Translated from Arabic by the author
🏆Literary Fifteen 2023 – winner of Warwick Women in translation prize
Synopsis
This translated graphic novel follows three people who live in a world where wishes are for sale. Wishes are of course heavily regulated and the more expensive ones are more powerful and accurate.
As it happens, there are three first class wishes being sold at a kiosk in Cairo. When Aziza loses her husband and buys herself a wish the full force of bureaucracy comes after her. Nour is a student from a wealthy background who secretly struggles with depression and contemplates how and if a wish could be the solution. For Shokry it is a question of religious convictions when he tries to figure out how to help a friend who doesn’t want to use their wish.
Thoughts
This was such a treat! As a non-Arabic reader it was a gift to experience reading the book in a different order than I’m used to. It really shows that whatever way you are used to reading, there are other ways. A beautiful connection between graphic novel, translation and formatting.
All characters had something important to say and show the reader. The story itself made me reflect on privilege, capitalism, international politics, and colonialism.
If you are looking for a graphic novel that tackles difficult topics this one comes highly recommended.