Helpful Score: 1
I rarely read graphic novels, but the buzz about this got me (and I love the artwork style too, so that helped.)
Satrapi's stated goal for this story about her childhood in Iran is to humanize the country and the people - to create awareness that Iran is not only a country of religious fundamentalists.
However, after reading it, I took away the impression that things there were worse than I had realized, not better. It is definitely an illuminating book, but don't read it expecting it to be cute and funny. Rather, it's emotionally wrenching and frequently tragic. It's also very good however, and Satrapi doesn't shy away from showing us her own flaws or the ironies involved in that she did come from a very privileged family.
Satrapi's stated goal for this story about her childhood in Iran is to humanize the country and the people - to create awareness that Iran is not only a country of religious fundamentalists.
However, after reading it, I took away the impression that things there were worse than I had realized, not better. It is definitely an illuminating book, but don't read it expecting it to be cute and funny. Rather, it's emotionally wrenching and frequently tragic. It's also very good however, and Satrapi doesn't shy away from showing us her own flaws or the ironies involved in that she did come from a very privileged family.
Helpful Score: 1
This is a tremendously funny and heartbreaking graphic novel. A must-read!
Helpful Score: 1
The simple drawings and innocent narration of the storyteller convey a heartbreaking story.
Helpful Score: 1
Beautiful and artistic graphic novel. This look at life in tehran is so interesting. I really enjoyed this book, although I don't usually get into graphic novels. This is definetly no mere comic book!
Helpful Score: 1
Great graphic novel! FUNNY!
Helpful Score: 1
I really loved this graphic novel; it's a quick read but offers so much to the reader. I learned a lot going on a country that I barely knew anything about, but Satrapi gains your sympathy as well. Well written and fine illustrations.
Helpful Score: 1
An interesting graphic novel about the author's childhood in Revolutionary Iran, the black and white illustrations show a depth of emotion and experience. Read the second one too and Embroideries about several generations of Iranian women.
This is a graphic novel which is by no means similar to a comic book other than the illustrations. This book has to be experiencd.
It is the unbiasd story of war and politics in Iran, told through the voice of a child of priveledge. The illustrations engaged a different part of my brain and made for a long lasting impression.
It is the unbiasd story of war and politics in Iran, told through the voice of a child of priveledge. The illustrations engaged a different part of my brain and made for a long lasting impression.
Didn't think I would enjoy this as much as I did! A very fast, enjoyable read, and my first venture into "graphic novel" reading. Can't wait to read her two sequels!
This short book is done in the graphic novel style (comic book) from the perspective of a young girl living in Iran. It covers the years just before and after the fall of the Shah. Her family was western and fairly secular. While the change in her society was sudden and never communicated clearly, especially to children. In her foreward she explains "I believe the entire nation should not be judged by the wrongdoings of a few extremists. I also don't want those Iranians who lost their lives in prison defending freedome, who died in the war against Iraq, who suffered under various repressive regimes, or who were forced to leave their families and flee their homeland to be forgotten."
This book will not take long to read and provides another point of view.
This book will not take long to read and provides another point of view.
A very powerful story of growing up by yourself.
This is a graphic-memoir of a teenaged girl growing up in Iran during the tumultous revolution. She explains Iranian culture and how it changed during the war and the precautions her and her loved ones had to take without ever talking down to the reader. An interesting and engaging story.
Sometimes when you think you understand something, or at least have a decent grasp of the major issues, you encounter something that completely changes your perspective. That occurs more often than not when hearing or reading a personal account told through the eyes of someone who lived it. In this case, the eyes are those of a precocious ten-year-old (when we meet her). Marjane Satrapi's autobiography in the form of a graphic novel tells her own story, of a child and then young adult living through some of the most tumultuous times of the latter half of the twentieth century. This touching memoir describes her experiences of living in Iran during the Islamic Revolution, and then the Iran-Iraq war of the 1980s.
This creative and unique account reveals some important details about life in Iran, before and after the Revolution, from a rare perspective. The author tells of daily life, including her friendship with the family's illiterate maid, and the sad account of the death of her formerly-imprisoned uncle, who was executed as a Russian spy during the revolution. The overarching themes are essentially loss and resilience, something the Persian people have been forced time and again to demonstrate for millennia. Marji's life is marred by tragedy, but she doesn't allow the loss to consume her. In fact, the novel demonstrates in agonizing detail that very few people she knows have not lost someone: from school friends, to her parents' friends, to close relatives. She recounts through the eyes of a (once) child the constant fear of rapid change and constant upheaval, and, eventually, the ever-present threat of being killed or a family member being arrested and tortured.
Not surprisingly, this ended up on the Banned Books list: perhaps its greatest contribution is that it humanizes a highly politicized subject, and makes the material highly accessible, to readers young and old. I wasn't expecting the humor, but the author's dry wit is very refreshing, considering the often-dark subject matter. This one is the first in a series, which I will be checking out as soon as I'm able. Highly recommended.
This creative and unique account reveals some important details about life in Iran, before and after the Revolution, from a rare perspective. The author tells of daily life, including her friendship with the family's illiterate maid, and the sad account of the death of her formerly-imprisoned uncle, who was executed as a Russian spy during the revolution. The overarching themes are essentially loss and resilience, something the Persian people have been forced time and again to demonstrate for millennia. Marji's life is marred by tragedy, but she doesn't allow the loss to consume her. In fact, the novel demonstrates in agonizing detail that very few people she knows have not lost someone: from school friends, to her parents' friends, to close relatives. She recounts through the eyes of a (once) child the constant fear of rapid change and constant upheaval, and, eventually, the ever-present threat of being killed or a family member being arrested and tortured.
Not surprisingly, this ended up on the Banned Books list: perhaps its greatest contribution is that it humanizes a highly politicized subject, and makes the material highly accessible, to readers young and old. I wasn't expecting the humor, but the author's dry wit is very refreshing, considering the often-dark subject matter. This one is the first in a series, which I will be checking out as soon as I'm able. Highly recommended.
I watched the film based on this book in my French class, and I loved it so I thought the book was worth a read. I was not disappointed. The film was very true to the book, so if you enjoyed one you will definitely enjoy the other.
First of all, I adore the main character Marjane. She's spunky, strong, kind of odd, and very loveable. Her relationship with her country and her family is done so realistically and genuinely. I am not a very political person, but this book was very accessible and I feel like I learned a lot about Iran without it reading like a history lesson. Also this book portrays its strong message and so beautifully-- the subject matter is very serious but the novel isn't always. It can be funny and sad and inspiring. This is without a doubt one of the most well executed graphic novels I've ever read. I will definitely be picking up the sequel, and I may even try getting a copy of this book in the original French just because reading it was such a treat.
First of all, I adore the main character Marjane. She's spunky, strong, kind of odd, and very loveable. Her relationship with her country and her family is done so realistically and genuinely. I am not a very political person, but this book was very accessible and I feel like I learned a lot about Iran without it reading like a history lesson. Also this book portrays its strong message and so beautifully-- the subject matter is very serious but the novel isn't always. It can be funny and sad and inspiring. This is without a doubt one of the most well executed graphic novels I've ever read. I will definitely be picking up the sequel, and I may even try getting a copy of this book in the original French just because reading it was such a treat.
This is a very good story of a child growing up during the Shah's regime and the aftermath...it is a very quick read and it gives a good but brief history of the country.
The story in this book is compelling, and I enjoyed the writing a lot. This was a definite success as a novel. However, I think it fails as a graphic novel. There is little or no interplay between the drawings and the text - the drawings are simply illustrations of the text, and rarely add depth. Additionally, the very simple drawings are evocative of the simple language of the child portrayed, but they fail to distinguish between the dozens of dark-haired darkly-dressed men and women of the story, meaning that I was always confused as to which of the multitude of relatives was being portrayed.
Nonetheless, I think it's a great story and a rare glimpse into the hearts of Iranians. It's also a good reminder of the very real cost of standing up to a totalitarian government, and what that means in terms of your ability to survive or for your family to survive. I think in the U.S. we tend to be dismissive of those costs, and fail to understand why people don't just stage revolutions. This book is a great portrayal of the courage of quiet people.
Nonetheless, I think it's a great story and a rare glimpse into the hearts of Iranians. It's also a good reminder of the very real cost of standing up to a totalitarian government, and what that means in terms of your ability to survive or for your family to survive. I think in the U.S. we tend to be dismissive of those costs, and fail to understand why people don't just stage revolutions. This book is a great portrayal of the courage of quiet people.
movie came out of this memoir
Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi is a memoir of a wealthy and sheltered childhood interrupted by revolution. Told through the lens of a eleven year old child, this book focuses on the 1980s revolution in Iran. The black and white illustrations tell the story as much as the words do. I just wish the book also included a vision of the rich cultural heritage that is also the legacy of this centuries old civilization beyond the fundamentalism of the revolution.
Read my complete review at: http://www.memoriesfrombooks.com/2015/10/persepolis-story-of-childhood.html
Read my complete review at: http://www.memoriesfrombooks.com/2015/10/persepolis-story-of-childhood.html
Very well done!
Oh, wow. I thought I knew somethinga bout the Iranian Revolution, but I didn't. This was great!
