Books: Blankets

Very few works of fiction actually earn the title of "graphic novel." It's hard enough to draw meaningful artwork, and it's twice as hard to marry that artwork with a story that is sophisticated enough to withstand literary criticism. Most graphic novels are little more than glorified comic books. "Blankets," an "illustrated novel" by Craig Thompson, is at the very least more than that.

Thompson tells a highly personal story of first love and apostasy from Christianity. The protagonist falls deeply in love, muses about the state of existence, and questions the rigid doctrines held by some of his friends and family. To say any more would spoil some heartwrenching scenes, many of which, as the cover suggests, play out against the frigid winter cold.

Some may take issue with the observations and opinions of the author. Unlike some other works(*cough*His Dark Materials trilogy*cough*), Thompson never gets preachy and never slams those who believe or don't believe. If more people in the world adhered to that kind of honest dialogue, humanity would probably be better off.