Book Review: Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi

Rating: 5.0 stars

I normally don't like to rate autobiographies, but I don't see how I could score this lower!

Goodreads summary: 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.

To be perfectly honest, I am not normally a fan of comic books or graphic novels. I much prefer being able to create an image in my head of the characters and the places a book takes me. Books to me are an escape. An escape into your imagination, and into the world that an author has created. So naturally, I walked into reading this with a bit of trepidation, but Persepolis absolutely shattered any and every expectation I had. It’s hard to write a review about a person’s life, so I will instead go over how she communicates her life story.

Persepolis follows Marjane Satrapi from her childhood until adulthood, as she faces many challenges ranging from puberty to war. She covers some very serious topics, so the story can sometimes be sad, but it is purposeful in its ability to make a reader think and reflect. Her wit and spunky attitude ensure that the novel never becomes too depressing. In the first part, when she is still a young child, it is incredibly fun to read how a child’s mind processes the conflict and war surrounding her. It would not seem like it would be, but you just need to read it to understand. Marjane definitely danced to the beat of her own drum. As she grows older, she faces similar challenges that can be found in a YA novel, but the environment that she grows up in adds another layer of complexity to an already complicated time.

Don’t get me wrong, Satrapi’s life, by most accounts, is not easy. However, despite her surroundings, she shows that she has gone through the same struggles, mood swings, and dilemmas that many kids/teens around the world go through, and she writes about it in a very entertaining, humorous way. What helps to add a sense of humor to the novel is the illustrations. Marjane and the people in her life are drawn in a very iconic way, that naturally makes them easier for readers to relate to and empathize with. You would think that a simple drawing style would not be so conducive for showing emotion, but somehow every line is incredibly purposeful. Despite there not being so many details in the faces of the characters, Satrapi is able to draw facial expressions so well that it left no question within me what the characters were feeling. Her illustrations worked in perfect tandem with the thought and speech bubbles, bringing to life her life’s story and the wisdom that she has gained from her unique experiences.

As someone that was born and raised in the West, I am used to hearing a certain narrative about the Middle East. Reading this book informed me about a history I was never taught. It opened my eyes to the fact that the world is bigger than the bubble that I live in. Satrapi has stated that she did not write this book for Iranians. By writing Persepolis, she is helping to dispel a jaded, harmful narrative that the West stubbornly paints about the East, and thereby gives a voice to her people. I truly will never be able to express enough to people, how good this book is and how highly I recommend it to everyone!

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