I just finished reading the book yesterday, and had been thinking of reviewing it and scanning in the exact three panels you did - so now I don't have to!

Maurine had her in the store the other night for an event. She was a very interesting speaker with much to say. Maurine prefers the second book because of her point of view as an adult (where as the first one was from more of a childs perspective). She felt the portion in Europe and the troubles her parents went through while she was being overwhelmed by freedoms made a more interesting story.

Of course, Maurine also said that it could be that due to the format whichever one you read first may be your favorite (she read the second one first).

Odd how those three panels really jump out at you, isn't it Elayne?

Maurine could be right... I did read the first volume some time ago and simply loved it. And, like I said, once Marji got back to Iran and started to put her life into perspective I felt the book improved a lot. The commentary she makes seems more intense than in the first book, but it reveals less of the Iranian spirit to me.