Stitches: A Memoir

[Taken From: whaatnext.wordpress.com ]

The book Stitches is a beautifully told graphic novel of one boys journey through a twisted world  of unhappiness and a dysfunctional family, where abuse was physical and emotional and expression was forbidden. 

In the beginning I found the book Stitches to be quite an unusual book which was completely made of sketches you would see in a comic book, but I found that these sketches were a perfect way to tell a story of this boy who loses his vocal cords at a young age due to cancer. Pictures as we all know tend say more than words could. The author made a clever decision of using pictures capture his frustration, sadness, the lack of ability to stand up for himself and fear of a young boy. 

I feel that the black and white of the illustrations worked amazingly to tell his story. Gray was a great hue for this novel considering the fact that the novel reveals Small's lonely and bleak childhood. Some of the best frames are when the author uses direct light source on the characters. For example when David goes into the elevator, and the door opens and closes, the author does a wonderful job of creating that direct lighting effect. The author does if throughout the book and if reading the book I recommend you stop and study the frames.

The illustrations in this book are just phenomenal. Even when there no dialogue the picture speak for them self. I think the beauty of this book comes from Small's illustration, the way he uses his illustrations to show emotion  and tell his story. Small's vision is extraordinary, he takes us as the readers through this journey of his life with artwork which hold breathtaking power. His illustrations remarkably cinematic, I mean down to the tiniest details.

One thing that I did notice through out his illustrations was the pictures of the modern furniture, which instantly told you this was during the baby boomer generations. For example all the lit cigarettes, cocktail parties and highballs, all gave you the sense of which generation he grew up in.

The author uses  a series of images so powerful and absorbing. The use of these illustrations allow us as readers to see the perceptions of this boy without Small persisting self- righteousness of that stance. These illustrations allows the author to show at the same time how he was a victim but to separate himself from the claims of victim-hood.

My honest opinion is that if this book had not include these illustrations, it would not be what it is. The illustrations add so much to this book. I've never read a graphic novel before, and probably never would have, if it was not selected for me to read for my English class. This novel completed changed my mind of graphic novels. I'm in love with this book and the authors clever ways of expressing his emotions through illustrations.

If you have never read a graphic novel in your life, this ones worth reading.