“It’s a mystery of human chemistry and I don’t understand it, some people, as far as their senses are concerned, just feel like home.” That’s a line Rob Hudson (John Cusack) says in the movie “High Fidelity” and it’s exactly how I feel about Craig Thompson’s “illustrated novel” (his words) Blankets. Why yes, I did just quote a movie based on a book to talk about a different book. Thanks for noticing.

Holy buckets, did I love the hell out of this book. Thompson’s story (I think it’s technically a memoir) about coming of age in small-town Wisconsin with strict, religious parents is the kind of touching that punches you right in the gut. And its the kind of book that I love without any logic or rationality. I’m not sure if it was the setting or the time (early-to-mid 90s) but there is a sort of alchemy in Blankets that renders me moon-eyed and tongue tied.

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