Nora Krug grew up in Germany and discusses what it was like learning about WWII and their country's atrocities. When in school, nothing was sugarcoated and there was a sense of collective guilt. Her parents were born after World War II, but the more she learned, the more curious she became as to the involvement of her grandparents and other relatives.
When she moved to the United States, her interest only grew; she wasn't proud of being a German and would try to hide her accent because of the reactions of others when they found out where she was from. But as she began to long for home, she wanted to dig into the family stories.
Heimat is a German word introduced early and returned to often, which refers to a place where you have familiarity, where you feel connected, where you belong.
"Perhaps the only way to find the HEIMAT that I've lost is to look back; to move beyond the abstract shame and ask those questions that are really difficult to ask -- about my own hometown, about my father's and my mother's families. To make my way back to the towns where each of them is from. To return to my childhood, go back to the beginning, follow the bread crumbs, and hope they'll lead the way home." (page 54)
So begins Krug's return to Germany as she visits where her grandparents lived during the war, searching the archives, conducting interviews, and unearthing the truth. It's an engaging book that is an important read as we all weigh how events throughout history and our family's involvement in them shape us.
I was intrigued by how the graphic novel format would convey the information, and I was suitably impressed. I've been reading books on drawing techniques and artistic journaling, and this book was a feast for the eyes. Nora Krug is a skilled artist and I felt as if I was reading someone's personal accounts in their journal, illustrated with all the care you see in adept bullet journal aficionados (let that comparison not take away Nora Krug's skill -- she is talented, and I also follow some bujo artists, so the connection is meant to be a fine compliment). The use of photos, sketches, dried flowers, even images of medals and wood carvings, make this a rich tribute.
I experienced this in a digital form, and while it was a rich, beautiful work, I highly recommend, if possible, you read a physical copy. Some of the background images span two pages, so it's a richer experience if you can see it spread before you.
(I received a digital ARC from NetGalley and Scribner in exchange for my honest review. I've used Amazon Affiliate links here; should you purchase through these links, I receive a small commission, at no extra cost to you.)
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