Customer Reviews

Habibi

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
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Coming from the author of "Blankets," the intimate story of a first love, this sprawling, 700 page epic of the Arabian desert was an unexpected departure. And it wasn't subject matter that would normally draw me in, either. But this graphic novel of a love between two child slaves left me gobsmacked. It is a truly stunning artistic achievement as well as a brilliant and moving story.

This love story spans years and is set down amidst an exploration of religion, culture and language without it feeling overly didactic or at all pedantic. A combination of imagery, calligraphy, symbology and simply great characters "drawn" with a sure hand. Eisner, Harvey, Ignatz... here comes Craig Thompson again. He is on fire in this master work of art, of literature and of pure story. Can't recommend highly enough.

Mild spoiler warning: the book tricked me with its opening into thinking it was a historical piece, harkening back to the days of Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves or Prince of Persia. It proved to be a modern context, reflective of our contemporary social and environmental condition. Quite a reversal of expectations, which comes on the reader gradually.

Fascinating. This is the first graphic novel I have read and I am stunned by the research that went into this work. A sometimes dreamy but unblinking mix of history and contemporary issues surround the story line, it was one of those books that you don't want to put down.