Your Wish Is My Command by Deena Mohamed
A subtle and subversive graphic novel, Deena Mohamed's Your Wish Is My Command uses magical realism to deftly ground its core in social commentary
The Arabic title of Deena Mohamed's graphic novel, Shubeik Lubeik, comes from a fairy tale rhyme that means “your wish is my command”. A riveting graphic novel that delves into the darker side of human nature, Your Wish Is My Command is set in a fantastical Cairo where wishes are literally for sale. An ordinary kiosk owner in Cairo sells three wishes to Aziza, Nour and Shokry, wishes which change their lives irrevocably. While the book is set in a fantastical realm, the writer deftly grounds its core in realism, providing social commentary on present day issues like police brutality, bureaucracy and poverty.
Aziza’s life has always been tough but when she loses her husband, she is desperate to acquire a wish which leads her into a long rigmarole which eventually ends with her spending a year in prison. We later find out the heartbreaking reason why she continues to pay penance even when she is offered an easy way out. Nour is a college student who is susceptible to bouts of depression and wants to use their wish to try and cure his depression. Shokry, the kiosk owner, must deal with his resounding guilt and make a decision on how to help a friend with a terminal illness.
A subtle and subversive read, Your Wish Is My Command is a nuanced, resonant portrayal of human frailty.
Granta, 10 Jan