Come view a screening of the animated film, Persepolis, on February 15, 2013 at 10:00 AM in King Library Room 255/257, 2nd floor.

Persis Karim, SJSU Professor of English and Comparative Literature, will lead a discussion after the viewing.

Persepolis is a  coming of age story and the story of pre and post revolutionary Iran told as a graphic novel through the eyes of 'Marji, a young Iranian woman and her family.  After the Shah is defeated in the Iranian Revolution of 1979, Marji experiences the new Iran as a repressive tyranny.  Sent to study abroad Marji finds herself struggling to adjust to a different culture. On returning to Iran, Marji discovers both she and her homeland have changed and she and her loving family must decide where she truly belongs.

Some questions to think about as you read the book and view  the film:

• How do stories shape and give meaning to our experience?
• What do you think Satrapi is saying about religion’s effect on the individual and society?

Feel  free to participate in the discussion by leaving your comments below.

This showing of Persepolis is part of a series of programs, Bridging Cultures:  Muslim Journeys, a joint project of the San Jose Public Library and the San Jose State University Library.

The Bridging Cultures Bookshelf: Muslim Journeys is a project of the National Endowment for the Humanities, conducted in cooperation with the American Library Association. Support was provided by a grant from Carnegie Corporation of New York. Additional support for the arts and media components was provided by the Doris Duke Foundation for Islamic Art.

Come and join us for a FREE talk and slide show on Iran by published author Brian Appleton in the Almaden Branch Library's Program Room on Wednesday, July 27, at 6:30-7:30 PM.

Brian is the author of Tales from the Zirzameen, a recent book about his experiences in Iran before, during, and after the revolution of 1979, during which he was also taken hostage. You may also purchase Brian's book at this event, which includes time for book signing.

Brian will accompany his talk with a slide show of pictures from Iran taken during his return trip in 2008.

Please join us for a lively discussion and learn more about Iran.

For more information about Brian, please see his Tales from the Zirzameen website.

Come and join us for a FREE talk and slide show on Iran by published author Brian Appleton in the Almaden Branch Library's Program Room on Wednesday, July 27, at 6:30-7:30 PM.

Brian is the author of Tales from the Zirzameen, a recent book about his experiences in Iran before, during, and after the revolution of 1979, during which he was also taken hostage.

He will accompany his talk with a slide show of pictures from Iran taken during his return trip in 2008.

Please join us for a lively discussion and learn more about Iran.

For more information about Brian, please see his Tales from the Zirzameen website.

Please join us for an eye-opening talk and Q&A from award-winning Afghan-American journalist Fariba Nawa on Tuesday, April 26, at 6:30 PM in the Almaden Branch Library Program Room.

Fariba will focus her talk on the cultural, religious, and economic influences between modern-day Iran and Afghanistan. Fariba will then answer your questions about these two countries.

Fariba lived in Afghanistan as a child, during the Taliban and post-Taliban years, and has a wealth of information to share with us. Her book Opium Nation: One Woman's Journey Home to Afghanistan is scheduled to be released by Harper Collins later in 2011.

Please join us for an eye-opening talk and Q&A from award-winning Afghan-American journalist Fariba Nawa on Tuesday, April 26, at 6:30 PM in the Almaden Branch Library Program Room.

Fariba will focus her talk on the cultural, religious, and economic influences between modern-day Iran and Afghanistan. Fariba will then answer your questions about these two countries.

Fariba lived in Afghanistan as a child, during the Taliban and post-Taliban years, and has a wealth of information to share with us. Her book Opium Nation: One Woman's Journey Home to Afghanistan is scheduled to be released by Harper Collins later in 2011.

Nobody Knows About the Persian Cats is a  great movie with English subtitles, about the underground music scene in Iran. The director Ghobadi, won the Un Certain Regard award and the Special Jury Prize when it premiered at the Cannes Film Festival. This film chronicles the hardships facing young Iranian musicians seeking to evade censorship.

You can also read a review from NPR about this movie.

We also have the following movies by the same award-winning director in our library system:

• A Time for Drunken Horses
• Marooned in Iraq
• Turtles Can Fly