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A review by bookgirllife
Maus II: A Survivor's Tale: And Here my Troubles Began by Art Spiegelman
challenging
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
4.5
Maus II: A Survivor’s Tale takes a deeper dive into Spiegelman’s relationship with his father while unpacking Vladek’s time at Auschwitz. Spiegelman’s storytelling is so poignant and emotive, while the narrative style is rooted in authenticity.
The writing style follows on from Vol. 1, Maus: A Survivor’s Tale. Upon reading the complete collection, I stand firmly that this was the most accessible history book about the Holocaust that I’ve ever encountered. It is easily comprehendible while conveying the emotional impact of the Jewish experience of the Holocaust.
Maus II gives the reader a greater insight into the author’s life, post-publication of Vol. 1. I thought this was a very interesting perspective to add to the story of the lasting effects of the Holocaust on the Jews of today, and how generational trauma can affect people that weren’t directly traumatised by the events of the war. It lends an understanding of the fractured relationship Spiegelman has with his father. Vladek’s story is horrifying, as a reader. I can only imagine how much more horrifying it would be as his child.
Family and love are actually greater themes in this collection than I had first given credit to, and it is further highlighted in this volume, which spends more time “in the present” (i.e. when Speigelman was writing the comic). Not only do we see that through the father-son relationship that underpins the whole collection, but we also witness it through the dread that Vladek and Anja endure not knowing if the other is alive during their time forced apart at Auschwitz. The love they had for each other was powerful and perhaps the only form of hope available to them during that harrowing time.
I don’t think it is possible to overstate how moving this graphic novel, this collection as a whole, was. Maus is powerful in an almost unsuspecting way. Of course any literature about World War 2 is bound to be heavy, but seeing the events of the Holocaust through the lens of comic strips is a lot more hard-hitting than I would have ever expected from the genre. I am pleased to say this shattered every expectation I could have held. I would highly recommend everyone read the complete collection.
The writing style follows on from Vol. 1, Maus: A Survivor’s Tale. Upon reading the complete collection, I stand firmly that this was the most accessible history book about the Holocaust that I’ve ever encountered. It is easily comprehendible while conveying the emotional impact of the Jewish experience of the Holocaust.
Maus II gives the reader a greater insight into the author’s life, post-publication of Vol. 1. I thought this was a very interesting perspective to add to the story of the lasting effects of the Holocaust on the Jews of today, and how generational trauma can affect people that weren’t directly traumatised by the events of the war. It lends an understanding of the fractured relationship Spiegelman has with his father. Vladek’s story is horrifying, as a reader. I can only imagine how much more horrifying it would be as his child.
Family and love are actually greater themes in this collection than I had first given credit to, and it is further highlighted in this volume, which spends more time “in the present” (i.e. when Speigelman was writing the comic). Not only do we see that through the father-son relationship that underpins the whole collection, but we also witness it through the dread that Vladek and Anja endure not knowing if the other is alive during their time forced apart at Auschwitz. The love they had for each other was powerful and perhaps the only form of hope available to them during that harrowing time.
I don’t think it is possible to overstate how moving this graphic novel, this collection as a whole, was. Maus is powerful in an almost unsuspecting way. Of course any literature about World War 2 is bound to be heavy, but seeing the events of the Holocaust through the lens of comic strips is a lot more hard-hitting than I would have ever expected from the genre. I am pleased to say this shattered every expectation I could have held. I would highly recommend everyone read the complete collection.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Antisemitism, Genocide, and Death
Moderate: Racism, Violence, and War
Minor: Death of parent