FollowThe movie “Persepolis” completely blew me away. Really let me know what it felt like to be a girl living through the Iranian revolution. ****
After seeing it I had to read the graphic novel, which is simply spectacular and literally one of my favorite books of all time. Just spectacular, and one of my “12 Books of Christmas.” *****
So I decided to use the amazing borrowing system of Maine, Minerva to check out 4 of her books this week, have already read 3 and will probably tackle “The Sigh” soon.
My favorite is actually the picture book “Monsters are Afraid of the Moon.” Finally cats get their due for all they do. Just a great little story about monsters. Already read 3 times since checking out the book on Wednesday. ***1/2
Also really enjoyed her “embroideries” a very cool look at Iranian women having a conversation about sex over tea. Very fun. ***1/2
And the third one I read is the more challenging “Chicken with Plums”. I wanted to like this one more, but it’s just too sad for me. Still lovely images and a compelling story. ***
It’s been a good week of reading.
Most of the way through the very silly “Go Ask Alice” which by no means is a real diary. This lurid tale of the dangers of drug is a moralist fiction. And it’s very sad it’s promoted as being a “real diary.” It’s not, but it’s still dopey fun. ***
And the disappointment of the week is Kurt Vonnegut’s play “Happy Birthday, Wanda June.” I love Kurt Vonnegut but not this book. * 1/2 Plays are tough for me to read. And this one didn’t go much of anywhere.
Also finished the enjoyable “Smart Girls Get What They Want” by Sarah Strohmeyer. I find it odd that there seems to be a convention of ending YA books by having the main character just starting to get happy. So it goes. ***
Also just loving Mark Vonnegut’s (Kurt’s son) book “Just Like Someone Without Mental Illness Only More So: A Memoir”. It’s very revealing both of mental illness and the challenges of the current American medical system of managed care. Excellent so far, and a chance at 4 stars but right now ***1/2.
Been a good week of reading, books are amazing things.
edmund