The Complete Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi
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Book Reviews of The Complete Persepolis
Book Review: Invade Iran?? Bad idea
Summary: 5 Stars
Marjane Satrapi grew up in Iran. She watched the Islamic revolution unfold there. This graphic novel depicts her life up until the time she left Iran for good. She provides readers with a viewpoint we don't often get in our media; the views of ordinary Iranian people like her friends and family.
While there seems to be some crazy people in charge over there-the Iranian people are a lot like us; freedom-loving, culturally sophisticated, living with a government that doesn't reflect their beliefs and ideals. A whole lot like us.
So why should we allow our government to decide that it is OK to bomb Iran? Good question. Our reactionary leadership thinks that they can cook up a pretext for war against Iran's reactionary leadership. What's wrong with this picture? Can you say WMD? Ordinary people will suffer in that scenario, as usual. Iranians and Americans will die while our leaders can hide in their bomb shelters and plot WWIII.
That ain't right. Read this book. Get to know the Iranian people. Stop this escalation into madness.
Book Review: Fantastic Graphic Novel!
Summary: 5 Stars
I have read both the original French version of this graphic novel and the English version as well. I loved them both. When I had first heard about the grapic novels, I was a French student at the time and in the most advanced class at my high school. I read it thinking it's going to be like some anime book with mainly pictures, but there is indeed a lot of words and discussion in it too. If you are not a native French speaker or do not speak French, the English translation is very accurate and will still engross you in the two-part series.
This book also opened my eyes more to the perspective of an Iranian girl growing up in times of such turmoil. About how she's divided between two lives, the one in Europe, and the one in Iran. In the words of a Sheryfa Luna song "Je suis d'ici et d'ailleurs" meaning I am from here and elsewhere strongly applies to Satrapi's mindset in these books and in her life of course.
All in all, to those looking for a great political and graphic novel to read, I highly recommend these books.
Book Review: A thoroughly engaging portrait of post-Islamic revolution Iran
Summary: 5 Stars
With all the discussion of Iran going on in the media, few sources allow a reader such an insightful and thought-provoking portrait as Marjane Satrapi's wonderful Persepolis. The Islamic revolution of 1979, when Satrapi was a young girl, is the beginning backdrop of her autobiographical tale, and it sets the stage for the years to come in the author's life. As she deals with issues of freedom, religion, growing up, and becoming yourself--while her homeland deals with similar travails--Satrapi paints a thoroughly engaging portrait. She describes her work in her graphic novels (this collection contains both Persepolis and Persepolis II) this way: ". . . this old and great civilization has been discussed mostly in connection with fundamentalism, fanaticism, and terrorism. . . . I know that this image is far from the truth." The stark black-and-white illustrations, so definite yet so emotive at the same time, powerfully bear this out.
-- John Hogan
Book Review: Well-Written and Well-Illustrated Autobiography Set During the Islamic Revolution in Iran
Summary: 5 Stars
This is a wonderfully written and illustrated autobiographical work which follows the life of one girl as she becomes a woman during the Islamic Revolution in Iran.
The illustrations make excellent use of the comic book medium: some panels deliver humorous, tragic or insightful material merely through the subtleties of the artwork. The story moves forward without distraction and sidebars only add to the work. The author does not spare herself criticism and reveals the evolution of her thinking through the mistakes she made along the journey.
Occasionally, this book presents very grown-up material which is relevant but which may be too much for younger readers.
In short, this is a very funny yet deadly serious work that I am very happy to have found. "Persepolis" would make an excellent book club choice.
Book Review: Exquisite!
Summary: 5 Stars
I began reading Marjane Satrapi's "The Complete Persepolis" after I saw the movie. However, I loved the book just as much as I loved the movie. It's a sad, gripping, first-hand look at Satrapi's in Iran during the Islamic Revolution, and her life in Vienna preceding her parents' decision to send her off at a very young age.
It's a really great tale of her life, very gripping and sad, but with hints of comedy throughout the entire tale. Some panels within the pages of this graphic novel will make you scream in laughter, but others will make your heart turn and twist in agony and pain for Satrapi.
I loved this book ever since I first picked it up. It is a very great reading experience, and everyone should read this graphic novel, and read the book; both are very, very wonderfully well done!