Journal Entry 1 by MaryZee from Taneytown, Maryland USA on Tuesday, May 01, 2007

Picked this book up at a yard sale over the weekend. Although I'd heard of this book before (and heard it was very good), I don't read many graphic novels so I'd never really searched it out. But since I recently finished reading The Book Thief, I decided this is the opportune time to read more Holocaust literature.

From the cover -
Maus is the story of Vladek Spiegelman, a Jewish survivor of Hitler's Europe, and his son, a cartoonist who tries to come to terms with his father, his father's terrifying story, and History itself. Its form, the cartoon (the Nazis are cats, the Jews mice), succeeds perfectly in shocking us out of any lingering sense of familiarity with the events described, approaching, as it does, the unspeakable through the diminutive. It is, as the New York Times Book Review has commented, "a remarkable feat of documentary detail and novelistic vividness... an unfolding literary event."
Moving back and forth from Poland to Rego Park, New York, Maus tells two powerful stories: The first is Spiegelman's father's account of how he and his wife survived Hitler's Europe, a harrowing tale filled with countless brushes with death, improbable escapes, and the terror of confinement and betrayal. The second is the author's tortured relationship with his aging father as they try to lead a normal life of minor arguments and passing visits against a backdrop of history too large to pacify. At all levels, this is the ultimate survivor's tale - and that, too, of the children who somehow survive even the survivors.
Part I of Maus takes Spiegelman's parents to the gates of Auschwitz and him to the edge of despair. Put aside all your preconceptions. These cats and mice are not Tom and Jerry, but something quite different. This is a new kind of literature. 

Journal Entry 2 by MaryZee from Taneytown, Maryland USA on Thursday, May 03, 2007

Wow, what an incredible book! I'd heard of this book many times, but I don't usually read graphic novels. I recently read The Book Thief, and since I just found this one last weekend, decided with the similar Holocaust themes, I should read this right away. I'm very glad I did.

I really enjoyed the interaction between older father and adult son in this. With the halting English used, it gave a very specific picture of the generation differences. What an incredible tale-within-a-tale; I can see why this book won a Pulitzer Prize!

Now I'm looking for a copy of Maus II. Someone recommended that, and when I finished this story I could understand that; I want to see what happens next.

May send this out on a bookray, esp. if I can find the 2nd book. 

Journal Entry 3 by MaryZee from Taneytown, Maryland USA on Sunday, February 17, 2008

This book will soon be traveling as a bookray, along with Maus II. I've listed this as a bookray. Members are listed below.

Tiatia - VA
NicoleSinger - NC
Pashmack - FL
SpaceyStacey - NJ
CinnyCat - NY
SqueakyChu - MD
Icekween01 - MO
CollegeLady - CA
KatintheBoots - CA
PokPok - CA
Mikopikotrain - CA
Morsecode - NY
Supertalya - Korea
Miss-Owl - Thailand
MrBaggins1 - South Africa
Lucy-Lemon - UK (asked to be skipped)
martaenmichiel - Netherlands
Hayes13 - Italy
ETMadrid - UK
Lydiasbooks - UK
DuskDreamer - UK
RockyHorror1978 - Canada
Imawinn2 - WI, USA
Kiyoteefoxx - PA, USA
Akosikulot - Phillipines (US addy)

This bookray will be traveling with this copy of Maus II.

Standard bookray rules apply. Try to send this on to the next person within a month of receiving it. If there are any problems, please contact me. It might be a good idea to contact the next person on the list as soon as you receive these, since they are such a quick read. And above all, have FUN! 

Journal Entry 4 by MaryZee from Taneytown, Maryland USA on Wednesday, February 27, 2008

This book was sent today, along with its traveling companion, Maus II, to TiaTia to start off the bookray. Enjoy! 

Journal Entry 5 by tiatia from Springfield, Virginia USA on Sunday, March 02, 2008

Ten is not a number I rate many books at but this one took my breath away. Not only did the dialog remind me of the ethnic neighborhood I grew up in but the psychology of the father and son echoed our household as well. It arrived on a Thursday night and, despite having book club meeting on Friday, I was done by Saturday. Thank you for sharing. 

Journal Entry 6 by tiatia from Springfield, Virginia USA on Thursday, March 06, 2008

off to nc 

Journal Entry 7 by nicolesinger from Newport, North Carolina USA on Friday, March 07, 2008

And they're here! I'm looking forward to reading them. 

Journal Entry 8 by nicolesinger from Newport, North Carolina USA on Wednesday, March 19, 2008

Wow. I finished this a while ago, but every time I come to journal, I'm not quite sure what to say.

The book is amazing. Breathtaking. (This book and its sequel, which is also on the bookring.) I've heard most of the substance of the book before, in stories and memoirs of others who were in Germany at this time, but the drawings and the storytelling gave what happened such an immediacy... Unbelievable.

I think the two books are best read together, and now that I'm finished, I'm not quite sure what I want to say.

Thanks, MaryZee, for letting me be part of this ring. 

Journal Entry 9 by pashmack from Lake Worth, Florida USA on Monday, March 24, 2008

Arrived in today's mail. I'll get started on it this evening. Thank you! 

Journal Entry 10 by pashmack from Lake Worth, Florida USA on Tuesday, March 25, 2008

I, too, recently read The Book Thief and this book was the perfect follow-up. Vladek and Anja's story is riveting, and the pages that involve Art eliciting the story from his father are equally engaging. Art's comic strip about his mother, Prisoner on the Hell Planet, is absolutely heart-breaking. There is just so much within the covers of this amazing book. I'm off now to begin Maus II. Thanks for sharing, MaryZee.

Mailed 3/28/28 - USPS Delivery Confirmation # 0307 3330 0001 2462 0459 

Journal Entry 11 by spaceystacey from Bridgeton, New Jersey USA on Thursday, April 03, 2008

Received in the post on Tuesday: April 1, 2008. Have 2 other bookrings before these two but will have them back on their way before the end of April.

DC information from the website April 3, 2008

Label/Receipt Number: #0307 3330 0001 2462 0459

This book was captivating! What a memoir and tribute this the author's father. I think this book should be mandatory reading for all children in the 6th grade.

Posting out to the next reader. 04/22/2008. Thank you for sharing this very wonderfully illustrated graphic novels.
 

Journal Entry 12 by cinnycat from Central Square, New York USA on Wednesday, April 30, 2008

I got this on Monday! Like spaceystacey, I have two bookrings/rays before this one too! ack, they always show up at the same time! I've already got most of the first on read though! thanks so much for sharing! 

Journal Entry 13 by cinnycat from Central Square, New York USA on Tuesday, May 06, 2008

wow, this definitely goes on my 'best biographies I've read' list. I think the only way this couldn't be so intense, was to make it a comic, but even as a comic it is heartbreaking. I loved that it is historical, a biography, and a comic all in one. I think if kids had to read this in school, they may think it is fiction rather than a true story. This will stick with me for a very very long time. I read this at the same time as The Zookeeper's Wife (also a ray/ring) which is another heartbreaking WWII tale. 

Journal Entry 14 by cinnycat at N/A in ***, a fellow bookcrosser -- Controlled Releases on Wednesday, May 07, 2008

Released 4 yrs ago (5/7/2008 UTC) at N/A in ***, a fellow bookcrosser -- Controlled Releases

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Sent to SqueakyChu today! 

Journal Entry 15 by SqueakyChu from Rockville, Maryland USA on Tuesday, May 13, 2008

Got it! Thanks, cinnycat and MaryZee!

 

Journal Entry 16 by SqueakyChu from Rockville, Maryland USA on Saturday, August 02, 2008

I finally got around to reading this book. It left a very deep impression on me. I, as did Art Spiegelman, lost my maternal grandparents in Auschwitz, Poland.

This was an amazing read. I think it was positively brilliant of the author/illustrator to use the graphic novel as the genre in which to present his father's story.

Readers of comics are often those who choose to enter a world of fantasy. Bringing the story of the Holocaust to readers of comics greatly enlarges the number of those who are informed of this great tragedy of World War II.

The idea of each race or religion as a different animal was startling. I began to think of why the author may have chosen to do this. I think it was a way of showing how people tend to stereotype one another. I was mindful of the fact that the Nazis were the cats, while the Jews were the lowly mice. I'm curious as to why Spiegelman chose to depict the Poles as pigs. Disdain, perhaps?

In addition, portraying people as animals is another way of allowing those who otherwise would not read about the Holocaust to do so. Seeing people's faces and expressions makes it too painfully real. The animals allow a little distance between the reader and the reality that existed in that time and place.

I was intrigued by Artie's relationship with his father. I can see how the war years changed the father and what pain he carries in his old age. I can also see the impatience and lack of understanding of Artie. There is a world of difference between Holocaust survivors and children of Holocaust survivors. This is very well depicted in the book.

I thought it good of Artie's father to share his personal story with his son. Neither my father nor my mother ever would. What I learned of the war years, I learned from my aunt and uncle many years after both of my parents were dead.

Another aspect of this book that made it especially readable was the interjection of Artie's conversations with his father. It left a little breathing space - time for some relief from the oppressive tension of the story itself. That painful story is often too depressing for people to read in large amounts.

The drawing of the Auschwitz concentration camp gateway near the end of the book left me with a very heavy heart. :(

Thank you, MaryZee, for insisting that I join your bookray.

Icekween01 sent me her mailing address. I'm holding on to this copy of Maus until I finish Maus II so I can mail them on together. Icekween01 is now starting a 500-page book so I'll take my time to finish Maus II, perhaps slipping another book or two in between the Mauses. It is the kind of book that one needs to dwell on a bit, not simply rush through. 

Journal Entry 17 by SqueakyChu from Rockville, Maryland USA on Saturday, August 02, 2008

By the way, if anyone encounters an additional copy of this book and Maus II, my son would love to have them for his permnent collection. 

Journal Entry 18 by SqueakyChu from Rockville, Maryland USA on Wednesday, September 10, 2008

The book is now travelling to Icekween01 in St. Louis, Missouri. 

Journal Entry 19 by icekween01 from St. Louis, Missouri USA on Friday, September 19, 2008

They have arrived. Thank you SqueakyChu for sending them and the lovely bookmark! I am currently in the middle of a book but will start on these when I finish. Thank you MaryZee for sharing your books. 

Journal Entry 20 by icekween01 from St. Louis, Missouri USA on Thursday, October 02, 2008

Just finished this one and moving on to the second one. Very powerful and emotional book. Trying not to be a spoiler but I was especially moved by the "Prisoner on Hell Planet" part and Artie's reaction at the end to what happened to his mother's journals just killed me. On to Maus II and awaiting address from next participant. Thank you MaryZee for sharing. 

Journal Entry 21 by icekween01 at bookray, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- USA on Tuesday, October 07, 2008

Released 3 yrs ago (10/8/2008 UTC) at bookray, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- USA

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sent to CollegeLady 

Journal Entry 22 by CollegeLady from La Mesa, California USA on Saturday, October 18, 2008

This arrived today and I'm looking forward to reading them both. I'll be PMing KatintheBoots for her address shortly. 

Journal Entry 23 by CollegeLady from La Mesa, California USA on Tuesday, November 11, 2008

I really enjoyed these books. I've sent them off today via Media Mail to Katintheboots. Tracking number: 9102805213907591021571 

Journal Entry 24 by katintheboots from Ventura, California USA on Thursday, November 13, 2008

Found this in my mail today. I have guests visiting this weekend, so I won't start this till early next week. 

Journal Entry 25 by katintheboots from Ventura, California USA on Thursday, November 20, 2008

A friend owned this in college, and I vaguely remember reading at least part of it then. It was nice to re-read it in a cohesive fashion. I'm looking forward to reading Maus II, because Maus I really does not finish the story.

In the meantime, I'll PM PokPok for an address so that I can send this on when I'm done reading Maus II. 

Journal Entry 26 by katintheboots from Ventura, California USA on Monday, December 01, 2008

I sent this to PokPok yesterday via media mail. 

Journal Entry 27 by PokPok from Vista, California USA on Monday, December 01, 2008

Rec'd these today. I am not sure if I'll get them mailed back out before the holidays or not...it may peek into January. I'll update if it's expected to be longer than 30 days.

PokPok 

Journal Entry 28 by PokPok from Vista, California USA on Saturday, December 27, 2008

Just bopping on to say that I'm going to read Maus and Maus II this weekend; I should be able to mail them out next week. I'll confirm and write a review in the next few days. 

Journal Entry 29 by PokPok from Vista, California USA on Saturday, December 27, 2008

Nine-Mile asked to be skipped, so I'm going to PM mikopikotrain

PokPok 

Journal Entry 30 by PokPok from Vista, California USA on Sunday, December 28, 2008

7 stars: good

This is one of those journal entries I hate making...

I just didn't love this book. I expected to, but I didn't. And without trying to be overly critical, I didn't find the drawings/cartoons to be either very well done, or very poignant. Without that, it becomes another Holocaust story. I've read many of them, and while I certainly feel we need to read them and remember, it just didn't do that much for me. Don't get me wrong...I didn't dislike this, but I certainly didn't love it, either. I found the most interesting parts to actually be those set in the present day, with Art, Vladek, and Mala. The survivor's guilt, the miserliness, the lack of understanding. Perhaps because I could relate to those? My grandmother was in an orphanage during the depression, and certainly was very scarred from that. But I've read other holocaust accounts, and found them more interesting and moving than this. In particular, I've always been fond (is that the right word?) of the accounts of the rescuers; those who endanger themselves to rescue and hide others. Irene Gut Opdyke wrote a very good book of her time as a rescuer; I've seen her speak, and her story is very compelling.

I will say that it is good for giving an introduction to what occurred, to those who may not know or not read a book such as Night or Diary of Anne Frank. I found the cartoon within a cartoon, where he tells us of his mother's story and suicide, to be the most compelling--the art was better, and somehow that made the story more tragic to me. 

Journal Entry 31 by PokPok at Controlled release, to another bookcrosser -- Controlled Releases on Friday, January 09, 2009

Released 3 yrs ago (1/10/2009 UTC) at Controlled release, to another bookcrosser -- Controlled Releases

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My apologies for not getting these out sooner; the holidays had me wiped out! They will be sent in tomorrow's (Saturday's) mail. 

Journal Entry 32 by mikopikotrain from Palo Alto, California USA on Tuesday, January 13, 2009

Arrived safe and sound- looking forward to reading! 

Journal Entry 33 by mikopikotrain from Palo Alto, California USA on Tuesday, March 17, 2009

I was fascinated to learn more about the build-up of WWII as experienced by an individual in Europe. WWII was never my favorite topic in history class so I managed to avoid learning much beyond the basics from the American perspective. A powerful read. I've always been a fan of graphic novels and glad that this book and its sequel helped to create a broader appreciation for this medium.
I'll be getting this in the mail soon to send it along tot he next reader! 

Journal Entry 34 by morsecode from Buffalo, New York USA on Saturday, April 04, 2009

This book arrived safe and sound in Buffalo, NY yesterday. I'll make sure it get it and its mate back on the road quickly. 

Journal Entry 35 by morsecode from Buffalo, New York USA on Monday, April 20, 2009

No response from Missgyder so I'll be mailing the books to Supertalya next time I go to the post office (early next week at the latest). 

Journal Entry 36 by morsecode from Buffalo, New York USA on Monday, May 04, 2009

I can't believe that I forgot to journal these books before mailing them off! In any case, they are currently winging themselves to their next reader in Korea.

Together Maus I and Maus II are both the story of a Holocaust survivor and the story of a writer/artist trying to tell that story.

I'd read the books years ago as a young adult (probably 2 or 3 years after they were first published) and I remembered them, but only vaguely. One of the things I did not remember was the dynamic between Artie and his father. I think in some ways it must have been just as hard for Spiegelman to be honest about his relationship with his father as it was to tell his father's story.

Another thing I didn't remember was how Spiegelman portrayed the other nationalities in the book. I remembered the cats and mice, but not the Poles as pigs, Americans as dogs, etc.

The books are poignant and what strikes me the most about them is how honest they are. Honest about the Holocaust and all its atrocities, honest about the father and son relationship, and honest about the author and his own failings. 

Journal Entry 37 by Supertalya on Friday, July 24, 2009

I can't wait to read this one. 

Journal Entry 38 by Supertalya at postal mail, A Bookray -- Controlled Releases on Sunday, August 23, 2009

Released 2 yrs ago (8/23/2009 UTC) at postal mail, A Bookray -- Controlled Releases

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It is on its way to Thailand with Maus II 

Journal Entry 39 by Miss-Owl from Chiang Mai, Chiang Mai Thailand on Wednesday, September 02, 2009

It's arrived! Thanks, Supertalya, it's exciting to get my first piece of real mail since arriving in Thailand. I've heard amazing things about this book and can't wait to get into it. Thanks for sharing, MaryZee.

Edited to add: sorry, this book is actually in Chiang Mai, Thailand. I forgot to change my geographical location. 

Journal Entry 40 by Miss-Owl from Chiang Mai, Chiang Mai Thailand on Sunday, October 04, 2009

An undoubtedly powerful, moving & involving read, and very difficult to put down - not only about the Holocaust, but also the complicated quality of the relationship between father and son, and husband and second wife. The ending felt very unfinished, though - I'm grateful to MaryZee for combining the ray!

Ready for posting on when I receive the address.

Edited 1st Dec to add:
My apologies, this book is still with me... normally the school I work at will help me send things, but to South Africa I need to get to the post office, and I live rather in the sticks...

I hope to get this moving within the next week. 

Journal Entry 41 by Miss-Owl at Chiang Mai, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- Thailand on Saturday, December 12, 2009

Released 2 yrs ago (12/12/2009 UTC) at Chiang Mai, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- Thailand

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Finally! Apologies for the delay. Got myself out of the sticks & down to the post office today. 

Journal Entry 42 by mrbaggins1 from Johannesburg, Gauteng South Africa on Monday, January 11, 2010

Arrived in Jozi from Thailand today together with Maus II - Thanks for sharing. I'll get around to it ASAP 

Journal Entry 43 by mrbaggins1 from Johannesburg, Gauteng South Africa on Saturday, February 06, 2010

An extraordinary description of the holocaust which describes mans inhumanity to man in a powerful way. Reading it depressed me immensely despairing in the human condition. A must read.

I am not Jewish - but heartgirl and love of my life for the last ten years is - and I cannot understand how simply being Jewish can set you so apart that you, as a race, have been subjected persecution since time immemorial.

Thanks for sharing. Contacting the next in line 

Journal Entry 44 by mrbaggins1 at Johannesburg, Gauteng South Africa on Friday, April 16, 2010

Released 2 yrs ago (4/16/2010 UTC) at Johannesburg, Gauteng South Africa

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Posted by surface mail today to martaandmichiel in the Netherlands (Together with Maus II)

Enjoy and thanks for sharing 

Journal Entry 45 by martaenmichiel at Utrecht, Utrecht Netherlands on Sunday, November 14, 2010

This book (together with its travel companion, Maus II) has been with me for the past month or so – it was a loooong journey from South Africa!! Sorry for not journaling them sooner, but we're soon going to move house and things are a little crazy around here.

Still, I could not resist the temptation to "have a look" at the books as soon as they arrived and… I could not put them down anymore. The kind of book(s) that you’re sorry to finish, because you are going to miss the characters. I found it fascinating to see once more how history , its traumas and consequences are passed down from generation to generation – and how trying to understand what our parents and grandparents went through is the only way to free ourselves from it, really.

2 great books, I hope they'll still travel long and safely.
Thank you MaryZee for starting this ray!

Will PM Hayes13v for their address and send it as soon as I receive it.

Happy reading everyone!