Breakfast of Champions

Science fiction has always been my favourite genre. I strongly believe that a good science fiction writer is a boon and literally shows us the future. Think of cell phones and Arthur C Clarke and Star Trek. Think of private space tourism and interstellar travel. At the same time, however, science fiction is not just about space and technology. Science fiction is also about assuming what can be in the realm of science - be it biology, physics or even psychology. The games minds play on humans is also a branch of science fiction - albeit not the one that I prefer.

I also believe that is another genre of writing which is a form of inconsequential conversation i.e putting pen to paper and then letting the characters and the story write itself just putting down whatever comes to mind at that moment and building from there till the next idea strikes. The best book in that 'genre' is probably The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy which I absolutely adore. It is a book that can put a smile to your face whenever you read it. The idea is to go with the flow and enjoy the author's meanderings.

'Breakfast of Champions' belongs to a combination of the above two 'genres' - science fiction psychology with an inconsequential conversation form of writing. Unfortunately it does not match up to either of the best-of-breed writing. It seems like a book that Vonnegut actually wrote when he was absolutely bored with life and just wanted to write something. There is no real storyline other than how the paths of the two central characters - one an author who unknowingly becomes famous for his science fiction stories published in porn magazine and the other a successful car dealer with brain clots who believes that in the author's one particular story and goes berserk.

Does it make sense? It didn't to me and I struggled to find some sense of purpose in the book. Sad to say, I was unsuccessful. The books is peppered with drawings of tangential things to the story as if Vonnegut just wanted to draw something at that moment and so did it. These drawings have little or no connection to the story in itself.

Vonnegut is hailed as one of the best satirical authors of all times. Unfortunately his satire and subtle plays on racism, dark underbelly of society and America's degradation is lost on me. The book probably makes a great reading for literature grads in peeling away the layers of writing and reading between the lines. For me however, give me a simple straight forward book anytime. This one didn't appeal to me.

You could check out some other reviews here and here to get a counterpoint.

I would rate it 1/5 if only to appreciate the 'effort' gone into 'writing' this book.

Habibi

As a kid we all loved comic books. I remember spending hours on Tinkle, Amar Chitra Katha, Phantom and others. The natural expectation is that as you grow older, you grow out of comic book reading and start reading novels. Comic books are for kids. Adults do read comic books but they are called Graphic Novels. However, most of the graphic novels that I had come across were again superhero variety and filled with violence. Not really my cup of tea!

Till I happened to chance upon 'Habibi' while browsing in a book store. The first thing that struck me was the magnificence of the art in each panel. Filled with Arabic style and art, Habibi appeals to you to at least browse it, even if you did not know the story. Each panel seems to have been lovingly drawn by the author who must have spend days to get the detailing right and to carry the story forward. From the marketplace to the slums to the palace or harem and the unfinished building, each frame is a story by itself. Add to that the beautiful manner in which the Islamic explanations and stories have been woven into the fabric of the larger story and you can be reading this 'novel' for hours.

Set in a modern day fictional Arabic country, 'Habibi' is a story of two slave kids - Dodola and Zam - and their struggle to find independence from not just their enslavers but also from their enslaved minds and their feelings for each other. Habibi is a harsh love story that has you rooting for the characters while at the same time cringing at the struggle that they have to endure just to stay alive. Dodola is the elder of the two who is sold to a scribe as a young wife by her father for survival at a tender age. When her 'husband' is murdered, she finds herself at a slave camp from where she escapes with a young year old boy. Her journey takes her through prostitution to a favored concubine to falling from grace before realising her true feelings. His journey takes him through adolescence and first love to questioning his masculinity before finding and rescuing his only love. Through these two journeys, Habibi introduces you to some facets of the Arabic world - some true, some fictional - and your learn to appreciate the freedom that you enjoy and take for granted.

As a love story, Habibi tears at your soul. As a graphic novel, Habibi keeps you glued on each panel looking for some nuggets of magic and daily life.

If you loved comic books but don't like the violent graphic novels, if you would like to know a bit more about Islam, if you want to know how lucky you are in a democratic world; you should read 'Habibi'.

I rate it 3/5 for the story and 4/5 for the graphic content.