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A review by scarlettpeterson
I'm Supposed to Protect You from All This by Nadja Spiegelman
3.0
TW The mention of abortion may be triggering to some readers, as could the abusive tendencies of some characters. There is also talk of rape and suicide in more than one section. Creepy grandfather groping is also, unfortunately, an element here.
First of all, I absolutely love Spiegelman’s writing. It's stunning, almost poetic. There's a general warmth with which she describes things, even in cases that weren't wholly pleasant.
I wasn't sure how I felt about Josée from the start; a Parisian woman who wore blackface and generally treated her daughter(s) in a way that I wouldn't necessarily consider warm. Her stories are certainly different than her daughters’ tellings, which made me question her character more, though I grew to love her throughout the book. I was glad that Françoise chose to move, and I loved seeing how her parenting techniques differed and reflected what her own mother had done.
I also wound up quite surprised with Françoise’s father as the story moved forward. I expected abuse from Josée, not from him. His many improper and frankly lewd acts were despicable.
Overall, it was a very dense read with many stories compacted within. It was beautifully written, and Spiegelman's parents must be proud of her for keeping up their craft. I picked up this book about mothers and motherhood and daughters and I was so, so excited, and it was well worth the excitement!
First of all, I absolutely love Spiegelman’s writing. It's stunning, almost poetic. There's a general warmth with which she describes things, even in cases that weren't wholly pleasant.
I wasn't sure how I felt about Josée from the start; a Parisian woman who wore blackface and generally treated her daughter(s) in a way that I wouldn't necessarily consider warm. Her stories are certainly different than her daughters’ tellings, which made me question her character more, though I grew to love her throughout the book. I was glad that Françoise chose to move, and I loved seeing how her parenting techniques differed and reflected what her own mother had done.
I also wound up quite surprised with Françoise’s father as the story moved forward. I expected abuse from Josée, not from him. His many improper and frankly lewd acts were despicable.
Overall, it was a very dense read with many stories compacted within. It was beautifully written, and Spiegelman's parents must be proud of her for keeping up their craft. I picked up this book about mothers and motherhood and daughters and I was so, so excited, and it was well worth the excitement!