Reviews

The Complete Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi

emeraldgarnet's review against another edition

4.0

Satrapi's graphic novel shows how even though someone might be aware of classism they may not fight against it.

I am an emigrant myself and the portrayal of emigration was spot on for me. Fortunately, I did not have to emigrate under any sort of bad cloud but Satrapi's depictions of what people who are staying say are perfect.

queeniego's review

emotional funny informative reflective sad medium-paced

4.5

cecile87's review against another edition

4.0

Surprisingly engaging book. I don't think her story could have been told any other way. The drawings were simply done but very complex and nuanced in what they conveyed.

zmoats's review against another edition

5.0

A stirring memoir that doubles as a snapshot of an important and tumultuous historical moment. Satrapi manages to straddle a fine line of adequately expressing what she personally went through and what she witnessed happening around her. The memoir never feels as though it is trying to rewrite what she understood as a child. Rather, Persepolis itself represents a struggle most children feel as they grow up with trying to manage becoming their own person, understanding how the larger society functions around them, and recognizing the rules of their household and family as potentially separate from that society. It is certainly not a universal story though, it is Marjane Satrapi's story (alongside her wonderful, often hilarious family members - another aspect of the book to admire, the way in which she finds subtle ways and details to build rich characters). A beautiful tale of how in the world a child manages to find solace in the midst of chaos.

iris456's review

challenging dark emotional funny reflective sad medium-paced

4.5

sonjah's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad fast-paced

4.5

brisingr's review

5.0

this was such a wonderful story of resistance, the power of education, growth and national identity. beautiful and heart-breaking :(

outoftheblue14's review against another edition

5.0

Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi is my very first graphic novel. Imagine my joy when I foudn a copy at the local library! I didn't think they had graphic novels there, and now I discover they have both Persepolis and Persepolis 2.

Persepolis is the story of Satrapi's childhood in Teheran from six to fourteen, between the late Seventies and the early Eighties. The only child of committed Marxists and the great-granddaughter of one of Iran's last emperors, Marjane bears witness to a childhood uniquely entwined with the history of her country. She witnesses he overthrow of the Shah's regime, the triumph of the Islamic Revolution, and the devastating effects of war with Iraq. I was surprised at how powerful her black-and-white strips were.

I loved Marjane's character: intelligent and outspoken, she always tries to find ways to rebel to the impositions of the Islamic Revolution. The book ends with Marjane's departure from iran at fourteen, when her parents send her to study in Austria.

I liked this book very much, and I'll be certainly looking out for Persepolis 2.

melanietrumbo's review against another edition

challenging emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

4.0

ink_nettle's review

dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

4.5