Scan barcode
blueberry31's review against another edition
5.0
Beautiful, touching and educational. This is a must read!
tonyhonk's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
informative
sad
tense
fast-paced
4.75
bujo_planbee's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
3.75
thebookishlibrarian's review against another edition
This graphic memoir was gripping from start to finish. Told in first person through the eyes of a child, Satrapi explained what it was like to grow up in Iran during the Islamic Revolution. This book is great for those who want a quick read, however, it’s packed with history and real emotion.
acmarinho3's review against another edition
5.0
Um livro de valor histórico sem igual. Marjane é absolutamente brilhante na simplicidade com que partilha as suas memórias. Os seus desenhos a preto e branco dão-nos uma sensação de luto e perda. O texto básico demonstra-nos a verdade sobre a sua inocência e ingenuidade infantil. Os dois juntos fazem-nos viajar e dão-nos a conhecer factos históricos que, caso contrário, seriam narrados com outros pontos e contos. A crueldade e honestidade da sua realidade são surreiais. Um livro autobiográfico com uma componente histórica sem igual, é mesmo isso. Aquilo que se aprende ao ler estas páginas ficará sempre: porque é impossível esquecer Persépolis.
angie_dutton's review against another edition
5.0
This is a rating for the whole collection rather than just the first part. Really important and eye opening and very funny autobiographical comic that will give you a much less stereotyped view of the middle east. But if you can't be bothered to read it then the cartoon is fab too.
spenkevich's review against another edition
5.0
This should be required reading, I want to pass out copies of this book on street corners. Easily one of the best graphic novels--and books in general--I have ever read and I have just finished it for a second time after making my book club read it this month. Marjane Satrapi’s Persepolis is an important look at modern Iranian history, the people caught in the political struggles, and an empowering look at feminism and finding yourself amidst the bombs, oppression, and cultural clashes of the world. The historical events become the landscape for Satrapi’s coming of age story, witnessing the Iranian Revolution and war as a child, then spending her teenage years abroad only to return to Iran and struggle to thrive where women are kept down and the secret police are always lurking. Seriously, get this right now. I openly wept at a bar while reading this (while only on my first drink). I love Marjane Satrapi's work so much and I wish I would have come to it much sooner.
The graphic novel format for this story is very engaging, able to fluidly move between internal and external observations and depictions from frame to frame. The narration is quite extraordinary as well, with the language matching Marjane’s age as the novel progresses. Late in the book, as an adult, she even breaks the fourth wall, clearly addressing the reader while her cartoon image stares directly at you from the page. Like [b:The Complete Maus|15195|The Complete Maus|Art Spiegelman|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1327354180l/15195._SX50_.jpg|1658562] by [a:Art Spiegelman|5117|Art Spiegelman|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1206557373p2/5117.jpg], the graphic novel format makes for a wonderfully accessible look at history while delivering an incredible amount of emotion, empathy while also being a direct, first-person account of atrocities, violence and oppression from the perspective of someone facing it all themselves. Also like Maus, Satrapi’s Persepolis has faced a large amount of book challenges and bannings in the United States. Which is a real shame for many reasons, but a large one is that it puts Iranian history and society in a perspective that differs from the typical Western propaganda, such as showing Western influence in the regime change, countries like the US providing weapons for both Iran and Iraq during the war to weaken both as well as showing that most people living there are not the Fundamentalists and are trying to live a full life full of friendships and freedom.
The second half of the book deals with Marjane living abroad and the perceptions of others about Iran from the outside as well as seeing that oppressive beliefs and racism exist everywhere is a key detail. A favorite scene of mine is when Marjane is invited to hang out with anarchists only to find them playing capture the flag. There is a bit of rib-poking at college aged intelligentsia having heads full of theory but no experience, saying things to her like her having seen war and bodies in the street is “cool”, etc. The disconnect is quite interesting.
Though not everything in this book is about violence, and the coming-of-age aspects are really quite endearing. We see Marjane getting Western music from guys in trenchcoats on the street (her dad smuggling a Kim Wilde poster through airport security is a wonderful scene), witness disasterous relationships and breakups, watch her try to reinvent herself and grow up into who she is. Her story is quite moving and we see her challenge societal norms, such as pushing for better dresscodes for the art school she attends. Along the way we get the idea that she is lucky to have escaped many of the scenarios involving authorities.
The biggest heart of the story, however, is the family dynamic. The emotional connection and love for her grandmother, the tragic scenes of her Uncle being detained, and the love and care from her parents make for a very moving read. I love the father and his honesty with his daughter and often try to keep him in mind when raising my own daughters. I certainly thought of him when my oldest wanted to know about the January 6th insurrection at the US Capitol or when explaining what was happening as Covid began in 2020 and opted to be open and talk to her like an adult when explaining what it meant instead of avoiding it. Satrapi paints a very captivating family story here that is sure to touch anyone’s heart.
But don’t just listen to me rave about this book, pick up a copy as soon as possible. I love it, my whole book club loved it, and I’m guessing you will too.
5/5
The graphic novel format for this story is very engaging, able to fluidly move between internal and external observations and depictions from frame to frame. The narration is quite extraordinary as well, with the language matching Marjane’s age as the novel progresses. Late in the book, as an adult, she even breaks the fourth wall, clearly addressing the reader while her cartoon image stares directly at you from the page. Like [b:The Complete Maus|15195|The Complete Maus|Art Spiegelman|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1327354180l/15195._SX50_.jpg|1658562] by [a:Art Spiegelman|5117|Art Spiegelman|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1206557373p2/5117.jpg], the graphic novel format makes for a wonderfully accessible look at history while delivering an incredible amount of emotion, empathy while also being a direct, first-person account of atrocities, violence and oppression from the perspective of someone facing it all themselves. Also like Maus, Satrapi’s Persepolis has faced a large amount of book challenges and bannings in the United States. Which is a real shame for many reasons, but a large one is that it puts Iranian history and society in a perspective that differs from the typical Western propaganda, such as showing Western influence in the regime change, countries like the US providing weapons for both Iran and Iraq during the war to weaken both as well as showing that most people living there are not the Fundamentalists and are trying to live a full life full of friendships and freedom.
The second half of the book deals with Marjane living abroad and the perceptions of others about Iran from the outside as well as seeing that oppressive beliefs and racism exist everywhere is a key detail. A favorite scene of mine is when Marjane is invited to hang out with anarchists only to find them playing capture the flag. There is a bit of rib-poking at college aged intelligentsia having heads full of theory but no experience, saying things to her like her having seen war and bodies in the street is “cool”, etc. The disconnect is quite interesting.
Though not everything in this book is about violence, and the coming-of-age aspects are really quite endearing. We see Marjane getting Western music from guys in trenchcoats on the street (her dad smuggling a Kim Wilde poster through airport security is a wonderful scene), witness disasterous relationships and breakups, watch her try to reinvent herself and grow up into who she is. Her story is quite moving and we see her challenge societal norms, such as pushing for better dresscodes for the art school she attends. Along the way we get the idea that she is lucky to have escaped many of the scenarios involving authorities.
The biggest heart of the story, however, is the family dynamic. The emotional connection and love for her grandmother, the tragic scenes of her Uncle being detained, and the love and care from her parents make for a very moving read. I love the father and his honesty with his daughter and often try to keep him in mind when raising my own daughters. I certainly thought of him when my oldest wanted to know about the January 6th insurrection at the US Capitol or when explaining what was happening as Covid began in 2020 and opted to be open and talk to her like an adult when explaining what it meant instead of avoiding it. Satrapi paints a very captivating family story here that is sure to touch anyone’s heart.
But don’t just listen to me rave about this book, pick up a copy as soon as possible. I love it, my whole book club loved it, and I’m guessing you will too.
5/5
andrewbrown780's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
5.0
Persepolis is a powerful and emotional account of Maryjane Satrapi's experience living through the Iranian Revolution and then the Iraq-Iran war. This moving story is well worth the read.