Joann Sfar

Rabbi's Cat is a clever way of introducing Talmudic teaching...sort of like sneaking spinach into a burger to make it "healthier" (yeah, right). The philosophical arguments with a cat about God and love are pretty funny yet serious. To start from the beginning. A parrot annoyed a cat, so the cat ate the bird and gained the ability to speak and lie, not necessarily in that order. Even as a liar, the cat is a straight shooter, albeit a little sarcastic. The cat is also a true cat, randomly show more knocking over things, or walking on piano keys when you are trying to play, or sitting directly on the very book you are trying to read. But, remember, this cat can talk so it should be no surprise it is demanding a Bar Mitzvah. The rabbi needs to consult his rabbi on that one (although he doesn't faze him to hear a cat speak). Thus begins the argument, what does it mean to have faith? Does what you practice define your level of spirituality? What about the differences between being a Jew or an Arab? I loved the argument between the cat and the donkey about the name 'Sfar.' Truly a clever book. show less

It's glorious. The art is striking, and very unlike any American-style comics (whether they're "indie" or otherwise), and it's just a bit fantastical in a way that matches the stories really well. The characters are complex and they stay with you -- most notably the cat, of course, but the others as well: the cat's rabbi's debates with his rabbi pack both great character delineation and some serious thinking into a few short scenes. Cousin Malka (who brings the lion) has all the earmarks of show more a tall-tale character, but is also a part of the same world that also contains the rabbi in Algiers or a bunch of very modernized Jews in Paris. And it's a great flavor of a community that felt very different from the European-derived Jewish world I know, but at the same time, it's somehow familiar. It's one of those books that periodically jumps off the shelf at me and tells me to read it again. show less

In this delightful and uproariously funny parable set in Algeria in the 1930s, the rabbi’s cat, a conniving, profane cat who appears to be a blue Abyssinian, devours a garrulous parrot, thereby acquiring the bird’s power of speech. The clever but prevaricating cat immediately launches into a campaign to get himself a Bar Mitzvah — despite the opposition of both the rabbi and the rabbi’s rabbi. Eventually, the rabbi relents due to the intervention of the rabbi’s beautiful daughter, show more Zlabya — to whom both cat and rabbi are completely devoted. Thus, begins the instruction of the cat in the ways of the Torah, although the cat would much prefer to begin with the Kabbalah.

The atheistic cat and the devout rabbi debate the most important questions of their time — and ours: science versus religion, why evil occurs, the impenetrable nature of God, how best to live a more perfect life in an imperfect world. Unsurprisingly, the cat often getting the better part of the argument. Even so, both develop a closer bond and develop as — dare I use the term? — people.

But it’s on the visit to Paris that the cat really shines. Zlabya meets and instantly falls in love with Jules Nahum, a Paris-born rabbi come to take over a nearby congregation. Zlabya and Jules soon marry, and — with father and cat in tow — the happy couple head to Paris for a visit to the in-laws. The rabbi cannot find a thing to like in the City of Lights, criticizing everything, from the weather to the prayer habits of the synagogue goers, until finally Jules has had more than enough. And that’s when the biggest adventure begins for man and beast.

French artist-writer Joann Sfar won the prestigious Jury Prize at Angoulême for The Rabbi’s Cat, and it’s easy to see why. The dialogue is clever and, at times, laugh-out-loud funny, and the illustrations so closely evoke the Algeria and Paris of a bygone day that you can nearly smell the berbouche d’Alger and the garlicky escargot. At 142 pages, you can finish this slim volume at a sitting — and, trust me, you won’t be able to stop yourself from reading cover to cover all at once!

Be sure to take a look in the back at the dust jacket to catch a glimpse at the inspiration for the cat on Sfar’s chest. show less

This classic has been translated into just about every language you can think of, from original French to Martian (just venturing a guess). It has now crossed another communication barrier, into the world of comic art.

As a graphic novel, Antoine de Saint-Exupéry’s ‘The Little Prince’ received a really fantastic treatment. It should be noted that the Saint-Exupéry drew the original art,which was pretty amazing. So readers should try NOT to compare against it, lest they may lessen the show more experience. It is a different beast, treat it as such.

When I first mentioned that I would read this, I got a couple bizarre looks from friends. “Wasn’t the Little Prince already basically a graphic novel?” was the most common question asked. These were obviously people who have either no clue (love you guys!) or never read the book. An illustrated novella.. That was the term you folks were looking for.

Joann Sfar’s graphic novel redux holds true to the original. The tale of a man lost in the desert, his airplane has broken down and repairs are underway. While working, a mysterious boy arrives and befriends him.

The boy claims to be from a small planet, where only he lives. He has three volcanoes and a flower to keep him company.

Due to some personal decisions, the boy decides to leave his world and see what else is out there. He visits other planets, each of which is populated only by a single adult. Each adult is stuck in a life that has no beginning or end, and in each case seemingly pointless. Excellent commentary, feel free to read into it.

I have always loved this book… Is the boy crazy, is the pilot crazy? Does the boy even exist? Are each of the adults, (and the boy) nothing more than aspects of the pilot’s subconscious? Do the adults ever get dislodged from their ruts? Does the sheep eat the flower? Does the flower forgive the boy?

These are some of the questions I have always asked myself.. will leave them all out there, hopefully the universe will answer them for me.

Or even better, a little prince can come from the stars an visit me at my humdrum job. I will ask him myself.

Fans of the original story should check this out. The art work is complex, but rough. The story arc covers all the aspects of the original, solidly enough that it took a physical comparison of the two books for me to find any minor differences. show less