Carnet de Voyage

I received a completely different book.

With "Blankets", Craig Thompson established what I think will remain as a landmark in the book/comics/cartoon world. With this one, I expected basically just a sketchbook filled with random drawings and what not. The truth is that the book was a lot more continuous than I expected, and it does read like a story. The best of this is that originally this notebook wasn't supposed to ever see print, it was Craig's private sketchbook, but as it grew, people expressed interest and suggested that he publish it. And thank God that he did! "Carnet de Voyage" is a fascinating book. It's more raw than "Good-bye, Chunky Rice" and different from "Blankets", but in its very own genre, it definitely achieves something memorable. And the intensity of the emotion is as strong as ever. I found myself laughing here, and being very concerned about Craig there. Indeed, I don't think I was ever made to care so much about someone I never met before Craig Thompson. The man is simply saintly in that sense. He is a mix of gracious humility and honesty, and his truth-like art is just mind-blowing. So what will you find in there? The telling of his travels through France, Morocco, Spain, Switzerland, and the Alps. Thompson's artistic vision shows through that book and one can sort of get an idea of how he functions. And one certainly gets to see how tortured poor Craig really is. That unpretentious notebook will make you feel closer to him, because he is so genuine in his art, doesn't hide his life from his work, and as a result, you get a window to his soul.

Craig Thompson's epic 600 page graphic novel, BLANKETS is one of the most beautiful comics I've ever read. I was astounded at the breadth and depth of the book and wondered how someone in his mid twenties could have crafted such a massive achievement so early in his career. With the publication of CARNET DE VOYAGE, I now understand a little bit more about Thompson's work habits... he is a nonstop drawing machine. But no... machine is wrong... there's nothing mechanical about his work. Art flows out of Thompson's brush pens with the organic fluidity of a true master. He may well be the greatest natural cartoonist of his generation... hell, even a handful of others. CARNET DE VOYAGE wasn't even supposed to be a book. While traveling through France, Barcelona, the Alps and Morocco last Spring to promote BLANKETS, Thompson's omnipresent sketchbook suddenly became his next project. In his introduction, the typically self-effacing artist dismisses it as "a rather self-indulgent side project." Yes, there's lots of self-indulgence, but no more than any other writer or artist's work is self indulgent. Smarting from a recent breakup, suffering from crippling rheumatoid arthritis exacerbated by nonstop signings, sketches and portraits of locals (many of whom demand money for the privilege of being models), Thompson's travelogue is filled with the kind of subjective experience that's only interesting to others if it's told well. And in CARNET DE VOYAGE, it's told beautifully. Mixing his two styles, the cartoony whimsy of GOODBYE, CHUNKY RICE with the more naturalistic impressionism of BLANKETS, Thompson allows us to experience everything he does: The homesickness, the culture shock, the thrill of the new and the comfort of other people. His passion for beauty, be it architectural, arboreal, feline, culinary or (often) feminine is all delineated with an artistic embellishment that's more effective than any photograph could be. That's the power of comics; They can be (in the right hands) surreal and realistic at the same time. Thompson is as much a master of capturing the empirical world as he is conveying his inner demons (and he's got a lot of `em... this boy is one tortured, sensitive artiste). He may dismiss CARNET DE VOYAGE as "not (his) next book," but it's the richest, most rewarding graphic novel I've read since... well, since BLANKETS.

I liked the honesty of Thompson's travel journal. He does not gloss over the difficult bits of travel-the fatigue, the stomach upsets, loneliness. I also admire how he did not gloss over his own personal faults. The graphics help to immerse the reader in his experiences-sometimes they did feel claustrophobic other times they were more exhuberant. Recommended to anyone interested in travel and anyone interested in the world of comics and graphic novels.

This is another wonderful Craig Thompson creation, beautifully executed and divinely imaginative travelogue of his trip around Morrocco, Spain, Paris etc for a book tour and to research his new comic. As he suggests early in the work, this is not a follow on from his comics. It is not even like his glorious comics, but more like the gorgeous illustrated travelogues of Dan Price and Danny Gregory. His drawings are just so detailed and fine, it is little wonder he suffers from debilitating joint problems. Everything he draws has little florishes, and I particularly thought some drawings of Gaudi's work in Barcelona were marvellous. His voice is kind and gentle, softly grateful and charming. At times it strikes me as too 'American', but he is conscious of the reputation of American travellers, and this does not really hinder the work. However, I did find his focus on women a little too repetitive for my liking. I suppose this was where I was most disappointed with the work. While the trip seemed to be about pinning for a faraway love, he ended up sleeping with a random stranger at the end, which to me, seemed to undermind his whole purpose. It is not my place to criticise, it just confused things somewhat for me as a reader and responder, regardless of the fact that this is a personal account and I wondered to myself what he came away with at the end of this adventure. And as another reviewer has suggested, it does end quite randomly, and is quite short. I would have liked to seen what followed. However, the pictures potentially have hours of observation, with their detailed beauty. Irrespective of any perceived flaws, it is worthwhile and fascinating.

Before I purchased this book I expected it to be like his previous two graphic novels with an narrative storyline (Goodbye Chunky Rice, Blankets). Instead you get a diary collection of his journey in Europe as an artist. Though in the book he explains the purpose of his trip is to promote Blankets, and he did go through many interviews and photo shoots. But in this trip he brings the reader to a mature side of himself, whereas he shows his impression with other artists in Europe. With his skillful brushworks, Thompson is able to draw out little glimpses of culture and people of his visit. Overall I recommand this book to anyone that is interest in art or already an artist themselves. You'll find drawing in a sketchbook everyday is an illustration of your life, just like what Craig Thompson is able to share in this book.