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2024-04-19 5:19 pm

The Complete Persepolis

by Marjane Satrapi

Paperback, 2007

Status

Checked out

Tags

memoir, Iran, graphic novel, autobiography

Series

Persepolis (Omnibus 1-4)

Genres

Graphic Novels and Comics

Publication

Pantheon (2007), Edition: 1, Paperback, 341 pages

Description

Persepolis is the story of Marjane Satrapi's childhood and coming of age within a large and loving family in Tehran during the Islamic Revolution; of the contradictions between private life and public life in a country plagued by political upheaval; of her high school years in Vienna facing the trails of adolescence far from her family; of her homecoming--both sweet and terrible; and, finally, of her self-imposed exile from her beloved homeland.

User reviews

LibraryThing member labfs39

I am new to graphic novels, with the exception of the Maus books which I read long ago. Persepolis renewed my appreciation for the genre and blew me away with its delivery. My only regret is that I read an edition that combined Persepolis I and II in a rather unattractive presentation.

Marjane

Satrapi was born in Iran, and her family experienced the tyranny of the Shah and the effects of the Islamic Revolution. The first book is about her family’s history, the politics of her parents, and her growing understanding of how a dream of freedom led to a fundamentalist State. The Satrapi family is interesting in that it teeters on the edge of many contradictions. Connections with the Shahs’ reigns conflict with her parents’ ardent communism and participation in the protests leading to the Revolution. Her parents’ professed political values conflict with the luxury and privilege that Marjane experiences. And yet I think the family is typical in its disappointment in the usurpation of the Revolution and the decline of modern Iran into a repressive state. At the age of fourteen, Marjane is sent alone to Austria in an effort by her family to give her a better life, and the second book deals with her experiences there. Isolated by her inability to speak the language, as well as the nature of her childhood experiences, Marjane loses her sense of self. It is only reconnection with her family and her country that saves her.

Marjane is amazingly candid, and her story is extremely compelling, but what really blew me away was how much the format of the book affected my reading experience. Her illustrations convey an emotional intensity that would be hard, if not impossible, to recreate in words. I had a visceral response to some of the frames and instantly understood exactly what she meant in others. Her ability to tell a story through pictures is exceptional, and Persepolis has become a personal benchmark for judging other graphic novels. Highly recommended.

LibraryThing member ilovemycat1

Quite the compelling story of coming of age in Iran after the aftermath of the Iranian revolution, the overthrow of the Shah, the war with Iraq, and growing up with an increasingly religious and authoritarian government. Loved the relationship the author had with her parents, grandmother and

extended family. Very telling that going abroad left her in quite the state of depression, with her identity really being challenged. Certainly was an informative, interesting and enlightening memoir.

LibraryThing member christinejoseph

graphic novel cartoon form Bk + white
Marjane Satrapi — growing up in Iran away to Bdg School Vienna + Back + to France — up's and downs of living in War Zones + adolescent — good words only 1/2 story — illustrations Big Embellishment

Persepolis is the story of Satrapi's unforgettable

childhood and coming of age within a large and loving family in Tehran during the Islamic Revolution; of the contradictions between private life and public life in a country plagued by political upheaval; of her high school years in Vienna facing the trials of adolescence far from her family; of her homecoming--both sweet and terrible; and, finally, of her self-imposed exile from her beloved homeland. It is the chronicle of a girlhood and adolescence at once outrageous and familiar, a young life entwined with the history of her country yet filled with the universal trials and joys of growing up.

LibraryThing member kencf0618

A finely-wrought Bildungsroman, and a notable addition to the literature of expatriation and exile, Persepolis provides graphic insight into a complex culture and society, one not well known by most Americans beyond the headlines du jour, and moreover one suffering through multiple & devastating

shocks of revolution and war. What an era to grow up in! From details like nuptial chambers for the marytrs of the grueling eight-year Iran-Iraq War to body parts in the streets, from the nihilism of Austrian youth to the increasingly thorough repression of the hopes of (yet another) revolution betrayed, this memoir is a unique eye-opener and beautifully done. The artwork is sparse, invocating and compelling.

LibraryThing member delphica

(#12 in the 2008 book challenge)

Whew, I finished this in the nick of time for book club. An autobiography in graphic novel form, about the author's childhood and young adulthood in Iran. This edition is all the Persepolis books published as one volume. Even though the breaks aren't marked in any

way, it's very clear where the original book (her childhood) ends. I thought this was clearly the strongest part of the story and I probably would have been just fine reading only this first book on its own. The teen and young adult years, while still interesting, feel more tacked on, the inevitable "so what happened next" and not especially cohesive. It probably doesn't help that I liked the character a lot less when she was older -- I have to say it, she was a bit of a whiner. Even with cutting her a lot of slack for living in a fundamentalist state ... well, she whined a lot and it was tiresome. The great, successful aspect of the book is how well it communicates the variety of experiences that people had during the revolution and regime change, and the multiple ways individuals reacted to it. Despite being incredibly eye-opening and informative about the political state of Iran during these years, it also works as a story about families and friends and what keeps them together and what can potentially drive them apart. As I've mentioned several times, I'm not that great with the graphic novels, so this was a little slow-going but I did think the illustration style was perfectly suited to the story -- harsh in its blocky black and whiteness, and fantastic at showing even subtle emotions though small variations in the scenes.

Grade: B
Recommended: to people who enjoy women's narratives and world politics.

LibraryThing member juliette07

One can forgive but one should never forget. So ends the introduction to this memoir of growing up in Iran during and after the Islamic revolution. Beginning in 1980 Marjane uses a bold black and white comic strip style to tell of her formative years. The second story of her return is in the same

style beginning in 1984 through to 1994. Each book is broken up into short chapters all with pithy, apparently straight forward titles such as The Bicycle, The Joke and The Cigarette.

As an observer you learn a great deal about Iran – injustices, hypocrisy, political dogma and their impact upon humanity. On reflection are these not prevalent in many countries? The element of the book that struck me, despite the huge sweeping backdrop was the story of a teenager and then of a young women growing up striving to live a full, free and independent life. There was something about her struggles and her reaction to those challenges that felt universal.

Despite my initial reservations regarding the comic strip style I enjoyed this book and would recommend it to all those who wish to broaden their knowledge of Iran or wish to read a memoir. In turn amusing, tragic, compelling yet also reflecting a growing up under some most challenging circumstances.

LibraryThing member bobbybslax

I see what it may be trying to go for, but no element of the book is particularly effective or engaging. The main character is both unlikable and uninteresting.

LibraryThing member DarthDeverell

Marjane Satrapi’s Persepolis chronicles her life from the age of 10, when the Islamic Revolution began in Iran, through her early 20s. As a young girl, her parents were revolutionaries who opposed the Shah, but came to lose hope when they saw how right-wing reactionaries used the revolution to

install a religious government that further deprived citizens of their rights. She briefly attended school in Vienna, where she found the European youth too decadent, leading her to return to Iran. Though she had escaped the Iran-Iraq War, she found that she no longer felt at home under the new restrictions of the Islamic regime. Describing the rules in place to control women and men’s behavior, Satrapi writes, “When we’re afraid, we lose all sense of analysis and reflection. Our fear paralyzes us. Besides, fear has always been the driving force behind all dictators’ repression. Showing your hair or putting on makeup logically became acts of rebellion” (pg. 302). She did find a like-minded group of fellow artists in Iran, but they were forced to live double lives. Satrapi writes, “Our behavior in public and our behavior in private were polar opposites. …This disparity made us schizophrenic” (pg. 305). Through Persepolis, Satrapi offers an accessible coming-of-age story that complicates Westerners’ perception of Iran and its people, while also helping to paint a human face on what the people experience under their government.

LibraryThing member iftyzaidi

Brilliant. I saw the animated movie a while back and having heard that it sticks pretty close to the book, I sort of let this one coast by for a couple of years, despite it being on my tbr list. As it turns out the story just seems more cohesive and... stronger in this graphic novel that it did in

the movie. The overall impact is stronger, the characters come across more vividly. This is a coming of age story about a young girl in Iran during the revolution. Its told with such zest, humour and passion that I can't recommend it enough to anyone, even those who have no interest in, or don't like the idea of, reading a graphic novel.

LibraryThing member The_Hibernator

Persepolis is a graphic memoir about Marjane Satrapi, a young “modernized” girl growing up in Iran during the Islamic revolution. Due to the trials of being an outspoken modern girl in this oppressive regime, she must leave her family and live alone in Austria to finish her education. There,

she loses herself before finally coming to terms with her own identity. It was a heartbreaking memoir. The story and art were very dark, but humorous as well. I thought this book would be for young adults, but feel it would appropriate only for a VERY mature teenager. It has topics such as torture, rape, violence, and drugs. It was very educational about the revolutionary regime, though I don’t know how biased it is.

LibraryThing member unlikelyaristotle

Excellent graphic novel. I've never read one before, but I'm bound to read more in the future, if they're half as good as this one. The images helped to convey some things which I guess words sometimes cannot, but obviously the only real way to understand it would be to live it. However, I have

many Iranian friends, all of whom have (or had) lives in Iran which genuinely relate to this story on some level. The one who recommended me kept on pointing out so many different parts of the story which were so true to her. I enjoyed the first part more than the second, for reasons which I myself am not quite aware. But all in all, it was a fascinating journey, this woman's life, and a real education.

LibraryThing member gillis.sarah

Marjane Satrapi's story is really fascinating, and the way she portrays it in 'Persepolis' makes it even more interesting. When I first read 'Persepolis', I think it was the first graphic novel I had ever read. Add that to the fact that it's a graphic novel about a totalitarian regime, and it

becomes still more interesting.

LibraryThing member kellkellkelly

This is definitely one of my favorite books of all time. I like when I feel like I personally know the main character--I laughed and I cried with Marjane. I found and read Persepolis part I at my vacation house and read it in one day. When I got back home I went out and bought The Complete

Persepolis because I just had to know what happened next! I finished it very quickly. It gives great insight into Iranian culture--something not many Americans know or understand. It teaches a lot about tolerance and acceptance as well.

LibraryThing member bmozanich

Frank story. Marjane Satrapi uses black and white drawing and strong, emotional language to tell her story.

LibraryThing member GiacomoL

A rare example of autobiographical graphic novel not involving nerds, this work strikes a perfect balance between personal history and political History, without ever being boring. Much lighter than MAUS but still a compelling read for everyone, it's a perfect "first comic" for friends and family

to make them respect the medium. I'd also recommend the movie (also produced by Satrapi), which is really original as well.

LibraryThing member jocraddock

A quick and vibrant accounting in graphic novel (thick comic book) form of a young girl at the time of the Iranian "cultural revolution." As she searches for her purpose in life, the people of Iran search for their country's identity.

LibraryThing member Alirambles

I'm not a fan of the graphic novel, but Satrapi's memoir, published in two parts beginning in 2004, is worth reading. Satrapi is an Iranian woman who grew up during the end of the Shah's regime, the beginning of Iran's Islamic Revolution, and its war with Iraq. The book illustrates her childhood

from age 6, her exile at age 14 in Austria while her parents remain in Tehran, her return to Iran as a young woman struggling with depression and with her inability to fit in in either world. Alternately humorous and horrifying, this is an eye-opening account of the effect of the changes in the middle east on one neighborhood, one family, and one strong-willed young woman.

LibraryThing member iammbb

Graphic novels are weirdly effective.

Or at least the two that I've read have been.

They turn the normal reader/writer dynamic on its head. Rather than leaving the reader to imagine the visuals, the writer of the graphic novel leaves the reader to imagine the details, to connect the dots and fill in

the story.

Persepolis presents us with the memoir of a young girl who, in the aftermath of the Iranian Revolution, is sent to Europe to attend high school.

In Iran, she's surrounded by loving family while navigating the difficult and dangerous fundamental society that was the result of the revolution. In Europe, she's immersed in the stable education system but is an adolescent alone with little in the way of adult guidance.

Satrapi is too outspoken for the strict Iranian society and is too buttoned-up for the looser European society. When she moves from the streets of Tehran to the more familiar streets of Vienna, an environ which more closely resembles that with which I am acquainted, I felt her alienation even more keenly.

From the Random House Pantheon website:

Originally published to wide critical acclaim in France, where it elicited comparisons to Art Spiegelman's Maus, Persepolis is Marjane Satrapi's wise, funny, and heartbreaking memoir of growing up in Iran during the Islamic Revolution. In powerful black-and-white comic strip images, Satrapi tells the story of her life in Tehran from ages six to fourteen, years that saw the overthrow of the Shah's regime, the triumph of the Islamic Revolution, and the devastating effects of war with Iraq. The intelligent and outspoken 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.

LibraryThing member alanna1122

I think this is the first graphic novel I have ever read and I really enjoyed it. I thought it was really well done and the author's life was worthy of being written about. I learned quite a bit about Iranian history too!

LibraryThing member tronella

This is a graphic novel-style autobiography, of Marjane's childhood and teenage/early-twenties life in Iran, Vienna and France. I really enjoyed it - I like how it looks, and it taught me some history. Marjane isn't always likeable, but then, that makes it seem more honest. Her grandmother is the

best character.

LibraryThing member nicole_a_davis

Sometimes the illustrations seem so simplistic, but somehow that works really well for the story--they are never too cluttered or overwhelming and you can really focus on the history being told.

LibraryThing member Meggo

I have a confession - I was not expecting a graphic novel when I bought this book. Yes, it's true - I am apparently the last person on earth who knew this was not prose, but rather a visual story, and this essential fact somehow eluded me in the bookstore when I bought the actual book. Regardless,

it was a fascinating read, full of honest emotion and pathos from a turbulent time in Iran's history. The graphic novel format led to a somewhat stilted flow to the narrative, but in a way that only adds to the natural rhythm of the work. Surprisingly, this was not a lightning fast book to read, but it was enjoyable. Recommended.

LibraryThing member ankhet

Persepolis is Marjane Satrapi's coming-of-age story. Starting in 1979, Marji is 9 and the Islamic Revolution is about to start in Iran. Persepolis follows Marji through the next 15 years of her life, through war and peace, adolescence, her teen years, into young adulthood and marriage (and out of

it). We follow her from Iran to Austria and back, in and out of relationships and through it all we watch her struggle to realize who she is despite - or because - of her background, religion, and surroundings.

There were times I wanted to cry for Marji, cheer for her braveness, slap her for her cowardice, and just plain hide from the regime I could sense around every corner, looking for a stray hair from beneath her veil or the wrong color socks beneath her trousers.

Persepolis is amazing. At once simple and complex, it manages in 340 pages of words and pictures to capture what no novel could ever do: the experience of growing up Iranian during one of the most violent and terrifying periods of the 20th century.

LibraryThing member Sauvik

I had seen the award winning animation movie earlier and I found it humourous and witty. But let me tell you, it is nowhere close to the autobiographical graphic novels that inspired it, namely, "Persepolis : The Story of a Childhood" and "Persepolis 2 : The Story of a Return". 340+ pages of black

and white ink illustrations with multiple panels in a comic book format lays down witty details of a lost soul (Marjane Satrapi or Marji) in the wake of an orthodox, conservative Islamic Republican government in a war infested Iran.

As much as I found the book amusing, I found it very dark and depressing simultaneously. You will feel for the protagonist, daughter of Marxist parents, who escapes to Austria to stay out of reach from the oppressive government only to get her illusions broken - liberty comes for a hefty price. Through out the book, Satrapi tries to extract some humour in the bleakness of the surroundings. Broken into chapters of anecdotes, these extractions will make one laugh and realise how each piece of humour only adds to the darkness of the book and the seriousness of the story. In the book itself she explains - "We can only feel sorry for ourselves when our misfortunes are still supportable. Once this limit is crossed, the only way to bear the unbearable is to laugh at it."

I personally found the second part (Return) more interesting. However, it is necessary to traverse through the first part (Childhood) to develop an understanding of the background and by no means it is less witty.

LibraryThing member mzonderm

It's tempting to say that Satrapi chose to write her memoir as a graphic novel because she's not very good at narrative writing, but to say that would be to completely undercut what this book has to offer. Satrapi tells her story through brief narration and elegant black and white drawings,

illustrating the repression in Iran (veiled women and bearded men drawn with no mouths) and the freedom of Europe.

Satrapi takes us from her childhood in Iran under the Shah through her experiences during the Islamic Revolution. Her parents send her to Austria when she is 14, and she stays there for 4 years. An outsider in Austria, she returns to Iran, only to continue to feel like an outsider, because she did was not in the country through most of the Iran-Iraq war, and therefore didn't suffer through the bombings and terror that her fellow Iranians did.

Back in Iran, Satrapi continues to be a rebel, but is able to enroll in college to get her degree in graphic arts. Throughout this section of the book, she depicts her personal struggle to reconcile her values with her life in Iran, and to find meaning in her life. She discovers that, for her, meaning comes through education, both personal and institutional, and leaves Iran again to pursue her studies in France.

Through both her drawings and her words, Satrapi tells not just her own story, but that of others affected by the repression in Iran. That this is a graphic novel gives the reader the feeling of a special insider's look into that world.

Subjects

Satrapi, Marjane, 1969- Comic books, strips, etc

Awards

Eliot Rosewater Indiana High School Book Award (Nominee — 2006)

Grand Canyon Reader Award (Recommended — 2008)

ALA Popular Paperbacks for Young Adults (2016)

ALA Outstanding Books for the College Bound (2009)

Books of the Decade: The 50 books that defined the decade (2000)

The 100 best books of the 21st century by The Guardian (47)

100 книг non-fiction от The Prime Russian Magazine

OYAN Book Rave (2005)

100 Best Books by Women Writers in Translation

Wizard Magazine's Top 100 Graphic Novels of the Past 20 Years (44)

Language

Original publication date

2000 (Persepolis 1)

2001 (Persepolis 2)

2002 (Persepolis 3)

2003 (Persepolis 4)

Physical description

341 p.; 8.88 inches

ISBN

0375714839 / 9780375714832

Local notes

graphic novels

Other editions

Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi (Paperback)

The Complete Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi (Paperback)

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