Monday, May 6, 2013

MARZI, An innocent observer of world-shaking events

http://www.vertigocomics.com/graphic-novels/marzi

MARZI

"I am Marzi, born in 1979, ten years before the end of communism in Poland. My father works at a factory, my mother at a dairy. Social problems are at their height. Empty stores are our daily bread. I'm scared of spiders, and the world of adults doesn't seem like a walk in the park."Told from a young girl's perspective, Marzena Sowa's memoir of a childhood shaped by politics feels remarkably fresh and immediate. Structured as a series of vignettes that build on one another, MARZI is a compelling and powerful coming-of-age story that portrays the harsh realities of life behind the Iron Curtain while maintaining the everyday wonders and curiosity of childhood. With open and engaging art by Sylvain Savoia, MARZI is a moving and resonant story of an ordinary girl in turbulent, changing times.Advance Praise for Marzi: "With humor and perspective reminiscent of Marjane Satrapi's Persepolis (2003), debut author Marzena Sowa ("Marzi") shows readers what life was like for her as a young girl growing up in what would soon become post–Communist Poland." —Booklist "A collection of episodes from Sowa's childhood form an engrossing picture of growing up in Communist Poland on the cusp of revolution. With the wide-eyed and skinny characterization of her child self (drawn by Belgian cartoonist Savoia), Sowa tells stories that evoke classic images of the Iron Curtain—long lines into sparsely stocked grocery stores, concrete apartment buildings, and factory smoke stacks—with a personal perspective." —Publishers Weekly (starred review) "Funny, sweet, complex and beautifully illustrated, I recommend it for every bookshelf. I can't wait to share it with everyone I know!" —Jill Thompson, Award-winning illustrator of Little Endless, Sandman and creator of Scary Godmother and Magic Trixie "Seldom has a book so perfectly caught the child's-eye view of the adult world. An innocent observer of world-shaking events, Marzi is also a thoroughly lovable and engaging narrator, and she fills these pages to bursting." —Mike Carey, New York Times bestselling author of The Unwritten

10 comments:

  1. ..yet they exclaim 'This time it will be different"...

    Unfortunately we minimise the trials, struggles, and horrors of communism and refuse to subject children to the facts. This should be mandatory reading in schools but that will never happen as they are too busy preaching the evils of our forefathers and the necessity of Planned Parenthood.

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  2. Don't forget, the Communist Party U.S.A. endorsed Barack Hussein Obama for President, TWICE.

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    1. and what about all the nice protests and get togethers on May 1 .. union workers among all the signs of dear Lenin and red flags with the hammer and sickle ... daaa baby .....

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    2. As important a subject and source as I have ever posted on a blog. We never do gauge the impact on the most impressionable amongst us.

      Khrushchev well knew the value of forming pliable minds, the younger the better, in utopian thoughts. Just imagine when you have a moment the waste of young minds that continues to happen in Cuba, North Korea, and Venezuela.

      A mind (without freedom) is a terrible thing to waste.

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  3. Let he who is perfect cast the first stone.
    Does America stack up higher than the cultures you all denigrate in the posts above?
    Do you not teach the doctrine of evolution in some schools and the creationist doctrine in others? Have there not been law suites for and against both in your country and have not some of your most well known authors been banned from many schools. (Mark Twain and Huck Finn). Do you encourage your children to question your present system and at the same time contrast it with the pages of history and the Soviet Bloc?

    I too abhor Socialism and I abhor racism even more; worst of all is the shielding of the minds of children from doctrines their parents do not like. For complete development even small children need to be given the chance to discover for themselves the truth or otherwise of these fundamental beliefs.

    In dinner table discussions within my own family I have often taken the side of the racists, the socialists and the bigots in order to encourage debate within an atmosphere of honest questioning of our beliefs. I believe my own kids, now grown with families of their own, were at least given a grounding from which they have developed their own views. One thing for sure, there is little or no prejudice shown by any of them

    Cheers from Aussie

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    1. The answer Kingston is yes, America does stand head and shoulders above these communist rat holes. Your suggestion of equivalency is laughable.

      The topic concerns the importance of maintaining a remembrance of the horrors of communism just a short time after it's demise behind the Iron Curtain. I suggest you explore the thesis in depth before you proffer additional blather.

      Your suggestion that American's do not promote a diversity of thought within their families upbringing displays your shallow nature.

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    2. William,

      I fail to see the need for personal attack. Takes away from, and diminishes, the discussion, yes? Kinda boring if everyone agrees on everything all the time.

      Jean

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    3. Jean, Kingston has never sat in on one of my families dinner debates. His "my shit don't stink" socialist elitist comments aren't worth my time of day.

      What gauls me is his continued attacks on America, veiled as they may be. His denial that our country has promoted freedom, and by the way bailed his countries ass out of the WWII fire, in every corner of the world shows his leftist upbringing.

      I would compare Kingston to a good old fashion New Jersey RINO. So full of shit they both can't wake up and smell the coffee.

      MARZI has a story that will be repeated to my decendants by me as long as I may live. Kingston can kiss this freedom loving bigots ass.

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  4. Jean
    My thanks for your remarks and my commiserations that you had to be associated with the response from William.
    I believe that in the bygone era in which William resides, he would have challenged those who oppose him to a duel. Unfortunately he would not have succeeded because he is simply not worth the cost of the powder and he would have been ignored. A pity because when he is not totally demented his published remarks can be worthy of consideration. Perhaps I am being unfair and he simply needs to see a physician versed in mental disorders.
    I did find one of Williams’s accusations enlightening. He accuses me of being a socialist; this is strange because I am considered here as being a strong supporter of the Conservative side of politics. William perhaps because he is apparently to the right of Adolf Hitler, Ghenges Khan and Attila the Hun, would have been justified in his accusation, at least from his own limited perspective...

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    1. Communists, socialists, national socialists, progressives, and their cohorts commonly use the "mental disorder" argument. We need to get the boy help because after all he doesn't agree with the party line, the "right people," the relative commonality of modern discourse. Pity the poor boy for his abnormality.

      Propagandists from Goebbels to Al Gore have refined this type of method in many cases using the university store front to conceal their deceit.

      Once the curtain is pulled back and the wizard no longer is shielded by his high collared cloak transparency does it's work and walls that bind rapidly fall. Circa 1989 USSR.

      To this very day our Queen's representative seeks to compare and contrast America and her decisions with the likes of Stalin, Mao, Chavez, Castro, and other reprobates of histories bone pile.

      Jefferson, Washington, Reagan, Calhoun, John Taylor of Caroline,, these are my hero's.

      Compare and contrast these two lists at you leisure King. But be careful not to fall out of your tower as you do.

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