Seconds

This was a book I heard about on the Pop Culture Happy Hour podcast from NPR. I very rarely read graphic novels, but I find that when one is recommended to me I really enjoy it. The last one that I really enjoyed (Habibi) was over two years ago and I haven't really read one since then because I hadn't heard any glowing recommendations. So when I heard about Seconds on NPR I was interested in the plot description and picked it up at the library.

I really enjoyed it. It's a fast moving story and the graphics are really nice. I especially related to and appreciated the character of Hazel and the attention to detail that is apparent in the artist's rendering. The story follows Katie as she runs into difficulties while trying to open a new restaurant. In the midst of these trials and tribulations she discovers some magic mushrooms in her current restaurant. These mushrooms have the power of changing any past mistakes you think you may have made. Of course it gets out of hand because changing the past will also change the present.  This was such a fun read with a bit of a magical twist. The moral of the story is very clear as it's happening, but the journey of the story and the beautiful illustrations make it so much more enjoyable. Even if you think graphic novels aren't for you I'm recommending this one to you.

Habibi

The book cover and the heft of this book (650+ pages) captivated me in the bookstore, but I did not want to spend the money at the time.  So I submitted my request for the book to my library and was placed somewhere around #40 on the list to receive it.  It was worth the wait. The story has way too many sub-plots to get into here on my little piece of the Internet. However, they all weave together to tell a solid story that is ultimately about love and redemption. Zam and Dodola are two orphans who have a lifetime of hardship both together and apart. The story spans the years from childhood to adulthood and intertwines their story with stories from the Bible and the Qur'an. What I loved about the story is that because the author intertwines all these stories you truly start to see the similarities between Christianity and Islam.  So why can't we all notice these similarities and connect our own stories in order to create a more peaceful existence?  Among other topics touched upon in this graphic novel are kidnapping, slavery, child abuse, ecological warfare, castration, suicide attempts, female submission and rape.  So with that being said, this is not a book for children.  Horrible and hateful things happen to both Zam and Dodola while they are children, but it is the foundation for the climax of the story, which speaks to the overwhelming power of love.  God's/Allah's love as well as love for one another.  There is a lot of mature content, but if comparative religion interests you, this is one to pick up.

Blankets

So this book is not on my 2012 list, but I saw a beautifully bound book entitled Habibi and had to stop myself from impulse-buying it. I would not normally place myself in a category of "avid graphic novel reader" (I've only read Persepolis), but if a story is good I will read it, no matter the form.  So instead of buying Habibi, I went home and did some research on the author.  I saw that Blankets was an earlier work by him and it was available at the library. I thought I should probably give him a try before spending $35.  The illustrations are beautiful and emotive. The story has moments of joy, pain, sorrow, laughter, and wonder.  It's an autobiographical account of the author's childhood and it is full of difficult situations that kids/teens face. Divorce, strict parents, first loves, sibling rivalry, bullies, spiritual crises, existentialism, family dynamics, child abuse, and more.  The story is easy to follow and has many insightful observations.  A warning though....if you are not a religious person, this book may not be for you. Many of the author's observations and conversations in the book are in relation to Jesus and Christianity. I know the topic of religion is not for everyone so that's why I mention it. There is also a small amount of adult content/nudity if you're wary of that. I fully enjoyed the book and will definitely be reading Habibi in the near future.