(no subject)

[jfb]

So, Persepolis was great. It's a graphic novel--wait, no, it's a graphic autobiography about Marjane Satrapi's childhood in Iran, before, during, and after the Iranian revolution. The art is simple but expressive, the story is gripping, and the protagonist is completely charming.

And it touches on those questions of patriotism that are often on my mind. To what do you owe your allegiance: To a government? A history? A geography? Characters in this book--the lucky ones--have to make these decisions. The unlucky ones don't get to choose for themselves.

Books rarely affect my dreams--I'm more of a movie guy. But a few nights ago, I dreamed that my family and I were living in post-revolution Iran, and required to well, watch movies, newsreel-style footage of the heroes of the revolution. This was the first night in a while that I hadn't read from Persepolis; my theory is that my psyche was enjoying the story so much it had to fill in for the book's absence.

Next up on my Iran reading list (as soon as it gets back to the library): Reading Lolita in Tehran.

Comments

[bushmiller.livejournal.com]

Oddly enough, I just picked up Persepolis last night and read it, too. I thought it was a little spotty at times -- due to the episodic structure -- but was quite moving and interesting. The art teetered on that line between awkward and simple that I love so much, and the evolution of little Marji was so well done.

I can't recommend this book highly enough. I'm probably going to assign it second semester next year if I'm doing the comics course I'd like to do.

--sean

reading lolita

[chrismwage.livejournal.com]

I want to read Persepolis but I have to admit that I thought Reading Lolita in Tehran sounded a lot more interesting.. I'm interested to see what you think..

[bushmiller.livejournal.com]

You *can* always read both, my friend.

Reading Lolita in Tehran sounds like the meatier tome, but Persepolis is a great, moving little read. Its tone is, I think, probably unique -- you're looking at these events through the eyes of a precocious 10 year old, which I haven't heard of anyone else doing. Her artistic style is interesting, too.

Get 'em both! That's what libraries were made for.

--sean

[jfb.livejournal.com]

YEAH, although, thanks to anti-comics prejudice, I bet a lot of libraries won't have Persepolis. I broke my halfhearted book-buying ban because I knew my library wouldn't have it... although I just discovered I was wrong. Oh well, I'm kind of happy to have a copy I can keep.

[bushmiller.livejournal.com]

I went to a local bookstore to see if I could find it and the only comics they had on the comics shelf were X-Men, Crossgen, and Batman. Not too big a surprise.

So, I just asked the person behind the counter, they looked it up, and lo and behold, it was shelved in "Middle East/Autobiography." And I bought it.

Later, I realized that Maus was there too (in the Holocaust section).

It's an obvious strategy, really, I wonder why "serious" comics publishers hadn't thought of that before.

--sean

[jfb.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I got my copy at Borders, in the Middle East History section. For some reason I didn't even think to check the comics shelf. I think I just went straight to the computer to find out if they had it.

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[(Anonymous)]

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