Monday, October 3, 2011
Persepolis
I'm trying to keep the discussion in class a bit more academic so I'm giving you this space here to just give your general thoughts on the book. Did you love it/hate it/were indifferent to it, etc.? Any scenes or characters you particularly enjoyed? This does not have to be an academic discussion here but who knows, you may get a great topic idea out of it. As usual, 250 word post up by Thursday night (10/06) and 100 word response up by Sunday night (10/09).
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
If I was walking through Barnes And Nobles and saw this book, I would defiantly NOT pick it up and think to read it. Being in this class, I was not looking forward to reading a book about the Islamic Revolution. I was dreading it and kept procrastinating, and finally the night before it was due I decided to start the book at 10:00. As I was reading, I got more and more into the book. Turns out, I loved it! I thought that the style of writing was very unique. Although I read one other book like this, “comic book”-like, I’m still getting used to this technique. I like this style of writing better because it keeps the reader interested in what they are reading. The pictures put a image in our head of what she saw and how she was feeling. When she used darker frames it gave us an eerie look, as opposed to the lighter, friendlier frames. I think that each part of the book left you with a different mood. The first part I personally liked the ending better. I was able to relate more to the characters, and it was more dramatic. I think that the ending of part two didn’t really “suit” the memoir. Through out the whole story we are left with suspense, and drama. With the ending being so plain and simple, I think it takes away from the book. Overall, I thought it was a good book and I would recommend it for people to read.
ReplyDeleteWhen I picked Persepolis up at the bookstore, I looked at the front cover, read the back cover, and then proceeded to throw it in a bag in the corner of my room until the very last day I was forced to read it. To my surprise, I really enjoyed it. I enjoyed it not only because it was an easy read and the events were clear and simply explained, but because it was interesting being taught about a war from a little girl that had to live through it and knew more than any little girl should. I managed to read the entire first part of Persepolis in one sitting. I really liked Marjane. I'd love to know how she, for the most part, always stayed positive. Considering her situations, I don't know if I would be able to even get out of bed. Her friends and family were killed, her parents shipped her off to another country where she didn't have any friends and was not accustomed to the culture, and her boyfriend turned out to be gay. Though I enjoyed most of the book, I was extremely disappointed with the ending. I felt like the majority of the book was very dramatic and in depth with every event that went on until the ending. After reading the last frame of the last page, where Marjane tells us that her grandma passed away, I quickly flipped the page to see what happened next, and was surprised with a blank page.
ReplyDeleteI actually really enjoyed Persepolis. It is definitely not the type of book I would pick up in a store, but I liked it. When I first saw the book, I thought it was simply going to be a boring explanation of a girl who lived through a war. However, this wasn’t the case. I thought Marjane Satrapi did an excellent job telling her story and explaining events clear enough for her audience to understand. She had to endure very traumatic experiences that most girls that age don’t have to go through. When reading it, I found myself a lot of the time wondering what it would have been like to live it a place like that. It must have been extremely difficult to live a life without freedom and to constantly be told what to do and how to do it. I couldn’t image being shipped off at age 14 to basically take care of yourself in a completely new area that you don’t know. I think I enjoyed part 2 better because I think Marjane revealed complete vulnerability. It was more about her and how the war and the things happening around her were deeply affecting her to the point where she considered suicide. I think part two really made her story seem more real and gave her audience a way to feel the effects of what was happening to her. I also liked it just because it was more of the type of book I would pick up and read.
ReplyDeleteWhen i went and collected all of my book from the bookstore upon arrival i was slyly devastated because i knew i had to read them all and I've never really been much of a book worm before. But when i started to flick through all of them and noticed that Persepolis was in a comic format i was over the moon. Although, if this were a comic it would have been the worst i have ever read. But its not its a graphic novel, personally i did not enjoy it. This may be down to the fact that i rushed the reading of it the day before class and maybe never really understood the words i was reading. The pictures in the book help because in most novels you rely on your minds eye to show you what the author is telling you but in Persepolis you already have the image there so it makes everything that little bit clearer. Mr B told us that the book was originally split in two with the original ending being around page 153 with the cliff hanger of the mothers well being. At that point I was focused on the piece and I felt as though as it went on my attention decreased and there was a bit too much going on what with all the drug taking and gay flat mates. This did not however scare me away from graphic novels I would definitely read a different one in the future.
ReplyDeleteI thought Persepolis wasn’t a bad book. It wasn’t something I would read for fun out of class, but it was enjoyable I guess. I really enjoy reading about other cultures on occasion, so I liked to hear what it was like living in Iran, especially in times of war. Their culture is so different from ours. I couldn’t imagine having such harsh police enforcement. They could be really cruel with beatings, calling women prostitutes for not wearing the veil correctly, and executions. Authority figures shoved their opinions down civilians’ throats. I couldn’t imagine having to go through some of the things Marjane went through. As a young girl to watch your neighbors bombed and killed, acquaintances imprisoned or killed, even having to move out of the country to live on your own at such a young age. Some of my favorite characters were Anoosh for his compassion toward his niece, and I also enjoyed Marjane’s wit when she was a child. The second half of the book, I didn’t enjoy quite as much as the first part. I loved Marjane’s innocence, the way she went after what she wanted, acted as a leader, and wasn’t afraid to say what she was thinking. I also liked her parents. I love the way they brought her up. They always told her the truth about the war, encouraged her independence, and pushed her to be the best and to find freedom. I was surprised that Marjane didn’t thrive as well in Austria as I would’ve expected from her.
ReplyDeletePersepolis definitely exceeded my expectations. I love to read and always have at least five books on my list to read, but Persepolis was never on this list. It’s not a book I would see at a book store and get the desire to read a few pages. I usually like to read books that are pretty long and only are filled with words. However, I really liked reading Persepolis. It was a great story and it had me rapidly turning the pages to see what would happen next. I liked learning about Satrapi’s story from her point of view as a young child, a teenager, and young adult. Also the pictures were great at helping to express her feelings about each situation. I especially liked part one. Marjane was a funny child and I thought she had amazing dreams and was very confident in who she was. Instead of playing dolls or house she was always wanting to learn about the war and politics. As she got older and left Iran to live in Austria, she lost this passion for learning and changing the world. She smoked drugs just to fit in, all the while knowing that her parents would be very ashamed of her. In the very end she turned her life around, but just in time to have the story come to a close. I liked the book a lot but I feel like a lot of it was about her struggling to find herself and I would have liked to see more of the good parts of her life.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed the book for the most part. At first I was scared that it was going to take forever to read but it turned out to go by pretty quick so that was nice. I think the pictures were also cool that way I didn’t have to imagine what was going on I could just look at the pictures and they would tell me. I also liked the first half of the book a lot more then the second half. I liked the first half more because it was told through the eyes of a child, which offered a little bit of humor to an otherwise dark and gloomy situation. However there are some aspects of the book that I did not like at all. For starters why did we have to read the book at all if we were just going to watch the movie? Which is more or less the exact same thing as the book. And if its not exactly the same its pretty close. I also thin that she could have done a better job with explaining more in depth what happened to all of the people in the story. I felt like she would introduce someone and half the time she wouldn’t reveal what happened to those people. This bothered me a little because I would have liked to have known what had happened to them seeing as how the people mentioned all really existed. I would have to say overall it was a pretty good book.
ReplyDeleteAlthough it was not the genre of book I would choose from a bookstore, I surprisingly enjoyed reading Persepolis. I had never read a graphic novel before, and it was very entertaining. Because a majority of the memoir is pictures, the reading went by exceptionally fast, and flowed very smoothly. I personally liked the first part better than the second. I think this is because it reads very simply, and is easier to interpret coming from a young child. As Marjane matures, the writing remains very simple, making it harder to identify with her. In addition, you feel bad for her when she is a young child. It is not fair that someone at that age would have to face such heavy issues. However, as she gets older she also gets more rebellious, making it harder for a reader to feel bad for her. I cannot imagine being shipped off to another country at the age of 14. It clearly forced her to mature a lot faster than other kids. Although it was a very entertaining book to read, I was disappointed with the ending. The end of part one was good, because it created suspense, not knowing if Marjanes mother would be okay. The second ending was boring though. It left off at a very boring point, without creating enough closure for someone who has been following her throughout the past twenty-something years. It was eye opening to read about the happenings in a middle east culture, something that has never been of great interest to me, but it taught me a lot.
ReplyDeleteI like to read Archie comic books, so I found reading Persepolis to be very fascinating and highly enjoyable. The plot and the storytelling were good but I think that it was brilliant and creative idea of using a comic styled way to illustrate the story. I liked that this graphic novel was told with a lot of humor, sadness, and often anger. I also enjoyed the animation. The way she works the story between the words and images is wonderful. The contrast between the well-drawn, simple black & white drawings and the complex events they represent create a balance so that you can read the saddest things without being weighed down. Satrapi was very well able to communicate and make known the horror of war. She was able to show the effects that the unjust and cruel exercise of authority had on ordinary people and the humor that was still to be found in these situations. For example when she goes to see a childhood friend who has ended up in a wheelchair during the war against Iraq and they end up laughing and joking about it all. Besides having simple yet meaningful imagery, this graphic novel was a highly educational experience for me. I really have no knowledge of this period of Iran's history (I don't have much knowledge of Iran, period), and to see these events through Satrapi's eyes, while she was a child and an adult, was captivating.
ReplyDeletePersepolis was definitely a book that I have never encountered before. Before reading it I flipped through the pages and had absolutely no idea why I was reading a picture book in college. I expected it to be like a comic strip but I was happily surprised. I thought college reading was going to be all about 1000 page books that said a whole lot of nothing, pictures definitely helped. Also that it was a fairly recent text and from something that I didn’t know much about, especially from the side of an Iranian. The first part of the book was definitely easier to read then the second part, not only because of the length but because of the way the chapters are told. The first part is told in a more narrative tone whereas the second part is more scattered. Part two has more stories to tell and the need to be more specific. I was able to connect to her in the first part because my brothers had gone to war, almost like how her uncle was taken away; the fear of their life is always stuck in your head. I enjoyed part two more though because I was reading about things I have and have not experienced before. For instance I have experienced being away from home and being in places that I am uncomfortable. I have not experienced bouncing from home to home alone or being homeless. This book definitely taught me a lot about the struggle of many Iranians fighting for freedom.
ReplyDeleteIn response to cptak I totally agree, I would never pick this book up in a bookstore. I too think that she did a very good job telling her story and making each scene clear through word and picture. Also, I imagined living her life and was terrified. The way the police treated people and how strict the rules were would kill me. Especially because they are completely unnecessary and hide every ones individuality which I think is the best part of life, everyone is different. Finally I agree with her comment about part two being better because it showed her transition which was very interesting.
ReplyDeleteI am kind of on the fence with this one. I appreciated it being a graphic novel because I feel that it really helped move the story along in my mind. I definitely didn't hate it, but I can't say that I loved it either. I guess i have to say that I'm really indifferent to the book. There were parts of Persepolis that certainly made me laugh but overall, it was not my favorite. However, the kind of description that Satrapi put into each frame, be they in colors, words, or through the style of the drawing, were really great. It was nice to be able to see the image that she wanted us to see accompanied by every thought, rather than having to formulate our own pictures and images in our minds. I enjoyed little moments and certain parts of the second half, however I think I'm leaning more towards the first half as more of my favorite. Satrapi was able to tell her life story in such a way that I, as the reader, never felt like she was lecturing me, but rather that she was sitting in front of me narrating her own story. I guess what I am trying to say is I like how very personal it felt, like she really spared few details and I believe that enhanced the story for the readers. She easily could have just said, "They bombed Iran," but instead she told us EXACTLY what happened from her point of view.
ReplyDeletePersonally, I enjoy reading Persepolis. It was definitely different in forms of the genre of literature. It was easy for me relate to Satrapi because she was Muslim and I am too. Where I am from, in Turkey, it is not as religiously strict but I grew up surrounded by those rules. I did not have to wear veils like Satrapi did growing up in Iran woman were treated a little differently like it did. Although I am a Muslim, looking back, I am pretty lucky I did not have to live in such of a repressed society like Satrapi had to live through. It amazed me how a girl could experience such horrifying events in her life at such a young age. I definitely underestimated this novel because of its pictures just thinking it was another series of corny comic strips but as I continued to read through the sections, I felt that I connected with Satrapi even more because of where she was from and her culture. I did not expect the book to have such powerful message as it did especially with its simplicity illustrating only with black and white colors. Because it was written in a graphic novel form, it does not discriminate its audience among ages. I liked the fact that Satrapi could narrate her story that is filled with sadness but is still able to put humor into the novel. Overall I really did enjoy reading Persepolis. It was unique in a way of writing her memoir.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteTo be completely honest, I would probably never read this book unless I was forced too. Having said that I actually enjoyed reading the book. My first impression of the book was that it was going to be a play by play of someone’s first hand account of how bad a war was. My original thoughts about the book were connected to so many books I have read about holocaust survivors and how they relay their stories. However, this story is very well written and marjane who is the main character does a excellent job in telling her story to the reader. I found myself reading more and more each time I picked up the book. When I first started to read this book I originally thought that I wouldn’t like it, mainly because I’m not a huge fan of books about revolution or war. This still isn’t a book I would go out and buy at the bookstore, however this book seemed to prove my original thoughts wrong. One of the things I liked about the book was how marjane compared a revolution to a bicycle. Marjane states if a revolution is not in motion then they will stop working. The progression and flow of the story is very well done, overall the story by far exceeded expectations, and however I don’t know if I would recommend the book to a friend. Personally, the book to me was on the sad side for me. I typically have the same reaction to war books and books about the holocaust. I prefer fictional stories about adventure.
ReplyDeleteI initially liked reading Percepolis until the second part. In the first part, I really enjoyed learning about the Iranian history and the complete background from a child’s view. It offer a deeper understand that I had never been aware of along with serious accounts and humorous descriptions of a life revolving around the Iraqi invasion. I believe that the childhood account of the story provided a true description for how these specific events affected one’s life. While this first part was very enjoying to read, the second part was surprisingly boring to read. The second part was mostly made up off typical life situations as well as typical girl drama. As expected, this did not capture my attention as much as the Iranian strive for independence. Like most books these days, thus involved unexplainable girl drama in which I was not interested. Although it sounds weird to a girl, I am honestly more interested in the Iranian revolution independence instead of hearing about how a boyfriend turned out to be gay and therefore broke Marji’s heart. Along with this, a few specific scenes that stood out to me was when Marji stood up to an authoritative figure in order to defend her beliefs in what was presently happening in Iran. This had shown me the strength of Iranian protest power unlike any other scenes presented. This scene had given me a strong idea of what Iranian revolutionaries were all about. Although there were authoritative figures present, one took upon themselves to express their ideals on the specific issue being presented.
ReplyDeleteI’m still undecided on this book. Some aspects I really enjoyed such as the humour and wit, especially hearing some some of the artist’s names that the black market dealers were selling. Most noticeably the famous Jikeal Mackson. I also admired Satrapi’s will and determination was also something I took a liking too. The way she stood up to authority and spoke her mind I found commendable. Some of the ways she stood up for herself could have been slightly altered such as referring to the Nuns as ‘prostitutes’. Even still, her confidence to stand up to others even when looking inferior was a definite feature in the book, which stood out to me.
ReplyDeleteHowever, the constant sadness and trouble, which Satrapi endured, I also found draining on myself. I understand she suffered much heartache but the constant struggle seemed to be around every corner and was something, which really turned me off. I prefer more thrilling and inspiring books and not ones in which, I end up depressed! I believe the humour managed to break-up all this negativity and without it the book would have been even more dramatic.
Nevertheless, I found the images extremely helpful and beneficial. Being able to see the authors illustrations of characters allowed us to see expressions, reactions and emotions. This avoided the chance the information or scenes may be interpreted in a different way to how the author wanted. This was the first graphic novel I have come across and it certainly wont be the last.
Thinking back to when I first looked at the book I didn't have a clue what it was about. I pretty much just opened the book and began to read. I read about 5 pages and instantly liked it. I liked part 1 over part 2. In part one the character Marjane was young, innocent, funny, and sharp. She was much more enjoyable to read about than the marjane in part 2. I enjoyed Uncle Anoosh especially. My favorite chapters were Moscow and the sheep. That is when the story became more personal after the death of her Uncle. As for part 2, I didn;t really like it. As I said before I enjoyed the younger character much more than this some what pathetic women she became. Though I did feel sympathy for her when she was homeless. That isn't good for anyone. All in all I'd recommend the book. Mainly because of the images. They were very captivating to me especially because I am a visual learner. I can't image reading that book with out the images. I wouldn't read it.
ReplyDeleteI can honestly say that Persepolis was better than I had expected. I think that Marjane Satrapi did a great job at expressing her point of view of the war in Iran. As opposed to other novels I have read about a personal experience of war, I particularly liked that in Persepolis she wrote through the eyes of a child, an adult, and every stage in between; it was interesting to get so many points of view. Also what sets this novel apart from the rest is that she included humor into the plot line. There are many events that seem to be placed in the novel for comic relief. This makes the story much more enjoyable for the reader and allows you to stay interested. I remember in fifth grade I had to read a story titled My Brother Sam is Dead. The only thing I can remember from this book was that it was a pain to read because it was very factual as opposed to having a story line that I could connect to and enjoy. Lastly the fact that the story was written as a graphic novel greatly impacts how the reader perceives the story. It is much easier to connect with the characters when you see their face and know what they look like and you can almost develop a relationship with them as you read on. Another advantage is that you get to see the facial expressions of the characters which allows you to understand how everyone in the frame is feeling and reacting to what’s going on.
ReplyDeleteThis wasn’t my first time reading Persepolis, its actually my second time having a go at this graphic novel, and on both occasions I had fun reading it as I had never encounter a graphic novel before being forced to read it for class. I love the humor that Marjane Satrapi uses throughout. The use of comic book style animations and its strict black and white color theme was one thing that stuck out to me, I found it pretty unique, but then again I have never read books of such, so maybe that’s why. But its such an interesting story, to hear how a little girl had lived through a war and revolution and then having to live by herself, basically isolated from her parents and culture. I can semi relate to the differences she had to face, but the fact that she was fourteen, still a child made it so much more dramatic and interesting. The numerous amount of things she went through, the bad relationships, the drug abuse and life on streets, its amazing how she had experienced all this at such a young age in an environment that she was a stranger to. However the book has made me appreciate the comfort that I live in and what has be provided for me.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed Persepolis. When I first picked up the book I didn’t think that I would like it because I t wasn’t something I would normally read. Once I started it, I couldn’t put it down. When I read the back cover when I bought the book I wasn’t very excited to read a book on the Islamic Revolution. I didn’t think that it was something interesting enough to write an entire book on. It exceeded my expectations. I thought that it was written in a way that people could relate to in some way. We may not be able to relate in the sense of knowing war, but maybe as feeling like an outsider. I know I have felt like I don’t belong somewhere, or that people don’t understand, but I know this book made all of that seem kind of trivial. I liked both parts of the book for different reasons. I liked the first part because it explained the horrible and devastation situation from a child’s point of view, and parts were very humorous to lighten the mood. I enjoyed the second part of the book because it involved situations in which I have never experienced. Also her whole situation with drugs reminds me of a book that I read in high school called “Go Ask Alice” which I really enjoyed. It also gave me a greater appreciation in the world I live in. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed reading Persepolis and I would recommend it to those who haven’t read it yet.
ReplyDeleteI wasn’t too sure what this book was really about until I started reading it. I never looked at it when I went to get it at the bookstore, or when I was starting to read other books for classes this one got thrown in the bottom of the drawer. But once it was assigned and I took it out and realized what it was about, I admit I was a little excited to read the book. I had never read a graphic novel before, but it was on a topic I love so I thought that it might be a good book, which it was. I’m glad I had the chance to read the book, it gives me a new perspective on a topic that I’ve learned about in a historical sense to see the cultural views of individual people in the place that the action of the revolution was happening. Because the book takes place in Iran, and then Austria, you get to see both sides of the story. The inside view. What was happening internally in Iran, and the outsiders view. How the westernizers saw Iran, and how they thought about the whole thing. Marjane, as true to her roots as can be, eventually becomes ashamed to admit she is Iranian because of the westerners’ view of the whole subject, and the world that she comes from. She eventually comes to terms with who she is, even though she is now influenced by both cultures, which is one of the reasons it makes such a good story.
ReplyDeleteI agree completely with Aclare16. The back of my book is covered with a rental sticker so I too never read what the book was about and just went straight into reading it. I didn’t think I would enjoy a novel about the Islamic revolution; however I became interested by it within the first few pages. This was my first experience reading a graphic novel and I really liked the style of it. I think I would have had a very different opinion on this book if it were written as a traditional novel. By seeing the pictures, I was able to understand and connect to what Satrapi was writing about more than if I were reading just the words. I also liked part 1 more than part 2. I think that is because in the first part she was an innocent child experiencing war but she added in her own witty comments, whereas in the second part she lets her situation overtake her and isn’t as strong of a person.
ReplyDeleteIn response to Lairdy10, I am in full agreement with his views on the book. Even though I said before that I had fun reading the book, I still did not like the way satrapi portrayed her stay in Europe. She constantly made her time in Vienna to be depression and full of heartbreak. I felt that she did not have to include so much of those dark times in the novel as it made it harder for the audience to read and less interesting. Honestly if I was not forced to read it, I would have thrown the book away.
ReplyDeleteIn response to Nikki.Cogavin, I definitely concur with your perspective of Persepolis. I did not know that this book was going to be a graphic novel until I started to read but after couple pages of reading later, i was hooked. I could not also put it down. I have felt like an outsider and that no one understood me before in my life so it was easy for me to relate to the book. I liked both parts of the book for different reasons as well because both parts of the book were good in their own way. Overall, I enjoyed the book and I definitely recommend Persepolis for people who have not read it yet.
ReplyDeleteBefore I started to read this book, I was not looking forward to it. I was not interested in reading about the Iran Revolution, those types of subjects do not interest me at all. Once I started reading this book, I was proved wrong. I enjoyed how the story was told through the eyes of a child. It made it easier to understand and to relate to. What also made it easier to understand and what kept it entertaining, was that it was a graphic novel. I liked being able to follow the story along with the images and see the characters and their emotions. I enjoyed the book much more than I expected, but I still would not recommend it. It definitely would not be a book that I would pick out from a book store or a library. I liked part one more than part two because it was when Marjane was a child and the events that happened in her childhood were more interesting. I was intrigued by how when she was child she was so interested in learning about the war and religion, instead of playing like a regular child. I also found myself actually laughing out loud to some parts in the book. I really enjoyed Satrapi’s humor in the novel. I think if the book was not a graphic, it would of not been as enjoyable and captivating as it was. It was definitely better than most required readings that I have had to read for school.
ReplyDeleteIn response to Kaylajohnson, If I were walking through a Barnes And Nobels I definitley would of never picked up this book as well. Also, I was not excited about reading this book either. I agree that the first part of the book was more enjoyable and easier to relate to and what made it easier to feel the emotions, were the illustrations. I also think that the ending was not the best that it could of been either. I liked how the ending to part one was more of a cliff hanger, so I would of liked part two to end the same way, even though it was a happier ending.
ReplyDeleteIn response to LMccarthy: I agree that reading this book through different points of view was definitely something that made Persepolis better. We got to see the different effects of the war on her throughout her whole life from a small child to an adult. I too also enjoyed the humor she displayed. I think it lightened a lot of the dramatic parts in her story and really made it more enjoyable. I also agree that this book would not have been as effective if it was not a graphic novel. I think the imagery allowed for people to connect to the book easier.
ReplyDeleteIn response to Mr.Laird, I too found the black market scene hilarious, and all week i’ve been saying “Jichael Mackson” to people, including yourself. Also I have always had a real problem with authority, whether my teacher at school, my boss at work or the police. My father says He’s the same and I get it from him and I definitely admired Marjane’s boldness towards her superiors. The humor was great but it came in spurts and your right it was a real downer, granted it is her life and i respect that but I too prefer more motivational novels.
ReplyDeleteIn response to EmilyTan, I really wasn’t too sure why I was reading a comic like book and I wasn’t too sure what the story was about by the name of it. However the pictures proved to be highly useful for me and in my reading. I also agree that the first part was better than then second part. I think it’s very important to read these kinds of books and to read books from other cultures so you can get a firsthand account of how other people live and what struggles may come their way. It can be very eye opening for the reader.
ReplyDeletePersepolis was in my opinion a decent book and I'm more of a fan of the first part than of the second part. The second part seemed to be like most other stories of other drug users while the first part seemed to be more unique. The first part of the story I thought was very interesting especially told through the eyes of a young girl growing up during the revolution. The way the book was wrote also made it interesting. There was more detail that was perceived through the pictures that made reading the book easier. The pictures made it easier to understand the characters emotions. Overall the story was really good and I enjoyed reading the book, and I thought that the book was an easy read. The second part of the book was also interesting but not as good as the first part. The second part was essential in depicting marjane's later child hood while the first part was good in depicting her culture. The movie was also good and similar to the book. The movie did a good job as in telling the story and depicting the characters emotions. I also liked the movie more than the book because the movie told the story without the irrelevant parts of the book. The movie also as a more of a visual perspective than the book. I also liked how the irrelevant characters in the story had the biggest impact on the main character. It was something that isn't seen in most books.
ReplyDeleteI respond to Josh's comment in that I totally agree that the second part of the book wasn't as good as the first part. The book was alright but the second part seemed to be like most other stories of drug users. The first part was the better part of the book. It was interesting to hear about the revolution in the perspective of a young child growing up there in Iran. It was interesting reading about the young girls innocence and then having her experience the those things as young as she was. It was also amazing that she survived to tell the story.
ReplyDeleteIn response to haley.k I enjoyed reading about you enthusiasm for books. I agree with you that Satrapi should have shared the better moment of her life. I really didn’t like book two. I really hated all the negativity in it. I also thought that young Marjane was a very funny child. I never thought of the fact that she never played with dolls. Thank you for pointing that out. I didn’t like the fact that she smoked to fit in. I don’t like people that do things just to be accepted. I enjoyed your opinion of the book.
ReplyDeleteIn response to Josh Werner, I also enjoyed learning about the history of the revolution, especially since it was from the point of view of a child. As a girl, I agree with you about favoring the more historical part of the story over the girl drama. People would probably assume that girls would relate more to the second half especially when she's going through puberty, etc., but, honestly, I couldn't have cared less about that part of the story. I didn't feel that I could relate more to it and I'm sure at least some other girls would agree with me. I wish that there was more focus on other things in the second half, at least for when she was in Europe.
ReplyDeleteIn response to what stefanmahadeo91 said, I never actually thought about how young she was when she went off on her own to live in Austria. I can’t imagine how scary it must have been for her to leave her family and go live with strangers and have no one there really supporting her. It’s amazing how she actually did make it through those three years on her own. I don’t know if I would have been as strong as she was. I am really close to my family and I don’t think I could have left them at the young age of 14. It’s hard enough coming across the country for college at age 18. Satrapi’s story is truly inspiring.
ReplyDeleteIn response to Tyler Brapwood, I too was relieved the book was a comic strip. With the numerous books I have purchased for college I felt this format would be better suited to my tastes. This somewhat lightened the whole mood of the story, which overall was a very depressing one. I wouldn’t go as far to say it would be the worst, as I have definitely come across some shockers. However, similarly to Tyler the consistent dark mood of Persopolis will not be generalised to other graphic novels, as I would certainly read another. Preferably a more humorous one!
ReplyDeleteI am in an agreement with Muteb. He discussed his initial lack of interest in the book just as I did. First things first, any book assigned in school is going to make me not want to read it. The other part that turned me away from it was its style in which it was written. I had never read anything close to a graphic novel other than a few random comic strips in the newspaper. However, while this is true, I also enjoyed reading this book. The plot of the story was presented well and crafted in a neat way.
ReplyDeleteIn response to JSarikas I understand what you mean by being on the fence with the book. This was my first graphic novel I’ve read, and it wasn’t bad. I agree completely that I loved all the detail she put into each picture she drew. You could tell the mood of the setting by the way she drew certain scenes and also by the change in motion of the characters in the following pictures. I also enjoyed the bits of Satrapi’s humor she included, and I also agree with you that the first half was more enjoyable than the latter.
ReplyDeleteIn response to LMccarthy, I agree with everything you said. I loved how Satrapi explained her life from all points of view, child, teenager, and young adult, rather than just through her eyes as an adult. I also liked the structure of a graphic novel. You feel as though you can connect with the characters since you can see their faces. You also can see how all the characters in a frame react to a situation when using a graphic novel format. I also feel as though this story line is something you can connect to and enjoy, and it’s not a pain to read.
ReplyDeleteIn response to what dkrell I also thought that the first half of the book was better then the second half of the book. I was not a fan of the heavy drug use in the second half of the book because drugs are bad. Also I would agree that the story told through the eyes of a child seemed to be more lighthearted and easier to read. It was interesting because you don’t tend to read to many books that appear to be through a child’s perspective. I was also a big fan of the movie and liked it better then the book.
ReplyDeleteIn response to Sabrina.Milroy, I also went into this book not knowing what to expect. I kept it in the cardboard box provided by the bookstore until we were assigned reading from it a few weeks ago. It was my first graphic novel, and it was an easy transition. Oppositely, it was a topic that did not exactly appeal to me, but once I began reading, I was hooked. It gave me insight on a topic that is transformed by the media in America, and how it felt to experience the revolution. It was very interesting to see how Marjane was ashamed of her background, but when made fun of for it, she stood up for herself to her “friends.” It was inspiring to see how she comes to terms with herself and her views as opposed to those of the people surrounding her.
ReplyDeleteIn response to Sabrina.Milroy and natalie.queirolo, I have seen this book many different times in the bookstore. At first looking at the cover it did not attract me at ALL. To me, the cover wasn't appealing, so I didn’t even look at the back to see what it was about. Then when I went to the store after seeing it on our reading list, I was kind of bummed out that we had to read it. After reading the summary online, I was dreading it even MORE. Although I could never see myself picking this book up in the store, I am extremely happy I had to opportunity to read it.
ReplyDelete