From the Bookshelf of Around the World in 80 Books…

Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood (Persepolis, #1)

Marjane Satrapi,

Mattias Ripa (Translator)

Start date: December 15, 2019

Finish date: January 15, 2020

Discussion: Group Reads Discussions

Why we're reading this: December 2019 selection for world memoirs.
[close] December 2019 selection for world memoirs.

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Group Reads Discussions

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What Members Thought

Oct 15, 2017 Tanya rated it really liked it

Shelves: 2017

The librarian had placed this on the rack for a display on banned books; it's the sole reason I picked it up as I had not heard of it before. And now I want to read all of them because I want to know about the daily life and the history of Iran and the Islamic revolution. This was a memorable way for me to be introduced to another culture and it was absolutely powerful. ...more

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Apr 04, 2010 Pam rated it really liked it

Shelves: non-fiction, 2010, history

I didn't know what to expect. This was one of those books that sat on my shelf and just sat and sat... I got tired of looking at it. So finally, yesterday, I read it. In one sitting. It is a graphic novel done in black and white. It tells the story of a girl growing up in Iran. It seems like such a simple book, but sometimes, the simple can be the most eye-opening. Lucky for me, there is a Persepolis 2... luckier still, I have it. ...more

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Jan 07, 2011 Megan rated it it was amazing

LOVED this book and it's sequel! Own the movie but have yet to see it... ...more

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Aug 04, 2008 Rachel N. rated it liked it

Shelves: iran

This book was for my book group. I didn't find this book as to be as good as a lot of other people obviously did from their reviews. I don't know much about the Iranian revolution and the war between Iraq and Iran. I feel like this hurt my understanding of the novel. I also feel like the book jumped around suddenly between times and I didn't like that each story was at the most 5 pages long. I would have rather had a full length continuous graphic novel that tells the author's story. ...more

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Jul 28, 2011 Kelli rated it it was amazing

Shelves: history, art-and-artsy, diverse-authors, graphic-illustration-comics

I'm reading "Reading Lolita in Tehran" and as I am struggling to get through the long drawn out plotless portions, I am reminded of how Persepolis and its sequel tells a far superior story of the same historical realities. Persepolis is brilliant. It is an great history lesson for Westerners unfamiliar with the Islamic Revolution in Iran and the Iran/Iraq war. It is a fast, entertaining and relevant read. Highly recommended. ...more

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Nov 14, 2008 Janet rated it it was ok

I wanted to try a graphic novel. This is a grim perspective of a girl's life during the Islamic Revolution in Iran. I couldn't quite reconcile horror, hardship, and brutality portrayed through comics. ...more

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