Belonging

I took a Graphic Novel course last year because 1.) I needed another literature course for my master’s and 2.) Lance loves graphic novels and at that point I had only ever read one*.

*Which, Lance told me I had to read. It was called The Fifth Beatle by Vivek J. Tiwaryand was the story of Brian Epstein, the manager who helped guide the Beatles towards fame.

We read many incredible graphic novels during the course*, but Belonging by Nora Krug was my favorite—for so many reasons:

*And only a few which made me yawn.

1. It is beautiful. After reading many graphic novels which used only black and white or very basic color schemes, this book was a pleasant relief. The colors are lovely and fit with Krug’s memoir of returning as an adult to Germany after having lived many years in America.
2. The format is captivating. The pages do not often follow the ordinary format of a graphic novel. The frame of most pages is undefined and Krug uses a mixture of real portraits/photos, landscapes, drawings, and field study pages of German things which allow the reader to drop into the world Krug grew up in. Altogether this kept my interest and allowed me to remain engaged in the story.
3. The story is interesting. One often wonders what Germans of today feel about their sordid history. This is an incredibly honest and creative way of painting this picture for others, one I imagine was also equally therapeutic for Krug herself.
4. The heart of the book is inspiring. This is why I chose this book as my January book to share here. I think it is a great book to enter the New Year with because how many of us, with less confusing pasts than Krug, are searching for belonging? The past, even the past that we do not own, is so crucial in understanding ourselves and, as my high school history teacher drilled into us, something we are doomed to repeat if we do not understand it.

Especially feeling this word “Belonging” as we welcome a new rescue pup into our house

I can’t share my favorite quote without giving away the heart of this novel, so I will instead share a German word and its definition which appear on the early pages of the novel:

Heimat

[‘haima:t] f (no plural)

From the comprehensive German BROCKHAUS encyclopedia:

“That term which defines the concept of an imaginarily developed or actual landscape or location, with which a person…associates an immediate sense of familiarity.”

The definition goes on, but the idea and basis for this novel is that if one doesn’t understand where they come from, they can never fully understand who they are. Without either of these things, can we ever truly have a sense of belonging?

Rating: 5/5