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Be Real: A Guide to Authenticity

by Felix Cheong, Arif Rafhan
$16.90
Be Real: A Guide to Authenticity
Be Real: A Guide to Authenticity

Satirical zombie tale on authenticity in fakeness.

"Be Real" isn't just another zombie comic—it's a biting satire that cleverly plays with the notion of keeping it genuine in a world obsessed with surface-level authenticity. Felix Cheong's poetry adds a lyrical depth to the narrative, while Arif Rafhan's illustrations bring a gritty edge. If you're yearning for a story that's both darkly humorous and thought-provoking, with a protagonist whose descent into 'zombiism' mirrors our own societal obsession with the 'real', this could be the fresh take you've been looking for.

Note: While we do our best to ensure the accuracy of cover images, ISBNs may at times be reused for different editions of the same title which may hence appear as a different cover.

Be Real: A Guide to Authenticity

by Felix Cheong, Arif Rafhan
$16.90
Condition guide

Book Condition Guide

Books in Like New Condition

This book may contain very minor cosmetic defects, but it is in pristine condition. There should be no yellowing, no foxing, no water damage, and no annotations of any kind on the cover and the pages. For paperbacks, there should not be any crease marks on the spine. This book is good as new — lucky you!

*Books may be missing bundle media (e.g. CD, e-book code), if included.

Books in Very Good Condition

This book has been used, but it is still in a clean condition. There should be no foxing or annotations of any kind on the inner pages, but a sparse amount may be present on the cover, title pages, or outside edges of the book. There should be no water damage of any kind. For paperbacks, there may be light crease marks on the spine.

*Books may be missing bundle media (e.g. CD, e-book code), if included.

Books in Good Condition

We do our best to ensure the quality of our books, but there is no escaping the wear and tear that comes with time. Slight foxing and some annotations may be present on the pages and the cover. There should be no water damage of any kind. For paperbacks, there may be several crease marks on the spine.

*Books may be missing bundle media (e.g. CD, e-book code), if included.

Books in Well Read Condition

This is a well-read book, which means that the previous owner probably really enjoyed it! The cover and pages may include moderate foxing and annotations, but the text is not obscured and still readable. Moderate cosmetic defects and minor water damage may be present on the edges of the book. For paperbacks, there may be multiple crease marks on the spine.

*Books may be missing bundle media (e.g. CD, e-book code), if included.

 

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ISBN: 9789815233032
Authors: Felix Cheong, Arif Rafhan
Publisher: Penguin Books
Date of Publication: 2025-04-15
Format: Paperback
Related Collections: Poetry, Graphic Novels/Comics/Manga, Horror, Literary Fiction
Related Topics: Asian Literature, Literature, Dystopia
Goodreads rating: 4.14
(rated by 7 readers)

Description

A zombie apocalypse in Singapore. A gentle poke at the shenanigans writers get up to. And a satire about our hunger for the real thing. Meet Zachary Kwan, a middling novelist trapped in a bout of writer’s block. His marriage to a celebrity model is on the rocks, his latest book is met with scathing reviews, and he’s about to be cancelled. Things really couldn’t get any worse. Spoiler: they do. A zombie epidemic takes over the world. And Zachary Kwan, writer of a best-selling self-help book under a pseudonym, is infected. Written in poetic form by Felix Cheong and illustrated by Arif Rafhan, Be Real puts a finger on the zeitgeist of our times. In an age defined by curation, how do we know what is real? Will we even recognize ourselves when we reveal our ‘true’ selves? ‘A Singapore zombie apocalypse story by Felix Cheong you can sink your teeth into, with stunning artwork by Arif Rafhan. A thoroughly enjoyable read.’ —Max Le Blond, Cultural Medallion, Drama, 1987 ‘Felix Cheong tells a story that at once reminds one of Godard’s Le Mepris, Percival Everett’s Erasure—and nothing you’ve ever read or seen before. The storytelling is deft, the art is meticulous, and the result is a multilayered narrative that pushes back against
 

Satirical zombie tale on authenticity in fakeness.

"Be Real" isn't just another zombie comic—it's a biting satire that cleverly plays with the notion of keeping it genuine in a world obsessed with surface-level authenticity. Felix Cheong's poetry adds a lyrical depth to the narrative, while Arif Rafhan's illustrations bring a gritty edge. If you're yearning for a story that's both darkly humorous and thought-provoking, with a protagonist whose descent into 'zombiism' mirrors our own societal obsession with the 'real', this could be the fresh take you've been looking for.

Note: While we do our best to ensure the accuracy of cover images, ISBNs may at times be reused for different editions of the same title which may hence appear as a different cover.