Saturday, August 22, 2009

Autobiographies in Graphic Format

I mentioned earlier that Maus was one of the best graphic novels produced. And it is a biographical look at the authors fathers experiences. But there is much of the work that is autobiographical. Art Spiegleman examines his relationship with his father in view of the horrendous experiences his father had prior to moving the the United States. Other works are autobiographical and touch on extremely sensitive issues. Here are some others that are worth reading that are in the library:

Bechdel
Alison comes to terms with her family life as she confronts her own sexuality. By discussing her father's closeted gay life and suicide and her growing up in what appears on the surface a traditional family.

Growing up in Iran, Marjane was a child when the Islamic Revolution kicked the Shah out of power. Moving from a war torn country to Europe by herself in her early teens, this story combines both the political events of Iran with the individual struggles of a young woman.

Set during the Soviet invasion, Didier Lefevre is a photographer hired by Doctors Without Borders and tells his story of a single expedition into the mountains of Afghanistan to provide medical help the mujahadeen. Told with his photographs and drawings by Emmanuel Guibert, the reader is given an on the ground view of the conflict.

French Milk by Lucy Knisley
Lucy moves to France with her mother for a month for her 22nd birthday. This is her journal/sketchbook of here observations about and experiences in Paris.

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