Scan barcode
A review by erikariehigano22
Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood by Marjane Satrapi
5.0
The book starts off with a brief summary of the history of Iran and its background of constant colonisation from the Greeks, the Arabs, the Turks, to the Mongols, and the West in the Twentieth Century. This is essential as the book is set on the onset and duration of the Cultural Revolution that later instigated Islamic Fundamentalism in Iranian society, forcing the new generation to a lifetime experiences of war.
We read the life and perspective of the author Marjane during her childhood as the only child of her parents connected with her relatives and her local community. Her parents are radicals involved with communist and socialist school of thought in Tehran with their participations in demonstrations and the influence on Marjane's outlook in life and her beliefs that made her so outspoken and bold despite the growing restraint on women in her society.
There is something to be said when events of war and cruelty under a political dictatorship are presented through the perspective and narration of a child. It adds up to how profound and haunting the situation is in Iran and evokes the reader to feel horrified. And that's the goal of Persepolis, to tell the reader that this is the cruelty that's been forced to be normalised in the lives of people in Iran. They want to live their own lives with dignity and comfort, just like the rest of us. The early chapters are very enlightening to the reader to emphasise the social inequality in Iran, one of the societal issues during the reign of the Shah. Living to see family friends, families of classmates, neighbours, relatives persecuted and executed was the kind of trauma that Marjane had to live during the Iran-Iraqi war. There were times I did wanted to cry for how traumatic a young child had to endure this.
One scene that stuck me profound was how Marjane let go of her childhood when she tried that cigarette she stole from an uncle during a family party two weeks prior. Though it was not implied, I like to think that with the current circumstances and the turmoil in her society, she and the rest of her peers who were either forced to be recruited in the war or be subjected to the regime, they all had to mature early and abandon the innocence of their childhood for survival.
I think one of my most favourite part was the ending, funny enough as someone who hated endings. As a recent migrant who had to live her country for the sake of better opportunities and to improve my quality of life, I felt Marjane and I shared that same heartbreak even despite boarding that plane in different stages of our life and with different things happening in our countries. The last frame of her mother fainted in her father's arms as they watch Marjane leave towards a better life away from them, away from home.
"Don't ever forget who you are!"
"No. I won't ever forget."
For even the turmoil you have to endure at home even if it kills you, your home is still home.
I am very much looking forward to read the second book of the English edition.
We read the life and perspective of the author Marjane during her childhood as the only child of her parents connected with her relatives and her local community. Her parents are radicals involved with communist and socialist school of thought in Tehran with their participations in demonstrations and the influence on Marjane's outlook in life and her beliefs that made her so outspoken and bold despite the growing restraint on women in her society.
There is something to be said when events of war and cruelty under a political dictatorship are presented through the perspective and narration of a child. It adds up to how profound and haunting the situation is in Iran and evokes the reader to feel horrified. And that's the goal of Persepolis, to tell the reader that this is the cruelty that's been forced to be normalised in the lives of people in Iran. They want to live their own lives with dignity and comfort, just like the rest of us. The early chapters are very enlightening to the reader to emphasise the social inequality in Iran, one of the societal issues during the reign of the Shah. Living to see family friends, families of classmates, neighbours, relatives persecuted and executed was the kind of trauma that Marjane had to live during the Iran-Iraqi war. There were times I did wanted to cry for how traumatic a young child had to endure this.
One scene that stuck me profound was how Marjane let go of her childhood when she tried that cigarette she stole from an uncle during a family party two weeks prior. Though it was not implied, I like to think that with the current circumstances and the turmoil in her society, she and the rest of her peers who were either forced to be recruited in the war or be subjected to the regime, they all had to mature early and abandon the innocence of their childhood for survival.
I think one of my most favourite part was the ending, funny enough as someone who hated endings. As a recent migrant who had to live her country for the sake of better opportunities and to improve my quality of life, I felt Marjane and I shared that same heartbreak even despite boarding that plane in different stages of our life and with different things happening in our countries. The last frame of her mother fainted in her father's arms as they watch Marjane leave towards a better life away from them, away from home.
"Don't ever forget who you are!"
"No. I won't ever forget."
For even the turmoil you have to endure at home even if it kills you, your home is still home.
I am very much looking forward to read the second book of the English edition.