Reviews

The Complete Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi

readoodles's review against another edition

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5.0

Graphic (comic book) presentation of author’s childhood through adulthood during Iranian revolution and Islamic control of country. Gives clear picture of the oppression but also the “normal” life behind the headlines.

ellainthesun's review against another edition

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5.0

Brilliant book.

yurana's review against another edition

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challenging informative sad

5.0

maghsu's review against another edition

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4.0

2020 RHC Task 4 & 12

anthrophilus's review against another edition

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4.0

This is the second graphic novel I've ever read, and I'm inspired to read more. I enjoyed learning about Marjane Satrapi's life and also about Iran in the second half of the 20th Century. Satrapi skillfuly depicts the tragedies of war and religious oppression, in scenes interspersed with humor and reflections on the kinds challenges anyone might have anywhere, just growing up. Definitely recommend.

josetinocoperez's review against another edition

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5.0

95/100.

Persépolis es una novela gráfica que abre los ojos a las realidades orientales. Nos cuenta la historia de Irán desde el punto de vista (y la biografía) de la propia Marjane Satrapi. La mirada occidental (especialmente, debido a la visión estadounidense y europeísta de los conflictos producidos en Irán) ha dejado mucho que desear, por lo que conocer de primera mano cómo lo vivió una familia es una experiencia esclarecedora.

He disfrutado en especial que la autora no se corte en ningún momento en mostrar absolutamente nada de su vida. Me ha impresionado más de lo que hubiera imaginado en un primer momento. Sin duda, es una lectura que agradezco haber hecho.

hi_its_erinnicole's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional informative reflective sad tense medium-paced

4.0

Watched this film over 15 years ago and finally got around to reading the graphic novel it's based on.  Really good if at times Marjane made...questionable choices.  I watched the trailer to remind mw what it was like and it seems quite a bit funner than the book, which is an interesting choice.

jro73's review against another edition

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5.0

Loved the movie, the book is equally if not more amazing. Had this book to keep me company in the emergency room it did an incredible job of keeping my mind off the pain I was in as I was so absorbed by the characters and their stories.

kamiga5's review against another edition

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5.0

My first foray into graphic novels and I don't think I could have made a better choice for a place to start. I was expecting a quick read that featured the creepy-looking cartoon girl that I saw in the movie adaptation in 2008 (that I barely even remember watching). Boy, did I have a big surprise in store.

Persepolis should be required reading for high schools in all Western countries (especially the US). In the West, we are taught so little about the Middle East, it comes as no surprise that this huge hole in our educations has manifested itself in a huge divide between the West and the Middle East.

This is where Persepolis comes in. Yes, it's "only one book", but this one book (a graphic novel, at that) manages to humanize an entire region of people that has been marginalized in the minds of Westerners (knowingly or otherwise). Persepolis shows the human side (and cost) of revolution and war. Most Westerners cannot understand what it takes for a parent to send their child, alone, to a far away land in order to protect them (as we can see today with the complete apathy in the face of unaccompanied minors at the US-Mexico border), as Marjane's mother did for her not once, but twice. Reading this book could open a lot of people's eyes to what the people of the Middle East have had to deal with, and are still dealing with today.

I also think it's important to underline that Marjane was only born in 1969 and it's crazy to consider what someone in the US was experiencing at the same time that Marjane was having family members assassinated, neighbours being bombed, being sent to Europe, alone, as a teenager...

I totally get the pushback from boards of education, saying that the language isn't one hundred percent appropriate for schools (especially in the US where they treat high schoolers like they've never heard a curse word in their lives), but the importance of this story should outweigh a few curse words and a couple dick jokes. If experience has taught me anything, it's that this would actually make the students appreciate it even more.

This is going to my list of favorite books of all time.

tiffanyskidmore's review against another edition

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4.0

4.5 stars. The graphic novel format is so effective sometimes. This was my first exposure to the Islamic Revolution in Iran; it sparked my interest in learning more. The story was cleverly written. Coupled with the illustrations, the story packs a real punch. Can't wait for the next one.