Stitches: A Memoir

David Small tells the story of his unhappy childhood in this graphic memoir. About 50 years ago, when Mr. Small was 14, he underwent surgery that rendered him mute for all intents and purposes and also resulted in his thyroid gland being removed. He believed that a cyst was being removed, but it turned out that the "cyst" was a tumor that had begun to grow as the result of the x-ray treatments performed on David when David was just an infant by his own father (who was a radiologist). At the time that David was an infant, radiological treatments were used to cure sinus and breathing issues, which David had as a child. As a result of the insane amount of radiology used, David developed cancer. For nearly a decade after his surgery, he couldn't physically speak above the level of a hoarse whisper, no matter how hard he trained his remaining vocal cords.The fact that David's father gave him cancer is one of the devastating sad parts of the story; but there is a second theme that is just as devastating: the communication, or lack of it, that is apparent in David's family The fact that David was exposed to a high risk of cancer by his father isn't really discussed by David, his father OR his mother aside from a very, very brief conversation a few months after the surgery. In fact, it's almost as if David learned that he had cancer by accident and would have continued to believe that a cyst was removed if he hadn't accidentally stumbled upon it. Other communication was non-verbal - his mother only communicated her displeasure by a little cough that she had. She wasn't very adept at showing her love for her son, if she even loved him at all. It's also about having a voice - or finding an alternative method to having your voice heard when your original voice has been literally ripped from you without your knowledge or consent.The book is really raw. My heart wrenched, particularly at the parts where David is flashing back to getting the high doses of radiation when he learns that he, in fact, was exposed to cancer by his father. Mr. Small has a way of illustrating the raw, strong emotions without words being necessary to convey what he intends. Needless to say, if you haven't figured it out yet, I loved how Mr. Small drew this book. While the story itself moves quickly because of the careful format, I urge you to slow down or go back after the first read through so that you can study the illustrations and really appreciate them.

I loved this book! It is so moving, and to think that David Small can write AND draw about his sad, tormented childhood is miraculous. I kept turning to the photo of the author on the back flap just to see his sweet smiling face, and be reassured as I read that he was going to be okay. I can barely stand to learn about child and/or animal abuse, and this is, of course, abuse in the extreme. The text is poetic and the drawings once again prove that "a picture is worth a thousand words" as they bring this family to life.David Small has illustrated several children's books, my favorite being THE LIBRARY written by his wife. I have no children at home, but I bought the book for myself because of the story of a voracious reader and book-buyer like myself as well as for the sweet, spot-on illustrations.I learned about SITCHES in Publishers Weekly which I have subscribed to for several years. I am not going to renew my subscription, however, because the $200+ annual subscription cost is just too much for a journal/magazine that is shrinking in size rapidly and will probably disappear itself before too much longer. BUT, I did read about this book there, as well as several other fabulous books over the years, so I am going to have to find another source for book reviews; Amazon is doing a good job, but way too few reviews, not to mention having to steer my way through all the ads to find them.I do hope, however, that lots of people find and read this book. It gives hope. It shows that graphic books are to be taken seriously and are here to stay in all sorts of genres, not just "graphic novels". There are a couple other "graphic memoirs" recently published, and to me they are all delightful and a nice change in a publishing culture that has become stagnant in many ways. Thank you to David Small for sharing his story with us, for making us SEE what he went through. I am so sorry it happened, but happen it did, so thanks for trusting us with it.

I really liked this graphic novel. I will keep it on my private shelf.Small's use of illustrations over text was perfectly placed. I liked all of the emotion he captured. There are three graphic (nude) pictures in it. Not a problem for me, but it makes putting it on the school shelf a little bit of a problem. I appreciate the artistry of it, but because of it the target audience's ages, 13-15, I have trouble being able to shelf it.Other than that, this novel is a touching story about a boy who is abused and lied to, only to later find his voice after losing his voice.Some great discussions can be had with this story about honesty, family, health issues, and beliefs.

This will be The Book in a sophomore college class (health humanities) - a great alternative to a Big Text for today's non-reading (but sharp, interested, visually sophisticated) students. I am familiar with David Small's children's picture books, and the drawings here are evocative, challenging, emotional - it will work well for discussions and close readings. I look forward to my students' responses!

Me ha gustado el libro. No me ha gustado que su estado no era tan bueno como me lo esperaba--una de las esquinitas estaba toda arrugada.¿Para qué he usado el producto? Pues lo he leído de principio a fin.

Excellent graphic novel. I finished reading it in a few hours. Smooth, quick read. Page turner. Highly recommended. Well illustrated.

What a painful and terrific novel. I loved it. I brought this on a recommendation and I'm glad I did. David Small wrote (and drew) a heartbreaking and heartfelt graphic novel. It is quite clear that the subject is so personal so can't help but get overly engaged. People that critisise graphic novels as childish or unworthy need to only read something like this to understand why we fans love it so much.

Is it a sad story? Yes, it is. However it's a beautiful as well. I suppose it will always be a very special book to me, because in his book Small talks about me. Reading this book opened an old wound I'd rather forget forever, but I'm not sorry for that. In a way, this book sets me free.Like all memoirs, you cannot be certain which part is real and which part is the product of the author's re-imagined selective memories. However, there is one thing I can be sure really happened, and that is the dream about a little bat who mistook a broken umbrella for its mother. That always happen to all of us.This book is about David Small as well as it is about me and about you. That's what makes it great.

In Oliver Stones Film "Nixon" sagt Henry Kissinger über den gescheiterten, lachhaft misstrauischen Präsidenten, dass dieser, wenn er in seiner Kindheit mehr Liebe erfahren hätte, zu Großem fähig gewesen wäre. Aus David Small ist zwar nicht der "mächtigste Mann der Welt", immerhin aber ein angesehener Kinderbuchillustrator geworden. Seine Eltern haben ihm noch nicht einmal indifferente Zuneigung spüren lassen. Geschlagen wurde er nicht, weder eingesperrt noch psychisch drangsaliert, doch die garstige Mutter (unzufrieden, weil sie ihre Sexualität nicht ausleben kann) und der stummgeschaltete Vater (unzufrieden, weil er bei der Partnerwahl so daneben gegriffen hat) geben keinen emotionalen Halt, sind abgekoppelt von ihren Kindern, lassen sie das auch spüren. Dass David keinen psychischen Defekt davon getragen hat, liegt vor allem in seinem zeichnerischen Talent, mit dem man schließlich auch manche Frauen beeindrucken kann. Und an einem feinfühligen Therapeuten, der in "Stitches" als kluger Hase in seinem Sessel sitzt. Bis es dazu kommt, erleben wir die Stille im Haus, die nicht ausgesprochenen Fragen, die Hemmschranken, die eine Familie schleichend und subkutan zerstören. Wo keine Liebe ist, kann nichts wachsen, oder wenn doch, dann nur weil andere externe Faktoren heilend wirken. Dem kleinen David wird seine Krebserkrankung verheimlicht. Das ist kein Spoiler, sondern entscheidend ist, wie dies getan wird, wie die Eltern in ihrer rücksichtslosen Hilflosigkeit porträtiert werden. Zum Ende hin lädt der Vater seinen mittlerweile adoleszenten Sohn in ein Restaurant ein, was er vormals nie getan hat. Er spricht nicht. Man trinkt, man isst, der Vater raucht, David ist misstrauisch. Sie gehen am Kai entlang. Und endlich erfährt der Sohn, was ihm der Vater eigentlich mitteilen will. Zwanzig Panels lang kein Wort, keine Sprechblase, keine Lautmalerei. David Small gelingt es mit nicht geringer Eleganz, den Leser durch dieses familiäre Vakuum zu führen, das Geheimnis der Kindheit und auch ganz normale Ängste (vor langen, leeren Gängen zum Beispiel) in schwarz-weiß-graue Bilder zu setzen. Dass David ausgerechnet "Lolita" liest - mit elf Jahren - ist recht unglaubwürdig, aber es wird schon stimmen.Auffallend ist der hohe Anteil wortloser Panels, von Seite 256 unten bis 267 sind es beispielsweise 29 hintereinander, in denen sich David ins Kissen weint und draußen der Regen die Erde benässt - kein Kapitel von stupender Poesie, auch habe ich zuweilen den Eindruck, dass Small wenig Interesse hat, bildliche Variationen zu finden (z. B. als er auf den Seiten 204/205 den Brief liest, der alles ans Licht bringt, sehen wir in neun Panels immer nur seine Augen und die Rückseite des Papiers). Ihm geht es augenfällig nicht in erster Linie darum, ein Kunstwerk zu schaffen, sondern um eine Aufarbeitung, in der nicht jedes Bild und jede Geste genauestens durchkomponiert ist. Wie David sich aus dieser Enge befreit und seinen eigenen Weg findet, lässt sich kaum unpathetischer inszenieren, gleichfalls erkenne ich nicht, dass "it breaks new ground for graphic novels" (Francoise Mouly), denn die grafische Semantik zeichnet sich nicht durch singuläre Ideen aus, die Dialoge sind nicht arty (was hier auch deplatziert wäre), die Gesichter haben nicht genügend Ausdruck und zeichnerische Finesse, um für sich alleine eine Geschichte zu erzählen und über sich hinaus zu weisen (all das hat "Die heilige Krankheit" bzw. "Epileptic" von David B.). Braucht es auch nicht. Die Dramaturgie funktioniert trotzdem, auch ohne diese Ingredienzen. Die Lektüre dauert ohne jede Hetze nicht länger als 60 Minuten.