Suzanna Anderson studied creative writing at Bowling Green State University. I wonder what my own drawn journal will look like. I have kept a written diary regularly since 2011, but I’ve only recently pursued sketches and doodles a day. I love it because it is a thought I’ve had myself when visiting art museums and galleries, to the point where I’d like to count how many naked women are shown versus men. Knisley says in a speech bubble, “I think, from now on, I’m only going to make art involving naked men.” And written on the bottom of the panel is Knisley’s narration, “I never thought I’d get sick of seeing pictures of naked ladies…” (83). One of my favorite entries is of Knisley in front of four canvases with naked women.

One photo is of other visitors in an art gallery and no one is looking at the art! They are using their cameras. Knisley and her mother visit various art museums. There are odd things about the apartment, which Knisley explores in parts. When Knisely and her mother arrive in Paris, there is a photo of the apartment from the street view, and on the next page Knisely draws a map. Knisley draws food, like a sandwich she had with her godmother and her son before leaving the States (12). There are also photographs that enhance the journey. Then Knisley writes a short entry and uses drawings. The title is from Knisley’s love of the whole milk available in France.Įach entry is dated with a time and date box at the top of the panel. Knisley and her mother spend six weeks in Paris to celebrate Knisley’s 22nd birthday and her mother’s 50th.

The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan (Percy Jackson.French Milk by Lucy Knisley is a must-read travelogue.

Bout of Books Update: First Two and a Half Days.

The Sea of Monsters by Rick Riordan (Percy Jackson.

I liked that Lucy was honest about this part of travel and also about the little things, like thinking of Walt Disney when visiting Notre Dame. This so corresponds with my own experience of travel every-time I have gone abroad for a longer period of time I have had travellers guilt about missing home and finding some things hard, even though I knew that I was having the most wonderful experience that I would look back on for years to come. On one early page, she sends a homesick email to her boyfriend, only to get a 'you're having the experience of a life-time, you should be enjoying it!' sort of reply.

In between the entries about visiting Oscar Wilde's grave, admiring the artwork at the Lourve and shopping at vintage markets, Lucy writes with honesty about the experience of travelling and how she feels about her life. I was expecting to enjoy French Milk as I love graphic novels, travel and food, but I wasn't expecting to relate to Lucy as much as I did and enjoy it on a deeper level, too.