the pencil reads

This is the memoir of a girl growing up in Iran during the Islamic Revolution. In powerful black-and-white comic strip images, Satrapi tells the story of her life from ages six to fourteen, years that saw the overthrow of the Shah's regime, the triumph of the Islamic Revolution, and the devastating effects of war with Iraq.


It is unsettling having things you read about in the papers fifteen years ago as a child––distant, vague words like "scuds"––having a direct impact on a real girl, only eight years older than I am.

The graphics are stark and powerful. A little downturn of the eyes in one, a jagged lying mouth in another, or a pane filled in completely in black (see bottom right pane on the left) evokes the full spectrum of human emotion made raw by turbulent times.

You can find it in the library here. I think I may buy this one. It is a keeper.

Posted on Friday, March 02, 2007 at 12:09 PM. :)