There isn’t a heck of a lot that can be said of “Embroideries,” a graphic novel from “Persepolis” creator Marjane Satrapi, other than it is short, enjoyable, and if you enjoyed the author’s previous work, you will not be let down.
“Embroideries” is not so much a sequel to “Persepolis” as it is a continuation in the lives of two of the main characters: Marjane and her grandmother. There isn’t really a story to speak of; no underlying plotline. Instead the book focuses on a group of women sitting down for afternoon tea while talking about past loves and their sex lives or in some cases, lack thereof.
That is essentially the entire book. It is remarkably brief and doesn’t overstay its welcome by running circles around itself. While it feels like more could have been said and the book itself is admittedly, nothing more than a slight diversion, it still manages to deliver a message of openness and how sometimes talking behind someone’s back is “the ventilator of the heart”; being as paranoid as I am those words spoken by Marjane’s grandmother still ring true. This book is a celebration of catharsis in its most pure form; talking to good friends; much like “Seinfeld” without neighbours running and elbowing you in the ribs to make sure you got the joke.
Grade: B
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2 comments:
There's something I feel like you're missing. Besides just "talking to friends," it's a snapshot of a women-only space and the consciousness-raising therein. As simple as the act seems, given the setting, women talking frankly about sex is pretty freaking revolutionary.
I do recognize that the nature of the book itself is in a way pretty revolutionary, especially given the setting. The main reason I didn't bring it up is because I think I still look as a book that is a follow up to "Persepolis" (incidentally last night from the library I got her most recent book "Chicken With Plums" that focuses on her Uncle).
It is admittedly hard to compare this to "Persepolis" because they are two different stories told in two different ways. I'm not sure if I was expecting something more from it or not. I do like the fact that not once in the book is it ever made a big deal that they live in Iran. I guess the two stories were similar enough that I couldn't fully take myself out of the original, but your point of view is spot on.
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