Two Brothers

I liked this a lot. I am a big fan of Moon and Ba. I had never heard of Milton Hatoum or the novel this adaptation is based on. That's one of the reasons I like Moon & Ba. They tell stories I wouldn't find otherwise. I'd love to go to Brazil and they have rally stoked that desire.

All happy families are alike, all unhappy families are miserable in their own way.

My own family wasn't particularly happy and my brother and I have our own issues with our father, and maybe a few with each other. I still find it hard to understand the hatred and jealousy between these twins. It's hard to tell how much of it is about the blonde girl who marries Omar and how much is about their Mother Zana favoring Omar.

Omar, the darling, leaves the house and show more becomes a success in Sao Paulo and Yaqub stays home and is a wastrel. I can't understand it, but that is the part that is most like my own life. I'm the oldest. I don't think I'm the favorite. My brother and I are 10 years apart and in some ways each of of us are like only children. I left home for college and never went back. My younger brother only moved away for a few years and has been living with mom ever since.

He might think I'm the favorite. I need to be brave enough to talk to him about that someday. If he does think that, why did he stay? I think that would make him want to find his own place.

This also has me thinking about similarity and affection. I often here people say things like, 'they get along so well because they are so much alike,' while also giving equal weight to something like, 'oh, those two always fight because they are too much alike.' I think both can be true. My current theory is that people who feel genuinely good about themselves will like people who share their traits and interests. People who are insecure will dislike and feel feel threatened by people too much like themselves. My father would never teach my brother and I anything. As I get older, I think this was because he wanted to maintain his superiority and that it would have been a really problem for him if we had become too good at something he was proud of being skilled at. show less

Epic graphic novel set in an accurately (probably) depicted interior Brazil. Really draws you into this world with a classic 20th-century-lit-style narrative (I'm getting that the hostility between the twins hostility is a metaphor for cultural conflict) and apparently the novel is based on the famed Brazilian 20th writer Milton Hatoum. I loved the sensitive portrayal of the respective sides to the story and the parallel Lebanese and Aboriginal culture existing within then-contemporary Brazil! I could go on quite a bit in a speculative way about this book, but it makes it painfully apparent, the absurdity of trying to communicate what the experience of reading such a rich narrative is like through such an accessible medium (a graphic show more novel)! All I will say is I don't see any reviews on here and this deserves more attention! show less

The setting is the port city of Manaus, in Brazil. We are introduced to twin brothers, Yaqub , “the good” and Omar, “the bad”. As boys, there is a violent exchange between the pair and Yaqub is sent to Lebanon, to live with relatives. He returns after five years and discovers, nothing changed. Tensions and animosities, are hotter than ever.
This stark, gothic tale, is about family, secrets, identity and loss. The illustrations are black and white, pairing well with the dark story. Another stunning achievement, by Fábio Moon and Gabriel Bá, who also happen to be twin brothers. This one is not to be missed.

Tavole bellissime, tutte giocate su un fortissimo contrasto tra luci e ombre: infatti sono tutti bianchi e neri, senza grigi. Mentre nella storia di grigi ce ne sarebbero eccome! Disegni molto spigolosi, pieni di dettagli e “iperboli”. Non do 4 stelle perché la storia non mi ha appassionato tantissimo, anche se credo più per colpa mia, non avendogli probabilmente dedicato la necessaria attenzione.
Voglio comunque recuperare altro di questa fantastica coppia sudamericana.

The story of separated twins Omar and Yaqub, based on Milton Hatoum's Dois Irmãos. I am a fan of Gabriel Bá and Fabio Moon's story-telling style and their art and this work is no exception. The story is somewhat surreal and uncertain, but keeps coming at you with its emotional punches. Great book, recommended for any graphic novel reader.

Segue o estilo de Fábio Moon e Gabriel Bá (já li Daytripper). Achei interessante, mas a mim pessoalmente me envolve demasiadamente histórias com este cunho. Insisto, é muito bom, mas eu sinto uma forte aflição junto com os personagens. Isso é graças ao ótimo estilo dos desenhistas, e o enredo muito bom.

I love the work of Fabio Moon and Gabriel Ba; I find their storytelling completely engrossing, an amazing mixture of art and words. This is something that I'll have to read again before I will really be able to absorb all of it.