Customer Reviews

Growing Pains: Diaries And Drawings From The Years 1908-17 (Borealis Books)

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This book was a wonderful insight into the mind of a woman and artist in the early twentieth century. Growing Pains follows the story of Wanda Gag from age 12 to 22 or 23. It is fascinating to see how different life was at that time, and watch a woman with vast creativity and talent as she struggles to survive the poverty of her childhood. How poignant the destitution of her early years, as well as her discovery and development of her talent. Wanda Gag was also a very introspective person, and had a decided trancendentalist slant. It is interesting to read her philosophies about the self which apply even today. I think this book would appeal to people who have an interest in the early twentieth century or illustration. I also recommend it to fans of the Betsy-Tacy books, as Wanda grew up in New Ulm, MN, not far from Mankato (Deep Valley) and during the same time period. She also appears to be aquainted with Delos Lovelace (the husband of Maud Hart Lovelace (the real Betsy) who wrote the series). Later in the book she mentions going to a concert or play with tickets given to her by Delos Lovelace (Before he ever met Maud!). Overall this book was very good and I was extremely sorry to reach the last page.

Wanda Gág, the noted childrens' author and fine-art printmaker, first published this marvelous book in 1940. The bulk of it consists of excerpts from her diaries and was written from her fifteenth to her twenty-fourth year (about 1908 to 1917.) It also features many charming examples of her early (and some later) work.
It is a unique and fascinating document; Wanda was an excellent, observant writer, unafraid to bare her soul in chronicling her quest for maturity in Art and Life.

Growing Pains contains a wealth of information. Her observations on life in Minnesota in the pre-war (WWI) era probably haven't been surpassed by anyone, much less a teen-ager. Her sometimes naive but sincere views on courtship and dating are, by turns, quaint, endearing, and practical. Her story of keeping the family together after her father died and her mother fell ill, yet still persuing her artistic goals is inspiring. Her struggle to balance her internal self-concept with her outward appearance is the classic coming of age dilemma, expressed with all the special joy and sadness of youth. Her outlook on gender and ability is proto-feminist, yet pragmatic. Her struggle with her art studies is a great example to young artists of any era.

The diary ends as the war is starting and Wanda is getting ready to leave, to take advanced studies in New York where she ultimately started her career. The diary stands on its own; her later life, while also quite interesting (!) is not essential to the appreciation of this triumph. The book was a success when it was introduced and was re-published in 1984. There have many books about her and her family (her sister Flavia as well as her father Anton were artists of note), Most are aimed at children. None of them are as well-written nor are any as vital as Wanda's own scribbled note-books.