walks along this razor edge line of love which produces such overwhelming, unfamiliar emotions. I can't remember feeling such emotions since the times in my life that the novel describes. Have I become that emotionally empty?
I don't want to sound repetitive, but this book gripped me from page one and never let go until, at the end of the book, I was filled with this unbelieveable heart-wrenching beautiful memory of love.
To awaken parts of your soul that you might have forgotten about, maybe you should check out this book.

from hoarseandbuggy.blogspot.com:
Look, I'm not one to gush or anything, but really, truly. This book is flat out one of the most... transcendental experiences of my life. It evokes all of the memories and feelings of ones youth, all the pain and joy, love and hate, courage and fear, and puts it all into perspective.
To be honest, I don't remember the last time I read something that brought out so much emotion, and caused me to really think about my life and all the experiences that have gotten me from there to here. I sat down to read one chapter of the thing, and ended up reading... well... all 500+ pages in one sitting.
I can't really recommend this book enough. And you can actually get a really good deal on both Blankets and Goodbye, Chunky Rice, Craig's first book, which is also phenomenal (and a great warm up for Blankets.)
Blankets is selling out in comic shops and book stores, so really, truly, don't wait, buy it now.

This is a coming-of-age tale that everyone can easily relate to. Its themes of spiritual awakening, vulnerability, longing, isolation, etc. are things most of us have experienced at some point in our lives. Yet the sincerity and kindness in which the tale is presented make the story so powerful. You'll probably be in tears by the time you finish this book if you're old enough to remember a time where people didn't have cell phones. The art is amazing as well, even better than Daniel Clowes' work in my opinion.

Every now and then, something major happens in your life. Sometimes it's an event, sometimes it's a work of art. In the case of a work of art, "Blankets" had the effect on me that few things have. I can only compare its impact with that of other works of art, in different arts, like "American Beauty", "Six Feet Under", The Eels, Tori Amos, Nirvana, JD Salinger, and many other artists whose work have both inspired and reassured me that I wasn't alone in the way I saw the world and lived my life.

"Blankets" is definitely a landmark in the history of comics/cartoons and visual arts. It is because it does things that neither cinema nor literature can do, and I believe that in between cinema and literature is precisely where comics/cartoons fall. Books like "Blankets" give the genre its "letters of nobility" as they say in French, and it reveals the incredible power that the art can convey.

I have rarely been so touched by any kind of art before in my life, even musically, and I cannot tell you enough about this wonderful book. It is not easy to read, it will scar your soul, but on the whole, it will taste and feel like life, and you'll know you're not alone.

Craig Thompson is a genius and I'm still thinking about the amazing narrative skills he showed in "Blankets"; terrific transitions, superb parallels, unbelievable imagery and coherence of thoughts.

If you like snow as much as I do, you will love it. If you don't, you will learn to. It's so beautiful, I won't even try to review that. You have to experience this book.

But be sure that this is not easy to read, and I mean that emotionally. It's indeed filled with real emotions, from more than just the main character, so much so that you will feel quite a lot throughout the book.

I won't even say anything about the plot or anything, just that you have to trust me and read this book. You won't regret it, and you will be touched.

WOW.
That is really all there is to say. I just sat down tonight and read all 582 pages in one sitting. This is not to brag mind you -- I am not a fast reader (truly this took most of the night). I am having to force myself not to re-read this book TONIGHT. It is that good. But I must go to work tomorrow and so I need sleep. But I seriously considered calling in sick tomorrow, just to read it again tonight.
This is one of the best introspective and thoughtful, well-paced, books I have ever read. Ever. And it is so accessible. If you have ever dealt with issues with your family, spiritual things, or romantic love, then you will definately get something out of this book -- even if it is just the book getting some tears out of you. But it won't be. There is WAY more to this book than just a rollercoaster ride of emotions. What depth.
Well, i guess i could go on ranting about this book, but then your reading this would just take up time that you could be using to read this book. No, time that you SHOULD be using to read this book. Sufice it to say that this is easily one of the best books that i have ever read in my life. And in addition, it is one of the most relivent to life in general.
This book is, without question, a must-read.

This is only the second graphic novel I've ever read. I picked it up after loving Maus and wanting to try another one. I found myself completely and unexpectedly sucked in. I related strongly to the main character's evangelical upbringing, his teenage faith, and his first love. And while the love story is certainly engaging, I was even more interested in the brother relationship and found myself relieved with how that ended.

I'd never read a graphic novel before so I was pleasantly surprised at how well the story was conveyed through pictures. Sometimes I thought there were too many words even. I could really identify with the "story" even though many critiqued that there was no story. It's a 580 page book--theres story! Whether you enjoyed the story is a whole different... story. Wow, this is not going at all as planned. Anyway. I think it's definitely worth the few hours it takes to read. I read it once straight through and then read it again just looking at the pictures. I would own this book and read it from time to time, gladly.

This is a beautifully drawn graphic novel about a boy and girl who meet at church camp and fall in first love, then have to struggle with the usual issues of "growing up", including family dysfunction (of a mild sort - nothing really horrible happens), dealing with sexual feelings that their church regards as "sinful", and breaking away from the strictures of over-religious parents. The story is told from the viewpoint of the male half of the couple, and you can almost feel his emotion as it swings from loneliness, to a crush, to overpowering love, to heartache, and finally to resolution. I feel I must warn potential readers that this story does not have a particularly happy ending, and parts of it are hard to read, especially if you had similar experiences with religion or love growing up. I totally needed a box of Kleenex to get through the story and I also thought that the final acts of the relationship storyline were not totally realistic. On the plus side, the graphic art is wonderful and enhances the emotion of the story to a great degree. I recommend the book highly, just watch out for any triggers it might set off from your own youthful memories.

Thompson's work in Blankets is beautifully done, and he does a great job of illiciting small memories tied to big emotions. Blankets is another wonderful piece validating Graphic Novels as a legitimate art form, a growing trend to separate themselves from the stigma of "funny books" that comic and sequential art such as this cas previously carried. I truly loved the book, and had a very hard time putting it down.

That said, serious graphic novel enthusiasts may find that the story is a bit cliche, as it treads familiar ground of angst and uncertain adolescent life and a search for identity, faith, love and acceptance. While very well done and definately appealing to casual readers and those new to the graphic novel art form, some readers may find themselves wanting a bit more original storylines or developed characters. They may find deeper stories in such works as Box Office Poison by Alex Robinson or Thompson's own Goodbye Chunky Rice.

Either way, one would do well to pick up this delightful piece of work.

This book is astounding. While my knowledge of scripture is limited (and cynical) at best, the oft mentioned biblical passages do not come across as alienating nor do they break up the story.

Everything about this book is so painfully beautiful and intimate. It is obviously a work of love and it shows in every twist of phrase and every brush or pen stroke.

Even if you do not like graphic novels, you should give Blankets a shot.

This is, without a doubt, one of the best graphic novels that I have ever read. The way that he deals with themes like first love, loss of faith, first loss, and the events that we hide from our families because it's easier is incredible; his word choice and writing style is just profound. The art perfectly matches the tone of the writing, and the way those two elements match up is magical. Definitely a book that makes you think, and I give it the absolute highest recommendation possible.

Most graphic novels are relatively slim, attesting to the amount of effort involved in evolving a graphic plot: not so BLANKETS, which sports nearly 600 pages of black and white illustration and offers up a blend of autobiography and a close inspection of romance and involvement. BLANKETS is an important achievement in graphic art: it covers fundamentalist belief, love, and life's transitions in much more depth than graphic novels usually offer. Very highly recommended.

This phone book sized graphic novel is probably the best work of sequential art and what is more the best work of literature I have read in a long while. The story is so universal yet so unique it will have you pausing every so often to sort out your own thoughts and memories. It is nothing short of genius in the art form and something for us comic book lovers to use as a tool to bring nay sayers over to the dark side. Simply one of the best uses of words and pictures ever produced.

This is an excellent graphic novel. A year or so I started to get a new appreciation for comics after reading "Understanding Comics". Lately, I have read many graphic novels. I find that fictionalized non-fiction work best for me. Of course, "Maus" is a classic. This book "Blankets" is sure to join it on the classics shelf. The author is incredibly open. I felt like I was reliving my own childhood. Definitely a worthwhile read.

First off, this is my all time favorite book. I'd never really been into graphic novels, but this really opened me up to the possibility. It is very well written and the artwork is phenomenal. I couldn't wait to keep reading, but wanted to absorb the details of all the art first. The delivery was speedy, quality fantastic, and has barely left my hands since it arrived. I certainly recommend purchasing this book. It's one of the best!

Perhaps I am a little biased in favor of this book; it mirrors my own first (and continuing) love and the slow, tender way a socially awkward misfit intertwines his life with a more well-adjusted but kind-hearted girl. The storytelling doesn't let you put it down; I read this in two days only because not sleeping at night was not an option.

I liked the ending a lot, although I know it does not appeal to all readers. Sometimes things turn out different than one expects, and we have bittersweet memories to keep for the rest of our lives. This book is full of them.

This is an illustrated novel that everyone should read. I was hesitant to pick up an illustrated novel, but after reading Persepolis my mental block was lifted and I am now an advocate for these novels. Anyway, Blankets will take you back to the first time you "fell in love" like no other book. I felt like I traveled back in time. Not only does author, Craig Thompson suck you in with his romantic story, but also his expressive, passionate and poignant illustrations.

I liked the artwork. The story was interesting and there were some dead-on insights into coming from a legalistic religious background. I felt the ending was rushed, as though he wanted to quickly make sure that his resentment and renouncing of his faith was nice and clear (although poorly reasoned and hysterical). Never seen winter captured so precisely and beautifully. And his depiction of relationships slowly collapsing was stunning. Despite some problems with the author/character's logic, this is one of the best graphic novels I've read.

now i know i might be a little wacky to say an illustrated novel is my favorite reading of all time. but that's exactly what it is. craig thompson creates such a unique atmosphere with this book that it makes it incredibly hard to put down. the drawings are superb, the plot is outstanding. he tells the tale of his growing up in wisconsin and his struggles in becoming the man he wants to be in this beautifully told story. this book will have you laughing, thinking, and crying. perfection. read this book with an open mind and you'll leave with changed perspective.

Wow! Is all I have to say after reading this illustrated novel. Being Christian high school student on the outskirts of society I understand where Craig Thompson is coming from.
The illustration's are simple and wonderful. I loved how he would go to flash back of what he and his brother did, like making the bed a ship in a storm and running in the snow trying to not break through the top.
A quick read of only 582 pages but some how it lasts longer then when you place it on your shelf or return it to the library.

What a novel, an epic novel at that. A book has never moved me so much or made me feel the way "Blankets" did. This is the only book i have ever read that has made me cry wait let me rephrase that ...I have never read a book that has made me bawl before. This book absolutely pulled me in with its honesty and artwork. It tugged and brought emotions i did not know i had. The way he portrays love is like taking a page from my very own life. I wish it would have went little more in depth with his life at the end, but it was still enough to just blow me away. This book is a must have for anyone and everyone. This is love. This is pain. This is growing up. This is feeling left out. This is loss. This is moving on. This is HONESTY!

Well I managed to finish Blankets in only a day. It turned out to be a beautiful story about first love, and siblings. However, it also incorporated themes of religion, being a teen, fitting in, divorce, molestation, and mental disabilities. Thompson's life has been quite a roller coaster. I really enjoyed the illustrations of this book, and the story was very good too.

When asked, "What is Blankets about?" I always reply, "Everything." Truly, few books touch base on the emotions felt as one comes of age. Regardless of faith or upbringing, this book captures what it's like to become who you are as a being separate from those around you. It's also a story about being in love for the first time and how life altering an emotion such as love really is.

You cannot help but enjoy the artistry, the lyricism and emotion of the story in your hands. Craig Thompson understands the human condition, how to tell its story and bring understanding through this novel. To read this novel is to love it!

This might be a stretch, but I would suggest this book to anyone who typically "dosen't do" graphic novels or comics. It's funny, heart-breaking, and eerily real. It starts off unassuming and soft, then wraps you up in the story before you can object. Completely engrossing, the way books were when you were a kid reading under the covers with a flashlight. Stays with you long after you've read it. Highly recommended.

This is by far one of the most outstanding pieces of literature i've ever had the pleasure of reading. I would have to say my only negative thought is that it rips me out of my terminal state of uniqueness. It's the first thing i've ever read that tells my story growing up to a T. I remember vividly some of the same exact thoughts the protagonist encounters (and even some of the same events). As oddly close to my own experiences it may be, this book finnaly put an answer to that eternal question i've had of "what happened to her?" And what exactly I could do about it.
You have to read it to find out.

The loneliness, heartbreak and longing Mr. Thompson writes about in this book stayed with me long after I closed the pages. The illustrations support the text in such a breathtaking manner. You can feel the cold Michigan air as it whips through the pages. You can smell the stale seats in the school bus. And your heart aches as Craig and Raina hold each other in first-love's bliss. A wonderful experience indeed

At first glance, "Blankets" may seem to be a stereotypical teen coming-of-age story, you have your outcast teen, with a rough childhood who meets a beautiful and popular girl who ends up being very much like him after all. Sort of like "Angus." But "Blankets" goes beyond the average and, frankly, boring, teenage angst routine to explore youth and first love from a more mature, adult perspective. Thompson's work manages to somehow blend his perspectives on his childhood as an adult with his childhood experiences themselves, and the result is a poignant, touching story that almost anyone can relate to.

I admit it, I cried.

I liked the story. I am always more impressed by sad ending of a story, but for this one I was wishing for a happy ending!. I even google the characters looking for a sequel but I couldn't find. A real piece of art, but a depressive in same time.

I think my title says it all. Like Skim and Paul Has A Summer Job, Thompson has taken the a coming-of-age autobiography and brought it home through the comic medium. It has all the elements of a great novel wrapped up in a humble but masterful cartooning style. The weight of this book shouldn't intimidate you; it reads very quickly and is well worth it. I would get this book for young people who are beginning to question religion, find love and grow up, so essentially, any young person.

This is a strong work, and bodes well for Craig Thompson, who appears to have hit it big. And all the more power to him, he's created something that flows well and connects with readers on a very deep level. However, the almost masturbatory level of intimacy in the book (due to the biographical nature, it's ALWAYS related to the narrator) causes the other characters to come off as simply tools for the story, and the focus on organized religion takes away from what it ends up as an almost anti-climatic love story. That doesn't take too much away from what is certainly a well-written and skillfully drawn work of graphic literature that will be remembered for years.

I saw this novel on my friends shelf when I was at his house one day. I picked it up and starting reading a few pages..and I was hooked instantly. The characters are so authentic. I bought a copy the next day and read it cover to cover.

I'd recommend this to anyone, even if you have never read a graphic novel.

Being a moderate fan of graphic novels, I was terribly excited when the head of my library offered to let me take "Blankets" home for a weekend before it was entered into the computer and put onto the shelves. While the book was interesting enough that I read it in one sitting, in retrospect I find that it left me uninspired and unattached.

I do appreciate Craig Thompson's effort. His art is good (though not the best -- the "Kabuki" series is a notable superior in this field) but the story is uninteresting. Perhaps the massive amounts of YA novels that I read in my youth have made me immune to teen love plots, but I found very little original work in "Blankets." Because of the medium, I found it difficult to become attached to the characters, and because of the plot, I could never reread the graphic novel. However, I do think that any fan of comic books or graphic novels should try to get this through their local library. I do appreciate the acclaim its received from critics, and hope that its publication will pave the way for more richly-plotted mainstream graphic novels.

I found this book a few years ago right as I was graduating high school. It resonated with me then and it still does today. I have my own copy now and every few months I take it out and read it again. Whether you've already had that first love that changes your life forever, as Craig did, or you're still waiting to experience that kind of love you will thoroughly enjoy this book. The story is just great and Craig's illustrations complement the text perfectly. I wasn't a fan of graphic novels until I read this book, now I have a new appreciation for them.

You cannot help but enjoy the artistry, the lyricism and emotion of the story in your hands. Craig Thompson understands the human condition, how to tell its story and bring understanding through this novel. To read this novel is to love it!

This might be a stretch, but I would suggest this book to anyone who typically "dosen't do" graphic novels or comics. It's funny, heart-breaking, and eerily real. It starts off unassuming and soft, then wraps you up in the story before you can object. Completely engrossing, the way books were when you were a kid reading under the covers with a flashlight. Stays with you long after you've read it. Highly recommended.

This is by far one of the most outstanding pieces of literature i've ever had the pleasure of reading. I would have to say my only negative thought is that it rips me out of my terminal state of uniqueness. It's the first thing i've ever read that tells my story growing up to a T. I remember vividly some of the same exact thoughts the protagonist encounters (and even some of the same events). As oddly close to my own experiences it may be, this book finnaly put an answer to that eternal question i've had of "what happened to her?" And what exactly I could do about it.
You have to read it to find out.

The loneliness, heartbreak and longing Mr. Thompson writes about in this book stayed with me long after I closed the pages. The illustrations support the text in such a breathtaking manner. You can feel the cold Michigan air as it whips through the pages. You can smell the stale seats in the school bus. And your heart aches as Craig and Raina hold each other in first-love's bliss. A wonderful experience indeed

At first glance, "Blankets" may seem to be a stereotypical teen coming-of-age story, you have your outcast teen, with a rough childhood who meets a beautiful and popular girl who ends up being very much like him after all. Sort of like "Angus." But "Blankets" goes beyond the average and, frankly, boring, teenage angst routine to explore youth and first love from a more mature, adult perspective. Thompson's work manages to somehow blend his perspectives on his childhood as an adult with his childhood experiences themselves, and the result is a poignant, touching story that almost anyone can relate to.

I admit it, I cried.

I liked the story. I am always more impressed by sad ending of a story, but for this one I was wishing for a happy ending!. I even google the characters looking for a sequel but I couldn't find. A real piece of art, but a depressive in same time.

I think my title says it all. Like Skim and Paul Has A Summer Job, Thompson has taken the a coming-of-age autobiography and brought it home through the comic medium. It has all the elements of a great novel wrapped up in a humble but masterful cartooning style. The weight of this book shouldn't intimidate you; it reads very quickly and is well worth it. I would get this book for young people who are beginning to question religion, find love and grow up, so essentially, any young person.

This is a strong work, and bodes well for Craig Thompson, who appears to have hit it big. And all the more power to him, he's created something that flows well and connects with readers on a very deep level. However, the almost masturbatory level of intimacy in the book (due to the biographical nature, it's ALWAYS related to the narrator) causes the other characters to come off as simply tools for the story, and the focus on organized religion takes away from what it ends up as an almost anti-climatic love story. That doesn't take too much away from what is certainly a well-written and skillfully drawn work of graphic literature that will be remembered for years.

I saw this novel on my friends shelf when I was at his house one day. I picked it up and starting reading a few pages..and I was hooked instantly. The characters are so authentic. I bought a copy the next day and read it cover to cover.

I'd recommend this to anyone, even if you have never read a graphic novel.

Being a moderate fan of graphic novels, I was terribly excited when the head of my library offered to let me take "Blankets" home for a weekend before it was entered into the computer and put onto the shelves. While the book was interesting enough that I read it in one sitting, in retrospect I find that it left me uninspired and unattached.

I do appreciate Craig Thompson's effort. His art is good (though not the best -- the "Kabuki" series is a notable superior in this field) but the story is uninteresting. Perhaps the massive amounts of YA novels that I read in my youth have made me immune to teen love plots, but I found very little original work in "Blankets." Because of the medium, I found it difficult to become attached to the characters, and because of the plot, I could never reread the graphic novel. However, I do think that any fan of comic books or graphic novels should try to get this through their local library. I do appreciate the acclaim its received from critics, and hope that its publication will pave the way for more richly-plotted mainstream graphic novels.

I found this book a few years ago right as I was graduating high school. It resonated with me then and it still does today. I have my own copy now and every few months I take it out and read it again. Whether you've already had that first love that changes your life forever, as Craig did, or you're still waiting to experience that kind of love you will thoroughly enjoy this book. The story is just great and Craig's illustrations complement the text perfectly. I wasn't a fan of graphic novels until I read this book, now I have a new appreciation for them.

I will not repeat all the positive things other reviewers mentioned - I totally agree about the excellence of plot, emotions, images and I don't have anything further to say on that count. My only reservation (the reason of the missing star in the rating): I so much wanted for Raina to reappear near the end! I needed to get her side of the story; after the other events ...

An amazing book, great illustrations. Read it within 2 days because I couldn't put it down! My boyfriend never used to like reading all that much, but I bought this book for him knowing he loves comics/video games/anime, and he loved it...couldn't put it down, Now I've got him reading novels! Definitely recommend owning this.

Craig Thompson's 'Blankets' is my first graphic novel. A friend of mine has been attempting to get me into the comic book style graphic novels, but somehow I came across Thompson's work. It was interesting to see that Craig is from Wisconsin (I am going to college at UW-SP), and it's wonderful to see both beautiful art AND a focused illustration.

The story is a beautiful one. Don't be intimidated by the number of pages in this book. It goes fast. I'm going to read it again and take more time to really concentrate on Thompson's illustrations.

One of the best novels, graphic or otherwise I have read. I could relate to the main character in many ways (crazy conservative religious family, religion and coming of age, Enlightenment). Highly recommended and well-written.

In Blankets, Craig Thompson presents a personal story that many people who grew up as "outcasts" in the rural heartland of America will find hard not to relate with. With art that is both simplistic and beautiful, the story of a young Craig coming to terms with his place in life, his first love, and his problems with religion as he ages is a tale sure to tug on your heartstrings. Anyone who has ever been in love will find something here that is tragically beautiful: young love, with all it's passion and angst.

The day this arrived, I figured I'd be able to ration it out,a few hundred pages a day. This book must be read in one sitting, as I soon found out. I stayed up late into the night, and it was well worth it. This book will make your heart cry softly, and get warm fuzzies, sometimes all at once. The artwork only helps to bring this story to life even more.

I've been reading comic books for little over a decade now (I'm only 17) and Blankets is one of, if not the best stories in graphic novel material I have ever read. I read Goodbye Chunky Rice first (which is also exceptional) and it made me cry. I read Blankets in one sitting and I bawled my eyes out. This book, once I find the cash to buy my own copy, will easily find a spot on my bookshelf along with Maus, Dark Knight Returns, and Hush. Craig Thompson shows emotions, feelings, and the truth, in what I believe will make him the Will Eisner of the 21st century.

Craig Thompson's drawings are infused with emotion. Where other graphic novelists have experimented with changing visual styles based on the characters' emotions, Thompson's world flows and swirls with feeling. From time to time, it feels nearly psychedelic -- and i mean that in the most positive possible way. Senses are blurred as joy becomes visual, or terror more visceral. I couldn't put this book down, as it's a joy to read, and fascinating for the story as well as for the artful way that it is told. Thompson has lead an interesting life.

Blankets is enthralling and demonstrates what the comic medium can do. This is escapist literature grounded in reality. Craig Thompson makes you identify with the protaganist as he journeys from troubled youth and adolescence to adulthood. Highly recommended, even if you don't normally read comics. It's that good.

Blankets goes down in my heart as one of the most touching and moving graphic novels I had ever read. Nearly 600 pages in length, I sat down and read this wonderful coming of age story in four hours. Thompson created a story rendered with simple but beautiful black and white drawings that I could relate to. This is one of those graphic novels that anyone who's interested in creating or reading heartfelt comics should read.

The combination of the illustrations and the development of his story are hunting. The reader lives his childhood and coming of age. This book can be read many times to savor all the details of his illustrations.

The art is very poetic and the story just reminds you of the fun that most of us once had in high school when we first met that girl that just changed the way we feel and think. If you are a male and you have a younger brother or older brother this would make a great birthday or Christmas gift. I got it from my brother and I loved every minute of it. I finished it in two days and that's saying something because it's a pretty long graphic novel.

This second graphic novel by Craig Thompson is phenomenal! The way he uses the graphic media to portray his autobiography is amazing. Recommended for any graphic novel fan, or anyone looking for lessons in life.

This book is just... the real world... it doesn't put you in a fake world with stuff that you know won't happen... it really teaches you how things can be...
i love it... read it in 3 hrs... i just couldnt put it down...
it has some strong issues in there... so make sure you are prepared... but i totally totally recommend it...
buy it... its worth every single... penny

An incredibly honest story about a kid and later a teenager facing his life through christian eyes. Once you've started to read it, it's like an invitation to come into a world where the most primary, clean and real sensations are felt, page after page. Is not usual that someone cries after reading a book, but probably you wont be able to hold your tears after finishing Blankets...
A graphic novel to recomend, no doubt!

I received this book for Christmas after asking for a comic book or graphic novel and this is exactly what I wanted. It kept me occupied and I read the whole book in one day. The art is something to take notice of and admire. I really like the author in content and his artwork. I don't quite connect with the author as a whole but in some parts I do. I think everyone will find a part that helps them connect to their past.

This is a raw and beautiful graphic novel about a young man's questioning of his upbringing while going through his first romantic relationship. It's a nostalgic tale about growing up in the 80s and 90s, about questioning your parents' Christian fundamentalism, about first love.

For all that, this story is a slice-of-life. There is no over-aching plot. There is no true resolution. The most interesting relationships in the story (Craig's relationship with his brother Phil, the interrelationships within Raina's family) are the ones Craig walks away from and abandons. There is no true religious awakening, no finding of true love, no awakening to a goal or purpose. This is a `here is what happens' tale that simply ends, with no emotional resolution.

As another reviewer said, this story feels like a heart-tugging made-for-TV movie. It's fun to pass a few hours with, but ultimately, it's not life-changing or a classic.

I can't help comparing this to `Sorcerers and Secretaries', another manga-format story about an artistic youth growing up. At the end of S&S, the protagonist has learned how to trust and fall in love, and has also decided to stop sleep-walking through life and focus upon her stories. It's another heart-warming tale, but with a resolution, a climax and deeper meaning.

If you love `slice-of-life' manga set among the lives of teens/young adults, definitely read `Solanin'. It also is lacking a strong plot, but its focus is consciously on the relationships between the main characters, and how those relationships give their lives meaning. It comes across as more visceral and less nostalgic than `Blankets'.

While I don't consider `Blankets' a `great' work of manga, it is well worth reading for its nostalgia about childhood and adolescence, and for its beautiful artwork. As far as the craft of drawing comics/manga, `Blankets' is one of the most intelligible and well-designed. It's a shame the plot couldn't have been deeper to match the excellence of the artwork.

Overall, the story ends with a complete lack of ambition and an overwhelming sense of meaninglessness on the part of the narrator. A friend I loaned the book to said she loved the artwork and characterization at the beginning of the book, but that the ending made her mad due to the complete apathy and aimlessness of the main character. "Craig was so passive, so detached from all other characters. He learned nothing from his experiences. He could write about them, but the story falls flat when you realize he didn't even know what to do with his experiences." Look, the purpose of life is to learn and grow. `Craig' the narrator seems stuck in a perpetual childishness, unable to overcome the fear and insecurity of his childhood. You expect better from this author, and it's disappointing. I'm not saying the ending should have had a happy-ever-after ending. Heck, even if he'd become a bitter atheist and someone who denounced love as a myth, it would at least be a change in consciousness, a sign of some mental progress toward *something*. It wouldn't be the pointless disengagement from life that the book's ending exemplifies.

This is the kind of book I like. It's got depth, it's got feeling and it doesn't loose it's grip on reality.

Craig Thompson is really good at combining everyday reality and deeper psycological refelction.

This is a very good book about an outsider, a boy, who discover that there's more to life than it appears to be.

I strongly recomend buying tha Soundtrack as well. Tracker: Blankets - it does the trick.

Anyone who has had to endure high school deserves to read this book. It's as thick as a phone book but it's a super-fast read. It sucks you in from the beginning. I was raised on a mix of Pagan and Buddhist philosophies and I am most definitely still able to empathize with the main character's struggle with Christianity. I highly recommend this read!

This is incredible, one of the best books i have read this year. Personal, funny, and so familiar. Thompson takes the field of comics books to a higher level, more literature than funny books. I highly recommed this book to anyone and if they don't like it, too bad for them.

This is such a great graphic novel. Nothing you'd expect. I picked it up this evening at about 9 pm and finished at about 2 in the morning. Every time I put it down to rest my eyes for a bit I seriously couldn't wait to continue.

There is nothing much left to be said that hasn't been said already. A lovely drawing style and set-out is used to tell a story we've all heard before, but one that is told very humanely and effectively. Quite gorgeous work. I loved it.

This is, without a doubt, (as the title suggests) the best thing I've ever seen. Craig Thompson is amazing. The artwork is so beautiful and the story arguably the most inspirational thing I've ever read. Truly amazing. I HIGHLY recommend it.

Craig Thompson's Illustrated Novel "Blankets" is a masterpiece. His story is well told and his imagery supplements it. Thompson's layouts are innovative and push the boundaries of the traditional graphic novel layout. overall the work is very strong. The term graphic novel, often applied loosely to this genre has true meaning in this book in that it truly is a Novel.

600 pages long, but a very, very quick read. It moves beautifully and flows just as easily. There's so much to be said about this graphic novel. I found myself relating to it rather, rather well.

It's a coming-of-age-love-story -- between a boy and a girl, a boy and the christian God, a boy and his brother, a boy and his parents, a boy and his life.

Definitely a must for any comic fan.

I'm not that impressed. There was nothing essentially wrong with the story but I don't get the acclaim either. It's a pretty simple story: Craig grows up, falls in love, questions his Christian faith, and deals with life with a younger brother. The artwork was okay but I've seen better and the drawings are pretty simple. There's not much text on each page so I flipped through this thing quickly,. It's 600 pages but you can definitely read it in under 2 hours and probably a lot less. It's fine, like store-brand ice cream: taste but not memorable.

This was my first experience reading a graphic novel, and I absolutely loved it. I picked it up to look at it and couldn't put it down, finished it in two hours....and I could read it over and over again. I highly reccommend it. Male or female, I have a very close male friend who was the one who told me to read it. THIS is literature!

I thought it would be good but, it was too great for words, i found it even more amazing that most of this happened to him, the drawings are excellent, perfect for any aspiring artists, or if your just looking for a good story. It also has the best combination of funny and sad as hell, and its really well written.

I met Craig at a book signing, just BEFORE I read this book. He spent about 15 minutes drawing an original illustration on the title page and then signed it. His story is captivating and his drawings are great. Plus, he is a REALLY nice guy! Buy his book!!!!!

I am not a big fan of Goodbye, Chunky Ric, but I find Craig Thompson's sophomore effort to be one of such intense beauty and personal joy and despair that I fervently recommend it to anyone, regardless of their feelings about graphic novels. It is a classic work that I sincerely hope will be remembered and reread for years to come.

As I read this book I heard a bitter sweet soundtrack playing in the backround. I have never been so moved by a story as I was by this book. The feelings Craig experinces spoke to me as the troubles that many teens face, such as learing who you are or soming to terms with what you believe in. In short, a wonderful read

The author accuratly portrays a typical Central Wisconsin teenage love story. I have lived almost my entire life in a town only about 15 miles away from the town in which the story takes place; the authors hometown. It is rich in local color and was reminiscent of my own formitive years.

Blankets is not only poignant and heart-rendingly written, it is beautifully illustrated. A masterpiece, simply. One of the great examples that illustrated stories can be every bit as worthwhile as traditional novels.

Thompson successfully portrays the altogether common thoughts and experiences of adolescence and young adulthood through what is, as of yet, a less common and still-evolving medium: the graphic novel. The story itself, although very well crafted and quite enjoyable, is nothing spectacular. As a typical Bildungsroman, it fits very nicely into the Young Adult genre, with its chronicle of young love that is honest enough to appeal strongly to older teenagers, but probably carries a twinge of cliché for most older readers. The perspectives on religion, too, although honest and often poignant, are generally quite typical of those felt by most American youth raised in enthusiastically religious environments. The artist's depictions on the Evangelical Church--the caricatured criticisms church camp and the right-wing narrow-mindedness of Church leaders--comprise a tongue-in-cheek humor that the narrator uses to artfully scrutinize Christianity as he has been exposed to it.

On the whole, Blankets is certainly worth the effort: despite being 582 pages long, reads remarkably quickly and never becomes tedious. However, despite being beautifully drawn and having several other outstanding qualities, it is generally best geared toward teen audiences and lacks the universal brilliance and innovation of forerunners in the world of graphic novel memoirs (i.e. Art Speigelman's Maus series).

wow. what a truly affecting experience this book was. i found myself becoming quite emotional while reading through it. that may be because i can relate to some of the situations presented along the way.
this is what the comic book medium is capable of. hopefully more people will read this and find that out.
just beautiful.

Maybe my expectations were too high. I read this book because it was recommended by a friend who had also read (and loved) Jeffery Brown's relationship-based graphic novels. I started Blankets expecting to find the same examples of intimacy that I thought were present only in my relationships, but surprisingly turned up in Mr. Brown's as well.

I found this novel alternatingly trite and elusive. I was frusterated almost the entire way through, maybe frusterated for him, maybe just frusterated with him.

That said, some of the artwork was beautiful.

A very bland story. I was dreading it the entire time...I did like the art, but I'm just not a huge of fan of B&W. I am not christian and i don't know much about it...so i had no connection to this book at all. If i could give 0 stars i would.

This book gets so much praise, it makes me want to write a few words about it myself. I bought this after reading a lot of positive reviews, and had in mind of giving it away for Christmas present. There has got to be something good about a book that everybody gives best grades, right?
But when I read it, I think maybe it gets all this praise just because it is a graphic novel showing big amition. It is well drawn and very many pages. To people with a big interest in graphic novels, this is of course a big thing. Comics fans probably has been waiting for a book like this to come out. A big, well drawn book with an epic with depth and emotion, suitable to convincing non-belivers about the medium's greatness.
But I want to say, that it does not necessarily appeal to everyone. The story is a bit sentimental and predictable. What does the story tell us? That it is hard growing up, OK. Some people who likes Daniel Clowe's "Ghost World" and may find Thompson's version of teenage angst a bit naïve and puppy eyed in comparison.
This is a pretty nice story, with neat artwork. I'm just trying to point out, that there is room for a lot of different tastes and directions in the art form of graphic novels. Nowadays I think many people doesn't have too much prejudice about comics - the media isn't the important thing, but the content is. Personally I like storys like Adrian Tomine's and Daniel Clowes', artists who may have more in common with film directors like Todd Solondz and Paul Thomas Anderson than with Craig Thompson. I'm not saying Clowes should be the measure to all new comics, but in comparison Thompson's story here reminds me more of some made for TV harmless drama.
What I mean is, just try to forget about the medium, and what you have here is a predictable and sweet, traditional and quite nice story about growing up, that doesn't say anything new unless you haven't read to many stories about growing up.Or, of course, if you're about to grow up yourself. If I wanted to persuade any of my friends that graphic novels are't nessecarily boring, this is actually not my choice of book to give them.

Magnificently rendered art with a flowing, breathing brushy ink style that shows world class talent.

The story attempts to combine a bunch of threads, and it's fluffed up with details that seem intended to be profound, but are kind of trite. Religion, hurtful relationships, bullying in school, girlfriend- nicely drawn but it often leaves a bad taste of self pity or solipsism. With a better point, premise, or imagination it could be much more than someone's diary, but it never gels. If you're over 25 you probably won't want to read it twice- buy it for the art.

I'm more of a superhero comic fan then an indy fan, but this graphic novel was amazing! Craig Thompson's book was amazing on so many levels. I don't want to talk about it so i won't ruin it for any customers, but this is one of the best stories you'll ever read, in any book, or anything!!!

Although described as a graphic novel about first love, it is overwhelming about seperating yourself from religion and the known world around you. The drawings are dark and flow beautifully on the pages but the story creates a barrier between the reader and the book. The religious themes of restraint and power are too prominent and suffocate what could be a whimsical story about being young and finding someone who understands you, who you are connected to.

WARNING: This book contains graphic content consisting of nude children and nude women. It is 100% inappropriate for children. I have no idea why there is not an explicit warning on the front of this book. Sketches include nude little boys in bed together peeing on each other and a nude woman in bed with a man engaging in sexual activity. THIS BOOK IS NOT OK FOR YOUNG CHILDREN OR SCHOOLS. The story line may be ok - not sure, as I was too disgusted to find out - the pedophilia imagery destroyed it for me. Sketching nude children is NOT ok.

This book starts off good but the end is a big I mean big let down! This whole book was a waste of dame time!! It couldn't even deliver at the end!! And way to much about religion and church!! Don't waste your time...

That Blankets is an "illustrated novel" read mostly by people who never read comics says a lot about why it is so revered. It garnered recognition for its use of serious subject matter in what is generally perceived as a children's medium. Its popularity puts it in the hands of librarians whose conception of comics is fantasy superhero books for kids, so of course they think: how clever to use an unlikely and underappreciated medium like comics to a tell a coming-of-age story.

But Blankets' coming-of-age story is trite and overreaching, not to mention painfully earnest. It strives to speak for a generation of losers and loners by being as bland and overly earnest as possible. The type of reader who loves this is also the type of reader wont to call it "achingly beautiful."

Look, I grew up a wimp in the Midwest, too. But I don't need to read yet another self-indulgent auto-bio comic about it just to validate my existence. EVERYONE has loved and lost, and stories about love can be sharp and powerful. But Craig Thompson offers only cliched sentimentality and manipulative heartstring-tugging, not one original insight on adolescence or lost love.

Why not read some Daniel Clowes, a much sharper observer of adolescent angst (and I'm not just talking about Ghost World)? Or try Peter Bagge, whose Hate comics start off as a goofy case study of nineties suspended adolescence slackers then evolves into a terrifically insightful depiction of truly growing up. Or Lynda Barry's many illuminating examinations of childhood. And then why not wash the earnestness out of your mouth with Johnny Ryan's gloriously nihilistic Angry Youth Comix?

After such glowing reviews I was anxious to read this. Disappointment doesn't even come close to what I felt. This book contains, swearing, nudity, graphic illustrations of genitalia and a possible rape of a child. (I don't know for sure because I couldn't go on.) And this is a teen book? I filed a complaint at our public library. When the librarian looked through the book, she was a shocked as I was. Sadly, it may not leave the shelf. We'll see. It is pure trash which has no business in the hands of a child.

BEAUTIFUL BOOK, amazing story. This is a huge book but it's so well made. I felt completely absorbed in the story, and I would sometimes have to pause and enjoy the art of the book. Truly an incredible graphic novel.

WARNING: This book contains graphic content consisting of nude children and nude women. It is 100% inappropriate for children. I have no idea why there is not an explicit warning on the front of this book. Sketches include nude little boys in bed together peeing on each other and a nude woman in bed with a man engaging in sexual activity. THIS BOOK IS NOT OK FOR YOUNG CHILDREN OR SCHOOLS. The story line may be ok - not sure, as I was too disgusted to find out - the pedophilia imagery destroyed it for me. Sketching nude children is NOT ok.

This book starts off good but the end is a big I mean big let down! This whole book was a waste of dame time!! It couldn't even deliver at the end!! And way to much about religion and church!! Don't waste your time...

That Blankets is an "illustrated novel" read mostly by people who never read comics says a lot about why it is so revered. It garnered recognition for its use of serious subject matter in what is generally perceived as a children's medium. Its popularity puts it in the hands of librarians whose conception of comics is fantasy superhero books for kids, so of course they think: how clever to use an unlikely and underappreciated medium like comics to a tell a coming-of-age story.

But Blankets' coming-of-age story is trite and overreaching, not to mention painfully earnest. It strives to speak for a generation of losers and loners by being as bland and overly earnest as possible. The type of reader who loves this is also the type of reader wont to call it "achingly beautiful."

Look, I grew up a wimp in the Midwest, too. But I don't need to read yet another self-indulgent auto-bio comic about it just to validate my existence. EVERYONE has loved and lost, and stories about love can be sharp and powerful. But Craig Thompson offers only cliched sentimentality and manipulative heartstring-tugging, not one original insight on adolescence or lost love.

Why not read some Daniel Clowes, a much sharper observer of adolescent angst (and I'm not just talking about Ghost World)? Or try Peter Bagge, whose Hate comics start off as a goofy case study of nineties suspended adolescence slackers then evolves into a terrifically insightful depiction of truly growing up. Or Lynda Barry's many illuminating examinations of childhood. And then why not wash the earnestness out of your mouth with Johnny Ryan's gloriously nihilistic Angry Youth Comix?

After such glowing reviews I was anxious to read this. Disappointment doesn't even come close to what I felt. This book contains, swearing, nudity, graphic illustrations of genitalia and a possible rape of a child. (I don't know for sure because I couldn't go on.) And this is a teen book? I filed a complaint at our public library. When the librarian looked through the book, she was a shocked as I was. Sadly, it may not leave the shelf. We'll see. It is pure trash which has no business in the hands of a child.