|
Browse categories
|
 |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
 Customer Reviews
great memoir, 17 Nov 2008
l have never read a Ballard book,but found this auto-biography very enjoyable.His narrative is simple and direct,yet it delivers with vigour and zest.This is really two books.The first is the real feast for the reader,his growing up in China and all the English snobbery and meanness.Chinese starved to death,in front of the ex-pat communities, and brutally,tortured and killed by the Japanese.The second book is his life in England.An Englishman who had never been to England.His shock at how the arrogance of the ex-pats contrasted that with the listlessness and low quality of life in England.After the initial shock of finding Britain very different to ex-pat nostalgia,the book flattens out into a little more mundane expose of the rest of Ballards life,and it does not live up to the first book of Shanghai.The photos of him as a 4 year old and his subsequent children are a delight.Ballard was one of a dying generation that lived across the old,decaying world of the colonial ex-pat and new world of youth culture and modern art and fiction,pre 60s and post 60s,and his recollection make for a fantastic holiday or christmas read.A joyous ride through time
Honest Accounting, 13 May 2008
I won't give a synopsis since this has already been done ably by other reviewers. Why this autobiography 'worked' for me is that Mr Ballard has reflected his past experiences to his present situation so movingly, and with characteristic modesty. As a young man he considered his unusual childhood to be of little interest to anyone; only late on in his life has it provided him with explicit material for fiction - and now, with this account - for fact - only latterly has he recognised that he had unconsciously used his childhood experiences as literary motifs.
Judging by his enthusiasm that came through in the middle part of the book, I suspect that Mr Ballard derived most satisfaction in his life from raising his three children on his own following the tragic death of his wife whilst on holiday - an event that he describes briefly, yet deeply movingly.
He doesn't say a great deal about his actual writing (apart from, in his earlier years, writing a short story between dropping off his children at school in the morning and picking them up in the afternoon) although he does refer interestingly to some of his books and short stories, and to his literary acquaintances. With some exceptions (Kingsley Amis, Michael Moorcock, Ian Sinclair and Will Self) he appears to have been more 'at home' with avante garde artists than with fellow writers.
I spent some time in a British expatriate community as a youngster, albeit some twenty years after Mr Ballard's time, so I could relate to this part of his life. I'm familiar with the type of people he observed, although I don't recall the grown-ups as leading nearly such dissipated life styles, neither did I witness such extremes of poverty and affluence as existed in pre-war Shanghai ... and neither was I interned by 'the enemy' for two years.
Miracles of Life is not in the slightest bit pretentious, it is simply written and lacks in any real rancour, which is so refreshing, given some of the back-biting one comes to expect from autobiographies these days, and I thoroughly recommend it to anyone interested in what lies behind a considerable writer.
Beautifully told, 18 Mar 2008
This is a curious mixture of a book. Granted that it was written under strained and special circumstances, it is both revealing and concealing in equal measure. If you are familiar with Ballard's work and have taken an interest in him over the years, you will find nothing new here. It is, however, a joy to have it in one volume. And for all its apparent superficiality, we learn a great deal about Ballard from the structure and level of content of this work.
Nearly half the book is devoted to Ballard's first fifteen years, the time he lived in Shanghai and experienced the strange life of an expatriate community as well as internment by the Japanese. This is also the most fluent and vibrant part of the book.
It may well be that writing of his early life in his fiction, especially in Empire of the Sun, means he is well rehearsed. But it is clear these formative years are seared not just into his memory, but also his psyche. The things he saw and experienced have re-appeared time and again in his writings, sometimes filtered, but always from the same roots.
Elsewhere, there is a reticence, a shyness that produces a sketchy feeling, as if we are seeing an early draft. A pioneer of explorations into the sf of `inner space', his own inner space is closely guarded. Yet what he chooses to conceal is revealing in itself. He speaks of family life, for example, but whilst it is clear that his family was the bright sun at the centre of his universe, dimmed for a while by the sudden death of his wife, it is also clear that the rest is nobody's business but his own and theirs. I find this wonderfully refreshing - we are strangers, after all, those of us who read his books.
As a writer myself, I confess I was disappointed that Ballard did not discuss how he wrote or consider the processes by which developed certain styles, especially his concentrated novels. I would love to have known more of those early days and the discussions he had with other writers of the so-called `New Wave'. On the other hand I am not altogether surprised. Whilst undoubtedly a highly intelligent man and a skilled and innovative writer, he has never been one of the `literati', self-dissecting and self-obsessed. His work must (and does) speak for itself - with a voice that is robust, fluent, exciting, innovative, often tackling the controversial, but always worth listening to.
A Must Read, 23 Feb 2008
I couldn't put this down. Ballard writes about his time in Shanghai and makes it seem as normal as my own childhood. Then he returns to the UK - a country he has never been to - and feels a complete stranger.
Ballard's fiction is offbeat and surreal, but completely original - and this autobiography is almost an explanation of where it all came from. Fans of Ballard will find this almost an extension to his fiction.
I could not put this down. The writing is evocative without being wordy, and every page is filled with interesting thoughts.
Poignant and beautifully written autobiography, 23 Feb 2008
Quite simply, this was a joy to read.
Ballard tells of his childhood in Shanghai, internment there under the Japanese, his university years in England, right through to his writing career and the joys and tragedies he's experienced as a father and husband, and his love of family life.
What makes this book appealing is that it's not only well written and direct, but also that Ballard tells his story with an honesty and poignancy that is so rare in many autobiographies today.
This isn't about Ballard the writer, but about the circumstances and events that shaped and formed his personal values and beliefs.
You don't have to have read Ballard's fiction to enjoy this book either (although his Shanghai reminisces provide a fascinating insight into Empire of the Sun, the novel based on his internment experiences).
What stands out above all else is his enjoyment of childhood and subsequent selfless devotion and enjoyment of family through all the joys and tragedy he experienced.
His life affirming views on childhood, fatherhood, and single parenthood set this book apart from those hundreds of other autobiographies available that only tell of how individuals found (or lost) their fame or fortune.
|
|
|
 |
|
Persepolis
Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days
*Best price found from Amazon Marketplace seller
|
*Amazon: £3.73
|
|
Product Description
Marjane Satrapi's Persepolis is an exemplary autobiographical graphic novel, in the tradition of Art Spiegelman's classic Maus. Set in Iran during the Islamic Revolution, it follows the young Satrapi, six-year-old daughter of two committed and well-to-do Marxists. As she grows up, she witnesses first-hand the effects that the revolution and the war with Iraq have on her home, family and school. Like Maus, the main strength of Persepolis is its ability to make the political personal. Told through the eyes of a child (as reflected in Satrapi's simplistic yet expressive black-and-white artwork), the story shows how young Marjane learns about her family history and how it is entwined with the history of Iran, and watches her liberal parents cope with a fundamentalist regime that gets increasingly rigid as it gains more power. Outspoken and intelligent, Marjane chafes at Iran's increasingly conservative interpretation of Islamic law, especially as she grows into a bright and independent teenager. Throughout, Marjane remains a hugely likeable young woman Persepolis gives the reader a snapshot of daily life in a country struggling with an internal cultural revolution and a bloody war, but within an intensely personal context. It's a very human history, beautifully and sympathetically told. --Robert Burrow
Customer Reviews
great memoir, 17 Nov 2008
l have never read a Ballard book,but found this auto-biography very enjoyable.His narrative is simple and direct,yet it delivers with vigour and zest.This is really two books.The first is the real feast for the reader,his growing up in China and all the English snobbery and meanness.Chinese starved to death,in front of the ex-pat communities, and brutally,tortured and killed by the Japanese.The second book is his life in England.An Englishman who had never been to England.His shock at how the arrogance of the ex-pats contrasted that with the listlessness and low quality of life in England.After the initial shock of finding Britain very different to ex-pat nostalgia,the book flattens out into a little more mundane expose of the rest of Ballards life,and it does not live up to the first book of Shanghai.The photos of him as a 4 year old and his subsequent children are a delight.Ballard was one of a dying generation that lived across the old,decaying world of the colonial ex-pat and new world of youth culture and modern art and fiction,pre 60s and post 60s,and his recollection make for a fantastic holiday or christmas read.A joyous ride through time
Honest Accounting, 13 May 2008
I won't give a synopsis since this has already been done ably by other reviewers. Why this autobiography 'worked' for me is that Mr Ballard has reflected his past experiences to his present situation so movingly, and with characteristic modesty. As a young man he considered his unusual childhood to be of little interest to anyone; only late on in his life has it provided him with explicit material for fiction - and now, with this account - for fact - only latterly has he recognised that he had unconsciously used his childhood experiences as literary motifs.
Judging by his enthusiasm that came through in the middle part of the book, I suspect that Mr Ballard derived most satisfaction in his life from raising his three children on his own following the tragic death of his wife whilst on holiday - an event that he describes briefly, yet deeply movingly.
He doesn't say a great deal about his actual writing (apart from, in his earlier years, writing a short story between dropping off his children at school in the morning and picking them up in the afternoon) although he does refer interestingly to some of his books and short stories, and to his literary acquaintances. With some exceptions (Kingsley Amis, Michael Moorcock, Ian Sinclair and Will Self) he appears to have been more 'at home' with avante garde artists than with fellow writers.
I spent some time in a British expatriate community as a youngster, albeit some twenty years after Mr Ballard's time, so I could relate to this part of his life. I'm familiar with the type of people he observed, although I don't recall the grown-ups as leading nearly such dissipated life styles, neither did I witness such extremes of poverty and affluence as existed in pre-war Shanghai ... and neither was I interned by 'the enemy' for two years.
Miracles of Life is not in the slightest bit pretentious, it is simply written and lacks in any real rancour, which is so refreshing, given some of the back-biting one comes to expect from autobiographies these days, and I thoroughly recommend it to anyone interested in what lies behind a considerable writer.
Beautifully told, 18 Mar 2008
This is a curious mixture of a book. Granted that it was written under strained and special circumstances, it is both revealing and concealing in equal measure. If you are familiar with Ballard's work and have taken an interest in him over the years, you will find nothing new here. It is, however, a joy to have it in one volume. And for all its apparent superficiality, we learn a great deal about Ballard from the structure and level of content of this work.
Nearly half the book is devoted to Ballard's first fifteen years, the time he lived in Shanghai and experienced the strange life of an expatriate community as well as internment by the Japanese. This is also the most fluent and vibrant part of the book.
It may well be that writing of his early life in his fiction, especially in Empire of the Sun, means he is well rehearsed. But it is clear these formative years are seared not just into his memory, but also his psyche. The things he saw and experienced have re-appeared time and again in his writings, sometimes filtered, but always from the same roots.
Elsewhere, there is a reticence, a shyness that produces a sketchy feeling, as if we are seeing an early draft. A pioneer of explorations into the sf of `inner space', his own inner space is closely guarded. Yet what he chooses to conceal is revealing in itself. He speaks of family life, for example, but whilst it is clear that his family was the bright sun at the centre of his universe, dimmed for a while by the sudden death of his wife, it is also clear that the rest is nobody's business but his own and theirs. I find this wonderfully refreshing - we are strangers, after all, those of us who read his books.
As a writer myself, I confess I was disappointed that Ballard did not discuss how he wrote or consider the processes by which developed certain styles, especially his concentrated novels. I would love to have known more of those early days and the discussions he had with other writers of the so-called `New Wave'. On the other hand I am not altogether surprised. Whilst undoubtedly a highly intelligent man and a skilled and innovative writer, he has never been one of the `literati', self-dissecting and self-obsessed. His work must (and does) speak for itself - with a voice that is robust, fluent, exciting, innovative, often tackling the controversial, but always worth listening to.
A Must Read, 23 Feb 2008
I couldn't put this down. Ballard writes about his time in Shanghai and makes it seem as normal as my own childhood. Then he returns to the UK - a country he has never been to - and feels a complete stranger.
Ballard's fiction is offbeat and surreal, but completely original - and this autobiography is almost an explanation of where it all came from. Fans of Ballard will find this almost an extension to his fiction.
I could not put this down. The writing is evocative without being wordy, and every page is filled with interesting thoughts.
Poignant and beautifully written autobiography, 23 Feb 2008
Quite simply, this was a joy to read.
Ballard tells of his childhood in Shanghai, internment there under the Japanese, his university years in England, right through to his writing career and the joys and tragedies he's experienced as a father and husband, and his love of family life.
What makes this book appealing is that it's not only well written and direct, but also that Ballard tells his story with an honesty and poignancy that is so rare in many autobiographies today.
This isn't about Ballard the writer, but about the circumstances and events that shaped and formed his personal values and beliefs.
You don't have to have read Ballard's fiction to enjoy this book either (although his Shanghai reminisces provide a fascinating insight into Empire of the Sun, the novel based on his internment experiences).
What stands out above all else is his enjoyment of childhood and subsequent selfless devotion and enjoyment of family through all the joys and tragedy he experienced.
His life affirming views on childhood, fatherhood, and single parenthood set this book apart from those hundreds of other autobiographies available that only tell of how individuals found (or lost) their fame or fortune.
more novel than graphic, 06 Sep 2008
This is a very touching book, very illuminating and very inspiring. It humanises a people that, unfortunately, we often feel to be nothing more than crazy islamic fundamentals and murderers. This is obviously not the case and it is nice to read a book that gently explains this...though there are plenty examples of the horror one would expect from living under such a regime.
the only gripe i have with this book is it's format. They have published this as a book rather than a graphic novel. As such the art and the text are tiny, and it can be physically difficult to read and pick up on the subtlties of the (lovely) artwork contained within. They must have done this so that people can read this on trains or what have you and avoid the 'comic book' look and so capitalise on the recently released animated movie (I won't lie...this is why I bought the book too). Graphic novels may not be as chic as a book but Persepolis would benefit from the size and glossy finish that the graphic novel format would provide.
only a minor flaw to be honest but i really do feel that to read this in book form is like watching a film in old VHS when you clearly could get a much clearer and much more rewarding experience with the Blu ray version....you just weren't given the option cos the publishers etc etc wanted to reach a larger audience
Gripping graphic novel, 20 Aug 2008
This is a simply told story that touches on some very big ideas; the Islamic revolution; loyalty and family; and which boys you should fancy.
The main character is charming, naive, sympathetic and occasionally annoying - in other words, a very convincing young woman.
A fantastic read, especially if you think you don't like comic books!
Read it!!, 18 Aug 2008
I am no comic book fan, in fact I am closer to the opposite. I have always thought the term 'graphic novel' was just a term to make it OK for grown-up to read comics. So when this book was given to me as a present, I was doubtful..
But then I read the first page, and I was hooked! To tell the truth, I forgot that it was a comic I was reading, I was so onvolved in the story. The narrative just washes over you, and rather than the pictures becoming an annoyance as I though they would, they just added to the whole experience. I was impressed!
As for the story, it is intimate, delicate, honest and sometimes raw and shocking as well as touchingly funny. It is hugely informative, and presents a much needed fresh perspective on our own prejudices.
Loved it!!
Highly Recommended, 29 Apr 2008
This is a fantastic comic that will appeal to both comic fans & non-comic fans alike.
Despite the Amazon title, this edition "Persepolis. The Story of a Childhood and The Story of a Return" actually contains the complete Persepolis series.
"The Story of a Childhood" was original published in France as Persepolis 1 & 2, "The Story of a Return" was original published in France as Persepolis 3 & 4
recommended but don't take it seriously, 06 Nov 2004
As an Iranian living in the UK reading Ms Satrapi's book took me years back to the hell I experienced as an adolescent during the rule of the Islamic Republic. I remembered the fear of air attacks, went through the same sadness and joys which made most of my formative years.
The book is intriguing and takes you with it. Ms Satrapi has a gift of writing with a dark humour which at the same time makes you laugh and cry. It deals with raw emotions of a young child in the middle of the war and turmoil. These emotions are the building blocks of our lives and this makes everyone from different backgrounds understand an empathise with that little girl and in this regard the author should be congratulated.
The cartoons are of great quality and despite simplicity you can see wide range of emotions expressed by the characters.
Living through the war and revolution is not an easy experience, displaying it with humour is a hard task which the author fulfills with proficiency.
On the other hand one must not try to learn Iranian history from this book.
Most of the events are from the eye of a Marxist which makes the narrative biased. In other words seeking iranian revolution history from this book is like learning WW2 history from the film U-571!
Many of the accounts are inaccurate e.g. the last Emperor of Qajar dynasty had no child. Also the fact that the cinema was burned by Shah's regime is something that even the Islamic Republic does not claim now!
All in all I enjoyed reading the book. I recommend it to anyone who wants an emotional account of the revolution and war in Iran.
Best of luck for Ms Satrapi's future books.
|
|
|
 |
|
On Writing
Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days
*Best price found from Amazon Marketplace seller
|
*Amazon: £4.36
|
|
Product Description
Short and snappy as it is, Stephen King's On Writing really contains two books: a fondly sardonic autobiography and a tough-love lesson for aspiring novelists. The memoir is terrific stuff, a vivid description of how a writer grew out of a misbehaving kid. You are right there with the young author as he is tormented by poison ivy, gas-passing baby-sitters, uptight schoolmarms and a laundry job nastier than Jack London's. It's a ripping yarn that casts a sharp light on his fiction. This was a child who dug Yvette Vickers from Attack of the Giant Leeches, not Sandra Dee. "I wanted monsters that ate whole cities, radioactive corpses that came out of the ocean and ate surfers and girls in black bras who looked like trailer trash". But massive reading on all literary levels was a craving just as crucial, and soon King was the published author of "I Was a Teen-Age Graverobber". As a young adult raising a family in a trailer, King started a story inspired by his stint as a caretaker cleaning a high-school girls' locker room. He crumpled it up, but his writer wife retrieved it from the trash, and using her advice about the girl milieu and his own memories of two reviled teenage classmates who died young, he came up with Carrie. King gives us lots of revelations about his life and work. The kidnapper character in Misery, the mind-possessing monsters in The Tommyknockers, and the haunting of the blocked writer in The Shining symbolised his cocaine and booze addiction (overcome thanks to his wife's intervention, which he describes). "There's one novel, Cujo, that I barely remember writing". King also evokes his college days and his recovery from the van crash that nearly killed him, but the focus is always on what it all means to the craft. He gives you a whole writer's "tool kit": a reading list, writing assignments, a corrected story and nuts-and-bolts advice on dollars and cents, plot and character, the basic building block of the paragraph and literary models. He shows what you can learn from HP Lovecraft's arcane vocabulary, Hemingway's leanness, Grisham's authenticity, Richard Dooling's artful obscenity, Jonathan Kellerman's sentence fragments. He explains why Kellerman's Hart's War is a great story marred by a tin ear for dialogue, and how Elmore Leonard's Be Cool could be the antidote. King isn't just a writer, he's a true teacher. --Tim Appelo, Amazon.com
Customer Reviews
great memoir, 17 Nov 2008
l have never read a Ballard book,but found this auto-biography very enjoyable.His narrative is simple and direct,yet it delivers with vigour and zest.This is really two books.The first is the real feast for the reader,his growing up in China and all the English snobbery and meanness.Chinese starved to death,in front of the ex-pat communities, and brutally,tortured and killed by the Japanese.The second book is his life in England.An Englishman who had never been to England.His shock at how the arrogance of the ex-pats contrasted that with the listlessness and low quality of life in England.After the initial shock of finding Britain very different to ex-pat nostalgia,the book flattens out into a little more mundane expose of the rest of Ballards life,and it does not live up to the first book of Shanghai.The photos of him as a 4 year old and his subsequent children are a delight.Ballard was one of a dying generation that lived across the old,decaying world of the colonial ex-pat and new world of youth culture and modern art and fiction,pre 60s and post 60s,and his recollection make for a fantastic holiday or christmas read.A joyous ride through time
Honest Accounting, 13 May 2008
I won't give a synopsis since this has already been done ably by other reviewers. Why this autobiography 'worked' for me is that Mr Ballard has reflected his past experiences to his present situation so movingly, and with characteristic modesty. As a young man he considered his unusual childhood to be of little interest to anyone; only late on in his life has it provided him with explicit material for fiction - and now, with this account - for fact - only latterly has he recognised that he had unconsciously used his childhood experiences as literary motifs.
Judging by his enthusiasm that came through in the middle part of the book, I suspect that Mr Ballard derived most satisfaction in his life from raising his three children on his own following the tragic death of his wife whilst on holiday - an event that he describes briefly, yet deeply movingly.
He doesn't say a great deal about his actual writing (apart from, in his earlier years, writing a short story between dropping off his children at school in the morning and picking them up in the afternoon) although he does refer interestingly to some of his books and short stories, and to his literary acquaintances. With some exceptions (Kingsley Amis, Michael Moorcock, Ian Sinclair and Will Self) he appears to have been more 'at home' with avante garde artists than with fellow writers.
I spent some time in a British expatriate community as a youngster, albeit some twenty years after Mr Ballard's time, so I could relate to this part of his life. I'm familiar with the type of people he observed, although I don't recall the grown-ups as leading nearly such dissipated life styles, neither did I witness such extremes of poverty and affluence as existed in pre-war Shanghai ... and neither was I interned by 'the enemy' for two years.
Miracles of Life is not in the slightest bit pretentious, it is simply written and lacks in any real rancour, which is so refreshing, given some of the back-biting one comes to expect from autobiographies these days, and I thoroughly recommend it to anyone interested in what lies behind a considerable writer.
Beautifully told, 18 Mar 2008
This is a curious mixture of a book. Granted that it was written under strained and special circumstances, it is both revealing and concealing in equal measure. If you are familiar with Ballard's work and have taken an interest in him over the years, you will find nothing new here. It is, however, a joy to have it in one volume. And for all its apparent superficiality, we learn a great deal about Ballard from the structure and level of content of this work.
Nearly half the book is devoted to Ballard's first fifteen years, the time he lived in Shanghai and experienced the strange life of an expatriate community as well as internment by the Japanese. This is also the most fluent and vibrant part of the book.
It may well be that writing of his early life in his fiction, especially in Empire of the Sun, means he is well rehearsed. But it is clear these formative years are seared not just into his memory, but also his psyche. The things he saw and experienced have re-appeared time and again in his writings, sometimes filtered, but always from the same roots.
Elsewhere, there is a reticence, a shyness that produces a sketchy feeling, as if we are seeing an early draft. A pioneer of explorations into the sf of `inner space', his own inner space is closely guarded. Yet what he chooses to conceal is revealing in itself. He speaks of family life, for example, but whilst it is clear that his family was the bright sun at the centre of his universe, dimmed for a while by the sudden death of his wife, it is also clear that the rest is nobody's business but his own and theirs. I find this wonderfully refreshing - we are strangers, after all, those of us who read his books.
As a writer myself, I confess I was disappointed that Ballard did not discuss how he wrote or consider the processes by which developed certain styles, especially his concentrated novels. I would love to have known more of those early days and the discussions he had with other writers of the so-called `New Wave'. On the other hand I am not altogether surprised. Whilst undoubtedly a highly intelligent man and a skilled and innovative writer, he has never been one of the `literati', self-dissecting and self-obsessed. His work must (and does) speak for itself - with a voice that is robust, fluent, exciting, innovative, often tackling the controversial, but always worth listening to.
A Must Read, 23 Feb 2008
I couldn't put this down. Ballard writes about his time in Shanghai and makes it seem as normal as my own childhood. Then he returns to the UK - a country he has never been to - and feels a complete stranger.
Ballard's fiction is offbeat and surreal, but completely original - and this autobiography is almost an explanation of where it all came from. Fans of Ballard will find this almost an extension to his fiction.
I could not put this down. The writing is evocative without being wordy, and every page is filled with interesting thoughts.
Poignant and beautifully written autobiography, 23 Feb 2008
Quite simply, this was a joy to read.
Ballard tells of his childhood in Shanghai, internment there under the Japanese, his university years in England, right through to his writing career and the joys and tragedies he's experienced as a father and husband, and his love of family life.
What makes this book appealing is that it's not only well written and direct, but also that Ballard tells his story with an honesty and poignancy that is so rare in many autobiographies today.
This isn't about Ballard the writer, but about the circumstances and events that shaped and formed his personal values and beliefs.
You don't have to have read Ballard's fiction to enjoy this book either (although his Shanghai reminisces provide a fascinating insight into Empire of the Sun, the novel based on his internment experiences).
What stands out above all else is his enjoyment of childhood and subsequent selfless devotion and enjoyment of family through all the joys and tragedy he experienced.
His life affirming views on childhood, fatherhood, and single parenthood set this book apart from those hundreds of other autobiographies available that only tell of how individuals found (or lost) their fame or fortune.
more novel than graphic, 06 Sep 2008
This is a very touching book, very illuminating and very inspiring. It humanises a people that, unfortunately, we often feel to be nothing more than crazy islamic fundamentals and murderers. This is obviously not the case and it is nice to read a book that gently explains this...though there are plenty examples of the horror one would expect from living under such a regime.
the only gripe i have with this book is it's format. They have published this as a book rather than a graphic novel. As such the art and the text are tiny, and it can be physically difficult to read and pick up on the subtlties of the (lovely) artwork contained within. They must have done this so that people can read this on trains or what have you and avoid the 'comic book' look and so capitalise on the recently released animated movie (I won't lie...this is why I bought the book too). Graphic novels may not be as chic as a book but Persepolis would benefit from the size and glossy finish that the graphic novel format would provide.
only a minor flaw to be honest but i really do feel that to read this in book form is like watching a film in old VHS when you clearly could get a much clearer and much more rewarding experience with the Blu ray version....you just weren't given the option cos the publishers etc etc wanted to reach a larger audience
Gripping graphic novel, 20 Aug 2008
This is a simply told story that touches on some very big ideas; the Islamic revolution; loyalty and family; and which boys you should fancy.
The main character is charming, naive, sympathetic and occasionally annoying - in other words, a very convincing young woman.
A fantastic read, especially if you think you don't like comic books!
Read it!!, 18 Aug 2008
I am no comic book fan, in fact I am closer to the opposite. I have always thought the term 'graphic novel' was just a term to make it OK for grown-up to read comics. So when this book was given to me as a present, I was doubtful..
But then I read the first page, and I was hooked! To tell the truth, I forgot that it was a comic I was reading, I was so onvolved in the story. The narrative just washes over you, and rather than the pictures becoming an annoyance as I though they would, they just added to the whole experience. I was impressed!
As for the story, it is intimate, delicate, honest and sometimes raw and shocking as well as touchingly funny. It is hugely informative, and presents a much needed fresh perspective on our own prejudices.
Loved it!!
Highly Recommended, 29 Apr 2008
This is a fantastic comic that will appeal to both comic fans & non-comic fans alike.
Despite the Amazon title, this edition "Persepolis. The Story of a Childhood and The Story of a Return" actually contains the complete Persepolis series.
"The Story of a Childhood" was original published in France as Persepolis 1 & 2, "The Story of a Return" was original published in France as Persepolis 3 & 4
recommended but don't take it seriously, 06 Nov 2004
As an Iranian living in the UK reading Ms Satrapi's book took me years back to the hell I experienced as an adolescent during the rule of the Islamic Republic. I remembered the fear of air attacks, went through the same sadness and joys which made most of my formative years.
The book is intriguing and takes you with it. Ms Satrapi has a gift of writing with a dark humour which at the same time makes you laugh and cry. It deals with raw emotions of a young child in the middle of the war and turmoil. These emotions are the building blocks of our lives and this makes everyone from different backgrounds understand an empathise with that little girl and in this regard the author should be congratulated.
The cartoons are of great quality and despite simplicity you can see wide range of emotions expressed by the characters.
Living through the war and revolution is not an easy experience, displaying it with humour is a hard task which the author fulfills with proficiency.
On the other hand one must not try to learn Iranian history from this book.
Most of the events are from the eye of a Marxist which makes the narrative biased. In other words seeking iranian revolution history from this book is like learning WW2 history from the film U-571!
Many of the accounts are inaccurate e.g. the last Emperor of Qajar dynasty had no child. Also the fact that the cinema was burned by Shah's regime is something that even the Islamic Republic does not claim now!
All in all I enjoyed reading the book. I recommend it to anyone who wants an emotional account of the revolution and war in Iran.
Best of luck for Ms Satrapi's future books.
Wisdom from the Master, 28 Oct 2008
It's no secret that Stephen King is the world's bestselling author. How he does that, is explained by himself in this book.
The first part of the book is a short, although insightful, autobiography. In this part King talks about his childhood, how he first became interested in horror and in writing and how his life was before he became world famous.
The larger part of the book is about writing. How to do it and how to do it well. Unlike some books on writing, King is not orthodox about this subject. There are a lot of "DO"'s and "DON'T"'s, plenty of tips and the revelation that to write good fiction all you have to do is to grab the vocabulary you have and use it on a good story. That's really all there is to it.
In the third and final part, King talks about his near-fatal accident with the vivid description that he always uses.
All in all, this is a must read for anyone writing fiction and with King's humour and personal style, it's a pleasure to read for anyone who has ever enjoyed any of his books.
The Audio version is read by King himself and is absolutely superb!
The Bible on writing., 24 Jul 2008
Quite simply, if you want to be a writer, this is a must read. Succinct, brilliantly arrogant at times, but he tells it as it is. Recommend without reservation.
Good advice from a guy who gets things done, 13 Jul 2008
I'm not generally a huge fan of King's books or his writing style, although he has written plenty of good stuff all the same. I suppose I am one of the literary snobs who Stephen King would not like. This memoir / advice on writing handbook was worth a read if for no other reason than King gets things done and has a remorseless work ethic. Anybody in any walk of life could learn from his example. King was not born with a silver spoon in his mouth and worked exceptionally hard for his success. He did so apparently through serious alcohol and drug addiction which makes his productivity all the more impressive. Latterly, he was also the victim of a drunken driver and really, was lucky to survive. His love of writing is in no small way a reason why he did. This book takes us through some of the seminal events of KIng's career and distills some very good advice on writing at same time.
Motivational!!, 12 May 2008
Having read On Writing when starting out, I was impressed by its honesty and how it motivated me. Years later, as a writer with my own portfolio of published work, I have read it again and found it still to be an enjoyable, honest and inspirational book about the joy and hardships of being a writer. I can think of only two other books so motivational: Journal of a Novel by John Steinbeck and Wannabe a Writer? by Jane Wenham-Jones.
Incredibly useful, 02 May 2008
I read this book while I was trying to get to grips with scribbling the first draft of a novel. It's a great mix of life story and invaluable insight from one writer to another. I do try and match his target of 2000 words a day but it's not easy! Have recommended this title on to others, particulary my local writers' group.
While firmly of the belief that if you want to finish a novel you should get on and do it rather than keep reading about 'how to' (am just finishing my fourth)...I have found another brilliant book which is full of really useful hints and tips - a thoroughly enjoyable read as well as incredibly practical! 'Wannabe a Writer' is by Jane Wenham-Jones.
|
|
|
 |
|
Jacky Daydream
Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days
*Best price found from Amazon Marketplace seller
|
*Amazon: £1.76
|
|
|
Customer Reviews
great memoir, 17 Nov 2008
l have never read a Ballard book,but found this auto-biography very enjoyable.His narrative is simple and direct,yet it delivers with vigour and zest.This is really two books.The first is the real feast for the reader,his growing up in China and all the English snobbery and meanness.Chinese starved to death,in front of the ex-pat communities, and brutally,tortured and killed by the Japanese.The second book is his life in England.An Englishman who had never been to England.His shock at how the arrogance of the ex-pats contrasted that with the listlessness and low quality of life in England.After the initial shock of finding Britain very different to ex-pat nostalgia,the book flattens out into a little more mundane expose of the rest of Ballards life,and it does not live up to the first book of Shanghai.The photos of him as a 4 year old and his subsequent children are a delight.Ballard was one of a dying generation that lived across the old,decaying world of the colonial ex-pat and new world of youth culture and modern art and fiction,pre 60s and post 60s,and his recollection make for a fantastic holiday or christmas read.A joyous ride through time
Honest Accounting, 13 May 2008
I won't give a synopsis since this has already been done ably by other reviewers. Why this autobiography 'worked' for me is that Mr Ballard has reflected his past experiences to his present situation so movingly, and with characteristic modesty. As a young man he considered his unusual childhood to be of little interest to anyone; only late on in his life has it provided him with explicit material for fiction - and now, with this account - for fact - only latterly has he recognised that he had unconsciously used his childhood experiences as literary motifs.
Judging by his enthusiasm that came through in the middle part of the book, I suspect that Mr Ballard derived most satisfaction in his life from raising his three children on his own following the tragic death of his wife whilst on holiday - an event that he describes briefly, yet deeply movingly.
He doesn't say a great deal about his actual writing (apart from, in his earlier years, writing a short story between dropping off his children at school in the morning and picking them up in the afternoon) although he does refer interestingly to some of his books and short stories, and to his literary acquaintances. With some exceptions (Kingsley Amis, Michael Moorcock, Ian Sinclair and Will Self) he appears to have been more 'at home' with avante garde artists than with fellow writers.
I spent some time in a British expatriate community as a youngster, albeit some twenty years after Mr Ballard's time, so I could relate to this part of his life. I'm familiar with the type of people he observed, although I don't recall the grown-ups as leading nearly such dissipated life styles, neither did I witness such extremes of poverty and affluence as existed in pre-war Shanghai ... and neither was I interned by 'the enemy' for two years.
Miracles of Life is not in the slightest bit pretentious, it is simply written and lacks in any real rancour, which is so refreshing, given some of the back-biting one comes to expect from autobiographies these days, and I thoroughly recommend it to anyone interested in what lies behind a considerable writer.
Beautifully told, 18 Mar 2008
This is a curious mixture of a book. Granted that it was written under strained and special circumstances, it is both revealing and concealing in equal measure. If you are familiar with Ballard's work and have taken an interest in him over the years, you will find nothing new here. It is, however, a joy to have it in one volume. And for all its apparent superficiality, we learn a great deal about Ballard from the structure and level of content of this work.
Nearly half the book is devoted to Ballard's first fifteen years, the time he lived in Shanghai and experienced the strange life of an expatriate community as well as internment by the Japanese. This is also the most fluent and vibrant part of the book.
It may well be that writing of his early life in his fiction, especially in Empire of the Sun, means he is well rehearsed. But it is clear these formative years are seared not just into his memory, but also his psyche. The things he saw and experienced have re-appeared time and again in his writings, sometimes filtered, but always from the same roots.
Elsewhere, there is a reticence, a shyness that produces a sketchy feeling, as if we are seeing an early draft. A pioneer of explorations into the sf of `inner space', his own inner space is closely guarded. Yet what he chooses to conceal is revealing in itself. He speaks of family life, for example, but whilst it is clear that his family was the bright sun at the centre of his universe, dimmed for a while by the sudden death of his wife, it is also clear that the rest is nobody's business but his own and theirs. I find this wonderfully refreshing - we are strangers, after all, those of us who read his books.
As a writer myself, I confess I was disappointed that Ballard did not discuss how he wrote or consider the processes by which developed certain styles, especially his concentrated novels. I would love to have known more of those early days and the discussions he had with other writers of the so-called `New Wave'. On the other hand I am not altogether surprised. Whilst undoubtedly a highly intelligent man and a skilled and innovative writer, he has never been one of the `literati', self-dissecting and self-obsessed. His work must (and does) speak for itself - with a voice that is robust, fluent, exciting, innovative, often tackling the controversial, but always worth listening to.
A Must Read, 23 Feb 2008
I couldn't put this down. Ballard writes about his time in Shanghai and makes it seem as normal as my own childhood. Then he returns to the UK - a country he has never been to - and feels a complete stranger.
Ballard's fiction is offbeat and surreal, but completely original - and this autobiography is almost an explanation of where it all came from. Fans of Ballard will find this almost an extension to his fiction.
I could not put this down. The writing is evocative without being wordy, and every page is filled with interesting thoughts.
Poignant and beautifully written autobiography, 23 Feb 2008
Quite simply, this was a joy to read.
Ballard tells of his childhood in Shanghai, internment there under the Japanese, his university years in England, right through to his writing career and the joys and tragedies he's experienced as a father and husband, and his love of family life.
What makes this book appealing is that it's not only well written and direct, but also that Ballard tells his story with an honesty and poignancy that is so rare in many autobiographies today.
This isn't about Ballard the writer, but about the circumstances and events that shaped and formed his personal values and beliefs.
You don't have to have read Ballard's fiction to enjoy this book either (although his Shanghai reminisces provide a fascinating insight into Empire of the Sun, the novel based on his internment experiences).
What stands out above all else is his enjoyment of childhood and subsequent selfless devotion and enjoyment of family through all the joys and tragedy he experienced.
His life affirming views on childhood, fatherhood, and single parenthood set this book apart from those hundreds of other autobiographies available that only tell of how individuals found (or lost) their fame or fortune.
more novel than graphic, 06 Sep 2008
This is a very touching book, very illuminating and very inspiring. It humanises a people that, unfortunately, we often feel to be nothing more than crazy islamic fundamentals and murderers. This is obviously not the case and it is nice to read a book that gently explains this...though there are plenty examples of the horror one would expect from living under such a regime.
the only gripe i have with this book is it's format. They have published this as a book rather than a graphic novel. As such the art and the text are tiny, and it can be physically difficult to read and pick up on the subtlties of the (lovely) artwork contained within. They must have done this so that people can read this on trains or what have you and avoid the 'comic book' look and so capitalise on the recently released animated movie (I won't lie...this is why I bought the book too). Graphic novels may not be as chic as a book but Persepolis would benefit from the size and glossy finish that the graphic novel format would provide.
only a minor flaw to be honest but i really do feel that to read this in book form is like watching a film in old VHS when you clearly could get a much clearer and much more rewarding experience with the Blu ray version....you just weren't given the option cos the publishers etc etc wanted to reach a larger audience
Gripping graphic novel, 20 Aug 2008
This is a simply told story that touches on some very big ideas; the Islamic revolution; loyalty and family; and which boys you should fancy.
The main character is charming, naive, sympathetic and occasionally annoying - in other words, a very convincing young woman.
A fantastic read, especially if you think you don't like comic books!
Read it!!, 18 Aug 2008
I am no comic book fan, in fact I am closer to the opposite. I have always thought the term 'graphic novel' was just a term to make it OK for grown-up to read comics. So when this book was given to me as a present, I was doubtful..
But then I read the first page, and I was hooked! To tell the truth, I forgot that it was a comic I was reading, I was so onvolved in the story. The narrative just washes over you, and rather than the pictures becoming an annoyance as I though they would, they just added to the whole experience. I was impressed!
As for the story, it is intimate, delicate, honest and sometimes raw and shocking as well as touchingly funny. It is hugely informative, and presents a much needed fresh perspective on our own prejudices.
Loved it!!
Highly Recommended, 29 Apr 2008
This is a fantastic comic that will appeal to both comic fans & non-comic fans alike.
Despite the Amazon title, this edition "Persepolis. The Story of a Childhood and The Story of a Return" actually contains the complete Persepolis series.
"The Story of a Childhood" was original published in France as Persepolis 1 & 2, "The Story of a Return" was original published in France as Persepolis 3 & 4
recommended but don't take it seriously, 06 Nov 2004
As an Iranian living in the UK reading Ms Satrapi's book took me years back to the hell I experienced as an adolescent during the rule of the Islamic Republic. I remembered the fear of air attacks, went through the same sadness and joys which made most of my formative years.
The book is intriguing and takes you with it. Ms Satrapi has a gift of writing with a dark humour which at the same time makes you laugh and cry. It deals with raw emotions of a young child in the middle of the war and turmoil. These emotions are the building blocks of our lives and this makes everyone from different backgrounds understand an empathise with that little girl and in this regard the author should be congratulated.
The cartoons are of great quality and despite simplicity you can see wide range of emotions expressed by the characters.
Living through the war and revolution is not an easy experience, displaying it with humour is a hard task which the author fulfills with proficiency.
On the other hand one must not try to learn Iranian history from this book.
Most of the events are from the eye of a Marxist which makes the narrative biased. In other words seeking iranian revolution history from this book is like learning WW2 history from the film U-571!
Many of the accounts are inaccurate e.g. the last Emperor of Qajar dynasty had no child. Also the fact that the cinema was burned by Shah's regime is something that even the Islamic Republic does not claim now!
All in all I enjoyed reading the book. I recommend it to anyone who wants an emotional account of the revolution and war in Iran.
Best of luck for Ms Satrapi's future books.
Wisdom from the Master, 28 Oct 2008
It's no secret that Stephen King is the world's bestselling author. How he does that, is explained by himself in this book.
The first part of the book is a short, although insightful, autobiography. In this part King talks about his childhood, how he first became interested in horror and in writing and how his life was before he became world famous.
The larger part of the book is about writing. How to do it and how to do it well. Unlike some books on writing, King is not orthodox about this subject. There are a lot of "DO"'s and "DON'T"'s, plenty of tips and the revelation that to write good fiction all you have to do is to grab the vocabulary you have and use it on a good story. That's really all there is to it.
In the third and final part, King talks about his near-fatal accident with the vivid description that he always uses.
All in all, this is a must read for anyone writing fiction and with King's humour and personal style, it's a pleasure to read for anyone who has ever enjoyed any of his books.
The Audio version is read by King himself and is absolutely superb!
The Bible on writing., 24 Jul 2008
Quite simply, if you want to be a writer, this is a must read. Succinct, brilliantly arrogant at times, but he tells it as it is. Recommend without reservation.
Good advice from a guy who gets things done, 13 Jul 2008
I'm not generally a huge fan of King's books or his writing style, although he has written plenty of good stuff all the same. I suppose I am one of the literary snobs who Stephen King would not like. This memoir / advice on writing handbook was worth a read if for no other reason than King gets things done and has a remorseless work ethic. Anybody in any walk of life could learn from his example. King was not born with a silver spoon in his mouth and worked exceptionally hard for his success. He did so apparently through serious alcohol and drug addiction which makes his productivity all the more impressive. Latterly, he was also the victim of a drunken driver and really, was lucky to survive. His love of writing is in no small way a reason why he did. This book takes us through some of the seminal events of KIng's career and distills some very good advice on writing at same time.
Motivational!!, 12 May 2008
Having read On Writing when starting out, I was impressed by its honesty and how it motivated me. Years later, as a writer with my own portfolio of published work, I have read it again and found it still to be an enjoyable, honest and inspirational book about the joy and hardships of being a writer. I can think of only two other books so motivational: Journal of a Novel by John Steinbeck and Wannabe a Writer? by Jane Wenham-Jones.
Incredibly useful, 02 May 2008
I read this book while I was trying to get to grips with scribbling the first draft of a novel. It's a great mix of life story and invaluable insight from one writer to another. I do try and match his target of 2000 words a day but it's not easy! Have recommended this title on to others, particulary my local writers' group.
While firmly of the belief that if you want to finish a novel you should get on and do it rather than keep reading about 'how to' (am just finishing my fourth)...I have found another brilliant book which is full of really useful hints and tips - a thoroughly enjoyable read as well as incredibly practical! 'Wannabe a Writer' is by Jane Wenham-Jones.
Amazing Read!, 11 Sep 2008
I read this in one blast! It was hard to put the book down.
I recommend this book to all Jacqueline Wilson readers!
Review of an 11 year old Jacky Daydream by an 11 year old ..., 08 May 2008
As soon as I heard about the book Jacky Daydream I longed to have it - for two reasons: one - I needed a good book to read and Jacqueline Wilson has never disappointed me and two, after all the books I'd read by her based on children with problems like their parents splitting up or their best friend moving away or their pets dying, I ached to know how Jacqueline Wilson grew up: had she suffered what many of her characters had suffered?
And Jacky Daydream had all the answers to my questions; it had everything from birth to books! It told me all about how things were when Jacqueline Wilson was a child; it described her rooms and had chapters on her family, friends and teachers. It was like going through a time machine starting on the 17th December 1945 when she was born and seeing how she grew up in a flat with her parents, Biddy and Harry; and how Biddy kept her squeaky clean and their flat too, of course! And going right through to when Jacqueline Wilson and her parents went to live with her grandparents and how Hilda Ellen (her gran) told her stories of her own childhood. Poor Hilda Ellen had a very disrupted childhood, moving about a lot.
I read how Jacqueline Wilson loved dolls and got one every Christmas. I also read about her first day of school and those that followed. She made many friends and when she was 11 - like I am now - I almost cried for her poor friend, Christine's, tragic situation (her mum was dying).
Then there was Jacqueline Wilson's father, Harry, who could be sweet and gentle but could burst into fiery moods which Jacqueline Wilson hated; as well as her parents rowing.
I loved the fact that Jacqueline Wilson had imaginary friends and played imaginary games by herself and sometimes with her friends. And - of course - like any good writer, she loved books and two chapters were dedicated to her love of reading and the books she enjoyed.
At the end of each chapter Jacqueline Wilson would pose a question like:
In which of my books did one of my characters do such-and-such?
And then she would answer her question and include an extract from one of her other books and reveal some of her thoughts on that book. And I could see the connections that she had with some of her characters.
The Epilogue included some school reports and a quick review of JW's teenage years.
And a clever ending!
It must have been hard for JW to recall so much of her childhood with such colourful interest, but I think she did an excellent job of making it readable and so brought a writer I love to life, especially as she included photographs.
by Hattie Rowan, aged 11, Tabora, Tanzania
Jacky Daydream is an excellent book, 07 Apr 2008
This book Jacky Daydream is a nearly well know book it was made in 2007. It is about a girl named Jacky Daydream and her life throught out the years , in this book there are loads of questions asking you about a book and you have to guess what book it is if you have read alot of Jaqeline Books. If you like Tracy Beaker you will love this book I hope you read it and enjoy it. HAPPY READING!
Jacky Daydream - 4 stars, 07 Apr 2008
I thought this book was very good. It was very cleverly-written and I enjoyed the parts at the end of each chapter where Jaqueline Wilson compares one of her books to the things she wrote about in that chapter. The reason it is so well written is the brilliant amount of detail it goes into. I also loved the pictures and the reports at the end. I can't even think of anything this book could have improved on, it was so good!
Unputdownable, 20 Nov 2007
Jacqueline Wilson's amazing memory, honesty and writing skills combine to make a fascinating, readable and moving autobiography. Would-be writers -- especially girls -- will enjoy it hugely.
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
Customer Reviews
great memoir, 17 Nov 2008
l have never read a Ballard book,but found this auto-biography very enjoyable.His narrative is simple and direct,yet it delivers with vigour and zest.This is really two books.The first is the real feast for the reader,his growing up in China and all the English snobbery and meanness.Chinese starved to death,in front of the ex-pat communities, and brutally,tortured and killed by the Japanese.The second book is his life in England.An Englishman who had never been to England.His shock at how the arrogance of the ex-pats contrasted that with the listlessness and low quality of life in England.After the initial shock of finding Britain very different to ex-pat nostalgia,the book flattens out into a little more mundane expose of the rest of Ballards life,and it does not live up to the first book of Shanghai.The photos of him as a 4 year old and his subsequent children are a delight.Ballard was one of a dying generation that lived across the old,decaying world of the colonial ex-pat and new world of youth culture and modern art and fiction,pre 60s and post 60s,and his recollection make for a fantastic holiday or christmas read.A joyous ride through time
Honest Accounting, 13 May 2008
I won't give a synopsis since this has already been done ably by other reviewers. Why this autobiography 'worked' for me is that Mr Ballard has reflected his past experiences to his present situation so movingly, and with characteristic modesty. As a young man he considered his unusual childhood to be of little interest to anyone; only late on in his life has it provided him with explicit material for fiction - and now, with this account - for fact - only latterly has he recognised that he had unconsciously used his childhood experiences as literary motifs.
Judging by his enthusiasm that came through in the middle part of the book, I suspect that Mr Ballard derived most satisfaction in his life from raising his three children on his own following the tragic death of his wife whilst on holiday - an event that he describes briefly, yet deeply movingly.
He doesn't say a great deal about his actual writing (apart from, in his earlier years, writing a short story between dropping off his children at school in the morning and picking them up in the afternoon) although he does refer interestingly to some of his books and short stories, and to his literary acquaintances. With some exceptions (Kingsley Amis, Michael Moorcock, Ian Sinclair and Will Self) he appears to have been more 'at home' with avante garde artists than with fellow writers.
I spent some time in a British expatriate community as a youngster, albeit some twenty years after Mr Ballard's time, so I could relate to this part of his life. I'm familiar with the type of people he observed, although I don't recall the grown-ups as leading nearly such dissipated life styles, neither did I witness such extremes of poverty and affluence as existed in pre-war Shanghai ... and neither was I interned by 'the enemy' for two years.
Miracles of Life is not in the slightest bit pretentious, it is simply written and lacks in any real rancour, which is so refreshing, given some of the back-biting one comes to expect from autobiographies these days, and I thoroughly recommend it to anyone interested in what lies behind a considerable writer.
Beautifully told, 18 Mar 2008
This is a curious mixture of a book. Granted that it was written under strained and special circumstances, it is both revealing and concealing in equal measure. If you are familiar with Ballard's work and have taken an interest in him over the years, you will find nothing new here. It is, however, a joy to have it in one volume. And for all its apparent superficiality, we learn a great deal about Ballard from the structure and level of content of this work.
Nearly half the book is devoted to Ballard's first fifteen years, the time he lived in Shanghai and experienced the strange life of an expatriate community as well as internment by the Japanese. This is also the most fluent and vibrant part of the book.
It may well be that writing of his early life in his fiction, especially in Empire of the Sun, means he is well rehearsed. But it is clear these formative years are seared not just into his memory, but also his psyche. The things he saw and experienced have re-appeared time and again in his writings, sometimes filtered, but always from the same roots.
Elsewhere, there is a reticence, a shyness that produces a sketchy feeling, as if we are seeing an early draft. A pioneer of explorations into the sf of `inner space', his own inner space is closely guarded. Yet what he chooses to conceal is revealing in itself. He speaks of family life, for example, but whilst it is clear that his family was the bright sun at the centre of his universe, dimmed for a while by the sudden death of his wife, it is also clear that the rest is nobody's business but his own and theirs. I find this wonderfully refreshing - we are strangers, after all, those of us who read his books.
As a writer myself, I confess I was disappointed that Ballard did not discuss how he wrote or consider the processes by which developed certain styles, especially his concentrated novels. I would love to have known more of those early days and the discussions he had with other writers of the so-called `New Wave'. On the other hand I am not altogether surprised. Whilst undoubtedly a highly intelligent man and a skilled and innovative writer, he has never been one of the `literati', self-dissecting and self-obsessed. His work must (and does) speak for itself - with a voice that is robust, fluent, exciting, innovative, often tackling the controversial, but always worth listening to.
A Must Read, 23 Feb 2008
I couldn't put this down. Ballard writes about his time in Shanghai and makes it seem as normal as my own childhood. Then he returns to the UK - a country he has never been to - and feels a complete stranger.
Ballard's fiction is offbeat and surreal, but completely original - and this autobiography is almost an explanation of where it all came from. Fans of Ballard will find this almost an extension to his fiction.
I could not put this down. The writing is evocative without being wordy, and every page is filled with interesting thoughts.
Poignant and beautifully written autobiography, 23 Feb 2008
Quite simply, this was a joy to read.
Ballard tells of his childhood in Shanghai, internment there under the Japanese, his university years in England, right through to his writing career and the joys and tragedies he's experienced as a father and husband, and his love of family life.
What makes this book appealing is that it's not only well written and direct, but also that Ballard tells his story with an honesty and poignancy that is so rare in many autobiographies today.
This isn't about Ballard the writer, but about the circumstances and events that shaped and formed his personal values and beliefs.
You don't have to have read Ballard's fiction to enjoy this book either (although his Shanghai reminisces provide a fascinating insight into Empire of the Sun, the novel based on his internment experiences).
What stands out above all else is his enjoyment of childhood and subsequent selfless devotion and enjoyment of family through all the joys and tragedy he experienced.
His life affirming views on childhood, fatherhood, and single parenthood set this book apart from those hundreds of other autobiographies available that only tell of how individuals found (or lost) their fame or fortune.
more novel than graphic, 06 Sep 2008
This is a very touching book, very illuminating and very inspiring. It humanises a people that, unfortunately, we often feel to be nothing more than crazy islamic fundamentals and murderers. This is obviously not the case and it is nice to read a book that gently explains this...though there are plenty examples of the horror one would expect from living under such a regime.
the only gripe i have with this book is it's format. They have published this as a book rather than a graphic novel. As such the art and the text are tiny, and it can be physically difficult to read and pick up on the subtlties of the (lovely) artwork contained within. They must have done this so that people can read this on trains or what have you and avoid the 'comic book' look and so capitalise on the recently released animated movie (I won't lie...this is why I bought the book too). Graphic novels may not be as chic as a book but Persepolis would benefit from the size and glossy finish that the graphic novel format would provide.
only a minor flaw to be honest but i really do feel that to read this in book form is like watching a film in old VHS when you clearly could get a much clearer and much more rewarding experience with the Blu ray version....you just weren't given the option cos the publishers etc etc wanted to reach a larger audience
Gripping graphic novel, 20 Aug 2008
This is a simply told story that touches on some very big ideas; the Islamic revolution; loyalty and family; and which boys you should fancy.
The main character is charming, naive, sympathetic and occasionally annoying - in other words, a very convincing young woman.
A fantastic read, especially if you think you don't like comic books!
Read it!!, 18 Aug 2008
I am no comic book fan, in fact I am closer to the opposite. I have always thought the term 'graphic novel' was just a term to make it OK for grown-up to read comics. So when this book was given to me as a present, I was doubtful..
But then I read the first page, and I was hooked! To tell the truth, I forgot that it was a comic I was reading, I was so onvolved in the story. The narrative just washes over you, and rather than the pictures becoming an annoyance as I though they would, they just added to the whole experience. I was impressed!
As for the story, it is intimate, delicate, honest and sometimes raw and shocking as well as touchingly funny. It is hugely informative, and presents a much needed fresh perspective on our own prejudices.
Loved it!!
Highly Recommended, 29 Apr 2008
This is a fantastic comic that will appeal to both comic fans & non-comic fans alike.
Despite the Amazon title, this edition "Persepolis. The Story of a Childhood and The Story of a Return" actually contains the complete Persepolis series.
"The Story of a Childhood" was original published in France as Persepolis 1 & 2, "The Story of a Return" was original published in France as Persepolis 3 & 4
recommended but don't take it seriously, 06 Nov 2004
As an Iranian living in the UK reading Ms Satrapi's book took me years back to the hell I experienced as an adolescent during the rule of the Islamic Republic. I remembered the fear of air attacks, went through the same sadness and joys which made most of my formative years.
The book is intriguing and takes you with it. Ms Satrapi has a gift of writing with a dark humour which at the same time makes you laugh and cry. It deals with raw emotions of a young child in the middle of the war and turmoil. These emotions are the building blocks of our lives and this makes everyone from different backgrounds understand an empathise with that little girl and in this regard the author should be congratulated.
The cartoons are of great quality and despite simplicity you can see wide range of emotions expressed by the characters.
Living through the war and revolution is not an easy experience, displaying it with humour is a hard task which the author fulfills with proficiency.
On the other hand one must not try to learn Iranian history from this book.
Most of the events are from the eye of a Marxist which makes the narrative biased. In other words seeking iranian revolution history from this book is like learning WW2 history from the film U-571!
Many of the accounts are inaccurate e.g. the last Emperor of Qajar dynasty had no child. Also the fact that the cinema was burned by Shah's regime is something that even the Islamic Republic does not claim now!
All in all I enjoyed reading the book. I recommend it to anyone who wants an emotional account of the revolution and war in Iran.
Best of luck for Ms Satrapi's future books.
Wisdom from the Master, 28 Oct 2008
It's no secret that Stephen King is the world's bestselling author. How he does that, is explained by himself in this book.
The first part of the book is a short, although insightful, autobiography. In this part King talks about his childhood, how he first became interested in horror and in writing and how his life was before he became world famous.
The larger part of the book is about writing. How to do it and how to do it well. Unlike some books on writing, King is not orthodox about this subject. There are a lot of "DO"'s and "DON'T"'s, plenty of tips and the revelation that to write good fiction all you have to do is to grab the vocabulary you have and use it on a good story. That's really all there is to it.
In the third and final part, King talks about his near-fatal accident with the vivid description that he always uses.
All in all, this is a must read for anyone writing fiction and with King's humour and personal style, it's a pleasure to read for anyone who has ever enjoyed any of his books.
The Audio version is read by King himself and is absolutely superb!
The Bible on writing., 24 Jul 2008
Quite simply, if you want to be a writer, this is a must read. Succinct, brilliantly arrogant at times, but he tells it as it is. Recommend without reservation.
Good advice from a guy who gets things done, 13 Jul 2008
I'm not generally a huge fan of King's books or his writing style, although he has written plenty of good stuff all the same. I suppose I am one of the literary snobs who Stephen King would not like. This memoir / advice on writing handbook was worth a read if for no other reason than King gets things done and has a remorseless work ethic. Anybody in any walk of life could learn from his example. King was not born with a silver spoon in his mouth and worked exceptionally hard for his success. He did so apparently through serious alcohol and drug addiction which makes his productivity all the more impressive. Latterly, he was also the victim of a drunken driver and really, was lucky to survive. His love of writing is in no small way a reason why he did. This book takes us through some of the seminal events of KIng's career and distills some very good advice on writing at same time.
Motivational!!, 12 May 2008
Having read On Writing when starting out, I was impressed by its honesty and how it motivated me. Years later, as a writer with my own portfolio of published work, I have read it again and found it still to be an enjoyable, honest and inspirational book about the joy and hardships of being a writer. I can think of only two other books so motivational: Journal of a Novel by John Steinbeck and Wannabe a Writer? by Jane Wenham-Jones.
Incredibly useful, 02 May 2008
I read this book while I was trying to get to grips with scribbling the first draft of a novel. It's a great mix of life story and invaluable insight from one writer to another. I do try and match his target of 2000 words a day but it's not easy! Have recommended this title on to others, particulary my local writers' group.
While firmly of the belief that if you want to finish a novel you should get on and do it rather than keep reading about 'how to' (am just finishing my fourth)...I have found another brilliant book which is full of really useful hints and tips - a thoroughly enjoyable read as well as incredibly practical! 'Wannabe a Writer' is by Jane Wenham-Jones.
Amazing Read!, 11 Sep 2008
I read this in one blast! It was hard to put the book down.
I recommend this book to all Jacqueline Wilson readers!
Review of an 11 year old Jacky Daydream by an 11 year old ..., 08 May 2008
As soon as I heard about the book Jacky Daydream I longed to have it - for two reasons: one - I needed a good book to read and Jacqueline Wilson has never disappointed me and two, after all the books I'd read by her based on children with problems like their parents splitting up or their best friend moving away or their pets dying, I ached to know how Jacqueline Wilson grew up: had she suffered what many of her characters had suffered?
And Jacky Daydream had all the answers to my questions; it had everything from birth to books! It told me all about how things were when Jacqueline Wilson was a child; it described her rooms and had chapters on her family, friends and teachers. It was like going through a time machine starting on the 17th December 1945 when she was born and seeing how she grew up in a flat with her parents, Biddy and Harry; and how Biddy kept her squeaky clean and their flat too, of course! And going right through to when Jacqueline Wilson and her parents went to live with her grandparents and how Hilda Ellen (her gran) told her stories of her own childhood. Poor Hilda Ellen had a very disrupted childhood, moving about a lot.
I read how Jacqueline Wilson loved dolls and got one every Christmas. I also read about her first day of school and those that followed. She made many friends and when she was 11 - like I am now - I almost cried for her poor friend, Christine's, tragic situation (her mum was dying).
Then there was Jacqueline Wilson's father, Harry, who could be sweet and gentle but could burst into fiery moods which Jacqueline Wilson hated; as well as her parents rowing.
I loved the fact that Jacqueline Wilson had imaginary friends and played imaginary games by herself and sometimes with her friends. And - of course - like any good writer, she loved books and two chapters were dedicated to her love of reading and the books she enjoyed.
At the end of each chapter Jacqueline Wilson would pose a question like:
In which of my books did one of my characters do such-and-such?
And then she would answer her question and include an extract from one of her other books and reveal some of her thoughts on that book. And I could see the connections that she had with some of her characters.
The Epilogue included some school reports and a quick review of JW's teenage years.
And a clever ending!
It must have been hard for JW to recall so much of her childhood with such colourful interest, but I think she did an excellent job of making it readable and so brought a writer I love to life, especially as she included photographs.
by Hattie Rowan, aged 11, Tabora, Tanzania
Jacky Daydream is an excellent book, 07 Apr 2008
This book Jacky Daydream is a nearly well know book it was made in 2007. It is about a girl named Jacky Daydream and her life throught out the years , in this book there are loads of questions asking you about a book and you have to guess what book it is if you have read alot of Jaqeline Books. If you like Tracy Beaker you will love this book I hope you read it and enjoy it. HAPPY READING!
Jacky Daydream - 4 stars, 07 Apr 2008
I thought this book was very good. It was very cleverly-written and I enjoyed the parts at the end of each chapter where Jaqueline Wilson compares one of her books to the things she wrote about in that chapter. The reason it is so well written is the brilliant amount of detail it goes into. I also loved the pictures and the reports at the end. I can't even think of anything this book could have improved on, it was so good!
Unputdownable, 20 Nov 2007
Jacqueline Wilson's amazing memory, honesty and writing skills combine to make a fascinating, readable and moving autobiography. Would-be writers -- especially girls -- will enjoy it hugely.
It's a Fleming & Bond Blockbuster, 30 Aug 2008
Dr Blockbuster got a signed copy when Ben MacIntyre was at the Edinburgh International Book Festival in August. The title says it all ... a beautiful blend of Ian Fleming and James Bond, containing enlightening background and many interesting facts, unknown EVEN to Dr Blockbuster! Merde!
Add this to your Bond bookshelf now!
For the uninitiated into world of Fleming....., 29 Jul 2008
As one who studied Fleming's work extensively as a graduate student and later publishing a thesis on the writer's impact on pop culture of the period, I must admit I was a bit skeptical about yet another bland and redundant Bond "coffee table" book for the masses. Happily, this is not the case with "For Your Eyes Only: Ian Fleming and James Bond" by Ben Macintyre, written on the centenary of the author's birth. Highly readable and enjoyable and chock full with full-color photos of props used throughout all 21 Bond films, this book is a comprehensive survey of not just of Bond's impact on fiction and the cinema, but a real in-depth analysis of the man who breathed live into one of popular culture's most endurable icons.
Much is written about Fleming's childhood, adolescence, education at Eton, relationships with family (brother Peter, noted travel writer), his military career, his closest friends (Ivar Bryce and Noel Coward), his love-hate relationships with wife Ann, and the author's affairs with numerous beautiful women which oddly resemble Fleming's fictional alter-ego. For those who wish to learn more about Bond and the writer who created him, this tome is a great springboard into the Bond phenomenon which has spanned over forty years.
The reailty behind the legend, 24 Jul 2008
A kazilion authors have attempted to connect the real life of Ian Fleming to his famous fictional creation. Macintyre does an excellent job of summarizing the life of Fleming and the inspirations both in his personality and in his experience that led to the famous mythical world of 007.
As you would expect of an Imperial War Museum production, there are excellent photos from the archives as well as artifacts from the James Bond movies.
Short but successful attempt to explore where Fleming's world ended and Bond's began, 16 Jun 2008
A book written to accompany an exhibition at the Imperial War Museum to celebrate the centenary of Ian Fleming's birth, it is, according to author Ben Macintyre, neither a biography of Ian Fleming nor a "Biography" of James Bond, but "a personal investigation into the intersection of two lives, one real and one fictional".
There certainly are many elements of a biography of Fleming. We learn of his father's death, when he was just nine, on the Western Front, and of his relationship with his domineering mother Evelyn, referred to by him and his brothers, interestingly, as "M". Fleming's search for a career that combined high earnings with a relaxed lifestyle, his compulsive womanising, his taste for the good things of life, but also his war service in naval intelligence, are all covered, as a backdrop to the elements of Bond's character. The many actual people who may have contributed to Bond as well as Fleming, including his late father, Valentine Fleming, his brother Peter, also involved in intelligence work, a variety of commandos and Special Forces types like Fitzroy MacLean, and a similar treatment to the other principal characters in the books, like M and Miss Moneypenny. The way that Fleming adopted names from acquaintances for other characters is fascinating: he was almost sued by the architect Erno Goldfinger for the misappropriation of his one.
While Macintyre comments primarily on the books, he also brings in the films. I suspect that part of the reason for this was that it gave the book (and the exhibition) much more material to display, but on the whole inclusion of film material is not intrusive and allows Macintyre to point out the differences. For example, while there was a Q-Section in the books, and an Armourer, Major Boothroyd (named after one of Fleming's correspondents, who persuaded him that a Beretta was no suitable pistol for a secret agent), it was only in the films that these were combined into the character "Q".
If you have read one of the biographies of Ian Fleming (and Macintyre, by the way, recommends those by John Pearson and Andrew Lycett) then this book may seem a little thin. If, like me, you have not, then this book is an excellent, easy to read starting point to looking behind the character of James Bond to the man who created him. Macintyre succeeds, in this short but excellently illustrated book, in showing us where Fleming's world ended and Bond's began.
|
|
|
 |
|
This is Not About Me
Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days
*Best price found from Amazon Marketplace seller
|
*Amazon: £9.33
|
|
|
Customer Reviews
great memoir, 17 Nov 2008
l have never read a Ballard book,but found this auto-biography very enjoyable.His narrative is simple and direct,yet it delivers with vigour and zest.This is really two books.The first is the real feast for the reader,his growing up in China and all the English snobbery and meanness.Chinese starved to death,in front of the ex-pat communities, and brutally,tortured and killed by the Japanese.The second book is his life in England.An Englishman who had never been to England.His shock at how the arrogance of the ex-pats contrasted that with the listlessness and low quality of life in England.After the initial shock of finding Britain very different to ex-pat nostalgia,the book flattens out into a little more mundane expose of the rest of Ballards life,and it does not live up to the first book of Shanghai.The photos of him as a 4 year old and his subsequent children are a delight.Ballard was one of a dying generation that lived across the old,decaying world of the colonial ex-pat and new world of youth culture and modern art and fiction,pre 60s and post 60s,and his recollection make for a fantastic holiday or christmas read.A joyous ride through time
Honest Accounting, 13 May 2008
I won't give a synopsis since this has already been done ably by other reviewers. Why this autobiography 'worked' for me is that Mr Ballard has reflected his past experiences to his present situation so movingly, and with characteristic modesty. As a young man he considered his unusual childhood to be of little interest to anyone; only late on in his life has it provided him with explicit material for fiction - and now, with this account - for fact - only latterly has he recognised that he had unconsciously used his childhood experiences as literary motifs.
Judging by his enthusiasm that came through in the middle part of the book, I suspect that Mr Ballard derived most satisfaction in his life from raising his three children on his own following the tragic death of his wife whilst on holiday - an event that he describes briefly, yet deeply movingly.
He doesn't say a great deal about his actual writing (apart from, in his earlier years, writing a short story between dropping off his children at school in the morning and picking them up in the afternoon) although he does refer interestingly to some of his books and short stories, and to his literary acquaintances. With some exceptions (Kingsley Amis, Michael Moorcock, Ian Sinclair and Will Self) he appears to have been more 'at home' with avante garde artists than with fellow writers.
I spent some time in a British expatriate community as a youngster, albeit some twenty years after Mr Ballard's time, so I could relate to this part of his life. I'm familiar with the type of people he observed, although I don't recall the grown-ups as leading nearly such dissipated life styles, neither did I witness such extremes of poverty and affluence as existed in pre-war Shanghai ... and neither was I interned by 'the enemy' for two years.
Miracles of Life is not in the slightest bit pretentious, it is simply written and lacks in any real rancour, which is so refreshing, given some of the back-biting one comes to expect from autobiographies these days, and I thoroughly recommend it to anyone interested in what lies behind a considerable writer.
Beautifully told, 18 Mar 2008
This is a curious mixture of a book. Granted that it was written under strained and special circumstances, it is both revealing and concealing in equal measure. If you are familiar with Ballard's work and have taken an interest in him over the years, you will find nothing new here. It is, however, a joy to have it in one volume. And for all its apparent superficiality, we learn a great deal about Ballard from the structure and level of content of this work.
Nearly half the book is devoted to Ballard's first fifteen years, the time he lived in Shanghai and experienced the strange life of an expatriate community as well as internment by the Japanese. This is also the most fluent and vibrant part of the book.
It may well be that writing of his early life in his fiction, especially in Empire of the Sun, means he is well rehearsed. But it is clear these formative years are seared not just into his memory, but also his psyche. The things he saw and experienced have re-appeared time and again in his writings, sometimes filtered, but always from the same roots.
Elsewhere, there is a reticence, a shyness that produces a sketchy feeling, as if we are seeing an early draft. A pioneer of explorations into the sf of `inner space', his own inner space is closely guarded. Yet what he chooses to conceal is revealing in itself. He speaks of family life, for example, but whilst it is clear that his family was the bright sun at the centre of his universe, dimmed for a while by the sudden death of his wife, it is also clear that the rest is nobody's business but his own and theirs. I find this wonderfully refreshing - we are strangers, after all, those of us who read his books.
As a writer myself, I confess I was disappointed that Ballard did not discuss how he wrote or consider the processes by which developed certain styles, especially his concentrated novels. I would love to have known more of those early days and the discussions he had with other writers of the so-called `New Wave'. On the other hand I am not altogether surprised. Whilst undoubtedly a highly intelligent man and a skilled and innovative writer, he has never been one of the `literati', self-dissecting and self-obsessed. His work must (and does) speak for itself - with a voice that is robust, fluent, exciting, innovative, often tackling the controversial, but always worth listening to.
A Must Read, 23 Feb 2008
I couldn't put this down. Ballard writes about his time in Shanghai and makes it seem as normal as my own childhood. Then he returns to the UK - a country he has never been to - and feels a complete stranger.
Ballard's fiction is offbeat and surreal, but completely original - and this autobiography is almost an explanation of where it all came from. Fans of Ballard will find this almost an extension to his fiction.
I could not put this down. The writing is evocative without being wordy, and every page is filled with interesting thoughts.
Poignant and beautifully written autobiography, 23 Feb 2008
Quite simply, this was a joy to read.
Ballard tells of his childhood in Shanghai, internment there under the Japanese, his university years in England, right through to his writing career and the joys and tragedies he's experienced as a father and husband, and his love of family life.
What makes this book appealing is that it's not only well written and direct, but also that Ballard tells his story with an honesty and poignancy that is so rare in many autobiographies today.
This isn't about Ballard the writer, but about the circumstances and events that shaped and formed his personal values and beliefs.
You don't have to have read Ballard's fiction to enjoy this book either (although his Shanghai reminisces provide a fascinating insight into Empire of the Sun, the novel based on his internment experiences).
What stands out above all else is his enjoyment of childhood and subsequent selfless devotion and enjoyment of family through all the joys and tragedy he experienced.
His life affirming views on childhood, fatherhood, and single parenthood set this book apart from those hundreds of other autobiographies available that only tell of how individuals found (or lost) their fame or fortune.
more novel than graphic, 06 Sep 2008
This is a very touching book, very illuminating and very inspiring. It humanises a people that, unfortunately, we often feel to be nothing more than crazy islamic fundamentals and murderers. This is obviously not the case and it is nice to read a book that gently explains this...though there are plenty examples of the horror one would expect from living under such a regime.
the only gripe i have with this book is it's format. They have published this as a book rather than a graphic novel. As such the art and the text are tiny, and it can be physically difficult to read and pick up on the subtlties of the (lovely) artwork contained within. They must have done this so that people can read this on trains or what have you and avoid the 'comic book' look and so capitalise on the recently released animated movie (I won't lie...this is why I bought the book too). Graphic novels may not be as chic as a book but Persepolis would benefit from the size and glossy finish that the graphic novel format would provide.
only a minor flaw to be honest but i really do feel that to read this in book form is like watching a film in old VHS when you clearly could get a much clearer and much more rewarding experience with the Blu ray version....you just weren't given the option cos the publishers etc etc wanted to reach a larger audience
Gripping graphic novel, 20 Aug 2008
This is a simply told story that touches on some very big ideas; the Islamic revolution; loyalty and family; and which boys you should fancy.
The main character is charming, naive, sympathetic and occasionally annoying - in other words, a very convincing young woman.
A fantastic read, especially if you think you don't like comic books!
Read it!!, 18 Aug 2008
I am no comic book fan, in fact I am closer to the opposite. I have always thought the term 'graphic novel' was just a term to make it OK for grown-up to read comics. So when this book was given to me as a present, I was doubtful..
But then I read the first page, and I was hooked! To tell the truth, I forgot that it was a comic I was reading, I was so onvolved in the story. The narrative just washes over you, and rather than the pictures becoming an annoyance as I though they would, they just added to the whole experience. I was impressed!
As for the story, it is intimate, delicate, honest and sometimes raw and shocking as well as touchingly funny. It is hugely informative, and presents a much needed fresh perspective on our own prejudices.
Loved it!!
Highly Recommended, 29 Apr 2008
This is a fantastic comic that will appeal to both comic fans & non-comic fans alike.
Despite the Amazon title, this edition "Persepolis. The Story of a Childhood and The Story of a Return" actually contains the complete Persepolis series.
"The Story of a Childhood" was original published in France as Persepolis 1 & 2, "The Story of a Return" was original published in France as Persepolis 3 & 4
recommended but don't take it seriously, 06 Nov 2004
As an Iranian living in the UK reading Ms Satrapi's book took me years back to the hell I experienced as an adolescent during the rule of the Islamic Republic. I remembered the fear of air attacks, went through the same sadness and joys which made most of my formative years.
The book is intriguing and takes you with it. Ms Satrapi has a gift of writing with a dark humour which at the same time makes you laugh and cry. It deals with raw emotions of a young child in the middle of the war and turmoil. These emotions are the building blocks of our lives and this makes everyone from different backgrounds understand an empathise with that little girl and in this regard the author should be congratulated.
The cartoons are of great quality and despite simplicity you can see wide range of emotions expressed by the characters.
Living through the war and revolution is not an easy experience, displaying it with humour is a hard task which the author fulfills with proficiency.
On the other hand one must not try to learn Iranian history from this book.
Most of the events are from the eye of a Marxist which makes the narrative biased. In other words seeking iranian revolution history from this book is like learning WW2 history from the film U-571!
Many of the accounts are inaccurate e.g. the last Emperor of Qajar dynasty had no child. Also the fact that the cinema was burned by Shah's regime is something that even the Islamic Republic does not claim now!
All in all I enjoyed reading the book. I recommend it to anyone who wants an emotional account of the revolution and war in Iran.
Best of luck for Ms Satrapi's future books.
Wisdom from the Master, 28 Oct 2008
It's no secret that Stephen King is the world's bestselling author. How he does that, is explained by himself in this book.
The first part of the book is a short, although insightful, autobiography. In this part King talks about his childhood, how he first became interested in horror and in writing and how his life was before he became world famous.
The larger part of the book is about writing. How to do it and how to do it well. Unlike some books on writing, King is not orthodox about this subject. There are a lot of "DO"'s and "DON'T"'s, plenty of tips and the revelation that to write good fiction all you have to do is to grab the vocabulary you have and use it on a good story. That's really all there is to it.
In the third and final part, King talks about his near-fatal accident with the vivid description that he always uses.
All in all, this is a must read for anyone writing fiction and with King's humour and personal style, it's a pleasure to read for anyone who has ever enjoyed any of his books.
The Audio version is read by King himself and is absolutely superb!
The Bible on writing., 24 Jul 2008
Quite simply, if you want to be a writer, this is a m | | |