Week 5: Blankets by Craig Thompson

I related far more strongly with blankets than I expected to upon first picking it up. The first chapter I wasn’t really sure what to expect. Granted, my situation was by no means as terrible as Craigs, but still, certain parts definitely rang true to me.

Like Craig, my family is religious, though only on my moms side. Recently, my mom actually visited me and while she was here, I realized it is impossible for me to communicate with her. In recent years, she has become more invested in her religion and it has created a huge rift between us. We can start to have a normal conversation, but the next minute, she is doing what I find to be crazy things like sneaking a cross under my bed. Unlike Craigs parents, my mom knows I’m not religious so I find this very confusing. My grandparents though, aside from the abusive father aspect, reminded me of his parents. Every time I see them, I put on a good little Catholic face and lie to them, going to church and playing a part. I don’t tell them how not religious I am because I know it would break their hearts. When I was younger, I even appeared to be going on a more religious path as Craig was. I even volunteered to be an alter girl a few times, though clearly it didn’t stick as I consider myself an Apathetic Agnostic rather than Catholic.

Another aspect of Blankets I could relate to, and I’m sure several people at this school could relate to is how Craig would rather sit and draw than go to a busy party. I’ve never been comfortable around drinking and drugs, though my stance on it is similar to Craigs. Any time I see people around me, especially my friends do such things, I instantly feel awkward. The scene in the cabin where the teenagers were passing around whatever drug that was, is a scene I have been in many times in my life. I’ve sat in a room before several times as the only sober one and wanting nothing more than to leave and draw.

Blankets also perfectly captures that awkwardness of confusing romantic feelings. They can be suffocating and make you act in ways you never thought you would. Back in high school when I had a crush, it took over all I could think about and honestly looking back on it is embarrassing. Romance is not perfect, and as Blankets shows, usually doesn’t have a happy storybook ending.