Habibi tells the tale of Dodola, a Muslim woman whose difficult life started with being sold into marriage at a young age. Her lot in life doesn't much improve when she is later forced to turn to prostitution to feed herself. The only bright spot in her life is Zam, a boy that she saves from slavery when she is 12 and he is just 3. The pair have nine years together in the desert before they are torn apart, she to be a member of the sultan's harem, he to suffer and wrestle with the conflicting feelings of puberty and religious beliefs while in the slums.
This is not a pretty story. The book, however, is beautiful. Thompson's artwork is extraordinary, and he weaves the tale of Dodola and Zam with such skill, using the stories of the Qur'an (and Genesis) to add mystical details to a difficult story. This is an excellent book, and fans of Thompson's previous work (most notably Blankets) would do well to check out this unique love story.
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