Who Would Like This Book:
Persepolis stands out as a powerful and personal coming-of-age story set against the backdrop of the Iranian Revolution, told through Marjane Satrapi's unique voice and striking black-and-white illustrations. What makes it especially interesting is how it blends history, politics, and daily life with humor, honesty, and the perspective of a young girl. The graphic novel format makes complex and distant events both accessible and emotionally resonant. Fans of memoirs, graphic novels like Maus, history buffs, and anyone curious about life in Iran beyond the headlines - or just looking for a deeply human story - will find lots to love here.
Who May Not Like This Book:
Readers who prefer traditional prose novels over graphic formats might struggle with the comic layout or find the art style too minimalist. Some may find the book's subject matter too heavy, or the pace too quick, with dense historical and cultural references that aren't always explained in detail. Additionally, younger or sensitive readers (and their parents) may find the mature content, including violence and some strong language, unsettling. If you're hoping for a light, feel-good read, this book goes to darker, more thought-provoking places.
About:
'Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood' by Marjane Satrapi is a graphic novel memoir that follows the life of a young girl growing up in Iran during the Islamic Revolution. Through the eyes of the protagonist, readers are exposed to the cultural shifts, political turmoil, and personal struggles faced during this tumultuous period. The black and white illustrations, combined with the narrative, provide a unique perspective on the impact of war and revolution on an individual's life.
The writing style of 'Persepolis' is described as authentic, engaging, and poignant. Satrapi skillfully weaves together personal anecdotes with historical events, creating a compelling narrative that resonates with readers. The use of a graphic novel format adds visual depth to the storytelling, making complex themes more accessible and enhancing the emotional impact of the memoir.
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Notes:
Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings
Triggers for readers may include depictions of political violence, torture, executions, and graphic descriptions of war.
From The Publisher:
A New York Times Notable Book
A Time Magazine "Best Comix of the Year"
A San Francisco Chronicle and Los Angeles Times Best-seller
Wise, funny, and heartbreaking, Persepolis is Marjane Satrapi's graphic memoir of growing up in Iran during the Islamic Revolution.
In powerful black-and-white comic strip images, Satrapi tells the story of her life in Tehran from ages six to fourteen, years that saw the overthrow of the Shah's regime, the triumph of the Islamic Revolution, and the devastating effects of war with Iraq. The intelligent and outspoken only child of committed Marxists and the great-granddaughter of one of Iran's last emperors, Marjane bears witness to a childhood uniquely entwined with the history of her country.
Persepolis paints an unforgettable portrait of daily life in Iran and of the bewildering contradictions between home life and public life. Marjane's child's-eye view of dethroned emperors, state-sanctioned whippings, and heroes of the revolution allows us to learn as she does the history of this fascinating country and of her own extraordinary family. Intensely personal, profoundly political, and wholly original, Persepolis is at once a story of growing up and a reminder of the human cost of war and political repression. It shows how we carry on, with laughter and tears, in the face of absurdity. And, finally, it introduces us to an irresistible little girl with whom we cannot help but fall in love.
Ratings (79)
Incredible (33) | |
Loved It (19) | |
Liked It (21) | |
It Was OK (5) | |
Did Not Like (1) |
Reader Stats (148):
Read It (84) | |
Want To Read (49) | |
Did Not Finish (1) | |
Not Interested (14) |
5 comment(s)
Esta novela grafica cuenta la historia de la revolución islamica en Iran.
La primera parte es la mas interesante, por lo que he visto en otras reseñas, universalmente otra gente opina asi tambien.
Pero es cierto que aunque la segunda parte no es tan interesante, cuando acabas la primera parte quieres saber mas y la segunda es necesaria para dar la sensación de completar la historia.
Es muy recomendable!
***3.0****
A good read!!!
Happy Reading!!
It's one of the best graphic novels I ever read!
This book gives us a glimpse of 20th century Iran's political state and people's lives.
The author, who was a 10 years old kid during the Islamic revolution, shares her life experience.
An engaging story of a childhood during wartime in Iran. The reader is pulled into the author's world from the very beginning and holds on with hope for peace by the book's end. It was partly funny, partly sad but completely truthful.
For people who think comic books are not real books, this is one of the texts those of us who know better need to point to. With simple black and white drawings and straightforward text, Satrapi tells the story of her childhood in revolutionary Iran with starkness and poignancy. She puts us the in the point of view of a child and then a preteen, while simultaneously reminding us that these situations are dangerous and real, even if the child narrator version of her isn't aware of it. In her introduction she states that a country shouldn't be judged by a few extremists; I might say many powerful extremists, but I agree. Lots of people can and do look at America and see very similar extremists. I spent a night in a hostel in Ireland where a European man asked my siblings and I if America is like the movie
Heat. Do we all have guns? Are there shootouts in the streets?
Well.....yeah, kinda. But individual stories need to be heard to give these events context. Extreme examples do not define a nation's story.
What can you read after
Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood?
About the Author:
Marjane Satrapi was born in Rasht, Iran. She now lives in Paris, where she is a regular contributor to magazines and newspapers throughout the world, including the New Yorker and the New York Times. She is the author of Persepolis, Persepolis 2, Embroideries, Chicken with Plums, and…
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