Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood

Like "Maus" and the story of the Holocaust, Persepolis brings the sad story of the Iranian Revolution to light in a way only a well-done graphic novel can do. It is an absolutely brilliant book that gives you the raw pain and emotion of the Revolution, with all the necessary facts and events, without the dry and verbose nature of many historical novels. Rarely can it be done, in pictures, like it is done here.

If you truly want to know the sad story of the Iranian Revolution from the perspective of an average Iranian family, this is the book for you. Please read it.

'Persepolis' was my first graphic novel (or, in this case, graphic autobiography) experience. It is the childhood story of Marjane Satrapi, who was a young girl of liberal parents during the Islamic Revolution in Iran in the 1980s.

Satrapi's drawings are simple yet poignant, and reading about her experiences and culture so foreign to me was at the same time both fascinating and dismaying. I hope to read more of her works.

Marjane Satrapi has written a fine addition to a growing body of graphic novels that really portray the absurdities and immense dangers of life in a repressive regime. Satrapi's work easily joins other strong works such as "Maus" by Spiegelman and "Pyongyang" by Delisle.



Satrapi's is, of course, unique. Hers is the story of living under two different repressive regimes and watching a revolution become perverted (although one could wonder if her parents really understood the Iranian Revolution at all since they seemed to think it was a Communist one for quite a long while). The simple illustrations help to emphasize the de-indvidualization that came with the Islamic revolution - all of the women and girls look the same thanks to clothing and the men look the same due to beards.



If you are at all interested in current events in the Middle East or even interested in basic human rights issues) than I recommend you check out this book.



I give this one a grade of "A"

I read Persepolis because my brother recommended it. This gives a wonderful perspective on how the "Regressive Revolution" in Iran affected people, especially young children. Anther reason that I highly recommend ordering this item is that it gives a wonderful, easy to learn (brief) history of Iran. It sparked my interest in the middle east and, considering that these modern times seem to mean more and more concern will be focused in the area, it's good to know a little bit about the countries. Buy it. Read it. Love it.

Edit:
Persepolis takes place from the view of Marjane Satrapi. She lives with her parents and grandmother. The book shows how the Revolution effected the daily lives of people and changed the community and nation. The novel also teachers the reader about Iranian religion and history in an easy to understand manner.

I had to read this for my Perspectives on Youth Cultures class and I was intrigued because it was the first graphic novel I have ever read. Well, I finished it in one setting! The book is wonderful. It's fresh and being that it's from a child's persepctive she just "tells it like it is". The graphics are relevant and very effective at adding depth, meaning, and really illustrating what's going on during this time in Iran.
For me, this book was an excellent tool for developing a better understaning of the Iranian Revolution. Some may say "Oh it's only one person's persepctive so it can't represent Iran and Iran is not really like that". In response, everyone's perspective is just that "their" perspective. The author writes in such a way that is first-hand knowledge and so "straight up" that she is a credible source in my eyes. I just purchased persepolis 2 and cannot wait to begin reading it!