In this graphic memoir Marjane Satrapi presents a group of Iranian women and their vivid behind-the-curtains sexuality. While having tea, the women discuss men, marriage, sex and ways to deal with the problems rising from trying to manage all those - particularly in a culture where sex before marriage is a big taboo.

I'm setting up ring for the book within Finland. It'll proceed somewhat geographically, and start moving forward as soon as I meet CandyDarling. You can join too, if you do it before the book gets back to me. No stalling, please. There isn't THAT much text anyway. ;)

CandyDarling, Helsinki
RoryG, Helsinki
CatharinaL, Tampere
Louhi, Oulu

THE RING HAS ENDED! Thanks for participating!

Got the book today, thanks! :)

I read this book as soon as I got it (sorry for the late JE), and even though many of the stories sounded familiar, I had never heard the term embroidery before. I have an Iranian friend, whose family serves tea from a samovar, and the stories the women told in this book sounded very much like what my friend has told me. According to her, having anal sex is one way the unmarried women avoid having to have an embroidery.

I loved how the women in this graphic novel showed strength, but at the same time I was saddened to see how resigned to the oppression they also were... A great glimpse into the world of Iranian women. I think Marjane Satrapi has written a graphic novel that truly captures the truth of life for many women.

I have tried to arrange to meet RoryG so that I can pass this on, but so far our busy lives have kept us apart. ;) Hopefully not for long, though!

I got the book on the weekend from CandyDarling. This should be read fairly quickly :)

I just realized yesterday that I still hadn't read this book. So I decided to read it, and it was perfect, because I can give it forward this weekend in Tampere during the summer meeting of the whole BookCrossing community in Finland :)

Well, I wish I would've picked this up before! I really loved it! Probably so much that I might need to get my own copy. Probably in the original language (finally comics to read in French!). The contrast was interesting when these women who have been living their lives in this very conservative culture talk so freely about sex and all things related. And it really makes you realize how lucky we are in Finland, when things, admittedly are not perfect, but a lot better. But I think that the most interesting thing is that I actually found some common ground with these women and could relate to them and understand them. But I've always thought that people from different cultures are not so different in the end.

Well, I might have to read Persepolis as well, since i liked this so much. I'll give this to CatharinaL tomorrow :)

From the Tampere all-Finland BC get-together. Thanks, RoryG!

I enjoyed this revealing little graphic novel: a fleeting moment of pleasure, as short as an afternoon with tea in good company. The themes and the illustrations unfortunately fall short of those in Persepolis, but the overall tone is unmistakably that of Marjane Satrapi, a sharp-sighted and amazingly hilarious observer.

I warmly recommend Persepolis for anyone who enjoyed Embroideries.

***

Kirja lähtee Ouluun Kempun kuriroimana syyskuussa.

I ended reading this one from CatharinaL's shelf. I don't know if I miss a lot due to my sex, but still I found this fascinating.

Hi, the courier here. I noticed that the book is written and drawn by the author of Persepolis graphic novel, which I thought was very good. So, I think I'll read this one, too, before getting it to Louhi in Oulu.

EDIT 12.9.
A very clever book, that tells a lot about the life of women in Iran. It's important that we can see that those women are not just helpless, pitiful creatures, but thinking human beings. This book is also a good example of the many uses of cartoon.

I got this book from Kemppu and I was interviewed about bookcrossing.
I didn't remember that I'm in this ring. Wonder how many and what kind of rings I'm in....

Thanks!

EDIT 10.9.07.

Read and liked. I've read also Persepolis 1 and would want to read Persepolis 2. I liked the stories and the drawings, the laughing at men :).

Embroideries came back safe and sound today. Thanks for reading (and for keeping it so nicely - it's like the way I bought it!).

RELEASE NOTES:

I caught Embroideries today! Yay! I jumped on my seat when I saw the release notes, since this book was on my wish list! It's a rare treat to hunt down a wish list item in the wild! So cool.

I've read Persepolis 1 and am looking forward to reading the sequel. I'm also going to see the Persepolis animation film and the Helsinki International Film Festival in a couple of weeks. I'm sure it'll be good!

My friend already started reading Persepolis, as we were travelling to my place. She seemed to enjoy it a lot. I'm sure I shall, too!

I read Embroideries last night. I have to agree with CatharinaL: this book is pretty good, but not as great as Persepolis. I always enjoy Satrapi's drawings, but Persepolis I liked for being so thoroughly political and giving me a lot to think about. Compared with that, Embroideries was just a bit of twisted fun.

I didn't really think of Embroideries as a cartoon. In my opinion it's a picture book for adults, a genre I find fascinating. I need to read more of them!

I gave Embroideries to suurpeura, who started reading it yesterday evening. She actually read my copy of Persepolis during the night, while I was reading Embroideries. I think the world now has one more Satrapi fan. We're going to set the book free during a viewing of Persepolis animation! There's going to be one at the Helsinki International Film Festival.

Embroideries is now book #52 in my "2007 Keep Them Moving" challenge, started by Guinaveve.

Sain harmajalta luettavakseni. Loistavaa tekstiä Persepoliin tekijältä. Annan harmajalle vapautettavaksi Rakkautta ja anarkiaa -elokuvafestivaaleilla.

The book will be released soon.

RELEASE NOTES:

Enbroideries will be released in Bio Rex shortly before 5 pm. At 5 pm there's a showing of Persepolis, an animation film based on the comic Persepolis. Hopefully a Satrapi fan will find and read this book!

The sex lives of women in a country the rest of the world views as repressed. If this was what all "chick lit" was like, it wouldn't be a derogatory term.

CAUGHT IN HELSINKI UUSIMAA SUOMI/FINLAND