Posted on June 30, 2008 in Books, Movies
The two volume omnibus edition of Marjane Satrapi’s graphic memoirs and Bildungsroman of growing up in Iran. I actually did not know about the French edition until too late. As is the case sometimes, I regret not having found the original French version to read especially since I perpetually need to brush up my linguistic abilities. I did see the movie in French. Overall, I found this read immensely enjoyable and wonderful. I love it as much as I love The Complete Maus by Art Spielgman, another identity searching and family history memoirs of conflict. Persepolis was moving, tragic, beautifully drawn, funny, painful, and honest. It is beautiful memoirs of childhood and finding one’s own identity with change and upheaval. I liked all the characters; I could feel for them. I liked young Marji’s spirituality, faith, and religion, and while it was difficult to watch her go through her teen years, I could relate to her in a way I have not for a character in a long time. While I did not live through the political and violent times of war and revolutionnary torn Iran, we have similar family dynamics and other things such as the scene with Marji as waitress that hit home.
I often do not cry for movies or books which is quite odd since I can be so sensitive to things. I must admit that the scenes with Marji and her Uncle Anoosh left me verklempt. I read it twice and it affected me, and the film’s scene with it left me in tears. I cannot say why it particularly resonated with me more than some others things, but the scene moves me above so many others.
The film is wonderfully done as well, and while it is a condensed version, it still has the same simple yet affective black and white imagery. It has a couple of things the graphic novel does not, and it is nicely voice acted all around. It is harder to find a more truer to the novel adaptation than with Satrapi as the co-writer and co-director of the film. Both are recommended.
Posted on June 29, 2008 in Books
Books Read: 4
Current Progress: p.3 of The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid: a Memoir by Bill Bryson
24 Hour Readathon. I was active in reading in 19 hours out of 24. Next time, I’d set make goal for 5 books. I am going to read a bit of Thunderbolt Kid, but I won’t read for a few more hours at least. Even though it was four books, a couple of those books were intense. I am work on three hours of sleep as well. I had a good time. Better than the last, and I hope to do it again soon.
My readathon posts are all under the readathon tag. I still need to make a collage of books I read. I’m going to put the photo up later today.
Dewey‘s final event survey:
1. Which hour was most daunting for you? Hour 15/16 when I finished Persepolis and knew it was time for bed.
2. Could you list a few high-interest books that you think could keep a Reader engaged for next year? Persepolis. Most good graphic novels fit into this category. Chicklit if I had it.
3. Do you have any suggestions for how to improve the Read-a-thon next year? Hmm, I hope it expands even more. More the merrier.
4. What do you think worked really well in this year’s Read-a-thon? It was very organised and hats off to Dewey and the helpers for that. I also think this time of year is conducive to it.
5. How many books did you read? Four and I started a fifth.
6. What were the names of the books you read? Beloved, The Complete Persepolis, My Sister Life, and Prometha Book 1
7. Which book did you enjoy most? Probably Persepolis and My Sister Life.
8. Which did you enjoy least? I liked Beloved a lot, and that way, I enjoyed it, but it was very sad.
9. If you were a Cheerleader, do you have any advice for next year’s Cheerleaders? N/A
10. How likely are you to participate in the Read-a-thon again? What role would you be likely to take next time? Likely. Doing the reader thing again if the schedule is right. If not, cheerleading is good.
Posted on June 29, 2008 in Books
Books Read: 4
I finished Promothea Book 1; I think I’ll write a review after I read the whole series. Oh graphic novels, good for light reading. I read it in an hour and the hour before, I wrote one review and I’m going to do another one after I start Bill Bryson’s The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid. I need something funny after all the books. Beloved and Persepolis were intense. I feel like I’ve been reading forever even though I’ve only read four books. I am definitely going to be a zombie for a bit after Hour 24 and watch a movie, knit, catch the Euro 2008 final. One more hour to go.
Posted on June 29, 2008 in Books
Books Read: 3
I finished My Sister, Life and Other Poems and am going to write the reviews for it and Persepolis this hour before moving onto Promothea.
So that this post is not a total waste, I joined another challenge.
Continue reading →
Posted on June 29, 2008 in Books
Books Read: 2
Progress: p. 48 of My Sister, Life.
Care has a challenge about favourite new words or run-on sentences read. Beloved had some intense prose, but I think I liked the word “rememory” from it the most. It’s not even a real word in the dictionary, but I always like making words up. By the way, Care, I am drinking rooibos tea.
I continue to read My Sister, Life and Other Poems. I’ll be finished before the next hour and I think I’ll write reviews between books. I think I can squeeze Promothea in giving me a grand total of four books.
Posted on June 29, 2008 in Books
Books Read: 2
Current Progress: p. 7 My Sister Life and Other Poems by Boris Pasternak, translated by Olga Andreyev
I was pretty delirious when I went to bed a couple hours ago. I am still tired, but I am back up. I like early mornings. I am now reading poetry by Pasternak. I need to make some tea.
Posted on June 29, 2008 in Books
Books Read: 2
I finished The Complete Persepolis. I really enjoyed it. I have gotten a bit delirious; it’s almost 2:30AM. I need to sleep, at least for 3 hours. I’ll set an alarm. I’ll wake up and read Pasternak. Night, everyone.
Posted on June 29, 2008 in Books
Books Read: 1
Progress: p. 172 Persepolis
Vasily has a poem challenge which is good since I can skip ahead and read some Pasternak (Did you know? Pasternak is Russian for Parsnip). I posted two poems since I could not resist.
Posted on June 28, 2008 in Books
Books read 1:
Current Progress: p.106 of Persepolis
Back to reading again as I basically did not do anything for two hours but talk to all the people who came online and watched a tv programme. I became really lethargic. I am making some tea now, chai. I should be drinking more caffeine, but I rather not. I want to see how many more hours I can stay up before sleeping.
Dewey has a mid-event survey. Good, my minor updates are really silly.
1. What are you reading right now? The Complete Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi
2. How many books have you read so far? Including this one, 2.
3. What book are you most looking forward to for the second half of the Read-a-thon? My Sister Life and other poems by Boris Pasternak. Also Promothea.
4. Did you have to make any special arrangements to free up your whole day? No, I’m introverted enough to be at home most Saturdays. I did refuse invites to go out today.
5. Have you had many interruptions? How did you deal with those? Two phone calls. I take it in stride. I give them time. It’s cool.
6. What surprises you most about the Read-a-thon, so far? It’s going by fast. When you mark the hour and read for hours, it happens.
7. Do you have any suggestions for how to improve the Read-a-thon next year? No, I like it the way it is. I just hope it’s not too stressful for any of the organisers.
8. What would you do differently, as a Reader or a Cheerleader, if you were to do this again next year? More light reading. That’s pretty much it.
9. Are you getting tired yet? Yes a bit though I usually don’t sleep for another hour, and I’m kind of sore.
10. Do you have any tips for other Readers or Cheerleaders, something you think is working well for you that others may not have discovered? Know when you need to take a break! Take it in stride.
Posted on June 28, 2008 in Books
Books Read: 1
Current Progress: p. 103 of Persepolis
Took a 15 minute walk, and now I am going to take a break this hour to watch some television programme. I’ll be back to reading next hour. I’m having a good time. I love the book I am reading.
Posted on June 28, 2008 in Books
Books Read: 1
Current Progress: 54p. of The Complete Persepolis
I am enjoying Persepolis immensely and going to take a walk soon as prompted by Dewey. It will be be dark in the next hour so this is my last chance to catch some natural yet clouded light. I made some tea, my second cup in the readathon. I am going to get sleepier; it’s been humid due to the rain. Rain does tend to make one drowsy.
Posted on June 28, 2008 in Books
Books Read: 1
Progress: p. 1 of The Complete Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi
Still need to catch up on my reviews so one more before diving into the next book.
Book Awards Challenge Wrap Up
With Beloved, I completed the 2007-8 Book Awards Challenge. Here are the books with links to their reviews in order that I read them.
- A Visit to William Blake’s Inn by Nancy Willard (Newbery)
- Julie of the Wolves by Jean Craighead George (Newbery)
- Beowulf: A New Verse Translation translated by Seamus Heaney (Costa/Whitbread, Nobel)
- Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson (Newbery)
- Street of Riches by Gabrielle Roy (Govenor General’s)
- Neuromancer by William Gibson (Hugo, Nebula)
- American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang (Printz)
- Life and Times of Michael K by J. M. Coetzee (Booker, Nobel)
- One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich by Aleksander Solzhenitsyn (Nobel)
- Gilead by Marilynne Robinson (Pulitzer, NBCC)
- Anil’s Ghost by Michael Ondaatje (Giller, Govenor General’s)
- Beloved by Toni Morrison (Pulitzer, Nobel)
- My Sister Life and Other Poems by Boris Pasternak (Nobel)
Ten of the books were on the original and alternates list. I did pretty well on this challenge.