Latest Review: Habibi

Goodreads Summary:
Sprawling across an epic landscape of deserts, harems, and modern industrial clutter, Habibi tells the tale of Dodola and Zam, refugee child slaves bound to each other by chance, by circumstance, and by the love that grows between them. We follow them as their lives unfold together and apart; as they struggle to make a place for themselves in a world (not unlike our own) fueled by fear, lust, and greed; and as they discover the extraordinary depth—and frailty—of their connection.

At once contemporary and timeless, Habibi gives us a love story of astounding resonance: a parable about our relationship to the natural world, the cultural divide between the first and third worlds, the common heritage of Christianity and Islam, and, most potently, the magic of storytelling.

My Thoughts:
I think that readers who are tempted to dip their toes in graphic novel waters may want to give Habibi a try.  Thompson's longer format may be more appealing to those used to traditional books.  Also, the drawings in this book are exquisite!  Each page is extremely detailed in this tome...language swirls into art which transforms into religious stories.

Beautiful, no?

However, be aware that this is a dark adventure story...a sobering tale of Dodola and Zam trying to avoid enslavement.  There are a lot of issues brought forth in this tale such as poverty and power struggles.  The most blatant issue to me while reading Habibi was that of gender conflict - which manifested in the story through physical trauma (FYI for the squeamish: there's lots of sexual violence in this book).

Recommended For Those:

• In the mood for a heavier/dark read
• Who enjoy graphic novels (the illustrations will blow you away).   
• Who like Middle Eastern settings
• Who are attracted to stories of struggle and overcoming of squalid circumstances

5/5 stars

Oh, and don't forget that my Follower Appreciation Giveaway ends in 5 days!

Waiting on Wednesday: Habibi

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted at Breaking the Spine, that showcases upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week I'm impatiently yearning for the graphic novel Habibi by Craig Thompson

Goodreads Summary:
Sprawling across an epic landscape of deserts, harems, and modern industrial clutter, Habibi tells the tale of Dodola and Zam, refugee child slaves bound to each other by chance, by circumstance, and by the love that grows between them. We follow them as their lives unfold together and apart; as they struggle to make a place for themselves in a world (not unlike our own) fueled by fear, lust, and greed; and as they discover the extraordinary depth—and frailty—of their connection.

At once contemporary and timeless, Habibi gives us a love story of astounding resonance: a parable about our relationship to the natural world, the cultural divide between the first and third worlds, the common heritage of Christianity and Islam, and, most potently, the magic of storytelling.

Review Catch-Up: The Arrival and Mercury

Doing a little catch-up on my back-log of reviews by giving y'all my thoughts on some graphic novels goodness!

First up, the amazing book The Arrival by Shaun Tan

Goodreads Summary:
In a heartbreaking parting, a man gives his wife and daughter a last kiss and boards a steamship to cross the ocean. He's embarking on the most painful yet important journey of his life- he's leaving home to build a better future for his family. 

Shaun Tan evokes universal aspects of an immigrant's experience through a singular work of the imagination. He does so using brilliantly clear and mesmerizing images. Because the main character can't communicate in words, the book forgoes them too. But while the reader experiences the main character's isolation, he also shares his ultimate joy.

 
My thoughts:
Amaaaazing!  Seriously, I'm so glad I bought this sucker.  The Arrival is just gorgeous...a book that I will thrust into the hands of anyone willing to take a gander!  There is no text in this book, but there is no need for it.  Tan portrays the difficulties of being a foreigner in a new country so well through his quirky illustrations.

If I continue gushing I'm going to insert all of those overused cliched reviewer words like "poignant" and "compelling" (which I'll admit to overusing many times myself).  So, instead I'll just say that he managed to tell a story that touched a place in my heart.  It transported me into the lives of his characters...making the unique immigrant experience more easily understood.

5/5 stars.
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I also recently finished Mercury by Hope Larson

Goodreads Summary: 
August 31, 5:15 PM, French Hill, Nova Scotia: A girl named Tara is running. She runs through her nice neighborhood and up a road to the burned ruins of what was once a beautiful house—her family's house. 

August 31, 1859, French Hill, Nova Scotia: A girl named Josey is picking blackberries with her friend Connie. As the girls gossip, a handsome stranger knocks on the door of Josey's house. His name is Asa, and with his coming, Josey's life—and later in time, Tara's as well—is about to change forever.


Because there is treasure in the woods that belong to Josey's family. Gold—an untold fortune. Asa has a secret way of finding it, and his partnership with Josey's father could make them all rich. But there is darkness in the woods, and in Asa. And in the present day, Tara, Josey's descendent, is about to discover the truth about what really happened in the family's past.


Eisner award winner Hope Larson weaves together history, romance, and a touch of her trademark magical realism in this remarkable graphic novel of how the past haunts a teenage girl's present.

My thoughts:
The drawing is so expressive...I think that's one of the aspects I liked most about this novel.  Larson's expert illustrations really allowed me to connect with the characters and I happily rooted for Josey and Tara.  I became so attached to the characters that I was quite sad when the book ended...I wanted to know more about what happened to these two young girls.

There's an element of ghosts or spirits in the book and mystical occurrences which I always find to be lots of fun.  I also loved the interplay between the past and the present.  The author flipped back and forth between the two stories very frequently, which normally annoys me, but worked perfectly for this book.  Overall, I'd recommend this to those who like graphic novels, elements of the supernatural, and historical fiction - a quick fun read!

4/5 stars

Friday Finds: "Life" Books

Friday Finds is hosted by Should Be Reading and allows readers to showcase books they have discovered over the past week.  This week I found a YA book and a graphic novel both with "life" in their titles.

The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing by M. T. Anderson

Goodreads Summary:
A gothic tale becomes all too shockingly real in this mesmerizing magnum opus by the acclaimed author of FEED.

It sounds like a fairy tale. He is a boy dressed in silks and white wigs and given the finest of classical educations. Raised by a group of rational philosophers known only by numbers, the boy and his mother — a princess in exile from a faraway land — are the only persons in their household assigned names. As the boy's regal mother, Cassiopeia, entertains the house scholars with her beauty and wit, young Octavian begins to question the purpose behind his guardians' fanatical studies. Only after he dares to open a forbidden door does he learn the hideous nature of their experiments — and his own chilling role in them. Set against the disquiet of Revolutionary Boston, M. T. Anderson's extraordinary novel takes place at a time when American Patriots rioted and battled to win liberty while African slaves were entreated to risk their lives for a freedom they would never claim. The first of two parts, this deeply provocative novel reimagines the past as an eerie place that has startling resonance for readers today.

Life with Mr. Dangerous by Paul Hornschemeier

Goodreads Summary:
Somewhere in the Midwest, Amy Breis is going nowhere.

Amy has a job she hates, a creep boyfriend she’s just dumped, and a best friend she can’t reach on the phone. But at least her (often painfully passive-aggressive) mother bought her a pink unicorn sweatshirt for her birthday. Pink. Unicorn. For her twenty-seventh birthday.


Gliding through the daydreams and realities of a young woman searching for definition, Life with Mr. Dangerous showcases acclaimed cartoonist Paul Hornschemeier’s gift for deadpan humor and dead-on insight with a droll aftertaste—an unlikely but welcome marriage of the bleak and the hopeful.

Latest Read: Shortcomings

This was my first foray into the realm of graphic novels!  Unfortunately, as excited as I was to finally introduce myself to this genre...this book solicited a "meh" response and not much else.

I realize why it is a critic's darling.  It deals with weighty issues such as race, stereotypes, relationships and identity.  The illustrations are well-drawn (not that I'm much of an expert in this area).  Yet, it just wasn't my kind of story.  The protagonist is extremely unlikeable (whiny, self-absorbed, hypocritical...you get the picture).  Unfortunately, the other characters do not distract the reader from his gloominess.  In fact, with the exception of his best friend Alice, the supporting characters are pretty one-dimensional...I could not have cared less about their fates.  Also, the story ends on a not-so-happy note (I won't elaborate so as not to spoil but I will say it was lacking somewhat).  Found this amusing synopsis of Shortcomings on the interwebs (read, this is not from the actual book):

 
Despite all of my hangups about this novel, I think it would make for interesting discussion - whether in a classroom or amongst friends.  Perhaps it is simply meant to make you pause and think about some of these issues...

3/5 stars.