Persepolis

I think that besides Huron and the Sea of Stories, Persepolis, would have to be my favorite novel so far this semester. I am not sure what it is about the story that draws me in but I just love the way Marjane writes this story. I find myself getting so wrapped up in the story I don’t know what is going on around me. I think one of the reason I like it so much is because it is a personal story about history. I am not a huge fan of history, but when it is a first hand account I feel like it makes more sense not to mention it is more interesting. I think that the imagery helps a little bit too, but I think I would still like it without it there. I think the drawings help the story come to life and even though they don’t let the reader use their full imagination I still like to think about what happened next or what she would draw next if she could. As I thought about it I found myself wishing that some other novels I have read in the past were graphic novels. For example in Romantic/Victorian Lit. we are reading Frankenstein, and I thought that if it had pictures to go along it would be scarier. I really enjoy this story and I think that the way Marjane presents it makes a lot of difference in that.

As this book comes to an end I am having a hard time. I feel like I need to go back and re-read it. I wish that this book could have been assigned for me to read at a different time because of all the other reading I have going on it has been hard for me just to sit and enjoy a book. I have been finding myself reading what is assigned (if that) than going on to the next assignment not retaining much and not taking time to reflect on what I have just read. This is a hard thing for me because normally when I read it is for pleasure whether it is in my free time or for a class. I don’t like to read a book just because I have to I want to read it because I want to. I think that I will definitely have to re-read One Hundred Years of Solitude again over break so I can actually take time to enjoy it and read the entire thing not just bits and pieces.

With that being said I would like to say a little about Ursula. I noticed that many people in class have said that the book wouldn’t be the same with out her. I would definitely have to agree with this statement, she is the one who is holding everything together and keeping some kind of control. I think this is interesting because it seems like most families have this person no matter what culture they are a part of. It makes the book a little easier to relate to since it is hard to relate to insect and ghost.