Dear Mrs. Satrapi
My name is Julian Valencia, a free thinker that resides in the United States of America. Ever since the tragedy of nine-eleven occurred, the media where I live has always portrayed the Middle East in a negative way. Even though citizens of the United States have been force fed one-sided views of countries such as the one of your home land through the media, I always have believed that there are two sides of a coin and have been interested in learning about cultures of the middle east in order to break down the walls of stereotypes, but never had the time to do so. This is why I am so glad to have taken the English 57 class I am currently attending East Los Angeles College because of the book you have written; Persepolis was a requirement to read in the class. I will admit that when I first bought the book that I had no idea of what it was about or even what the title meant. It really did not even appeal to me at all and when I opened it I took it as a joke because it looked like the inside of a comic book or even a comic strip from a local newspaper. I did not even read it the first two day of class until the class instructor explained to us what Persepolisis was with another book with pictures of the ancient city. When I finally understood of what your book was about I sat myself down and read the first two chapters and from that point on I was hooked. I have read almost every word and have looked over most of the illustrations because I have notice that there is always a little more to the pictures in your book than meets the eye. Finally my thirst of knowledge for things I didn’t understand has somewhat been quenched.
I really admire how innocent you where at the age of ten and how tenacious you were with the things you wanted but at the same time my childhood peculiarly relates to yours a lot. I was allowed to believe in what I wanted to and was corrected if truly needed. As you went to go beat up Ramin without second thought, I beat up a kid at school when I was in 5th grade for making fun of my little brother who was still had three months till he was due to be born. Also we were both well off since birth and had maids. Also as growing up I became quite the rebel toward family and society. I always thought myself to be right al the time and still kind of do. As teens we both got into the same kind of music. I love, classic rock to punk to metal. I am actually listening to Iron Maiden’s Two Minuets to Mid-Night song as I am writing this and I am actually currently a metal head. I have also almost been kicked out of high school many times for being too liberal and rebellious. Also I start smoking cigarettes because I was mad at my mother too.
Besides all that I have written in this essay, I wanted to thank you for writing this book. It has answered many questions that I have always wondered about and I have enjoyed reading about your past. I do not even like to read very much so believe me that what I say means a lot. I loved how political your book was and how well it was always written in perspective of how old you were in the book at all times. I have only read Persepolis vol. 1 so far and I cannot wait to read the next volume. Also I really never understood why you spoke French. Does Iran not have a native language? I really hope that one day we can have a conversation face to face. I have so many questions to ask you.
Sincerely your friend
Julian Valencia
Thursday, December 17, 2009
Dear Marjane Satrapi,
My name is Chelsea Uzueta and I am currently attending East Los Angeles College. I am taking an English class where we fortunately got to read your book Persepolis as a required text. I never heard of a graphic novel. As a matter of fact when our teacher showed us this book I thought it was going to be totally boring and a really easy book to read. But as I got in to the story I realized there is so much more then what the words are saying. The graphics make it come to live so much, im guessing that’s what you get from a graphic novel. =) I have to say you really opened my eyes about many issues I thought I already knew so much about. In actuality I didn’t really know anything. I guess when you hear about wars like this you don’t think so much about the people but mostly about the ones that are doing the fighting.
I loved so much about this book. One of my favorite things is how you made your audience feel like they were right there with you. I felt as if I was your friend walking with you every step of the way. I felt your ambition to fight for what u believe in, I felt the love and respect for your mother, and I felt the sadness of your Uncle Anoosh’s death. Maybe I felt like this because I see a lot of my self in you. I am a very politically active person and love to stand for what I believe in. I remember this one time I wanted to go to a demonstration and my mother wouldn’t let me. Well I was reading the chapter The Letter I can totally hear my mom telling me I couldn’t go to the demonstration just like your mom told you. I listened to my mom and didn’t go but a big part of me was wishing that I hadn’t listened to her just like you didn’t listen to yours. I know it’s not a good thing to not listen to your parents but you stood for what I believed in and went. It’s a scary thing isn’t it, those demonstrations? They can get really crazy. How did you feel when you were there? Didn’t it feel like such an empowering moment? Like you are changing something? I know when I go that’s how I feel. I just live for that feeling of making the world a better place and having a sense of equality for all.
You seem to take after your mom a lot or maybe that’s just what I think? I loved how your mom stood up for her self and didn’t let anyone shut her up. My mom is just the same. You don’t want to get her started. She is one of the strongest people I know. I can not ever see my self leaving somewhere to live with out her. You were really strong when you left to live with her friend. I know that must have been super hard for both you and your mom. To me you just seem like a very strong woman; a good role model for so many people. You dealt with so much death in your life but you seemed to always keep your self together. When your Uncle Anoosh passed I know it must have really done some damage to your heart, but again you held it together! Isn’t it hard being so strong all the time? I recently had to deal with a sudden death in the family. It’s so weird how one moment they are right there with you and in a blink of an eye taken away from you. I do see a lot of me in you but when it comes to things like this I guess I can’t find that strength that you have. I so badly want to just think about it as he is in a better place but I don’t see any place better then being with your family. I guess he is with my family in heaven. Did you ever thing about it in such a way? I’m sorry for bringing him up I know it must be a hard subject. I just feel at this moment what you might have felt then.
I look up to you for so many different reasons. You had anything but a normal life but you turned it all around and made something great out of it. You managed to make your life a tell-all to people like me that don’t really know anything at all about Iran. You opened our eyes and made us see the truth behind it all. I want to take the time now to thank you for that. If it wasn’t for this English class and a great writer like your self I would have never knew any of these things. Thank you for taking the time to read this and thank you for a great novel.
Yours Respectfully,
Chelsea Uzueta
P.S
I think you would have made an awesome prophet! =)
My name is Chelsea Uzueta and I am currently attending East Los Angeles College. I am taking an English class where we fortunately got to read your book Persepolis as a required text. I never heard of a graphic novel. As a matter of fact when our teacher showed us this book I thought it was going to be totally boring and a really easy book to read. But as I got in to the story I realized there is so much more then what the words are saying. The graphics make it come to live so much, im guessing that’s what you get from a graphic novel. =) I have to say you really opened my eyes about many issues I thought I already knew so much about. In actuality I didn’t really know anything. I guess when you hear about wars like this you don’t think so much about the people but mostly about the ones that are doing the fighting.
I loved so much about this book. One of my favorite things is how you made your audience feel like they were right there with you. I felt as if I was your friend walking with you every step of the way. I felt your ambition to fight for what u believe in, I felt the love and respect for your mother, and I felt the sadness of your Uncle Anoosh’s death. Maybe I felt like this because I see a lot of my self in you. I am a very politically active person and love to stand for what I believe in. I remember this one time I wanted to go to a demonstration and my mother wouldn’t let me. Well I was reading the chapter The Letter I can totally hear my mom telling me I couldn’t go to the demonstration just like your mom told you. I listened to my mom and didn’t go but a big part of me was wishing that I hadn’t listened to her just like you didn’t listen to yours. I know it’s not a good thing to not listen to your parents but you stood for what I believed in and went. It’s a scary thing isn’t it, those demonstrations? They can get really crazy. How did you feel when you were there? Didn’t it feel like such an empowering moment? Like you are changing something? I know when I go that’s how I feel. I just live for that feeling of making the world a better place and having a sense of equality for all.
You seem to take after your mom a lot or maybe that’s just what I think? I loved how your mom stood up for her self and didn’t let anyone shut her up. My mom is just the same. You don’t want to get her started. She is one of the strongest people I know. I can not ever see my self leaving somewhere to live with out her. You were really strong when you left to live with her friend. I know that must have been super hard for both you and your mom. To me you just seem like a very strong woman; a good role model for so many people. You dealt with so much death in your life but you seemed to always keep your self together. When your Uncle Anoosh passed I know it must have really done some damage to your heart, but again you held it together! Isn’t it hard being so strong all the time? I recently had to deal with a sudden death in the family. It’s so weird how one moment they are right there with you and in a blink of an eye taken away from you. I do see a lot of me in you but when it comes to things like this I guess I can’t find that strength that you have. I so badly want to just think about it as he is in a better place but I don’t see any place better then being with your family. I guess he is with my family in heaven. Did you ever thing about it in such a way? I’m sorry for bringing him up I know it must be a hard subject. I just feel at this moment what you might have felt then.
I look up to you for so many different reasons. You had anything but a normal life but you turned it all around and made something great out of it. You managed to make your life a tell-all to people like me that don’t really know anything at all about Iran. You opened our eyes and made us see the truth behind it all. I want to take the time now to thank you for that. If it wasn’t for this English class and a great writer like your self I would have never knew any of these things. Thank you for taking the time to read this and thank you for a great novel.
Yours Respectfully,
Chelsea Uzueta
P.S
I think you would have made an awesome prophet! =)
Reading Response #3
ZhengZhong Zhu
English 57
Dear Marjane Satrapi
Hello, my name is Zheng. I was impressed by your novel “Persepolis”. I have no idea that a true story can be told like this. Anyway, you have written this fantastic graphic novel, and most people were fascinated by it. But personally, I really don’t like reading books or reading novels, but your unique graphic novels made it more interesting to tell. Therefore, when I finished reading your book, I realized that I really willed myself to finish reading a book once of my lifetime. As some saying that a picture worth a thousand words, there’s no doubt that your graphics in the novel were worth beyond words. Your novel intrigued people to ponder while reading your book and that make people to use their critical thinking skills. Moreover, since that your novel is a graphic novel, it always seems to be that a graphic novel or comics can be understood very easily, but your graphic novel was beyond the level of all graphic novel or comics book that I ever read. Most of the people would just read along with the explicit side of your story, but the implicit side of your story can never be as simple to understand, by figuring out the implicit side of your story, the answers that I figured always remained indefinite. Your graphic novel seems very simple but yet complicated in some certain way. Thus, I think that “Persepolis” is the most sophisticated book I ever read.
As a little girl growing in Tehran during the revolution time, it is very interesting to see how a little girl could interact within the society of the unkind times. First off, you explained about the veils, and it was enforced by the Islamic revolution. With that very moment of reading, I finally understand why all the women that in Iran has to wear the veils, even until this present day. Within your illustration in the book, I’ve comprehended your childhood was under the regime of shah, and then fundamentalism; also the war between revolution and Iraq. All these experience that you had in your childhood was very adventurous. For that, I consider myself to be very lucky to live in a peaceful nation under a peaceful time. Although we lived under a different period of time, but I think that we both have a thing in common. You liked Michael Jackson and so did I. Unfortunately, I’m sorry to tell you that he died of heart attack in the age of 50. In spite of that, I wanted to tell you were a brave and strong girl during the revolution and the war.
In addition, I want to ask you a few questions that stuck in my head. What would you do if your parents died from the missiles back in the chapter of “The Shabbat”? If that really happened, would you make yourself to become a soldier and pay your vengeance? If you had the options to die as a martyr or a hero, which one would you prefer? There are so much more questions that I want to ask you, but I couldn’t just list it all out. However, my last question would be would you stay with your parents in Tehran despite of all cost? You have illustrated so much of your childhood in the novel, and most important of all, you’ve shown me the aspect of humanity. Therefore, I really appreciate your work. Thank you.
Sincerely yours
Zheng
Reading Response 3#
Dear Marjane Satrapi,
I enjoyed reading your novel “Persepolis” in my English class. I never imagined that I could gain so much knowledge in your book although it is written for children. Obviously, the most difficult for me, a foreign reader, to understand was extremely different culture, religion, as well as history, especially for a mystery nation. Before reading “Persepolis”, the deeply impression with Iran in my mind was, as you mentioned in the introduction of “Persepolis”, terrorism based on reports and photos come from western media. I believe this opinion is widely held by the majority people lived in other country because of lacking basic reliable information. I knew this was the reason why you wrote this book. You really opened my eyes to what actually happened in Iran during the war. I learned about your culture, religion and your childhood history in Iran. I did not know a lot of stuff about Iran until I finished reading your book. Meantime, I recognized that there were both similarities and differences between my life and the lives described in “Persepolis”.
The similarities I noticed between Iranian lives and my life were that social class and gender inequalities. Nevertheless, the situation in Iran was more intensive. In your book I saw that the lower social class people always lived at the bottom of the society. For example: Mehri was part of a lower social class and therefore did not have the same rights as higher or middle social class. She was not treated fairly since Marji’s father prevented her love, explaining to her that “their love would never work.” You clearly indicated that in Iran people had to stay in their own social class. The same thing happened in my brother’s life. My aunt firmly opposed to accepting his lover who comes from poor family lived in the countryside otherwise she would break mother-child relationship. The reason why my aunt disapproved her son’s true lover because she wanted him to marry a girl comes from high social class, which will benefit their family business. Actually, there are many obvious evidences to prove that inequality affects our lives from the type of education or health care an individual receive to the type of job a person will has, whom he /she will marry, and how many children they have.
Moreover, by reading your book, I realized that women had the lower social status and they had no voice in Iran society. After revolution, laws were enacted to restrict the role of women in public life. Women were treated as the private property for men. They were forced to wear veils that covered their entire body when in public. Veil reflects power imbalances in society and it is a symbol of gender inequality. Compared with that in Iran, gender inequality in my country may be indirect and unconspicuous, but it still exists. I once experienced gender discrimination in workplace when applying for a job. I was asked in a job interview whether I plan to marry and have children. Obviously, it is inevitable situation for many young applicants. Gender inequality can be seen in every area of social life from the workplace to school to family. Our society, even though women’s statue has remarkable improved than in the past, is a largely male dominated field with men having power over women.
The differences between your childhood and mine are mostly based on region and regime. There is no doubt that I have not experienced something described in book “Persepolis”. After Islamic revolution, Iran becomes strict Islamic religious fundamentalism. In Iran there are a lot of requirements to live by. In fact there were various scenes from Persepolis that caught my attention. A scene that touched my heart was when your mother was crying in your father’ arms because some guys had threatened her to rape her in the street or thrown to garbage for not wearing the veil. There’s more freedom and equalities here than in Iran, everyone does whatever they want as long as it is legal. I was really impressed with your life story because my life is very different from yours. In your country, there is no way to avoid seeing violence, seeing your country being bombed, knowing how prisoners were tortured and suffering from the pain that your loved people murdered. When I read about these scenes, I felt so sad and upset, but I was also impressed by your sense of humor, courage and optimism.
You’re a very talented writer and I believe that the message you were trying to send to the West has been successfully received. Your book draws widely public attention and many audiences change their mind. “Persepolis” really reveals that you care about your culture and where you are from. I strongly recommend “Persepolis” to anyone who wants to know more about Iran. I deeply desire that people in the increasing number read your book, which is good way to approach to realistic society in Iran.
Sincerely,
Ying Zou
I enjoyed reading your novel “Persepolis” in my English class. I never imagined that I could gain so much knowledge in your book although it is written for children. Obviously, the most difficult for me, a foreign reader, to understand was extremely different culture, religion, as well as history, especially for a mystery nation. Before reading “Persepolis”, the deeply impression with Iran in my mind was, as you mentioned in the introduction of “Persepolis”, terrorism based on reports and photos come from western media. I believe this opinion is widely held by the majority people lived in other country because of lacking basic reliable information. I knew this was the reason why you wrote this book. You really opened my eyes to what actually happened in Iran during the war. I learned about your culture, religion and your childhood history in Iran. I did not know a lot of stuff about Iran until I finished reading your book. Meantime, I recognized that there were both similarities and differences between my life and the lives described in “Persepolis”.
The similarities I noticed between Iranian lives and my life were that social class and gender inequalities. Nevertheless, the situation in Iran was more intensive. In your book I saw that the lower social class people always lived at the bottom of the society. For example: Mehri was part of a lower social class and therefore did not have the same rights as higher or middle social class. She was not treated fairly since Marji’s father prevented her love, explaining to her that “their love would never work.” You clearly indicated that in Iran people had to stay in their own social class. The same thing happened in my brother’s life. My aunt firmly opposed to accepting his lover who comes from poor family lived in the countryside otherwise she would break mother-child relationship. The reason why my aunt disapproved her son’s true lover because she wanted him to marry a girl comes from high social class, which will benefit their family business. Actually, there are many obvious evidences to prove that inequality affects our lives from the type of education or health care an individual receive to the type of job a person will has, whom he /she will marry, and how many children they have.
Moreover, by reading your book, I realized that women had the lower social status and they had no voice in Iran society. After revolution, laws were enacted to restrict the role of women in public life. Women were treated as the private property for men. They were forced to wear veils that covered their entire body when in public. Veil reflects power imbalances in society and it is a symbol of gender inequality. Compared with that in Iran, gender inequality in my country may be indirect and unconspicuous, but it still exists. I once experienced gender discrimination in workplace when applying for a job. I was asked in a job interview whether I plan to marry and have children. Obviously, it is inevitable situation for many young applicants. Gender inequality can be seen in every area of social life from the workplace to school to family. Our society, even though women’s statue has remarkable improved than in the past, is a largely male dominated field with men having power over women.
The differences between your childhood and mine are mostly based on region and regime. There is no doubt that I have not experienced something described in book “Persepolis”. After Islamic revolution, Iran becomes strict Islamic religious fundamentalism. In Iran there are a lot of requirements to live by. In fact there were various scenes from Persepolis that caught my attention. A scene that touched my heart was when your mother was crying in your father’ arms because some guys had threatened her to rape her in the street or thrown to garbage for not wearing the veil. There’s more freedom and equalities here than in Iran, everyone does whatever they want as long as it is legal. I was really impressed with your life story because my life is very different from yours. In your country, there is no way to avoid seeing violence, seeing your country being bombed, knowing how prisoners were tortured and suffering from the pain that your loved people murdered. When I read about these scenes, I felt so sad and upset, but I was also impressed by your sense of humor, courage and optimism.
You’re a very talented writer and I believe that the message you were trying to send to the West has been successfully received. Your book draws widely public attention and many audiences change their mind. “Persepolis” really reveals that you care about your culture and where you are from. I strongly recommend “Persepolis” to anyone who wants to know more about Iran. I deeply desire that people in the increasing number read your book, which is good way to approach to realistic society in Iran.
Sincerely,
Ying Zou
LETTER TO MARJANE SATRAPI
xu,yong
EHGLISH 057
Reading Response #3
Dear Marjane satrapi
My name is xu,yong when I stared reading you write thisand did not quackly understand and feel your find itself at that time what kind of environment,and social backgrouand Iran for me from Asia were equally unfamiliar ti us,I do not understand the local culture that you do not know you country what kind of development experience ,Iran is really for me a distant country ,only know that in Iran women must wear the veil while the country economy is not very good ,like a THIRD WORLD COUNTRY,but when teacher this semester to lead us ,after reading this book ,I began to understand that from the begining in 1979 Iran revolution,and this time what is happening in this country ,there are mang things ,I do not understand why it it will happen ,but I can feel the kind of social enviroment at that time people life is what kind of the state ,especially in the Iran-Iraq war during the struggle between the country and the country and ultimately hurt or ordinaly people ,to see the book when you described the scene of war the sky aircraft and missile,the basic life are can not be guaranteed to see my friend die at any time of innocent it was only for a teenage girl who was a great challenge
I think because of this,your childhood experiences,compared with our present life,you experienced a lot if challenges and dangerous which is an important stage in the growth of life that is then the difficult social enviroment and the turbulence years your personality and you attitude of social ,but still worthy of learning,I think if you were me,then,in the kind of social enviroment , Iwould really with the development of this societly to grow not there are so many naive ,but helapness to accept this country has brought me everything I apperciate you kind for life,optimism and positive spirit in such a difficult enviroment ,you still have not been the melting of this societly,you still are looking for really belongs to the direction of your life when childhood that you are understand of life,and what os happening around you for the reality that we are a very good help and education in this book you painting out of your watching Iran happend before only a few years time will allow you ti grow from a little girl to a life aborad can be thire own people,your childhood experience have a special,I think if you choose ,you will not come ti Europe,leaving their parents the state even though the country with a lot of problems but you left with dismay ,you still miss you country this is for every one living aborad some people will feel,I also leave parents living in the U.S I think you better than I do is great,because when you are very young you have the kind of courage to challenge you future life,perhaps for you is also a turning point in life ,I have not read the second of the book ,I think where you would tell us ,describe your life in Europe and you back to the what happened to Iran ,which I do not know but from you childhood experiences,I think you have later on,life will be very exciting there will be a lot to me think about the problem,because your personality and experience of will be destined for you life and too many people are different and read you book for me is a good inspiration
After reading this book I also began to look for other information to learn more about the background of your country at that time and asked me to a deeper understand that the Arab countries living conditions ,different culture and religions,the formation os a different human living enviroment ,too many problems for people who are noe living in the U .S is not conceiable and noe is still the case we do not discuss political issues and concerns but would like to say as the years came to you is such a big sum of life wealth ,looking forward ,to see the second part of this book!!!!
XU,YONG
EHGLISH 057
Reading Response #3
Dear Marjane satrapi
My name is xu,yong when I stared reading you write this
I think because of this,your childhood experiences,compared with our present life,you experienced a lot if challenges and dangerous which is an important stage in the growth of life that is then the difficult social enviroment and the turbulence years your personality and you attitude of social ,but still worthy of learning,I think if you were me,then,in the kind of social enviroment , Iwould really with the development of this societly to grow not there are so many naive ,but helapness to accept this country has brought me everything I apperciate you kind for life,optimism and positive spirit in such a difficult enviroment ,you still have not been the melting of this societly,you still are looking for really belongs to the direction of your life when childhood that you are understand of life,and what os happening around you for the reality that we are a very good help and education in this book you painting out of your watching Iran happend before only a few years time will allow you ti grow from a little girl to a life aborad can be thire own people,your childhood experience have a special,I think if you choose ,you will not come ti Europe,leaving their parents the state even though the country with a lot of problems but you left with dismay ,you still miss you country this is for every one living aborad some people will feel,I also leave parents living in the U.S I think you better than I do is great,because when you are very young you have the kind of courage to challenge you future life,perhaps for you is also a turning point in life ,I have not read the second of the book ,I think where you would tell us ,describe your life in Europe and you back to the what happened to Iran ,which I do not know but from you childhood experiences,I think you have later on,life will be very exciting there will be a lot to me think about the problem,because your personality and experience of will be destined for you life and too many people are different and read you book for me is a good inspiration
After reading this book I also began to look for other information to learn more about the background of your country at that time and asked me to a deeper understand that the Arab countries living conditions ,different culture and religions,the formation os a different human living enviroment ,too many problems for people who are noe living in the U .S is not conceiable and noe is still the case we do not discuss political issues and concerns but would like to say as the years came to you is such a big sum of life wealth ,looking forward ,to see the second part of this book!!!!
XU,YONG
Reading Response #3
Dear Marjane Satrapi
Your book was selected by our teacher as a topic center of our English57 class. It was the first time I came across with such nice and well-designed graphic novel. Your memoirs were very interesting especially the way you show to the reader your life in Iran. It was very pleasant to read. You bring up so many details about your personal experience that catch the interest and the attention of any person around the world whether young or adult.
I found interesting your strong desire of knowing about political issues, which it is mention in the first chapter. At 10 years old any other girl would be much more interested in playing with dolls rather than reading about Communism. Do you think that your childhood was stolen? I felt identified about what you wrote in the chapter "The Jewels", when the two ladies fight over who got the product first. Similar situations I witnessed during the 90's in my country. Peru suffered an extremely hard economic depression plus hyperinflation due to the bad political managements. Everybody struggled to make ends meet, empty supermarkets, lack of work, and many people had to leave the country. Now, even though we still have problems, we are in better conditions. In the chapter "Kim Wilde" your parents were vey courageous, but at the same time reckless. Were you aware of the dangerous situation your parents would face in the airport on their way back from Istanbul? Or it was more important your desire to get fashion items.
Your life is full of personal experiences and anecdotes. Many of them are sad events caused by the tough laws imposed by the government. All this has enriched your life,and at some moment you had the need to express it. Writing down your life story is an example to many people that everybody is equal, whether men or women, and deserved to be treated as human beings with respect and dignity. Did you write your novel thinking about Feminism and how women struggle for equality in Iran? Now after all what you have lived and experienced. What do you think about Communism?
It was a pleasure to have read your book.
My Best Regards
Ivan.
Irvind Garcia
English 057
Reading response #3
December 16, 2009
Dear Marjane Satrapi,
My name is Irvind Garcia and I finished reading your book Persepolis for my English class in the East Los Angeles College. The purpose of me writing this letter to you is to tell you how your book has affected my life not only emotionally but also has changed the way I see life. Before your book I had never read a graphic novel and wasn’t very interested in them and when I got Persepolis I thought it would be bad, little did I know that this book would change my life very positively. Through your book I felt myself in your position like I was part of your struggle and the war. I liked the fact that these events were real you talked about things that you went through in your life and I admire you for being so courageous. I never knew about such war in Iran as a matter of fact I was completely ignorant to customs and the culture of Iran .
It amazed me to see how intelligent you were at such a young age and I liked the fact that no matter how mature you act your innocence always showed. Through your novel I was able to embark on a new journey to a different part of the world to something I have never seen before or been through. Your experience with your uncle Anoosh made me cry because I have a uncle who I am very close to he is like my second father and felt your pain as if it was mine. I never though that a little girl could be so strong and brave in your position I would have given up hope right away I admire the way you always looked positively on life. I wonder if I will ever find myself in the situation you were in but I am thankful I have never been through such hardships because I wouldn’t be as strong as you were.
Your book reminded me of my favorite book Night by Ellie Wiesel it is about a young Jewish boy who also tells his story about the hardships and struggles he went through on the holocaust. One thing I also liked about you is your taste in music like you I am a big Iron Maiden fan! I didn’t know they were famous in Iran as well that shows how much my ignorance was towards your country. One thing that I wondered about was the restaurant “Kansas” do you know if it was based on the band named Kansas? Is it why it survived when all other places didn’t?
Marjane I would really like to thank you for writing this graphic novel not only did I get information on another country but also it made change my perspective on life. Your book changed my life,. every time I read one of your chapters I felt a deep bond with my family I wanted to hug my parents really badly. I know that many times there are people who don’t really have much yet they live their life to the fullest but there’s others who have a lot and complain because they want more thanks to you I have learned to value what I have and live my life to the fullest no matter the hardships and the struggles thank you.
Best Regards,
Irvind Garcia
English 057
Reading response #3
December 16, 2009
Dear Marjane Satrapi,
My name is Irvind Garcia and I finished reading your book Persepolis for my English class in the East Los Angeles College. The purpose of me writing this letter to you is to tell you how your book has affected my life not only emotionally but also has changed the way I see life. Before your book I had never read a graphic novel and wasn’t very interested in them and when I got Persepolis I thought it would be bad, little did I know that this book would change my life very positively. Through your book I felt myself in your position like I was part of your struggle and the war. I liked the fact that these events were real you talked about things that you went through in your life and I admire you for being so courageous. I never knew about such war in Iran as a matter of fact I was completely ignorant to customs and the culture of Iran .
It amazed me to see how intelligent you were at such a young age and I liked the fact that no matter how mature you act your innocence always showed. Through your novel I was able to embark on a new journey to a different part of the world to something I have never seen before or been through. Your experience with your uncle Anoosh made me cry because I have a uncle who I am very close to he is like my second father and felt your pain as if it was mine. I never though that a little girl could be so strong and brave in your position I would have given up hope right away I admire the way you always looked positively on life. I wonder if I will ever find myself in the situation you were in but I am thankful I have never been through such hardships because I wouldn’t be as strong as you were.
Your book reminded me of my favorite book Night by Ellie Wiesel it is about a young Jewish boy who also tells his story about the hardships and struggles he went through on the holocaust. One thing I also liked about you is your taste in music like you I am a big Iron Maiden fan! I didn’t know they were famous in Iran as well that shows how much my ignorance was towards your country. One thing that I wondered about was the restaurant “Kansas” do you know if it was based on the band named Kansas? Is it why it survived when all other places didn’t?
Marjane I would really like to thank you for writing this graphic novel not only did I get information on another country but also it made change my perspective on life. Your book changed my life,. every time I read one of your chapters I felt a deep bond with my family I wanted to hug my parents really badly. I know that many times there are people who don’t really have much yet they live their life to the fullest but there’s others who have a lot and complain because they want more thanks to you I have learned to value what I have and live my life to the fullest no matter the hardships and the struggles thank you.
Best Regards,
Irvind Garcia
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)