I received this trade paperback book from Lodi, California, via Bookins.
I've become a big fan of graphic novels and seriously enjoyed Persepolis by the same author. I'd love to share what I like about them with others who appreciate graphic novels or newbies who want to begin to explore them. Take a chance on this one.
When I finish reading this book, it will travel as an international bookray. Enjoy!
Begin International Bookray - 4/04/07: SqueakyChu (Maryland, USA) done Isabel-Batteria (Puerto Rico) done icekween01 (Missouri, USA) done Joanthro (Colorado, USA) done Minerva101 (Canada) done KarenZero (New York, USA) done BooksnBeer (Virginia, USA) done mfa (Portugal) done Triggerfish (UK) done AnglersRest (UK) done -- Stop # 10 chelseagirl (UK) done Beebarf (UK) done chich (France) done ETMadrid (Spain) done penelopewanders (Switzerland) done book-man-8 (Germany) done Sternschnuppe28 (Germany) done VeganMedusa (New Zealand) done Hengameh (Iran) done -- 1 year of travel sudokugirl (Bosnia-Herzegovina) done -- Stop # 20 wanderingstar8 (UK) done red-dianthus (Canada) done azuki (Florida, USA) done Ilios (Florida, USA) done MaryZee (Maryland, USA) done -- 2 years of travel cisco (California, USA) done UnwrittenLibra (Maryland, USA) done kobie03 (Canada) done AliceF (UK) done katrinat (UK) done -- Stop # 30 Tregossip (UK) done KiwiinEngland (Ireland) done zzz (Serbia) done okryhoe (Greece) done kasenka (Finland) done Jean-Sol (Australia) done Carole888 (Australia) done Sherlockfan (New Zealand) done snufkin81 (South Africa) done -- 3 years of travel Elddau1 (Australia) done --Stop #40 D-face (Australia) done NMReader (Virginia, USA) done pashmack (Florida, USA) done KateKinTail (Virginia, USA) End International Bookray - 8/09/10:
The bookray ended because I could find no more takers for it. I asked that it be mailed to KateKintail who manages the OBCZ (official Bookcrossing zone) for BC in DC (the DC area Bookcrossing group). It seems that there is a newly sparked interest in this book among BC in DC members, so I'm hoping that this book will continue along its merry travels in the future. At the end of its journey, this book has been travelling for 3 1/2 years and will have had 44 stops in 15 countries, including 8 states and territories in the USA.
Thanks, everyone, for a most successful bookray!!
ETA: On 09/21/10, this book was #24 on the BookCrossing List of Top 100 Most Travelled Books.
Excellent book! I picked it up and just had to read it straight through right away. It's a book that reveals women's issues related to the Iranian culture.
I take this book to mean that not all marriages or sexually-related issues are unhappy for Iranian women, but that here are some issues that are often not pubicly discussed for a variety of reasons. In this book, Iranian woman are being urged to reveal their secrets to one another.
The book is funny, ribald, enlighting, and sad all at the same time.
I love the artwork. Even though from page to page the same set of faces appear, they are so full of emotion and expression. You'll get to like this group of ladies!
Enjoy the book, everyone. It's a real treat!
This book is now in the mail to Isabel-Batteria in Puerto Rico.
I liked this book very much. The technique was not as polished as in Persepolis, but the format (no boxes, the use of space) is the one I would like to use when I write my own graphic novels. A graphic novel I love for the same reason (and countless others) is Craig Thompson's Carnet de voyage.
Thanks so much for the uber fast delivery, SqueakyChu. I will do the same.
It may have taken me all of 15 minutes to read this. I did not enjoy it as much as Persepolis 1 & 2, but it was still interesting to read. Thanks SqueakyChu for sharing your book. I will be sending this on as soon I as receive the address of the next participant.
This book was great! I loved the "simple" renderings of the narrator's family and friends and how they nevertheless clearly showed their emotions and responses to the stories. I also loved the glimpse into a family that was in many ways so much like my own, but was also different in some ways. I am so glad I was able to read this. I will definately look for Persepolis.
Thanks for making this available SqueakyChu! Mailed to Minerva101 today. Enjoy!
I read this book last night before bed - a quick little read! It was cute and odd. The anecdotes told by the ladies in the story were something else! I didn't like the old lady on opium - what a sad existence. :( I also enjoyed the simple illustrations. I will most definitely go on to read both the Persepolis books after reading this. Thanks for sending this out to share, SqueakyChu! I will mail it off to KarenZero tomorrow.
This was a cute book! It kinda ended abruptely, but overall I enjoyed it and want to read more of her stuff. Thanks for sharing it, SqueakyChu!
Journal Entry 13 by KarenZero at Controlled Release in Controlled Release, --by post or by hand (ie ring, ray, RABCK, trade) -- Controlled Releases on Saturday, June 09, 2007
Released 6 yrs ago (6/9/2007 UTC) at Controlled Release in Controlled Release, --by post or by hand (ie ring, ray, RABCK, trade) -- Controlled Releases
Received this in yesterday's mail. What an interesting looking book. This will be my first graphic novel. I have two rings in front of this but I'll get to this as soon as possible.
A quick very interesting read. I had to keep looking at the publishing date to remind myself what year/century the author was writing about. It boggles my mind to think that these practices are still being carried out and that some of the women felt they had no other choices.
This was my first graphic novel and I really enjoyed it – the simple pencil type drawings didn’t allow you to get away from the messages presented in the story. But, I didn’t really get the ending.
I will definitely look for Persepolis I and II.
I have the next address; I’ll be passing this along shortly.
found it on the mailbox yesterday - thank you so much, BooksnBeer! i'm a big satrapi fan (thanks to persepolis), and t's been quite some time since a bookring came my way... so, i'm looking forward to reading this.
i really like this sober and realistic style - i was more impressed with persepolis, though, but that''s probably because the scope is wider than in this book. from a feminist perspective, it''s always interesting to realise different cultures always try to deny women their sexual rights - there''s always the odd lady who stands up for the right to be happy, but be it iran or most of europe, a lot has to be done yet.
Well, i'm sorry to say I was disappointed with this very slight book. I found the characters and their stories to be completely lacking in depth. Having recently read Bechdel's "Fun Home", I was very keen to read more graphic novels - however this did not compare with the standard achieved by Bechdel. The book is described as a memoir, so I am rather horrified that Satrapi outed her grandmother as a drug addict in a comic book!! Thanks to all for sharing and passing book along.
It was an interesting concept, and written in an interesting style, encouraging Iranian women to share and discover things about taboo subject matter. Although not the best book I had read recently, it was a book that I did manage to zip through and like a previous reader found the ending a little strange.
I have chelseagirl's address, so this is in the post as soon as I can get to the post office.
Just read through this in one go. Very simple but illuminating - I was quite shocked by how open the Iranian women were about talking about their love lives, and also by how few of them had encountered decent, nice men who weren't just there to use and abuse them!
Arrived safe and sound in Sheffield - it's my only bookray here, so I should get to it pretty quickly - that said, I have a Uni assignment due this week, so I'm going to hide this to avoid temptation!
This is a great example of a graphic novel - I couldn't imagine it working as successfully in any other form (and I'm not a graphic novel fan in the main.) There were moments when I laughed out loud on the bus, but equally, there are some very sad moments too.
Although it's not for the prudish (let's just say it's not cross stitch they are talking about when it comes to embroidery...) it's a great insight into the lives of ordinary Iranian women, and shows that despite the cultural differences, women everywhere have the same concerns. Perhaps if more people read this, there would be less fear of the "Axis of Evil" in the world.
The book has been mailed today to the next reader.
Journal Entry 26 by Beebarf at Bookring in sent to the next bookcrosser, Bookring -- Controlled Releases on Tuesday, December 18, 2007
Released 5 yrs ago (12/18/2007 UTC) at Bookring in sent to the next bookcrosser, Bookring -- Controlled Releases
Of course, Embroideries is not as poignant and striking as Persepolis but I still enjoyed reading it a lot! I just love the mix of humor, sarcasm, satire and pervasive sadness used by Satrapi, not to mention her style and artwork!
You're absolutely right SqueakyChu, this is a real treat, thanks for sharing it with us!
I've PMed ETMadrid for her address and will send her the book as soon as she gives it to me.
Received today! Thank you. It'll be the next book I read.
14/01/2008 This has had two readers whilst with me. My husband, not yet entirely pro the concept of bookcrossing, actually read this before I did! We both whizzed through it (it's very short - perhaps too short) and both liked it. It made me chuckle out loud quite a number of times. Like the style and the underlying observations. (One little bit though I guess to an easily-influenced reader might be taken to be advocating plastic surgery, which I'm not sure is such a wonderful idea...) It did feel like I was sitting in amongst the women (though the shortness of it doesn't allow one to get too ensconced) and I was reminded of when sitting amongst girls of my age in a family in Algeria, talking about a marriage proposal received from an older man living in France...
This graphic novel arrived here safely this morning.. along with a few other rings. I'll try to get to this one soon as it looks like it won't take long to get through. Thanks so much for making it available!
This was indeed a lightning read. Thanks for sending it and making it available. I enjoyed it, even if this is not my favorite genre. (Graphic novels, I mean). Waiting for confirmation of book-man 8's address.
Journal Entry 33 by penelopewanders at BookRing in controlled release, .---controlled release---. Switzerland on Thursday, January 24, 2008
Released 5 yrs ago (1/24/2008 UTC) at BookRing in controlled release, .---controlled release---. Switzerland
A very quick and funny "in-between" read. My favorite words: " ... every time he kisses my breasts, it's actually my ass he's kissing."
Journal Entry 36 by book-man-8 at Post office in -- Per Post geschickt/ Persönlich weitergegeben --, Baden-Württemberg Germany on Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Released 5 yrs ago (1/31/2008 UTC) at Post office in -- Per Post geschickt/ Persönlich weitergegeben --, Baden-Württemberg Germany
"That´s life! Sometimes you´re on the horse´s back, and sometimes it´s the horse that´s on your back." - a cute book on women, love and sex giving nice insights into Persian relationships. Sad and bittersweet at the same time. Please, Marjane, draw and write more of these books!
"Embroideries" continues traveling to VeganMedusa tomorrow.
Wow, I loved this as much as the Persepolis books, although it was quite different. I think I'll have to get a copy to keep one day. Hilarious stories, but tragic of course. Immensely likeable women. Amazing how many ways women can be abused in such a rigidly controlled society. And I loved the ending (although kind of abrupt I think it worked). Poor Satrapi. ;) My favourite part: What white stuff? (The whole image of that story will keep me giggling for weeks) Thanks SqueakyChu & Sternschnuppe28. :) Posted to hengameh today, economy - should take 15-25 days.
i got the book and just finished it. thanks for sharing. actually,i liked persepolis more than this one.anyway, i 'm going ask for the next bxer's address.thanks again for sharing.
What a great book - brilliantly funny, and very real - I can just imagine the women all sitting around and having a gossip. I also especially liked the way that the facial expressions and gestures were so evocative, despite often only being a couple of lines. I wanted to race through the book but I had to make myself slow down and look at all the drawing.
After a delay this book is on its way to azuki. I hope it gets through customs quickly as some books I have sent down to the states have been very slow arriving.
The book was great , my husband and I both loved it.
Journal Entry 48 by azuki from Miami, Florida USA on Friday, October 24, 2008
Thi book actually arrived a few days ago but I was out of town, and before I get to journal it tonight I even finished reading it already. An interesting read and an eye-opener into the lives of Iranian women. Thanks so much for sharing the book, and I hope to see more of Satrapi's work. I will contact Ilios and hopefully get to mail this on when I visit the post office next week.
Journal Entry 49 by Ilios from Tampa, Florida USA on Wednesday, November 26, 2008
I received the book two days ago and devoured it immediately! Last week, I got Persepolis from the library. While checking the forum, I noticed that this book was offered as a ray and I singed up immediately. I love graphic novels and this one didn't disappoint. I enjoyed the lighter tone of this one (compared to Persepolis), but really loved the ironies and the sense of humor women in Iran display to cope with a very restricted life. In this book, a group of women related to the author speaks candidly about men, sex, marriage, and appearances. A very close look at the life of women in Iran, living in their own universe.
I haven't read many graphic novels, but I always enjoy trying something new. Thanks for sharing this one, SqueakyChu.
I think the last graphic novel I read (also a bookring, several years ago) was The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen. A very different style. I was very sad for the women in this story, and I found it rather surprising as they wove their tales and shared their gossip that Satrapi was in the very next room.
I have Cisco's address and will be mailing this on to her later this week.
4/27/09 - on its way to the next reader, UnwrittenLibra!
4/24/09 - This was a fun and fast read. Although not as engrossing as Satrapi's Persepolis books, I enjoyed having "tea" with these women and learning more about their lives and culture.
Waiting to hear from UnwrittenLibra to send the book on its journey.
4/21/09 Received in El Granada, CA! Thanks MaryZee - will get into this one over the weekend coming up.
This was one of 5 books waiting for me upon my arrival back to Baltimore, Maryland, my home, after graduating from UMass Amherst on Saturday. A lot of unpacking and settling in to do but fortunately only 3 of the 5 are rings/rays - I'll get to it soon and do my best to keep it moving. Thanks cisco and SqueakyChu!
This well-travelled Book arrived today. Thanks UnwrittenLibra, Congratulations on your graduation!. I read it straight away and enjoyed the humorous stories the women told about sex, love, marriage and men. I laughed aloud at some of them and the drawings well illustrated the stories. An unique way to tell about sensitive parts of your culture.The reader gets the message in a memorable way. Thanks SqueakyChu for sharing. Will mail to next participant.
Journal Entry 56 by kobie03 at Lewins Cove, Newfoundland -- Controlled Releases on Thursday, July 02, 2009
Released 3 yrs ago (7/3/2009 UTC) at Lewins Cove, Newfoundland -- Controlled Releases
Gratefully received in the post today (with a postcard and two bookmarks... I'll see if I can send a postcard and two bookmarks on with it when it travels on)... thanks!
Looking forward to reading this; currently half-way through another ring book, so this will be next.
I agree with Triggerfish... this wasn't as substantial as I'd come to expect from Satrapi, not as emotional, and therefore a little disappointing. Nonetheless, an entertaining, light read (finished with in one evening!)
Got katrinat's address; will be posting next week.
Loved this, so like women to gossip but a good way of showing the problems faced by some women in marriage. Asking for address today, hoping to post on early next week Thanks for sharing 26/09/09 Haven't recieved next address yet, sending another pm now in case it has been missed
Journal Entry 61 by katrinat at BOOK RING, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- United Kingdom on Friday, October 02, 2009
Released 3 yrs ago (10/2/2009 UTC) at BOOK RING, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- United Kingdom
Arrived 5/10 and read in half an hour, first impression was disappointing.
So gave it another read today and not changed my mind. My 1st graphic novel and my mistake as understood graphic novel as giving a vivid description/graphic account - -oops
Will pm next in line today
Journal Entry 63 by Tregossip at St. Austell, Cornwall United Kingdom on Tuesday, October 06, 2009
Released 3 yrs ago (10/7/2009 UTC) at St. Austell, Cornwall United Kingdom
Journal Entry 68 by zzz at a BookRay, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- Serbia on Wednesday, November 04, 2009
Released 3 yrs ago (11/4/2009 UTC) at a BookRay, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- Serbia
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
This book is on its way to Greece as of today. While waiting okyrhoe's address I loaned book to my friend to kill the time while waiting me and she's delighted! Now I'm loaning her "Persepolis" as well :) Cheers to everyone!
Journal Entry 69 by okyrhoe from Athens, Attica Greece on Thursday, November 19, 2009
Arrived in Athens :-)) Wow, I think this is the most-traveled ring/ray book I've laid my hands on.
Thanks SqueakyChu for including me in the ring, and zzz for posting the book to me!
I'm really sorry for holding up the ring! It's on its way to kasenka, the package was posted today although it was ready to be sent several weeks ago.
Thanks SqueakyChu for the opportunity to read this. It's a small book, and 'reads' very quickly in less than an hour. I found myself taking time to observe the artwork instead, which is deceptively simple at first. I recently read Women without Men, and I find that Satrapi's light and humourous touch is more effective than the didactic pro-feminist approach of Shahrnush Parsipur. There's a theatrical adaptation of Embroideries playing in Athens this season, and I may decide to go see the play.
This was a quick read, as you just wanted to get to know their stories, but this book is not something you would mull over for ages. Of course the stories are mostly sad, but then again you already knew that would be the case.
I'll send this to Supertalya as soon as I get her address.
EDIT 18 Jan. 2010 Supertalya asked me to skip her on this ray so I will send the book (via surfacemail) to Jean-Sol who's next.
Journal Entry 73 by kasenka at by mail, a fellow bookcrosser -- Controlled Releases on Monday, January 18, 2010
Released 3 yrs ago (1/18/2010 UTC) at by mail, a fellow bookcrosser -- Controlled Releases
The book arrived in Melbourne, Australia, today. It looks like it's the first time that it's been down in Oz and it's nice to hold a book that's been in so many places. I have a few TBRs ahead of this one but should be able to have it sent to Carole888 within 6 weeks or so.
Updated on 7 Feb 2010: this was such a quick and wonderful read! I read it in one evening, after having finished a harrowing 700 pages book just before. It was refreshing. I read Persepolis and loved it, this book is to me the continuation of the same themes. Satrapi's style is sharp, elegant and to the point and I like that. She has a strong message for women not only in Iran, but all over the world. I hope that she carries on spreading the word. Go Marjane!
I'll get the book packed and ready to go to Carole888 at the other end of Australia.
Journal Entry 75 by Jean-Sol at Bookring, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases on Saturday, February 06, 2010
Released 3 yrs ago (2/7/2010 UTC) at Bookring, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases
The book is now in Perth, Australia. I am looking forward to it!! Thank you Jean-Sol ..... I just love the post-card and book-marker .... both so colourful!! :)
(3rd March, 2010) I am so glad to have had the opportunity to read this book. I loved it. The pictures are simple, yet add so much more to the impact of the tale. I felt for those poor women, loved the cheek and humour in the telling of their stories but I also and kept thinking about women all over the world who have to endure a life such as theirs ...... Thank you so much for sharing this with us.
I have the next reader's address and will be sending it on shortly.
Journal Entry 77 by Carole888 at Perth, Western Australia Australia on Tuesday, March 09, 2010
Released 3 yrs ago (3/9/2010 UTC) at Perth, Western Australia Australia
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
The book is travelling now. Thank you so much to everyone who helped it on its journey and to SqueakyChu for organising the bookray. Happy reading!
Arrived in New Zealand today. Thanks Carole888. By an odd coincidence I received Persepolis yesterday, having tracked down a copy after first reading Persepolis2 and deciding I really like Marjane's style of writing. Looking forward very much to reading this. Thanks to everyone involved in sending this book around and specially to SqueakyChu for starting this ring.
Sorry to be a bit slow in writing about this book. Thoroughly enjoyed and amused by it. Women seem to be so much the same under the skin but I'd often wondered how women think under such male dominated regimes - now I have a bit of an idea. The book detoured through my daughter who doesn' write journal entries but also enjoyed the novel approach to communicating ideas. Delighted to have been part of this bookring and will be posting it off today. Once again thanks to all involved in its journey, and especially SqueakyChu for sharing it in the beginning.
Journal Entry 80 by Sherlockfan at By mail, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases on Friday, April 02, 2010
Released 3 yrs ago (4/2/2010 UTC) at By mail, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
Hope the book travels safely. Such a joy to read and share.
This arrived a few days ago but I didn't have a chance to journal it then. I did however manage to read it in one short sitting as soon as I took it out of the parcel! :) What a great, fun read! I've read Persepolis, which I thought was brilliant; this book is lighter but just as informative in its own way of Iranian culture and the life of Iranian women. I was very surprised by how liberated the women in the book are! How very different to my expectations!
Thanks so SqueakyChu for starting this ray, and Sherlockfan for sending it to me.
I'll send it on once I have the next person's address.
Journal Entry 82 by snufkin81 at To the next participant, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases on Monday, May 31, 2010
Released 3 yrs ago (5/31/2010 UTC) at To the next participant, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
Sent by airmail to Elddau1. Safe travels, little book!
Journal Entry 83 by Elddau1 at Gundaroo, New South Wales Australia on Friday, June 11, 2010
Picked up from the village post office today. A very cold wintery walk around the block. There's snow in the air!
After reading Persepolis I and II I'm looking forward to this. Thanks snufkin81 for sending it to Australia.
Journal Entry 84 by Elddau1 at Gundaroo, New South Wales Australia on Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Not sure whether to rate this book 7 or 8*. It’s a very quick read - I would have read it in one sitting except that it was getting late.
I was startled by some of the things mentioned in the book - it's a bit graphic (no pun intended). It’s like ‘secret women’s business’. Having said that, I loved being on the inside of the women’s circle of confidence. Satrapi has a way of bringing you into the story - was it the immediacy that the drawings give? or her familiarity with the members of the circle of friends and family? Again, I loved seeing Satrapi’s world and experiencing a little of her Iranian life. Amazing how women have the same issues - although I’m glad that I grew up in a western culture and in modern times. The ‘traditional’ values of some in the book, towards women, their status and sexuality, were appalling to me.
An interesting and moving book with a serious subject, given more immediacy and punch by the medium of the graphic novel. It was a more light-weight read than Satrapi’s Persepolis I and II, possibly because of the cobbled nature of the all the women’s individual stories - there was no continuous story line.
I felt a little uncomfortable and squeamish at times - it's not light entertainment - but I can say that I’m very glad I read it. Many thanks SqueakyChu. ________________ Finished in time to hand to the next reader on the list, at the Canberra BC meet-up on Saturday. or I'll post it.
Journal Entry 85 by Elddau1 at Canberra, Australian Capital Territory Australia on Monday, July 05, 2010
Released 2 yrs ago (7/6/2010 UTC) at Canberra, Australian Capital Territory Australia
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
countdebeans will pass this on to D-face for me some time in the next couple of days.
Journal Entry 86 by D-face at Canberra, Australian Capital Territory Australia on Tuesday, July 06, 2010
Picked this up today from Elddau1 via countdebeans and read it as soon as I got home.
I really enjoyed hearing the various experiences and narratives of the women meeting together over tea, not that there are many positive depictions of men. I am sure Ms D-face will enjoy it.
This slim and enjoyable book is about to travel again over the seas.
Journal Entry 87 by NMReader at Herndon, Virginia USA on Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Arrived today. Added to mount TBR
Journal Entry 88 by NMReader at Herndon, Virginia USA on Monday, July 26, 2010
I decided to finish this off over the weekend so I could mail it before I leave on my vacation.
I am not a huge fan of graphic novels but this was an interesting look into Iranian women's lives.
Waiting for an address to mail this out.
Journal Entry 89 by NMReader at Herndon, Virginia USA on Thursday, July 29, 2010
Released 2 yrs ago (7/29/2010 UTC) at Herndon, Virginia USA
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
I have address and hope to mail it on my way home from work. This is one of the last books I will be mailing before leaving on vacation.
Journal Entry 90 by pashmack at Lake Worth, Florida USA on Monday, August 02, 2010
This book arrived in today's mail, in good condition for such a well-traveled book. It certainly was a quick read, this glimpse into tea-time gossip. I did like the author's previous two books better, but this was entertaining (and somewhat sad). Thanks for sharing, SqueakyChu. It will be off to the next participant as soon as I obtain the address.
Journal Entry 91 by pashmack at Lake Worth, Florida USA on Saturday, August 07, 2010
Mailed on 8/7/10 to KateKinTail for the OBCZ for BC in DC.
Thanks again, SqueakyChu.
Journal Entry 92 by SqueakyChu at Rockville, Maryland USA on Monday, August 09, 2010
Thanks, everyone, for making this a super sucessful bookray!
Journal Entry 93 by KateKintail at Burke, Virginia USA on Monday, August 30, 2010
Arrived safe and sound! Thank you!
My thoughts: I haven't read Persepolis but I did see the movie, so I was already familiar with the style of storytelling and art. The subject matter took me off guard at first with its bluntness. But the thing that first startled me was also what I most admired the book for. It felt so real; like you were sitting in the living room with this group of women and talking with them. Their dialogue was so realistic and familiar; I know people who would have replied that way or would have reacted to the stories that way.
I went back and forth from being a little shocked to amused. But most of all, I just liked hearing the stories, knowing they were real, and feeling for the different characters in their unique situations. Without evev trying, it speaks to the culture and the situations these women find themselves in that are different from my culture, but it's also a book of personal accounts/narratives so you can't be broad and apply those to everyone. That's what makes the book both broad and specific at the same time.
It ended a bit too abruptly for my liking (I'm not sure I get the last line, actually, *blush*) and I had trouble keeping a few of the women straight in my head (was SHE the one with the friend who so-and-so or was she the one who did such-and-such?). And it certainly didn't pack the same sort of punch that Persepolis or Fun Home or Maus did. But I did enjoy the read and think it works quite well as a memoir in graphic novel format.
Journal Entry 94 by KateKintail at Burke, Virginia USA on Monday, August 30, 2010
This is going to be a local bookring for a little while, then we'll probably include it in a Convention 2011 Raffle prize.
Local bookring: melydia LittleWhiteBird KateKintail
Journal Entry 95 by melydia at -- Geocaches, Virginia USA on Friday, September 03, 2010
KateKintail handed this to me last night at our monthly BookCrossing 2011 Convention meeting. Looking forward to reading it, but it might be a little bit because I have quite a bit on my literary plate at the moment. Thanks for sharing!
Journal Entry 96 by melydia at -- Geocaches, Virginia USA on Wednesday, September 22, 2010
This was my first graphic novel in quite a while. The art style was very simple, like it had been drawn with black Sharpie, yet amazingly expressive. The framework is of a group of women (the author and her relatives) sharing tales of past relationships. Some of them are funny, some are sad, but all are memorable. It's also a very quick read; I finished it in a single sitting. I'm not sure so sure it needed to be a graphic novel - most of the drawings are just of women's faces speaking - but it worked well in this format all the same. I'll be on the lookout for Satrapi's more famous work, Persepolis.
Thanks for sharing this. I'm going out of town for the weekend but I'll see how best to hand it off to LittleWhiteBird next week.
Journal Entry 97 by LittleWhiteBird at Arlington, Virginia USA on Saturday, January 29, 2011
She finally got a chance to hand the book to me at our BC in DC meeting today at Cosi in Rosslyn. I must have expressed an interest all those months ago, because this is from the same author as Persepolis. Thanks for still thinking of me. I'm looking forward to reading this.
Journal Entry 98 by LittleWhiteBird at Arlington, Virginia USA on Thursday, January 12, 2012
I read the book today - on the bus, at the bus stop, and the end at home.
The simple graphics where the most distinguishing features are the facial expressions and features of the women kind of underline the things that the women are saying. I was a bit surprised at all the sexual themes they were talking about. It was a bit sad to hear about so many marriage troubles and the things the women would try to improve things. It's strange how they don't realize that in many ways "Western" women have similar problems. Although it was shocking to see that "embroidery" mentioned as a solution in such a flippant way. Although the women have many modern ideas mixed in the traditional culture, they seem to be very naive and uneducated in some areas at the same time.
I did remember that I had gotten the book from a local bookcrosser, but had all forgotten that it goes back to katekintail. I'll give it back to her at the next BC meeting.
Journal Entry 99 by LittleWhiteBird at Ballston Common Mall - Food Court in Arlington, Virginia USA on Saturday, January 21, 2012
Released 1 yr ago (1/28/2012 UTC) at Ballston Common Mall - Food Court in Arlington, Virginia USA
WILD RELEASE NOTES:
At the next BC in DC meeting, I'm giving this book back to katekintail.
Journal Entry 100 by KateKintail at Burke, Virginia USA on Sunday, January 29, 2012
This book is back in my hands! I didn't get it back in time to offer it up at the 2011 Convention, but I occasionally do graphic novel bookboxes so I might include it in one of those (unless Squeaky instructs me differently) with a note about this book's history--which is wonderful and extensive. It's so amazing to hold a book that's been reviewed and enjoyed by so many BookCrossers from all over the world!
Embroideries (SqueakyChu's Bookray)
