Thank you for the opportunity to read this book. I have attempted it on a number of occasions but unfortunately I haven’t been able to get into it.

This is a short graphic non-fiction book that is such an incredible read. I’ve read it twice now and each time it has given me something that I needed from it. It explores the idea of forgiveness in a way I haven’t seen before – I think the short paragraphs and the beautiful illustrations really made me think and ponder. It left me with a sense that forgiving yourself is just as important as forgiving others. I recommend this book to everyone but in particular for people who have experience trauma at the hands of another and needs an easy to grasp book that can help with understanding the nature of forgiveness.

'Forgiveness is Really Strange' by Marina Cantacuzino and Masi Noor with illustrations by Sophie Standing is a graphic novel that talks about a difficult subject.

What is forgiveness? Should it always be given? What does forgiveness do to our brain and body? These questions and more are covered. There are lots of real world quotes from people who have been wronged. The thorny questions remain around allowing the person who wronged you off the hook to err again. We forgive for what it does for us, though. Not for what it can do for others.

Having gone through a tough bout of forgiveness, I would have found this book very helpful. I wish I'd had it at the time. There are no easy answers, but this book chooses a path that helps the wronged and may clear the way for restoration, although not always.

I received a review copy of this graphic novel from Singing Dragon, Jessica Kingsley Publishers, and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this graphic novel.

This was truly interesting. Using graphics the subject less boring and preachy. It never preaches as none of the authors stated a reader had to forgive. I wished it used more empirical evidence

This is a good book to read to / gift to children / young adults.

2.5 stars.

I'll start off with the positive. I liked the quotes and I liked how it talked about the different ways that different people dealt with forgiveness. I thought that the illustrations were pleasant. I really like the cover and the colour contrast between those who forgive easily and those who don't. I liked the illustrations of the people who told their story, it made it feel even more personal. I also liked the bit on pseudo forgiveness (constant forgiveness).

I think the main problem that I had with this was the fact that it didn't feel like it was edited properly. It felt more like a rough draft or a rough outline and it wasn't refined enough. I think it is a really interesting concept but it felt quite muddled and so the execution was a bit of a let-down. I also thought it was going to be deeper and more scientific. I wish that it dug a little deeper and that it was longer. It also didn't really hold my attention very well. I was interested in bits but my mind kind of glazed over a few times too.

If you think this book sounds interesting, then check it out but I wouldn't go around recommending it to everyone.

* I received a copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

In its simplest form Forgiveness is Really Strange is a comic book about finding forgiveness for people who have harmed you. The authors and illustrator weigh the pros and cons of forgiveness and clearly believe that forgiveness is critical to heal oneself(s) and to help build a moral world. I do not believe in this basic premise. I don't think a person who has been abused or harmed has to forgive an abuser to have a fulfilling life. I do believe that a person(s) does have to come to some type of self-reconciliation and forgive themselves and work on issues of self-blame, self-worth and self-love. This is different. I have worked with sexual abuse survivors and whether they have nothing to do with their abusers, forgive them, don’t forgive him/her does not really matter. There are so many ways to have a meaningful life with a sound moral compass.

I feel somewhat differently about forgiveness between countries and conflict within them. I do think that forgiveness or reconciliation is necessary to being able to work together. The trauma of war, etc. needs a full airing in structured, protected settings so people can heal together. This is not a namby-pamby concept but very challenging and hard and we know from the South African Truth and Reconciliation testimonies that outcomes are fraught and in some cases negligible.

A thought-provoking comic that is fun and engaging. Concepts are clearly described I do not buy the basic premise or let’s just say that I think it whether to forgive or not is a complicated and multi-dimensional process

Forgiveness Is Really Strange is a collection of thoughts on the nature of forgiveness and its role in human relationships. These diverse thoughts are sourced from people who have been hurt in the most grievous ways.

WHO WOULD ENJOY READING IT?
Humans of all colour, creed, and cultures.

WHAT I LOVE ABOUT IT
Reading this book is like watching a documentary. I love the diversity of interviewees and varied opinions. The variety makes the subject much broader.

.......

Forgiveness Is Really Strange by Marina Cantacuzino, Masi Noor, Sophie Standing (illustrations) is available to buy from on all major online bookstores. Many thanks to Singing Dragon (Jessica Kingsley Publishers) for review copy.

3.5 stars

"Forgiving lies somewhere between the chaos of loss and the desire for order that gives meaning to our lives."

This book/graphic novel is a brief but interesting introduction to forgiveness as a concept of wellness and healing for victims. The book uses personal stories from figures around the world to explore real instances where difficult forgiveness changed a victim's life.

This book doesn't go in-depth into the psychology behind forgiveness, but rather brushes across the surface of the topic on multiple levels (psychological, social, physical, etc). I'd recommend it for readers who want an overview of the topic (with lovely illustrations), but readers looking for an in-depth examination might need to look elsewhere.

I was given an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book was kind of a comic book about Forgiveness.

As interesting as it was, I felt kinda betrayed because it talked about how forgiveness is hard to give and not an automatism for everyone and the more it’s expected to be given, the harder it can be to give but at the very end of the book they tell you that you should forgive and they give tips to help you forgive and that made me sad, I thought they got it...

The book was a mix of scientific things, quotes and illustrations.
It was pretty interesting even though I had trouble focusing at times…
I would definitely recommend to anyone who wants to know more about forgiveness though.

I was impressed by this book on forgiveness, which uses information from psychological studies and real people to explain what forgiveness is and is not, and that it is different for everyone. It is a thoughtful, poignant book with simple illustrations that breaks down a person's reactions to hurt and their paths towards yearning for revenge or forgiving the perpetrator. At the same time, the authors are very clear that masochistic forgiveness, false forgiveness, or condoning or excusing bad behavior is not forgiveness at all, and can perpetuate the cycle of harm.

Basically, it boils down to an individual realizing that continuing to live with hurt, resentment and anger are draining and painful, and that letting go might be the answer to a more peaceful life. At the same time, the authors realize that forgiveness might not look the same for everyone, and it can be incredibly hard to forgive when those around you (or society at large) are clamoring for revenge.

I received this ARC from NetGalley for an honest review.

Interesting enough but didn't delve as deep as I expected it to.

This graphic novel is within the same series as "Anxiety is Really Strange", which I have reviewed previously. One thing I like about both of these books is the art style present. This series doesn't seem to know what it wants to do, in direct contrast to "Anxiety is Really Strange", "Forgiveness is Really Strange" seems to have no scientific basis and is incredibly simplistic. This doesn't work so much for the first half of the book but becomes much better within the second half. Within the first half, forgiveness is explained. This includes explaining pros and cons of forgiving someone who wronged you, and the different effects this can have on the body physically as well as much more. After this, there are real-life examples of people who have suffered great losses or tragedies and have forgiven those who have harmed them for various different reasons. These vary from forgiving for their own mental health to wanting to help those who hurt them as they recognise that there are deeper reasons for their actions. Although I feel this graphic novel could benefit from a little more scientific evidence to back up the points made, it is a nice, simplistic piece which is accessible to everyone and the addition of real-life stories makes the points hit home even more. Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an eCopy of this book in return for an unbiased review.

This is such an important book!
At first I thought it might be the book equivalent of one of those annoying, self-righteous positivity memes - you know the ones that tell you if you just thought about sunshine more you wouldn't be so messed up? - but actually it's completely beautiful, insightful and I think probably a little bit vital.
In not much space it manages to pack quite a lot in and relates forgiveness to the wider world as well as making it a concept/skill that's accessible on a personal level to let go of distress, trauma and bad feeling.
The illustrations are absolutely beautiful - and echo perfectly the way that the text takes something has the potential to be an overwhelming, dry and complex topic, but makes it simple, beautiful and effective.
I will absolutely be buying this for several friends who I think would benefit greatly from reading this gorgeous book.

**Big thanks to NetGalley for a review copy in exchange for an honest review.**

Written by Marina Cantacuzino & Masi Noor
Artwork by Sophie Standing

This is a brilliant read. All self-help books should be this short and too the point. They share lots of studies, and so many personal stories about forgiveness.

And you know what, it really is strange. I don't think I have it all figured out now. This book won't fix anything, but it does give you a lot of chew on.

OK ladies and gentlemen. Strap yourselves in for another epic episode of "Andrea Reviews" because this book is AWESOME.

Firstly, full disclosure: I decided to review this book for personal reasons. I have been struggling with the notion of "forgiveness" for awhile now so when I saw this upcoming work was available for review, I jumped at the opportunity to check it out. I can now confidently say that ANYONE who has ever had any kind of trauma in their lives and want to move forward positively can benefit from reading this book. And here's why: the authors don't tell you you have to forgive anyone or anything.

Wow.

It gets better. The authors of the work have done an incredible job of making the reader feel comfortable and understood. They take the time to explain why some of us find it hard (or impossible) to grant forgiveness and what we may lose by doing so. They also don't recommend that every situation calls for forgiveness. The writers reassure the reader that they understand that whatever you may have been through is bad enough that you may never forgive your perpetrator. And while I do recognize that the book is written by two people heavily involved with the Forgiveness Project (Cantacuzino is actually the founder) and understanding trauma is their literal bread-and-butter, speaking from the perspective of someone who has desperately tried to come to terms with their own personal trauma and find forgiveness, it is incredibly refreshing to have someone say, "It's OK. You may not want to grant forgiveness."

Talk about empowering.

But wait! There's more! The book also weaves personal narratives from people around the world who have granted forgiveness and why they chose to do so. Sharing their own stories of forgiveness is heart-warming and grants the reader-searching-desperately-for-answers an incredible gift: hope. Forgiveness may not be for everyone but the shared stories demonstrates the strength of the human spirit and how reconciliation can happen positively and work towards a better, more peaceful future.

The work itself is very short and very readable making it a book that should appear on all reading lists. Filled with information, resources, and a narrative that acknowledges both the gains and risks of forgiveness, this work will benefit readers young and old. Inspiring, informative, and reassuring, every reader should check this work out!!

Thank you ladies and gentlemen. You may now unbuckle your seat belts and move about the cabin freely. We have reached our cruising altitude.

I got this book expecting psychological answers and ideas, I instead got a bunch of quotes from people in extreme situations. I don't even feel like I got what the first half of the description promised. I want to break it down

What is forgiveness? This was covered pretty decently. It even went into forgiveness vs condoning behaviors and actions. This is huge and I was really impressed with this part of the book. I have had this argument with people and reading memoirs of survivors of concentration camps come to the same conclusions as this book presents.

What enables people to forgive? I don't feel like this was answered at all. I can't remember any discussion about what enables people to forgive or even what sorts of people forgive. This was what I was really interested in. 

Why do we even choose to forgive those who have harmed us? This was discussed, but generally only in extreme circumstances of war and suicide bombers. There was little discussion of the smaller types of forgiveness that most of the people who read this book are going to experience in their lives. 

What can the latest psychological research tell us about the nature of forgiveness, its benefits and risks? There was only discussions of the benefits of forgiveness, except for one example of physical abuse in new marriages. 

So overall, this book had a great idea, but all of the examples are from extreme circumstances which makes the book inaccessible or able to be applied to most of the readers' lives. There is little psychological or sociological studies on forgiveness. In the end it was just a motivational book of "if someone can forgive a suicide bomber for killing their kid, you can forgive whatever in your life". It did not sit well with me.

I read this book as a free ARC on #NetGalley

What a truly unique and fascinating graphic novel. This book features stories from people who have been harmed and chosen to forgive, brief summaries of scientific studies that have been done on forgiveness and all sorts of tools and suggestions of how to include forgiveness in your own life.

Presenting the information as a graphic novel make's it accessible to people of all ages and backgrounds and draws you in and keeps you interested. I'm so inspired to look at any hurt I've suffered and make sure I've come to a place of forgiveness for my own wellbeing. I want to live longer!

A great look into grief and understanding forgiveness. I liked the statistics and factual elements and how it connected with true accounts of how people looked at grief. A great beginners introduction to understanding forgiveness, especially if you want to explore societal behaviour.

An interesting read with a lot of information packed in. I liked certain parts of it more than others, but overall it was a good book and I thought the illustrations were great.