The Summer Reading Committee selected PERSEPOLIS with the commitment to find a book with a female protagonist, and to expose our community to a part of the world sizzling with unrest, so often vilified and hidden behind veils and militant acts of violence. We also felt the experience of reading a graphic novel would be challenging as it exposes many of us to a genre which may be unfamiliar or many may view with prejudice. In addition to reading this book as a community, we will host Ms. Nikoo McGoldrick (parent of two Taft graduates and author) as our keynote speaker in the fall. Like Satrapi, Ms. McGoldrick grew up in Iran on the eve of the Islamic Revolution.
"Originally published to wide critical acclaim in France, where it elicited comparisons to Art Spiegelman's Maus, PERSEPOLIS is Marjane Satrapi's wise, funny, and heartbreaking memoir of growing up in Iran during the Islamic Revolution. In powerful black-and-white comic strip images, Satrapi tells the story of her life in Tehran 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. The intelligent and outspoken only child of committed Marxists and the great-granddaughter of one of Iran's last emperors, Marjane bears witness to a childhood uniquely entwined with the history of her country...
“Intensely personal, profoundly political, and wholly original, PERSEPOLIS is at once a story of growing up and a stunning reminder of the human cost of war and political repression. It shows how we carry on, through laughter and tears, in the face of absurdity. And, finally, it introduces us to an irresistible little girl with whom we cannot help but fall in love." (From the publisher)
We hope you will enjoy reading PERSEPOLIS! The book is readily available from online bookstores or brick-and-mortar stores.
One of the "100 Best Books of the Decade" (THE TIMES, London) • A NEW YORK TIMES Notable Book • An Outstanding Book for the College Bound (American Library Association) • Winner of several prestigious comic book awards and translated into more than 40 languages • The film version won the Cinema for Peace Award for "Most Valuable Movie of the Year" in 2008.
Students are also asked to read a second book, selected from a list of sponsored books. Both books are required, and we will discuss them in the fall.
Of course, we hope that students will read several more than just these two books, because reading expands one's perspective on life, besides being entertaining. And we hope the list of faculty-sponsored books will provide many options and ideas and create an opportunity for many discussions in school and beyond. Enjoy!