There is something that reminds me of Persepolis in this book. Perhaps it is the fact that both books present historically significant moments as viewed through the eyes of a child. I will confess to have a soft spot for Satrapi's modern classic, which is why I was pleasantly surprised to realize this tome can hold its own against that beloved book.

I really love this memoir series! I think it's so valuable to have this perspective, to be able to read about a childhood in the Middle East.

This story mirrors so many stories - many of us are trying to navigate and negotiate different cultures. First, Riad's parents are Syrian and French, but they are also living and traveling through different countries that are experiencing immense change. Do we modernize or go back to our traditional roots? What happens in a family when parents embrace different aspects of seemingly clashing cultures? What is it like for a child in the middle?

Riad's story is interesting enough, but put in graphic novel form, it's even more engaging and accessible for more readers. It's a heavy subject shared in a light and sometimes funny way.

I am a fan of the Arab of the Future series, a series of graphic novel memoirs, each focusing on 2 - 3 years (1985 -87) of Riad Sattouf's childhood in Syria, Libya and France. He does a fine job of balancing humor with several serious topics and experiences. If you know that Sattouf's mother was French, he now lives in Paris and was an occasional contributor to Charlie Hebdo, you may have a better sense of how the filter he applies in describing some of his experiences, especially his grade school education in Syria.

The Arab of the Future 3 is enjoyable, but I wouldn't recommend that a reader new to the series seek or read it as a standalone. This third entrant seemed a bit lightweight to me in terms of substance compared to the prior 2 books; however, in the end, Sattouf is telling one cohesive tale that is being broken up into several volumes without intending that any of them stand entirely alone. Saying that the main theme was circumcision doesn't do it justice, even though it's an accurate statement. If the description interests you, my recommendation is to buy all 3 books that have been translated into English to-date and read them consecutively over a weekend then, join me in awaiting volume 4.

'The Arab of the Future 3: A Childhood in the Middle East, 1985-1987' with story and art by Riad Sattouf is a memoir of the author's childhood. This is the 3rd volume and takes place mostly in Syria.

In a story that has more humor than I was expecting, Riad talks about growing up in Syria with his family. There are stories about his mother constantly trying to get his father to move to France, where she is from. Riad's school seems pretty harsh, with the school master asking the boys to bring in implements for beating them with. Western culture creeps in with the giant toy robot that Riad has his eye on, and the very R-rated 'Conan The Barbarian' starring Arnold Schwarzenegger. Riad and his cousins like to pretend they are barbarians themselves, unless a bigger kid comes along.

The th‌ing about a memoir like this is that it can show that childhood has some universal themes worldwide. There are moments of terror, parents can fight, and kids find ways to cope with the world around them.

The art was a lot of fun, and fit the story very well. I haven't read the other two volumes, but I'd love to at some point. This one was a very interesting read.

I received a review copy of this graphic novel from Metropolitan Books, Henry Holt & Company, and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for allowing me to review this graphic novel.

Thanks NetGalley for the ARC. I had read the first book in this series and was curious so I picked up this one. Unfortunately, while the artistry and writing are still strong I found myself strongly disliking the author/book version of the author. This is one of those books where despite the talent behind this book I could not connect so I skimmed hoping for it to end because I found the main character too annoying. If you like this series you will be fine but for me it was a pass.

I absolutely loved the first two volumes in this series and was so excited to read the third! I've never read graphic novels until this series and I've found that I've learned a lot about the culture and the events of the Middle East during the 1980s from this series. I've never read graphic novels and this series has made me want to find more graphic novels that explain history and other cultures.

The third volume was just as funny and well-written as the first two. I love the illustrations and how the colors change depending on location. I enjoy that Riad takes on a variety of topics from a child's perspective, such as learning about religion.

I hope to see more volumes in this series in the future!

Personally, I liked this graphic novel. I thought the drawings were really nice. They were artistic enough, but didn’t distract from the storyline. They weren’t sore to the eye, basically. It was also informative and funny if you don’t take some of the jokes personally. The art and storyline really make the reader imagine the setting clearly.

Besides that, I really wish the main character’s brother was more involved. He was such a background character, most of the time, I forget he was there at all. Also, sometimes, there’s little to no transition between one event to the next. But I’m looking forward to reading the next installment because of that cliffhanger.

Overall, it’s a short, funny read!

My favorite way of learning about foreign countries is, by far, via reading graphic memoirs or travelogues. I've read Marjane Satrapi, Guy Delisle, Thi Bui, but Riad Satouff I like best. I think it's the humor that attracts me the most. In someone else's hands this would be a dark and dreadful tale of personal woe, but in his - it is funny and, by way of his father's occasional lectures, informative.

The terrain of this installment is familiar - Riad lives in Syria with his family, and his recollections mostly revolve around his torturous school, learning about religion, fasting, circumcision, "Conan the Barbarian" (there is a funny graphic recap of the movie in this book), and listening to his ridiculous dad. He has, it is clear, the major influence on Riad's worldview. I was, as always, endlessly annoyed by Riad's mom. In his depiction she almost a blank presence - she never seems to be able to stand up for herself and spends years meekly passing time and occasionally complaining. Because this autobiography is written from a child's perspective, I imagine Satouff's assessment of his mom (and dad for that matter) is slightly unfair and, at the same time, it probably underplays the extent of her unhappiness.

Riad Satouff must have a bear trap memory, because it's a 3rd book in this series, and he is only 7 in it! I can't imagine how many more installments he will have to draw/write to cover everything he wants to cover. But I predict I will continue reading Riad's stories as long as he writes them. The place they are going to next is bound to be a special type of "fun."

Thanks to Netgalley and Henry Holt & Co. for sharing the advanced reader copy of this upcoming graphic novel. I thought volume 3 of the story was relatively disappointing. While I still enjoyed the images, I feel that the story in volume 3 is stale by this point (unfortunately it’s a true biolgraphical telling). But while I loved the first book, and liked the second book, this one I could have passed on.

I've really enjoyed the first two volumes in this series and this was certainly no exception. Riad Sattouf and his parents are still living in Syria, though he and his mother do travel to France in this volume. It's a really eye-opening glimpse into growing up in another culture, and Sattouf, despite being an adult now, manages to capture the childhood wonder and bafflement at growing up across cultures.

For some reason I had thought that this series was only a trilogy, but it seems like it's going to continue - I can't wait!