Reviews tagging 'Chronic illness'

Shubeik Lubeik by Deena Mohamed

5 reviews

culpeppper's review against another edition

emotional hopeful reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

This offers really significant insights into human desire, necessity, confidence,  resilience, generosity, and empathy, or the lack of those things. Each of the stories are engaging in their own way, building of the narrative of the previous section to bolster it, and provide affirmation to the stories themes. The art is beautiful, with characters distinct and reflecting their personality when words wouldn't do justice. The storylines are engaging, offering love and reality to each of their plights. The world building is fantastic as well, and the intermissions between stories fill in gaps are fun additions. Really happy this came across my path!!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Chronic illness, Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Blood, Suicidal thoughts, Fire/Fire injury, Murder, Violence, Classism, Emotional abuse, Terminal illness, and Grief

Moderate: Death of parent, Misogyny, Colonisation, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Ableism, Animal cruelty, Medical content, and Cancer

Minor: Infertility, Religious bigotry, Drug use, and War

bookishbrenbren's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny hopeful reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

Lovely! The art was particularly enjoyable I feel like the author captured the essence of each character's environment and still had room for whimsy. The stories were sad but honestly not toooo sad, I thought they were enjoyable! Each one deals with a major aspect of Egyptian life (?) that makes life harder. The first one I didn't really understand the wish but I feel like the story was a commentary on the ways the rights of poor people, especially women, are attacked. The second one was a great exploration of mental illness and the ways society approaches/sees it. The third threw me for a LOOP but also commented on VAWG and DV in general. That one was great. I also really liked the Shokry character who appears in all three and his devotion to both his father's wishes and his religion. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Police brutality, Child abuse, Death, Transphobia, Chronic illness, Sexism, Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Murder, Grief, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Cancer, and Child death

Moderate: Pregnancy, Colonisation, Child abuse, Classism, Animal cruelty, and Panic attacks/disorders

Minor: Medical content, Infertility, Miscarriage, and Injury/Injury detail

annabunce's review against another edition

challenging funny hopeful lighthearted mysterious relaxing medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Blood, Chronic illness, Body horror, Child death, Car accident, Grief, Colonisation, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Forced institutionalization, Murder, and Suicidal thoughts

hannahgarstang's review

A hard hitting comic that I couldn't put down. 

This parallel world Deena Mohamed builds where wishes are real is well thought out. She explores many implications of wishes and their comodification 
 on the world's history, politics, religion, and people. 

This story is about people (and one donkey) and their life experiences.  What it's like to struggle with depression, or the loss of loved ones. How systemic oppression and colonisation affect people. 
She tackles these really big issues whilst always humanising the characters. I became very invested in their wellbeing. And despite the heavy content their is a lot of humor and levity at different points without being jarring.

The artwork cleverly expands how feelings and ideas are articulated. The graphs were really emotionally moving. The genies embodying the language of the land they are from was beautiful. 

I also learnt about Egypt through reading this. Everything from slang, to commentary on corrupt police, colonization and economic inequality. But also you could see the love for the homes of our characters and their family and communities.

All in all, would definitely recommend, given the content wouldn't be triggering for someone. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Classism, Murder, Blood, Death of parent, Cancer, Mental illness, Police brutality, Death, Child death, Chronic illness, Colonisation, Confinement, Grief, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Domestic abuse, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Body shaming, Infertility, and Pregnancy

stailysh1's review

emotional tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

This book is beautiful and helps make connections to both modern and timeless events and issues.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Mental illness, Terminal illness, and Chronic illness

Moderate: Violence