The Complete Persepolis

published	October 30th 2007 by Pantheon
first published	2003
binding	Paperback
isbn	0375714839 (isbn13: 9780375714832)
pages	352
description	Here, in one volume: Marjane Satrapi's best-selling, internationally acclaimed memoir-in-comic-strips. Persepolis is the story of Satr...more [close] 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 school years in Vienna facing the trails of adolescence far from her family; of her homecoming--both sweet and terrible; and, finally, of her self-imposed exile from her beloved homeland. It is the chronicle of a girlhood and adolescence at once outrageous and familiar, a young life entwined with the history of her country yet filled with the universal trials and joys of growing up. Edgy, searingly observant, and candid, often heartbreaking but threaded throughout with raw humor and hard-earned wisdom--Persepolis is a stunning work from one of the most highly regarded, singularly talented graphic artists at work today. [close]
date added	05-24-07 edit book

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Adrianne rated it:

03/02/08

Read in March, 2008

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. Su...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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2 comments

Kirstie rated it:

05/21/08

Read in May, 2008

recommends it for: people interested in Iranian and Middle East politics

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

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