Persepolis

Satrapi, M. (2003). Persepolis. Paris: L'Association.

Marji is a girl growing up in Iran.  She tells of her life before 1980 and what her family and school were like.  In 1980 things changed when she was 10.  She had to start wearing a veil because “women’s hair emanates rays that excite men” (74) and therefore must be covered.  The children at school are also separated by gender, which she doesn’t understand because they are all friends.  She tells of growing up with parents who believe that the right thing should be fought for and Marji wants to demonstrate as well, but as the story progresses she is sent to Austria to be safe because she is a little too outspoken at school. 

Persepolis is a graphic novel drawn entirely in black and white.  The book is separated into sections such as “The Veil”, “The Bicycle”, and “The Letter” etcetera.  Each of the sections has a theme or overall topic that Marji discloses to the reader about her history.  Some of the story of the unrest in Iran and the political language was confusing to me, but I understood overall enough to get the gist of the story.  There were parts of the story that were scary to think about living through those conditions and parts that were so relatable of any girl struggling to grow up.  This is a great memoir based on the author’s life. This book would be best geared for high school.  Middle schoolers would probably be okay with this book, but it also might raise a lot of questions. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v9onZpQix_w interview with author

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QlzKo2GyseE book trailer

Persepolis 2 -

Here is the continuation of her fascinating story. In 1984, Marjane flees fundamentalism and the war with Iraq to begin a new life in Vienna. Once there, she faces the trials of adolescence far from her friends and family, and while she soon carves out a place for herself among a group of fellow outsiders, she continues to struggle for a sense of belonging.

Finding that she misses her home more than she can stand, Marjane returns to Iran after graduation. Her difficult homecoming forces her to confront the changes both she and her country have undergone in her absence and her shame at what she perceives as her failure in Austria. Marjane allows her past to weigh heavily on her until she finds some like-minded friends, falls in love, and begins studying art at a university. However, the repression and state-sanctioned chauvinism eventually lead her to question whether she can have a future in Iran.