Zerocalcare On Life, Politics, And Misconceptions About The Syrian War

UNCOMFORTABLE READING
Kobane Calling is a kind of book I wish most people would read, especially those interested in international affairs. However, it is that kind of book that a lot of people won't read; firstly because it is a graphic novel addressing a matter of importance - war. The cartoon medium is still grappling with general acceptance, especially with regards to heavy topics. Also, Kobane Calling reads in a way that confronts our perceptions about Muslims, the Middle East, Syrian war and the western countries role in it. These combinations make it an uncomfortable reading at times, but this is what makes the book potent.

ABOUT THE BOOK
Almost everyone with an interest in politics in today's world knows what is going on in Syria. Kobane Calling us a graphic novel exploring the experiences of an Italian cartoonist, Zerocalcare, (real name Michele Rech) who went into the region to experience first-hand what is going on there. Think of this as a journaling of some sort about people, events, and personal perspectives about what in Syria. The book covers many issues on the the region -women soldiers, unknown techniques Isis uses to gain upper hand, the calibre of people they recruit, the role of religion in the war, and the deliberate misconceptions manufactured in Europe and United States which has nothing to do with what is happening in the region.

CONCLUSION
Kobane Calling is witty and enjoyable read. Though few of the characters in the book had their identity changed for security reasons, their determination and essence still shine through. Kobane Calling shows how much in the thrall of modern news media we are and how deep we soak narratives that are presented to us without alternatives stories to counter it. Most importantly, Kobane Calling is a book without cheap and easy answers. It does not even attempt to set off in search of one. This is one of the best books I've read this year. Warmly recommended.

Kobane Calling is published by Lion Forge. Many thanks to them for the review copy.

The Importance Of Micro-Decisions

I have neither created 
nor loved for some time, I swat 
at a fly and miss, I am an 
old grey dog growing toothless. 

I have a typewriter and now 
my typewriter no longer has
anything to say. 

I will drink until morning 
finds me in bed with the 
biggest whore of them all: 
myself.
- Charles Bukowski

Time, as a concept, is unbiased. You could give two or more people the same period of time to do an activity and you would get different outcomes. Also, two people with the same lifespan and similar life opportunities would often have different tales woven around them at the end of their lives. It seems time, as important as it is, is not as vital as the actions performed within its framework.

In this era, we always seem not to have enough time to do all that we want. There is a common feeling that always accompanies the use of time - guilt. The guilt comes from the feeling that we have not used our time wisely enough. For example, there is the feeling of regret at not having made the most of one's talents. A man may sacrifice his talents for the well-being of his family or blame the circumstances of his birth environment for his inability to follow his path, but it won't alleviate the soreness of his loss when he finds himself, at long last, alone as his life limps towards its final destination.

We might even employ talents and do what we can with it, however even this doesn't dispel the question - did I do the utmost with what I have? Did I make most of the opportunities that came my way?

The fear of expiring, in relation to your work, is one of the themes explored by Charles Bukowski in one of his previously unpublished poems, I Think of Hemingway. The poem is part of a collection of similar previous unpublished works titled Storm for the Living and the Dead: Uncollected and Unpublished Poems, now published by HarperCollins. In a classic Bukowski style, a lot of the poems in this collections are gritty and observational. If you are looking for flowery language with answers to life's problems, then this collection is not for you.

In the poem, I Think of Hemingway, Bukowski observes the feelings that follow the inability to work on what you enjoy, due to old age or other circumstances. He writes about the feeling of shame and helplessness that follows in its wake.

By all accounts, the dread of not doing enough, not fulfilling your potential, the terror of old age, is something that happens to most. However, there are no easy answers. Each of us must decide how to deal with this on a day to day basis. We must make decisions as to what jobs we take up, the nature of invitations we turn down, what kind of town we want to live in, and what manner of activities we fill our spare time with. In short, we all must make choices we can live with (or die with) as the clock counts down to our earthly departure.

Many thanks to HarperCollins for review copy.

Review: #6 The Change - Noriko's Story

NARRATION/VOICE
The style of narration in Noriko's Story isn't for everyone. Some prefer a book's narrator to keep his or her thoughts directed within the page. However, the narrator in Noriko's Story seems to reach outside of it to speak to the reader, telling us what to feel and what it is feeling. This is intriguing but risky.

ABOUT THE STORY
Noriko's Story is about... well, Noriko. The story setting is that of a dystopian Tokyo where a rogue AI, unsuitably called HA/HA, has taken over the city and running it as humanely as a psychotic AI can.

The spine of the story features Torino's quest to find her parents who had been missing since the beginning of HA/HA's coup. Through her eyes, we explore the harsh ways in which HA/HA manages Tokyo and the lives of the people living under its rule. Apart from HA/HA's efforts to capture humans who are outside of its rule (Toriko included), the book also shows us some of the feats of the rebels trying to survive and fight back. Surprisingly, there is also a sprinkle of disgruntled robots not happy with the HA/HA's style of ruling who are also rebelling the only way they know how. .

CONCLUSION
Noriko's Story is a blend of sci-fi and fantasy. There is also a bit of fighting, killing and such. The narrator's voice takes some time getting used to, but it is not boring by any means. For me as a reader, this book serves more as a starter rather than the main meal. Noriko's Story does more to set me up for what is to come rather than making a big deal of what is happening. A fairly interesting book.

Noriko's Story is published by Solaris. Many thanks to them for the review copy.

Rising Above Epilepsy and Its Psychological Claws

When it comes to illnesses, especially those that feed on emotional reactions to external stimuli, it is wise to not assume too much but listen to its sufferers and do what you can to empathise - even when you do not understand half of what is being said. This is because, unless you have come under the hand of the illness itself or you are close to someone who has, you may never truly understand what its sufferers go through. The graphic novel, Mis(h)adra, shines a clearer light on this for me, as I realise the emotional and psychological toll epilepsy takes in its sufferers. 

Mis(h)adra is a fictional account (loosely based on the author's own life) of an epileptic patient called Isaac. The book chronicles how neighbourhood noises, insensitive comments, and Isaac's own negative thoughts, contributes to a debilitating anxiety that gives the illness more power to manifest itself. The book also shares how easy it sometimes can be for people suffering from epilepsy to develop an addiction for the medicine they are taking and from there take an overdose. Most importantly, Mis(h)adra reveals what it sometimes takes for epilepsy sufferers to rise above the illness. The book shows that reaching out, taking one day at a time, not giving up is key to managing it.

For those who know little or nothing about epilepsy but want to have a basic understanding from the perspective of a patient, Mis(h)adra is a wonderful educational tool. Also, those with the illness can read and take encouragement from Isaac's story, using it as an emotional and psychological boost towards managing the illness.

Lest I forget,  the art style in Mis(h)dra is unique. Its use of colour to heighten emotional effects works well. The whole reading experience stayed with me for days. Mis(h)dra is a book worth reading.

Mis(h)dra is published by Gallery 13. Many thanks to them for the review copy.