Review of 'Persepolis'

Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi

A graphic novel telling the life story of the author and her growing up in Iran in the revolution. Her coming to terms with the new Islamic regime requiring the wearing of the veil and other “repressive” policies. Leaving Iran as a teenager she is sent to Europe for an education. It is here that things fall apart – away from her protective (and somewhat affluent) family.

It is a disturbingly honest and frank portrayal of her life. I found particularly moving was her struggling to reconcile her life while in Europe: Did she want the “shallow” life there or did she want to be back with the culture in which she was born? Who was she in the first place? A lost soul.

The artwork is in stark black and white with a simplistic character that entirely suits the material. The writing is equally simplistic but again, suits the material. I found the story enlightening and certainly humanizes the nature of the Iranian people and the difference between (certainly some of) them and their government's policies. It makes you think.

Incidently, the movie is pretty good to…surprisingly funny (more so than I found the book, in general).

Rating: “Nearly perfect, but not quite”

Review Date: 2009-02-26

Genre: Non-Fiction

Publisher: Vantage

Publication Date: 2006

ISBN: 9780099523994