Recommended: A Graphic Novel About Gup-Shup

Graphic novel I recommend
Embroideries by Marjane Satrapi

What’s it about?
Lunch is done. A bunch of Iranian women sit about and bond, discussing their lives, loves, marriages, sex, anything. The risquer the topic, the better. And we get a glimpse into family gossip, Iranian style, with women who are restricted by the norms of sexuality that their country and culture imposes on them. They rebel, they conform, they make the most of their situations. And show that a group of women really is a force to be reckoned with.

What did I think?
It’s an interesting glimpse into a culture I know next to nothing about. The book is quick and witty and chatty and humorous, and while I was a tad disapproving at some of the notions of man-woman interactions and their roles in society, I chalked it up to an unfortunately regressive culture that needs a shift in perception. This was a fun read, with me wondering why on earth I never had such “hawwwww” inducing gossip sessions with the ladies in my family.

Recommended for people who

• Read and liked Persepolis, by the same author
  
• Are interested in women’s issues
  
• Want to read a fun take on love and sex
  
• Want to convince their family to gossip a bit more, chal na aunty, aur batao apne life ke baare mein
  

Where people can check this out:
Buy it on Amazon here, and to know more, check it on GoodReads.

About our Insider Curator
Divya Ramesh is a copywriter by day, deviator extraordinaire by day, punning enthusiast by day, voracious cat-cuddler by night. She reads, she runs, she listens to podcasts, she drinks an alarming amount of black coffee, she worships the gods of peanut butter, she goes on faux-nihilist rants when she's bored, and occasionally tweets here.