"My eyes burning and hand crumbling, I felt like I was performing some pathetic martyrdom -- but for what cause?...to break the language barrier?
...to win the favor of strangers?
...to distract myself from heartbreak?
...to commit slow suicide?"
I bought this from my favorite local comic book store, telling myself I'd read it when I finish my final project next week but alas, I read it all in one sitting after sneaking a peek at the first two pages. This is basically a sketch journal, complete with written narrative, of the time that artist/author Craig Thompson (of Blankets & Goodbye, Chunky Rice) took traveling and researching for his upcoming book Habibi. Upon viewing the images and reading the words, the reader feels the same excitement, anxiety and weariness of the 'wandering artist' and how one copes with being away from home by finding solace in (new) good friends and small comforts. I find out next week whether or not I get to study abroad in Asia this upcoming summer, so if I do, Carnet de Voyage is a great source of inspiration for the level of documentation I plan to execute; if I do not make the program, then it's just all the more reason for me to keep draw-draw-drawing. :)
