Title: Habibi
Author: Craig Thompson
Genre: Graphic Novel
ISBN: 0375424148
Length: 672 pages
Year: 2011
Publisher: Pantheon
Source: Library
Rating: 4/5
My Thoughts:
I’m not really sure how to review Habibi. It wasn’t like anything I’ve ever read before. It tells the story of Dodola and Zam, two child slaves who find freedom in each other. Dodola, only 9 years older than Zam, raises him in the desert until they are suddenly torn apart. Weaved in between their story are the stories of the Koran (familiar to all of us of Abrahamic religions).
Habibi is harsh and sad and beautiful all at the same time. Unlike Thompson’s other books, I read it very slowly, savoring the details. The art is incredible – half the emotion is in the images. Seriously, just look at that cover! (even the librarian commented on it when I checked it out). And the amount of research that must have gone into this book is amazing.
The book never went where I thought it was going to go, and there were some real surprises that completely changed my perspective.
Habibi is not for the faint of heart. But it really is a beautiful story despite its shocking realness.
Buy It Now: IndieBound
Dodola learning to write.
my books. my life. 
I’ve heard this is an intense book, both visually and the story itself. I haven’t had a chance to see it myself yet though
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I really, really want to read this one, and passed it up when I made a bookstore run during the readathon. Now I am thinking that I need to go back and snatch it up. I am so glad that you loved it!
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I feel like I never get to read enough books with Muslims. I just put this on hold at my library along with Blankets, because you mentioned Craig Thompson as being good. I’m SO PSYCHED to read these.
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Sounds moving. I’ll be looking for this one. Great review.
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Despite it’s power, I don’t think this one is for me. 😦
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