Persepolis

Publisher: vintage booksGenre: autobiography/graphicISBN: 978-0-099-52399-4This book is written as a storyboard and the style suits it perfectly. I have never read a book written using this method but I found it to be a very enjoyable experience. For this particular book it works extremely well as it carries the volume of dialogue, if this had been written in straight prose it would have resembled a play rather than a novel.Marjanes general writing style is warm and inviting. As she narrates her story you can hear her voice and it brings the action to life. She captures the horrors of war and the difficulties of love in a style which makes all the subjects in this book seem very real to the reader. I have never been to Iran but I could connect with Satrapi and understood he point of view because it was explained so well and so easily.This book gave me a totally new perspective of muslim women and what they may have been thinking while living under oppressive regimes. Young Iranian girls are not so different to European girls once stripped down to just their thoughts and emotions.A very cleverly written book on a subject which I normally would not read, excellent.Personal read 5/5Group read 4/5 Plenty to discuss but not everybody's choice of subject.

An interesting introduction to an area of history that’s not always understood; definitely one of my favourite reads of the year.

"Persepolis" by Marjane Satrapi, is a personal and historical graphic novel of a time in Iran, a country which was called Persia for thousands of years; revealing the events from a clever child and then a young woman's point of view, as she grows up with the political situation expanding and evolving, & she was sophisticated beyond her years because of the good education, and also because of her families' multi involvement and input, experienced by so many of her family. It is a brilliant novel because of the multi-faceted approach, revealing the whole story of Iran in the 20th century and the upheavals and horror of political fundamentalist power and complete suppression and control on members of the whole family, but at first seen through the eyes of a child with her own childish ego, as she want to put the whole world to rights as a prophet: something that many a clever child of imagination has dreamed of doing- "putting the world of stupid adults to rights", suffering mentally and physically under this power, and eventually growing up and learning to live with things as they are, until they gradually change again.

Great narrative about an Iranian girl through the turbulent years of the Islamic revolution from the mid-1970’s and the war with Iraq. I must say I loved it. However I initially bought it for our literature-devoted daughter who collects books and more recently has developed an interest in graphic novels of which she is building a small precious library as well. The challenge with her new interest is that there are not that that many graphic novels for people of her age that are of high quality and that are engaging. I thought Persepolis was an interesting modern history topic about social events that would open up a new world to her about. However she seemed quite dismissive about the book given that it lay around, untouched for months. Turned out she didn’t think much of the scribbly, childish style of art in black and white, printed on cheap paper. Which I can understand. I then started to read it to her, providing explanation, giving additional background information and answering her questions. This turned out to be really good fun and lead to valuable little debates. The book is somewhat witty and funny, but the narrative is very impressive and bound to leave an impression. The whole presentation can’t match some of the other hard-cover super beautifully illustrated graphic novels we have, but it certainly stands out as a story.

This is a stupendous book. I was recommended it by a friend who knew of my interest in black and white sequential art and it blew me away. Its deceptively simply drawn and scripted panels are the autobiography of an Iranian woman whose story imparts far more about life in and the history of Iran than I already knew.This poignant, tragic and frequently funny book could - and should- be read by everyone from a teenager to a mature reader. Highly recommended.

Bit surprised at the format- had to read it in the day as writing was so small.I enjoyed the humour and the history!

This is a fascinating view of life pre and post the Islamic Revolution in Iran as viewed by a child from a very left-wing family related to the last emperor or Iran. Her bewilderment, anger and rebellion at being told she had to wear the veil ; the imprisonment and tragic death of her favourite uncle for opposing the regime, and her exile in Austria without her family all paint a vivid picture of the upheaval the Islamic Revolution brought about in this young girl's life and that of her family. This is not a sad story, there are many uproariously funny episodes witnessed through the eyes of this child on her way to adulthood and her return to Iran. I highly recommend this beautiful, honest story, that will make you feel intimately acquainted with Marjane and her family.