30th anniversary of the Islamic Revolution

On February 1st, 1979 Ayatollah Ruholla Khomeini returned to Iran after 15 years in exile. Though the Islamic Revolution began long before his return, the day Khomeini's plane landed in Tehran was a historic day for Iranians and the revolution.

This month two major news organizations mark the 30th anniversary of the revolution by airing related stories. They are worth checking out: Unwrapping Iran on National Public Radio and
Iran: After the Revolution on al-Jazeera English.

From the al-Jazeera series:

book group with John Avery

John Avery, ESOL Faculty, is going to lead a discussion of Persepolis on Tuesdays from 1 - 2pm starting on Feb. 3. The discussions will take place in RLC 141. Participants will be given free copies of the book. John says, "...there is no cost and no obligation for the students...It will be an opportunity for students to encounter a new format (the graphic novel) and a new culture through reading and discussions."

Please join us!

Persepolis in ENGL 180, Children's Literature

Thanks to Avis Adams, English Faculty, for inviting me to the final presentation of her English 180 students Ashley Werdal and Odie Deblume. Werdal and Deblume used Persepolis as the primary focus of their presentation, which required them to produce and share biographical information about Satrapi and a literary analysis of the text. For the last part of the presentation, Ashley and Odie guided the class through a free writing assignment that would be appropriate for young readers of the text.

It was truly an amazing experience to see the book used as a course text and to see students working with it so earnestly. It was clear that the book made an impression on Ashley and Odie, as they seemed to have thought deeply about it and its author.


This experience also reinforced in me the notion that Persepolis can be read and enjoyed by many audiences and age groups. Ashley and Odie imagined children engaging with the book. And of course, I witnessed college students engaging with it!

Thanks again to all. The photos here show Ashley and Odie's written materials from the presentation.

Azar Nafisi speaking at Seattle Public Library

Azar Nafisi, an Iranian author, is speaking at the Seattle Public Library central branch this Friday, January 16 at 7pm. Nafisi's work (especially "Reading Lolita in Tehran") is often compared to Satrapi's since both works chronicle Iranian life from the female perspective.

See more information on the event here. (Image above taken from spl site.)