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Persepolis (Persepolis - original 4 volumes #1-4)

4.28 of 5 stars 4.28 · rating details · 29,943 ratings · 2,222 reviews

Here, in one volume: Marjane Satrapi's best-selling, internationally acclaimed memoir-in-comic-strips.

Persepolis is the story of Satrapi's unforgettable childhood and coming of age within a large and loving family in Tehran during the Islamic Revolution; of the contradictions between private life and public life in a country plagued by political upheaval; of her high schoo...more

Paperback, 341 pages

Published October 30th 2007 by Pantheon (first published 2000)

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Mar 02, 2008 Adrianne Mathiowetz rated it 4 of 5 stars

Recommended to Adrianne by: Book club

A question I heard a lot while I was reading this book was "how does it compare with Maus?" -- and if I were to answer that question, I would say, I suppose, that I thought that Maus was more compelling, with more classically heroic characters, detailed, careful artwork (and-I-mean-come-ON it was about the holocaust, haven't we all agreed that's the official trump card?) -- but I'm not sure that it actually makes much sense to compare this book with Maus. Sure, they're both graphic novels whose...more A question I heard a lot while I was reading this book was "how does it compare with Maus?" -- and if I were to answer that question, I would say, I suppose, that I thought that Maus was more compelling, with more classically heroic characters, detailed, careful artwork (and-I-mean-come-ON it was about the holocaust, haven't we all agreed that's the official trump card?) -- but I'm not sure that it actually makes much sense to compare this book with Maus. Sure, they're both graphic novels whose subject is generally similar. They're at once historical, tragic, and personal. But other than that, they're just two very different books, written by two very different authors regarding two different conflicts. It would be as if you were reading Red Badge of Courage, and people kept asking "so, how does it compare with War and Peace?"

Aaaaaannyway. So! About Persepolis.

I went into this novel knowing essentially nothing about the war(s) in Iran, and to my surprise I left this book knowing essentially nothing about the war(s) in Iran. Just when the narrator reaches an age when she could really perceive what is happening in her country and act out against it or submit and meld into it, her parents wisely ship her off to Austria, and once there she specifically avoids watching the news and connecting with political developments back at home. Thus, for a large portion of the story we're led through her various musical tastes, hair styles and relationship developments (can you beliiieeeve that first boyfriend and the croissants?). There are no post scripts, tangents, or musical bridges conveying basic information to the reader, no "meanwhile, back at the ranch, lots of people went to jail for silly things, and also there were deaths or something". The narrator was divorced from these concerns at the time, and so are we the readers.

Primarily, this novel is an autobiography: the details of her homeland function mostly to describe the main character, not the country or turmoil therein. Egotistical? It seemed that way, sometimes, but maybe it depends what you expected from the book.

That said, Marjane Satrapi's character is a well-developed one: never the perfect angel, not always striving to even just be good, but continually just trying to figure things out and attain the same, elusive happiness everyone else seems to have. She's likable, interesting, self-deprecating and ever-changing, and for what it's worth I found it really difficult to put the book down. (To me, actually, that's worth quite a lot. I weep for a lost childhood in which I could never, ever seem to put a book down: I finished one and then desperately started another, consuming them like cocaine. Why aren't books like cocaine anymore? Maybe I should just give up on literature and try harder drugs. Or more graphical novels by Marjane Satrapi.)

Thoroughly enjoyable, with artwork that really grew on me with time, and definitely recommended. Just don't expect to want to start a revolution afterwards.(less)

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Mar 29, 2012 Patrick rated it 5 of 5 stars

I sat down to read a little of this during lunch, and ended up sitting in the restaurant for an hour after I was done eating. Eventually I felt guilty and left, but my plans were shot for the afternoon, as all I could think about was finishing this book.

I wish there were some mechanism on Goodreads to occasionally give a book more than five stars. Something to indicate when you think a book is more than merely excellent. Like for every 100 books you review, you earn the right to give one six-st...more

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Jan 25, 2008 Sara rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: fans of memoir

Shelves: memoir-biography, nonfiction, highly-recommended, book-club, graphic-novel

One of the things I loved about this book was Marjane's very individual voice and how it transformed from the start of the book when she is 10 to the end, when she is 22. Ten-year-old Marjane, by the way, is about the most awesome kid I have encountered in print. She reminded me of Harper Lee's Scout, except Marjane was cuter and more hilarious. Also, more political.

Most readers are unlikely to be really conversant in 20th Iranian political history and it is absolutely fascinating to be introduc...more

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Jul 18, 2008 Shannon (Giraffe Days) rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: memoir, graphic-novel, 2008, comics

Originally published in France in four separate volumes, and later in the US in two, The Complete Persepolis brings them all together for the first time. It is the story of the author's youth, growing up in revolutionary Iran before moving to Austria at 14, and then later returning to Iran before escaping again, this time to France, where she still lives.

Her story is both familiar and alien - a story of being a child enjoying her childhood during the revolution of '79, and how it impacted on her...more Originally published in France in four separate volumes, and later in the US in two, The Complete Persepolis brings them all together for the first time. It is the story of the author's youth, growing up in revolutionary Iran before moving to Austria at 14, and then later returning to Iran before escaping again, this time to France, where she still lives.

Her story is both familiar and alien - a story of being a child enjoying her childhood during the revolution of '79, and how it impacted on her life; learning about the history of her country, the religious hypocrisy, the regime; being a teenager in the 80s in Europe, delving into pot and nihilism, trying to find a place in the world but never really fitting in.

The story is often funny, and the method of telling it in comic-strip style suits it perfectly. There's not a wasted panel, and the illustrations add layers to the dialogue and exposition captions. While it's also a very controlling method - in that, because graphics are supplied, you're not really able to imagine it freely on your own - there's so much in the details, and so much feeling in the illustrations, that I'm reminded of that saying, "a picture speaks a thousand words".

It was fascinating to learn about what Iran's been through from someone who's lived through it - I used to read a lot of those books written by women in Iran and Saudi Arabia, but they lacked a broader scope of understanding, and exposure to foreign political ideology and perspective. Satrapi read a lot of philosophers etc., and while some of her youthful ideologies are captured with a degree of irony, she still had a clear understanding of the situation - aided by her free-thinking parents and her wonderful grandmother.

While I had trouble in the beginning keeping up with the history of Iran's political leaders, which I found confusing, the story is easy to follow and is a great way to introduce people to the reality of Iran - up to the mid-1990s anyway. The hypocrisies, contrasts, day-to-day living, life-style, dreams and ambitions are all rendered in clear, distinctive black-and-white illustrations and laced with irony. There were many moments were I laughed myself silly, and other moments that were poignant and sad, but always, always, Satrapi is brutally honest with herself and her readers. Highly recommended.
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Oct 10, 2007 James rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: Anyone

Shelves: graphic-novel

This is a graphic story that is worthy of all the hype attributed to it. Persepolis is an autobiography of Iranian artist Marjane Satrapi, and accounts her childhood into womanhood which takes her from Iran to Europe to Iran and ultimately back to Europe to the eventual present day. Many aspects of the work aid in pushing this work far beyond other autobiographies, and its not just the illustrations that accompany it which, though at first glance seem simple and childish, are actually complex an...more

5 likes · like · see review

Sheila Having read Reading Lolita in Tehran, I was interested to hear about this girl's/woman's experiences in Islamic Iran. Reading Lolita was an eye-openin...more
Apr 15, 2008 07:08am

Kelly I agree with both of your comments and wish I was as articulate.

Like both of you, I found her honesty about herself to be inspiring.

I also felt that...more
Apr 18, 2008 09:43am

Dec 24, 2007 Tom rated it 4 of 5 stars

There are few testaments more accordant with the underdevelopment of our species than the sad and bewildering ubiquity of dogmatism and, in the case of Persepolis, the dogma in question is (ho-hum?) religion. It may be fashionable, though still dangerous, to speak out against one's own misogynistic theocracy these days but such was not the case in the years immediately following Iran's 1979 Islamic revolution. When undaunted women like Marjane Satrapi chose to spit upon their hands and play agai...more

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Jan 16, 2013 E.B. rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites, graphic-novel

I read Persepolis for the first time during the first semester of my freshman year in college. It was on the extra credit reading list for my World Religions class. That class fascinated me, unfortunately, my professor and I shared an animosity toward one another that I can only conclude came from his narrow-mindedness and my own immaturity (18 year old's think they know everything...oh, how I have learned).

So I read this book, and turned in something or other to prove that I had read it, and...more

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Jul 22, 2008 Melissa rated it 5 of 5 stars

I enjoyed this book immensely. It's fantastic. I like the combination of autobiography and history. One thing that turns me off to history most of the time is its authors tendency to generalize--individuals are jumbled together into a single composite being. Marjane Satrapi, however, discusses Iran's revolution in the '80s as she experienced it. It's incredibly personal, which I appreciate.
I also appreciate Satrapi's lighthearted, jesting tone with which she refers to herself. It's as though...more

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Aug 22, 2008 John rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Everyone

Shelves: memoir, graphic-novel

I read this after listening to Marjane Satrapi speak in Portland.
http://johnwsmarvin.blogspot.com/2008...
This is one powerful story. Marjane is a very intelligent person and a great storyteller who lived through the Iranian revolution and watched it turn against her and her family. When war with Iraq breaks out her parents send her to she study abroad in Austria where she becomes unhinged, lost in a culture she can't relate to. Back in Iran the war grinds to a halt, as she becomes a mature woma...more

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Apr 11, 2008 mathilda_craft rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: those interested in culture and politics, especially politics

Shelves: comics, non-fiction, books-i-own

Eye opening. A little confusing in the beginning. I had a hard time telling when they were talking in the past tense versus present tense, but I think I understood it for the most part.

I loved it.

It was very open and honest. How she saw things as a girl growing up in a country where it was so hard to tell who was telling her the truth. She believed her parents, and yet, at once, also believed her school and what they taught her. Such conflicts were inner as well as outer. Very potent. I loved he...more

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Jun 17, 2013 Crystal Starr Light rated it 5 of 5 stars

Recommended to Crystal Starr Light by: Ferdy

Shelves: biography, graphic-novel, non-fiction

"Persepolis" is the autobiography of Marjane Satrapi, a young Iranian girl living in Tehran. She was a middle-class only child and had your typical childhood dramas. But she also had to deal with the oppressive Iranian Revolution and Islamic Regime. Eventually her parents sent her away to Europe - and then she had to figure out who she was, a foreigner in a foreign land.

Way back when I lost my job, I found myself going to my library (it was within walking distance) and checking out a lot of movi...more "Persepolis" is the autobiography of Marjane Satrapi, a young Iranian girl living in Tehran. She was a middle-class only child and had your typical childhood dramas. But she also had to deal with the oppressive Iranian Revolution and Islamic Regime. Eventually her parents sent her away to Europe - and then she had to figure out who she was, a foreigner in a foreign land.

Way back when I lost my job, I found myself going to my library (it was within walking distance) and checking out a lot of movies. A trailer for "Persepolis" made me interested, and I watched it - and REALLY liked it. That was when "Persepolis" first came on my radar.

More recently, a good Goodreads friend of mine read this book and wrote a wonderful review. After years of hemming and hawing to buy this book and read it, I IMMEDIATELY broke down, bought the graphic novel and read it. And enjoyed the hell out of it.

I can't really go far into discussing this amazing book without talking about another book about the Iranian turmoil, the recently released memoirs written by actress Shohreh Aghdashloo, The Alley of Love and Yellow Jasmines. My complaints about that book were many, but what it ultimately boiled down to was I felt the story was skimmed over and diluted, that I never felt the terror of the age and the drive to leave.

Everything that Ms. Aghdashloo's book wasn't, Ms. Satrapi's book IS. "Persepolis" is the most heartfelt, gut-wrenching, REAL book. Maybe this is going too far, but I liken it to this generation's "Diary of Anne Frank".

Marjane is a REAL character. She is a jerk, she is rude, she is broken apart, she loves her family and friends, and she is smart. Sometimes she is so mean and rude, you want to slap her silly; other times, you can feel her problems so well, you just ache for her and want to hug her to death. It's obvious why she had to leave Iran - and it's obvious why she had so much trouble in Europe AND when she returns. There is none of the guessing I had with "Yellow Jasmines". There is none of the longing to SEE the things the author is talking about (and I'm not talking about the image aspect of "Persepolis" over "Yellow Jasmines").

Each character in "Persepolis" is vibrant and unique, from her parents to her grandmother, to her uncles, to the prisoners her parents know, to her own friends, to her husband. There is no confusion about who is who. There is no wondering what this name is and what character belongs to it. The people are REAL.

As for the visual aspect of the medium, I think it's genius. It has a light-hearted appearance, but don't confuse this for a "kiddie" comic! It's got serious issues - oppression, torture, drugs, sex, alcohol (no graphic nudity or anything so no worries!).

I think most importantly, it was this book that made me realize how much of a stupid American I am. Maybe this is my shoddy world history coming out, but I naively thought that Iran was ALWAYS Muslim, that the women ALWAYS wore headscarves. This book finally whacked me in the face and made me realize that this is definitely NOT the case - that I was, yet again, being self-centered and uneducated. And made me realize that I need to do some serious brushing up on my world history (and to get a NON-American point of view!)

This book made me laugh, made me cry (or come as close as I get to crying!). Marjane Satrapi deserves every ounce of accolades and kudos for this graphic novel AND the movie. It was everything I was aching for from Ashdaghloo's memoirs and didn't get - and a bit more. I give this the highest recommendation I can.(less)

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May 06, 2011 Jen rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: graphic-novel, the-real-stuff, translated, 5201

I don't know what to call Persepolis. It's a graphic novel, of course, but it's also an autobiography and a history and a social commentary. Marjane Satrapi takes an honest and sometimes severe look at her childhood, teenage years, and early 20s. Her graphics are striking and tell as much of the story as her words. Sometimes I became so engrossed that I had to force myself to step back a bit and remember that I was reading someone's history -- that Satrapi had lived and survived the heartbreakin...more I don't know what to call Persepolis. It's a graphic novel, of course, but it's also an autobiography and a history and a social commentary. Marjane Satrapi takes an honest and sometimes severe look at her childhood, teenage years, and early 20s. Her graphics are striking and tell as much of the story as her words. Sometimes I became so engrossed that I had to force myself to step back a bit and remember that I was reading someone's history -- that Satrapi had lived and survived the heartbreaking situations she was depicting.

In her introduction, Satrapi explains that one of the reasons she wrote her story was to give outsiders a different view of Iran and its citizens. "I believe an entire nation should not be judged by the wrongdoings of a few extremists. I also don't want those Iranians who lost their lives in prisons defending freedom, who died in the war against Iraq, who suffered under various repressive regimes, or who were forced to leave their families and flee their homeland to be forgotten."

It is all too easy to judge a country by its most extreme or outspoken citizens, but the story of Satrapi, her family, and many of her friends gives a glimpse into some of the ways people try to retain their beliefs in the midst of persecution.

I was struck by Satrapi's repeated loss of identity and the various ways in which she tried to form and reform herself. I also appreciated her honest self-assessment and her observations of the Iranian people. In describing a moment of calm in Iran, she says, "The regime had absolute power and most people, in search of a cloud of happiness, had forgotten their political conscience." These themes keep recurring in the books I've been reading -- questions of how much we'll sacrifice for happiness and the effect prolonged periods of fear will have upon a people.

I'm reminded once again how important it is to make every effort to see the world around you and to hear/read/tell people's stories. As Satrapi reminds us, "One can forgive but one must never forget."(less)

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May 10, 2013 Italo André Oliveira rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: comics

Achei a sinopse da HQ interesante, mas ao mesmo tempo tratava de uma problemática muito distante. Marjane é uma criança iraniana de 10 anos que se vê obrigada a usar o véu e a estudar separada dos meninos. Fico feliz de apesar da problemática distante, eu ter lido o livro. Me relembrou que quando se lê, não há distância.

Marjane era uma garota de 10 anos. Ponto. Pouco importa se ela estava perto ou longe, se estava no Irã ou na Inglaterra. A questão é que ela estava sendo privada de sua liberdade...more

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May 02, 2011 Karla Butler rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites

Persepolis is a heart-wrenching story about a girl growing up in war-torn Iran. Marjane Satrapi's autobiographical tale covers the tumulteous history of Iran from its emperors to the modern day Islamic Revolution. If you need to get some perspective on what is happening today in Iran and indeed the Middle East, please read this book. Satrapi's description of a loving family trying to survive under a despotic regime forces you to understand what it is like to live in a country that imposes its fu...more

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Apr 19, 2013 Erin rated it 4 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. In Persepolis the author, Satrapi, does an excellent job in telling and illustrating Iran's contemporary history, and she does so, at least in my opinion, quite objectively, squaring blame not only on the major powers for their share on Iran's internal repression, but also on Iranians themselves. This type of self-examination is a rare feat for any author trying to relate the truth of times of turmoil in a country.
Satrapi’s novel opens a window into the mysterious and misunderstood world of Mid...more In Persepolis the author, Satrapi, does an excellent job in telling and illustrating Iran's contemporary history, and she does so, at least in my opinion, quite objectively, squaring blame not only on the major powers for their share on Iran's internal repression, but also on Iranians themselves. This type of self-examination is a rare feat for any author trying to relate the truth of times of turmoil in a country.
Satrapi’s novel opens a window into the mysterious and misunderstood world of Middle Eastern Iran. After creating her comic in an associated press interview, Satrapi commented, "The only thing I hope is that people will read my book and see that this abstract thing...is made up of individuals with lives and hopes." This very personal and creative memoir does indeed bring a different view of Iran to the rest of the world, allowing readers to rethink their previous opinions and stereotypes.
Overall Satrapi paints herself as a curious, precocious, insightful child, who sometimes sounds too irreverent and self-aware for a young child. Yet this is perhaps the most compelling aspect of Persepolis, she looks at a complex political transition as a child, yet without sounding over-simplistic. Satrapi weighs the conflicting messages she received from her parents as well as from society and finds a way to navigate through them. Her parents are upper-middle class idealistic leftists who call for “equality.” but who nevertheless spend vacations in Europe and at times, spoil her. On one occasion, pg 46, she gets advice from her mother about the need to forgive one's enemies, but it is only a few pages later on page 52, she calls for death to those who tortured Siamak and others in jail. The author, as a child, is besieged by these polarities.
Satrapi goes about challenging and addressing the world's view of Iran by showing how Western practices and fads are incorporated into the traditional culture. Seeing teenage Marjane wearing a denim jacket, Michael Jackson button, and Nikes along with her traditional hood is quite humorous, and refreshing to see some individuality among the sea of black. The same humorous picture applies to Marjane head banging in her room to Iron Maiden music, and singing Kim Wilde on the streets. Though these things would be completely normal for a teenager in America, it was not only strange, but forbidden in Iran. This simply shows that the average Iranian civilian is just like us, a person with feelings, interests, hobbies, and crushes. She is displaying that teenagers are the same all around the world, and the people of Iran are not a reflection of their government.
With these Western examples and so many more, Persepolis certainly does dismiss much of my original views of Iran and how society functions. All that we are exposed to when learning about the Middle East, at least it seems in America, is what we see on the TV—car bombings, soldiers dying, the oppression of women, black veils, the works. Satrapi certainly shows readers that the civilians of Iran are more like us than we think or are taught, showing relationships, dating, dancing, drinking, and love among the characters.
I believe the plot line between Marjane and her uncle is one of the most important in that it truly allows us to see that even the revolutionaries, the people we hear about on the news, are not just revolutionaries. They are uncles, brothers, fathers, mothers, sisters, friends—they are real people, not just a news report. All of the positive male role models within this book also dispel my original perception of the Middle East. It’s always been portrayed that in that patriarchal society, all men could care less about women, treating them only as maids and baby-makers. All of the men within this book at least show love towards their families, wives, and daughters, relating that not every man in Iran is like what we assume.
This book is a benefit those whose only image of Iran is that of terrorists and hostage takers. This book gives a human face to a struggle and repression that most Americans cannot fathom, and in the end, shows us that we are not all that different. By allowing the readers to see the exception to the over generalized stereotype of Iran, Marjane Satrapi deepens the understanding of her readers of not only her life, but the lives of so many during a time of revolution. She balances the happy moments with the terrible bloodshed flawlessly, sending the message that though things may seem impossible at times, even the smallest second of happiness means everything.

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Aug 11, 2012 Matt Luedke rated it 4 of 5 stars

A very quick, very straightforward look at growing up in Iran in the 1980's. Don't get me wrong just because I only gave it 3 stars-- this was a good story and an important one, as I'll talk about later. I just felt like it was SO quick, and SO straightforward, due mainly to its format as a graphic novel, that it couldn't go as deep as a classic literary work could.

I liken it somewhat to the Kite Runner, which was also a very readable account of the trials of growing up in the Middle East a few...more

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Oct 24, 2010 Cecilia rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: biografias, comics

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Aunque el libro está en su idioma original, he decido hacer la crítica en castellano dado que no sé hasta que punto podría hacer una en francés de forma correcta.
Hace ya unos años tuve la suerte de ver la película de este libro, en ese momento, la película me resultó tan interesante, que decidí tratar de conseguir el libro. Casi dos años después pude conseguir un volúmen con la historia completa en una librería francesa.
Debo admitir que leí el libro con mucho entusiasmo y, que fue tal el impac...more

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Jul 10, 2009 Jason Pettus rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: contemporary, comics, dark, funny, nonfiction, memoir, middle-east, hipster, personal-favorite

(Reprinted from the Chicago Center for Literature and Photography [cclapcenter.com:]. I am the original author of this essay, as well as the owner of CCLaP; it is not being reprinted here illegally.)

The farther we progress into the early 2000s, the more convinced I am of how in the future, this period of history will be seen as one where Americans finally started more and more understanding the Middle East in the same semi-complex way they currently understand, say, Europe; because make no mista...more (Reprinted from the Chicago Center for Literature and Photography [cclapcenter.com:]. I am the original author of this essay, as well as the owner of CCLaP; it is not being reprinted here illegally.)

The farther we progress into the early 2000s, the more convinced I am of how in the future, this period of history will be seen as one where Americans finally started more and more understanding the Middle East in the same semi-complex way they currently understand, say, Europe; because make no mistake, international readers, even though the last ten years have mostly been marked by our glee in blowing sh-t up over there, in private there are more and more Americans each day right now eagerly learning just a little more and a little more about what makes up daily life in the areas once defined by the Arabic, Persian, Ottoman and Moghul empires, with the generalities of such terms as "Farsi" and "Shia" (to cite two random examples) becoming more and more known among the general populace for the first time in US history. (And in fact this is ironically a regular occurrence in American history, for wars to be the catalyst behind our population starting to understand a certain region in a more sophisticated way; look for example at how little most Americans knew about far-east Asia until our involvement in such places as Japan, Korea and Vietnam in the second half of the 20th century, how such basics as Chinese food and karaoke are now sincere staples of American life, when just 50 years ago they seemed impossibly exotic to most.) And thus do we arrive at Marjane Satrapi's thought-provoking and highly entertaining graphic novel Persepolis, which has an interesting history: essentially a memoir of her youth as a loudmouthed, chain-smoking punk-rocker in the midst of Iran's oppressive Islamic Republic years, the story was originally published in the early 2000s as four underground comics in France (where Satrapi now lives); which then became a cult hit in the UK when first translated into English and gathered into two bound books; which then brought about the opportunity to make a popular experimental animated film out of it; which then became a surprise hit in the US and garnered an Oscar nomination; which has just recently finally prompted a one-volume English trade paperback version here, which has quickly in the last year become the book to mention here in America at hipster intellectual cocktail parties, half a decade since the same was true in the EU.

And there's a reason this has become such a huge cult hit in the US, because Satrapi here in Petropolis breaks the entire complicated sequence of events that have happened in Iran in the last thirty years down into a whole series of easily relatable Western-style stories, allowing us to understand the complex, surprisingly diverse population of that country in a way many of us never have before: from the ongoing controversy there among women themselves over "taking the veil" (think of American women debating the relative merits versus embarrassments of chick-lit), to how their decade-long war with Iraq's Saddam Hussein allowed religious conservatives to slowly take over all aspects of the government in the first place (think Bush and the Patriot Act), to the ingeniously subtle ways that rebellious youth display their independence in such an environment anyway (by letting a bit of hair slip out from underneath their veil, by wearing brightly colored socks, by participating in highly codified Austenesque nonverbal flirting sessions in public squares and school stairways). And by Satrapi having the courage to add the details of her own unique, sometimes trainwreck of a life -- her habit of falling in love with gay men, her stint as a homeless gutter-punk in Vienna in the late '80s -- the book never even threatens to devolve into afterschool-special liberal homilies, but instead stands strongly as a solid piece of personal yet political literature, a great example of how powerful graphic novels can be when they're at their best, and why your snotty little slacker friends are always encouraging you to read more of them. Given the events that are going on right this moment in Iran (summer 2009, for those reading this in the future), and how similar they now seem to be in so many Americans' eyes to our own peaceful overthrow of George Bush and his "Christian Taliban" ilk just a year before, now is a better time than ever to tackle Persepolis yourself if you never have; and needless to say, the movie as well is now in my queue over at Netflix, and I will be getting a review of it up here too after I've finally gotten a chance to watch it.

Out of 10: 9.7(less)

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Apr 26, 2009 new_user rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: graphic-novel

I think this is will be more response than review. Satrapi's Persepolis fulfills its purpose as a memoir, but I will tell you right from the start, that it is indeed overhyped, particularly if you have read the rave critical reviews. Perhaps, since the field of graphic novels as memoirs is relatively new, a work like this could be called ground-breaking. Persepolis as a memoir is an interesting read. I say this only as a result of having read Part Two of this book, The Story of a Return . If I h...more I think this is will be more response than review. Satrapi's Persepolis fulfills its purpose as a memoir, but I will tell you right from the start, that it is indeed overhyped, particularly if you have read the rave critical reviews. Perhaps, since the field of graphic novels as memoirs is relatively new, a work like this could be called ground-breaking. Persepolis as a memoir is an interesting read. I say this only as a result of having read Part Two of this book, The Story of a Return . If I had read The Story of a Childhood alone, I probably would not have liked this book at all.

As a memoir, her account of her childhood is biased politically. I'm speaking of Iranian politics and social affairs -even history- rather than any foreign policy. Satrapi would like to paint herself as an educated, superior specimen of progressive thought, but to be frank, one can embody all of her views in two words: westernism and nationalism. She worships "punk" and calls her family "avant-garde." She considers herself the very spirit of Iranian society, the last bastion of reason in her country, but she goes to a French school and adopts Western, dress and idols. She does not seem very avant-garde to me. She seems to be the typical Eastern child who envies the Western one. I questioned at times whether she could truly be proud of her heritage-- or simply what she thought to be her heritage. I didn't see that adopting European principles or dress was any more or less admirable than adopting Arab ones. Even when she reads, she reads only foreign philosophers. Her patriotism seems a shell.

This is precisely why I was skeptical-- because any book praised by a mass of American critics generally affirms American values, American superiority (the rest of the world is backwards) and/or American-approved values. Such a work will generally portray a one-sided view of the culture in question, i.e. the approved view, as this one does. In fact, I'm finding there is a slew of Iranian authors jumping on the bandwagon of vilifying Iran (to an all too receptive audience) and glorifying everything Western.

In the introduction, she writes "...this old and great civilization," and I have to wonder which civilization she means since she laments that so much culture has been imposed on Iranians. What is essentially Iranian? Zoroastrianism? She doesn't strike me as Zoroastrian. Satrapi fails to consider the dynamics and nature of culture, to adopt, borrow, and grow. That is progress. Satrapi writes of Iran, it "...has been discussed mostly in connection with fundamentalism, fanaticism, and terrorism. As an Iranian who has lived more than half my life in Iran, I know that this image is far from the truth."

In fact, Satrapi does nothing to negate this view. She simply replaces it with a new paradigm, all religious Iranians are fanatics. The rest adopt Western customs; they're civilized. This is not debunking misperceptions, it's only espousing the latest Western policy: non-religious Easterners are acceptable. She does nothing to help her people here. The book speaks only in the briefest way (a line or two) about American relations, so do not be concerned about any bias in that regard.

So if we call the first part Politics, the second part -the book is really not complete without it- is more honest. In The Story of a Return, she speaks of her experiences as an immigrant in Europe, and these strike me as less politicized and more genuine. As for her return, we know that Satrapi returned only to say goodbye. She is an expatriate in Paris, living the culture that she so worshiped as a child.

That said, as a memoir, this book is pretty interesting and does indeed describe the forces that shaped this woman. The iconic, stylized, almost childlike art cushions the narrative, so that the political content is less threatening. It's cute. And it suits the tone of the book, which is fanciful and ostensibly a protest against a black and white world (though Satrapi is a little rigid herself).

It's worth a read if you have some spare time. It was better than I expected after reading the first half, but it won't be on my Best Of list anytime soon. (less)

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Apr 17, 2009 Shivering William rated it 5 of 5 stars

www.theincompletes.com

The Dime-Store Education

Comics for Smart People

I left Persepolis as a tip for a cute hairstylist once. I’m not sure if it was the comic, my hilarious jokes, or the way my hair sounded between scissors, but we dated for about three months. I’m not suggesting you can use comics as a tool to pick up women. I’m telling you. It’s a fact.

Every once in a while a comic comes along, grabs you by the belt and shakes you out of any preconceived notions you have about sequential art. T...more www.theincompletes.com

The Dime-Store Education

Comics for Smart People

I left Persepolis as a tip for a cute hairstylist once. I’m not sure if it was the comic, my hilarious jokes, or the way my hair sounded between scissors, but we dated for about three months. I’m not suggesting you can use comics as a tool to pick up women. I’m telling you. It’s a fact.

Every once in a while a comic comes along, grabs you by the belt and shakes you out of any preconceived notions you have about sequential art. This is a nice in for the skeptics.

Marjane Satrapi grew up in Iran during the 80’s in the middle of a war with Iraq. Her story is beautifully human, illustrating the complexities of being a young girl - starting to date, growing in imbalanced ways, alternating role models between revolutionists and god - while trying to survive in a country where the buildings disintegrate in the blink of a dictator’s eye. And yet, the story is still funny, because even when the world is crashing down, so long as you’re not caught in the blast, life still goes on. Eventually, Satrapi moved to France (this won’t be the last time you hear me say this, but some of the best comics these days come from France) to escape her volatile life. She broke the chains of modesty expected of Iranian women in order to write this comic.

This brings us to the interesting space where cartoonish figures cross are thrown into real-life tragedies. It’s strange to see, especially if you aren’t used to it. Satrapi’s drawings are plain B&W, round exploring eyes and swooping noses. These simple faces that seem best suited for Saturday mornings with cereal and pajamas are quickly deranged by war. If you take a closer look, after the heartache, you’ll notice all the expressions of a real human face cut down to the basics: the swooping lines are the wrinkles eyes exhausted, breasts sagging, the hands desperate.

I tell people this is a book about sexuality in Iran to pique interest, even though that’s only a small part of what Satrapi discusses. It’s interesting to look at a country that blurs images of musical instruments like we might blur a nipple, because they’re considered to be too sexual.

After you’ve read the comic, check out the movie of the same name. It’s one of the rare delights where the author/artist had complete creative control over the content. The characters move with a beautiful elasticity and calls back to the old thirties cartoons while maintaining a new cinematic sheen.

Recommended to: history buffs, political types, and hair-stylists named Vanessa

-CMH(less)

1 like · like · see review

May 21, 2008 Kirstie rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: people interested in Iranian and Middle East politics

Shelves: graphic-novels

I think the history of Iran from the 1970s to present is one of the most muddled of all histories...it's very difficult to figure out what things were perpetrated by Iraq and what was a government oppressing and even killing its own people. What you end up having is an accumulation of anecdotes about the experience of survival which feels wrong in the context of history because they will, by nature, be subjective....However, this still seems more reliable than believing any of the propaganda put...more I think the history of Iran from the 1970s to present is one of the most muddled of all histories...it's very difficult to figure out what things were perpetrated by Iraq and what was a government oppressing and even killing its own people. What you end up having is an accumulation of anecdotes about the experience of survival which feels wrong in the context of history because they will, by nature, be subjective....However, this still seems more reliable than believing any of the propaganda put out by the government of Iran or our own. It's not uncommon that you can't put your trust with the political leaders to tell you the truth but I feel it even more so when it comes to Iran,

In some ways, the more books I read on the subject, the more confused I feel. Persepolis is about a girl growing up in Iran who takes some refuge in Austria and then returns for some time as an adult. It has to do with her sense of revolution and political fairness as well as her personal story of being a woman growing up in these times and under this oppressive rule. It shares some characteristics with Reading Lolita in Tehran by Azar Nafisi as both refer to the West for comparison points, take place for some portion at a university, and are from a female perspective about living in this area. Instead of addressing specifically literature, Persepolis dabbles more in the area of art, which is of course reinforced by the format of it being a graphic novel.

I should also say that there are some times in the book when I feel like Satrapi really struggles to gain a sense of what it means to be an Iranian and that makes for a more interesting novel. In some ways, this is about her coming of age and becoming more aware of how Iran fits in the world around her and what it means to be an Iranian. I also felt very conflicted trying to understand what the most common Iranian feels. For example, she makes a point while in Iran to have secret parties, attend protests, and try to show herself the way she is as best as she can get away with. Yet, the people around her seem as shunning as members of the military and gov't even though they are just common citizens. She makes a statement that she doesn't want Iran to be known as a country of fascists but it seems like she is in the definite minority in terms of still daring to express herself. It's very troubling though I suppose it should be as it goes along with the political turmoil but again, it's difficult to wrap your head around completely as what makes up a typical Iranian citizen.

Last, though I think the book is great to have on hand to refer to, I would recommend seeing the film over reading the book if you have to choose one...the film follows the book exactly and the illustrations on a grand scale are very beautiful and can be appreciated more.(less)

3 likes · like · see review

Mar 18, 2008 Justin Lee rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites, graphic-novels

I received this book as a Christmas gift from my brother. Yes, I had to tell him what I wanted, but it was worth it. I was intrigued by this book when I saw a preview for the film. After that, I would pass by it in the bookstores wanting to read it, but always passing by it. Finally, I get my chance to read it.

I must say I was enamored with this book. It caught me by surprise how wonderful it was. It totally changed my opinion of the graphic novel format. I was impressed with her art and her ex...more

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Mar 11, 2008 laura rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: everyone

Recommended to laura by: Bust Magazine

Persepolis is a memoir in graphic novel form, which describes the childhood and young adulthood of the author in Iran. Her story starts with the revolution that started when Satrapi was a young girl, and chronicles the drastic and now infamous changes that took hold of the country.

Satrapi was the daughter of a progressive, upper-middle-class, urban couple in Tehran, so this story is not the Story of All Iranians. However, I think readers can be transormed by a story that highlights the diversity...more

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Jul 28, 2008 Maggie rated it 5 of 5 stars

If you've read Art Spiegelman's brilliant, Pulitzer Prize-winning Maus: A Survivor's Tale, then you should easily be able to wrap your head around Persepolis - a memoir in the form of a graphic novel. (Or, rather, several graphic novels, since both Spiegelman and Satrapi chose to release their stories in multiple volumes. I am reviewing The Complete Persepolis, which is actually two graphic novels: The Story of a Childhood and The Story of a Return.) Like Maus, Persepolis uses art to tell a pers...more If you've read Art Spiegelman's brilliant, Pulitzer Prize-winning Maus: A Survivor's Tale, then you should easily be able to wrap your head around Persepolis - a memoir in the form of a graphic novel. (Or, rather, several graphic novels, since both Spiegelman and Satrapi chose to release their stories in multiple volumes. I am reviewing The Complete Persepolis, which is actually two graphic novels: The Story of a Childhood and The Story of a Return.) Like Maus, Persepolis uses art to tell a personal story while also educating its reader on a particular history and culture. Also like Maus, it's brilliant and wholly worth your time, even if you, like me, claim that comic books aren't really your thing.

Persepolis is the coming-of-age story of Marjane Satrapi, an Iranian woman who is both the author as well as the protagonist. Her story begins in 1980 when Marjane was 10 years old. The Iranian Revolution had just taken place the previous year, and thanks to it, Marjane and her educated, liberal mother are both forced to wear the traditional Islamic veil. Coming from a very free-thinking household, the Satrapis have a difficult time adhering to the new regime, and Marjane's childhood is full of rebellion. She loves punk music, refuses to wear her veil properly, delights in pointing out the hypocrisy of her teachers, and follows her parents on political demonstrations. Eventually, her parents recognize that Marjane's outspokenness is putting her in increasing danger, so at age fourteen she is sent to live in Vienna where she experiences freedom and liberation, but also learns what it's like to be a Iranian immigrant in Western society. After spending four years in Vienna, Marjane returns home to Iran and discovers that while her Iranian heritage made her an outsider in Europe, her Western life has made her an outsider in her own homeland.

For a simply drawn, black-and-white graphic novel, Persepolis is a complex little thing. It's a breeze to read, yet incredibly thought-provoking. I think I learned more about the history of modern Iran from this book than I had from reading any number of newspaper and magazine articles on the subject. Furthermore, I gained an empathy for the Iranian people that one can't truly get from a newspaper or a magazine. While it's easy to dismiss the majority of Iranians as religious and political extremists, Marjane's story suggests that many Iranians are more like her - scared, rebellious and frustrated with the regime - than like the extremists the media tends to focus on. It's easy to see a veil rather than a individual, however Marjane's story reveals that although our politics may be different, we really have more things in common than we have differences to separate us.

All-in-all, I may not love comic books, but I loved Persepolis. It's smart, edgy, funny and sad, and I would recommend it to absolutely anyone.

(less)

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Apr 15, 2008 Julia rated it 4 of 5 stars

Clever and captivating and other things that start with C. The moments of life it covers would be memorable without the pictures, but the pictures... It's a really good use of the comicy format (graphic memoir, not graphic novel) to really be something more than just a story with pictures. Integrated well, I guess, but also that the art is powerful. And good as memoir qua memoir too; an interestingly-told life story that also gives readers a real sense of the world(s) it's part of. (Perhaps one...more

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Jan 21, 2008 Hilda rated it 5 of 5 stars

I read these books consecutively - in fact I bought them as a box set - and I really enjoyed them. It gives us a genuinely intimate portrait of what life was like growing up in Iran, first under the Shah's right-wing dictatorship, then during the Islamic revolution which led to a clerical state and through the war with Iraq. The two-part memoir takes us from 1980 when Marjane was 10 years old through the 1990s when she's become a woman who had endured exile at a young age and a return to her cou...more

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Oct 13, 2011 Caleb rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites

so last night i finished persepolis by marjane satrapi, a graphic novel-style memoir about growing in iran to free-thinking parents in the 70's, 80's and 90's. i've seen it around at work without ever really giving it much attention, but since it is being made into a movie (limited release in the states on christmas), it's getting a lot of buzz. i read about it in some publication (i forget which, but no doubt a lesbian and/or feminist magazine) and it looked pretty interesting and like a quick...more so last night i finished persepolis by marjane satrapi, a graphic novel-style memoir about growing in iran to free-thinking parents in the 70's, 80's and 90's. i've seen it around at work without ever really giving it much attention, but since it is being made into a movie (limited release in the states on christmas), it's getting a lot of buzz. i read about it in some publication (i forget which, but no doubt a lesbian and/or feminist magazine) and it looked pretty interesting and like a quick read, so i picked it up. also: the frequency with which i am reading books right before they're released as movies is scaring me, but that is mildly irrelevant.
the book talks about how satripi copes with iran's transition from a tyrannical king to a fundamentalist muslim pseudo-democracy following a revolution in the late 70's, as well as its war with iraq in the early 80's. it's so interesting because it deals largely with how satrapi and her parents cope with a government who oppresses the people and kills the revolutionaries, some of whom are satripi's own family members. when she is a child, the family maid babysits her while her parents demonstrate at protests and as an early teenager she is sent to a boarding school in europe when her parents start to fear for her life after a combination of her mouth, intelligence and rebellious nature make it clear she could be a target for the governments' "guardians of the revolution", to whom many people disappear and never return. while in europe, on her own as a young adult, satripi tries to manage the seemingly difficult task of fitting in at her new german catholic boarding school while maintaining her identity and pride as an iranian. upon her return to iran, she finds her childhood friends attempting to appear as strong, young, westernized women but shun her when they learn of her own truly westernized ideas.
it's really just so fascinating to read about a culture that is so different on the streets than it is in the home, the way the characters (er, people) humor the government enough to get by while keeping a sense of self and quietly resisting what they know to be wrong. i have been tricked into believing that everyone in muslim countries is a radical fundamentalist who warmly welcomes their oppression hiding behind religion and culture, and now i know that that is not the case. i know that that is not the way things have always been. i know that there was a way to balance god and religion, and i am overjoyed to know that athiests, anarchists, feminists, liberals and so many other subversive peoples manage to exist in a situation that seems so helpless. it's just so refreshing to learn. it's a true testament to the human spirit.(less)

2 likes · like · see review

Jan 22, 2009 Michael Scott rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fiction, memoir, politics, graphic-novels, anthropology

I read this book in just a few hours. It was my first 'serious' comics book, so it took me a while to adapt to its story-telling style, and perhaps this is why I glided over more than enjoying its beginning. Maybe it is that with comics there is little space for text, many things are fixed by being draw rather then described (I guess these are common critiques comic books receive when compared with text-only lit). Or perhaps it was just the fact that the style changes as the main character grows...more

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Jul 10, 2008 Casey rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: children-or-young-adult, adults, 2008

Ugh. I am deeply ambivalent. First, I found the political side fascinating. If you're interested in Iran's history, the graphic novel format is really accessible. However, I really disliked Marjane. I feel a little guilty about this, as she's a real person. While she and her family were proud that she was outspoken, I found her rude and obnoxious. They believed she was raised to be "free." I certainly appreciate their hugely liberal views in such a repressive environment, but their version of "f...more

10 likes · like · see review

Apr 21, 2013 Malika rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites

Absolutely amazing. Just as with Persepolis 2, I had to devour the entire book in one sitting. I have several Iranian friends, one of whom left Iran during the early 80's and her son's name is the same as one of Satrapi's friends that fled.

Satrapi's storytelling is gripping. You feel pain, sorrow, grief, and frustration for how one man can hurt another. The underlying storyline is almost timeless, because so many massacres of the human body and spirit have been launched out of mistaken superior...more

1 like · like · see review

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About Marjane Satrapi

Marjane Satrapi (Persian: مرجان ساتراپی) is an Iranian-born French contemporary graphic novellist, illustrator, animated film director, and children's book author. Apart from her native tongue Farsi, she speaks English, Swedish, German, French and Italian.

Satrapi grew up in Tehran in a family which was involved with communist and socialist movements in Iran prior to the Iranian Revolution. She att...more Marjane Satrapi (Persian: مرجان ساتراپی) is an Iranian-born French contemporary graphic novellist, illustrator, animated film director, and children's book author. Apart from her native tongue Farsi, she speaks English, Swedish, German, French and Italian.

Satrapi grew up in Tehran in a family which was involved with communist and socialist movements in Iran prior to the Iranian Revolution. She attended the Lycée Français there and witnessed, as a child, the growing suppression of civil liberties and the everyday-life consequences of Iranian politics, including the fall of the Shah, the early regime of Ruhollah Khomeini, and the first years of the Iran-Iraq War. She experienced an Iraqi air raid and Scud missile attacks on Tehran. According to Persepolis, one Scud hit the house next to hers, killing her friend and entire family.
Satrapi attended the Lycée Français de Vienne

Satrapi's family are of distant Iranian Azeri ancestry and are descendants of Nasser al-Din Shah, Shah of Persia from 1848 until 1896. Satrapi said that "But you have to know the kings of the Qajar dynasty, they had hundreds of wives. They made thousands of kids. If you multiply these kids by generation you have, I don't know, 10-15,000 princes [and princesses]. There's nothing extremely special about that." She added that due to this detail, most Iranian families would be, in the words of Simon Hattenstone of The Guardian, "blue blooded."

In 1983, at the age of 14 Satrapi was sent to Vienna, Austria by her parents in order to flee the Iranian regime. There she attended the Lycée Français de Vienne. According to her autobiographical graphic novel, Persepolis, she stayed in Vienna through her high school years, staying in friends' homes, but spent three months living on the streets. After an almost deadly bout of pneumonia, she returned to Iran. She studied Visual Communication, eventually obtaining a Master's Degree from Islamic Azad University in Tehran.

During this time, Satrapi went to numerous illegal parties hosted by her friends, where she met a man named Reza, a veteran of the Iran-Iraq War. She married him at the age of 21, but divorced roughly three years later. Satrapi then moved to Strasbourg, France.(less)

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Quotes from Persepolis

“It's fear that makes us lose our conscience. It's also what transforms us into cowards.” — 67 people liked it

“The regime had understood that one person leaving her house while asking herself:
Are my trousers long enough?'
Is my veil in place?'
Can my make-up be seen?'
Are they going to whip me?'

No longer asks herself:

Where is my freedom of thought?'
Where is my freedom of speech?'
My life, is it livable?'
What's going on in the political prisons?” — 59 people liked it

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