I’m happy to join Iranian-American faculty members Mike Negahban, Vida Hashmian, Saeed Bejnood, and Allen Farvin as they share their personal stories of life in Iran, and exchange opinions on the graphic novel Persepolis, our common book for 2008–09.

Student and faculty are invited to join in a relaxed conversation among our Iranian-American faculty members about life in Iran, past and present. Many of these faculty members left after the fall of the Shah and the Islamic Revolution of 1979. Since that time the nation has instituted sharia, or Islamic religious laws, fought a war with Iraq, and developed a tense relationship with the west. In spite of all of this, Iran remains a nation of warm people and rich cultures.

The Common Book Experience is a program in its third year at Pellissippi. The Common Book Experience allows students across four campuses and multiple disciplines to read, study, discuss a single book chosen each academic year by the faculty.

You’ve read the book, now see the movie! This animated film was adapted by Marjane Satrapi and Vincent Paronnaud from Satrapi’s graphic novel. This 95-minute film is free and open to the public, showing twice in the Goins Auditorium at the Hardin Valley campus.

• Sept. 29, Monday, at 9:40 a.m. and at 12:55 p.m.
• Sept. 30, Tuesday, at 10:45 a.m. and at 12:25 p.m.