Review: I Was a Child
Bruce Kaplan opens his graphic memoir, I Was a Child: A Memoir, like this:
I was a child but I wasn’t very good at it. I’m not sure why. I think a lot of us are born waiting to be adults. I know I was. I just sat there, waiting. This is that story.
That opening paragraph gives readers a sense of the humor and story that awaits them between the covers. Kaplan was a child of the 60s who took pleasure in observing life and watching TV. His family wasn’t really dysfunctional but it had its share of idiosyncrasies.
Kaplan shares his story through a series of memories that feel disconnected at times but somehow worked well for me. Even though Kaplan is a cartoonist for The New Yorker, I didn’t think the illustrations were anything special but that didn’t keep me from enjoying I Was a Child. I’m not sure this quirky book is for everyone but it brought back lots of memories for this child of the 60s. You’ll want to check this book out if you enjoy graphic memoirs.
Review copy provided by Penguin Random House. I am an Indiebound Affliate.
Wow, what a great opening paragraph! Could have been in an adult memoir as well!
I really love books like this. The illustrations remind me a little bit of Shel Silverstein.
I love that opening! Will look for this book at the library…
Love the book trailer! I recognized his adults from The New Yorker cartoons. I’ll look for this one, too!
“I was a child but I wasn’t very good at it.” Love it!! Hoping my library has it.
And I love that cover!
I’ve never read any graphic novels, let alone a memoir. It might be time to try one.
I’m a child of the sixties too, I’ll have to give this one a try.
As a child of the 60s, I’d probably like this book.
I’ve now ordered this one from the library – thanks! Cheers
I love these kinds of graphic memoirs.
I can relate to his statement of waiting to be an adult…I did that as a child too.
Sounds fun. I haven’t read a graphic memoir in such a long time.
I hadn’t heard of this one before, but it does sound like something I would like. I enjoy graphic memoirs–probably more than the more traditional memoir.
Looks good!
The book trailer is really cute! I think I’d like this one.