Product Description

Wise, often funny, sometimes heartbreaking, "Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood" tells the story of Marjane Satrapi's life in Tehran from the ages of 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 child of radical Marxists, and the great-grandaughter of Iran's last emperor, Satrapi bears witness to a childhood uniquely entwined with the history of her country. Persepolis paints an unforgettable portrait of daily life in Iran and of the bewildering contradictions between home life and public life. Amidst the tragedy, Marjane's child's eye view adds immediacy and humour, and her story of a childhood at once outrageous and ordinary, beset by the unthinkable and yet buffered by an extraordinary and loving family, is immensely moving. It is also very beautiful; Satrapi's drawings have the power of the very best woodcuts. Persepolis ends on a cliffhanger in 1984, just as fourteen-year-old Marjane is leaving behind her home in Tehran, escaping fundamentalism and the war with Iraq to begin a new life in the West. In Persepolis 2: The Story of a Return we follow our young, intrepid heroine through the next eight years of her life: an eye-opening and sometimes lonely four years of high school in Vienna, followed by a supremely educational and heartwrenching four years back home in Iran. Just as funny and heartbreaking as its predecessor - with perhaps an even greater sense of the ridiculous inspired by life in a fundamentalist state - Persepolis 2 is also as clear-eyed and searing in its condemnation of fundamentalism and its cost to the human spirit. In its depiction of the universal trials of adolescent life and growing into adulthood - here compounded by being an outsider both abroad and at home, and by living in a state where you have no right to show your hair, wear make-up, run in public, date, or question authority - it's raw, honest, and incredibly illuminating.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #2902 in Books
• Published on: 2008-03-06
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 352 pages

Socialist Review
`the simplistic black and white style of the graphic novel belies a richness of emotion, creating an absorbing narrative'

The Times
`A tour de force to rival Maus'

Synopsis
Wise, often funny, sometimes heartbreaking, "Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood" tells the story of Marjane Satrapi's life in Tehran from the ages of 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 child of radical Marxists, and the great-grandaughter of Iran's last emperor, Satrapi bears witness to a childhood uniquely entwined with the history of her country. Persepolis paints an unforgettable portrait of daily life in Iran and of the bewildering contradictions between home life and public life. Amidst the tragedy, Marjane's child's eye view adds immediacy and humour, and her story of a childhood at once outrageous and ordinary, beset by the unthinkable and yet buffered by an extraordinary and loving family, is immensely moving. It is also very beautiful; Satrapi's drawings have the power of the very best woodcuts. Persepolis ends on a cliffhanger in 1984, just as fourteen-year-old Marjane is leaving behind her home in Tehran, escaping fundamentalism and the war with Iraq to begin a new life in the West.

In Persepolis 2: The Story of a Return we follow our young, intrepid heroine through the next eight years of her life: an eye-opening and sometimes lonely four years of high school in Vienna, followed by a supremely educational and heartwrenching four years back home in Iran. Just as funny and heartbreaking as its predecessor - with perhaps an even greater sense of the ridiculous inspired by life in a fundamentalist state - Persepolis 2 is also as clear-eyed and searing in its condemnation of fundamentalism and its cost to the human spirit. In its depiction of the universal trials of adolescent life and growing into adulthood - here compounded by being an outsider both abroad and at home, and by living in a state where you have no right to show your hair, wear make-up, run in public, date, or question authority - it's raw, honest, and incredibly illuminating.

Customer Reviews

more novel than graphic
This is a very touching book, very illuminating and very inspiring. It humanises a people that, unfortunately, we often feel to be nothing more than crazy islamic fundamentals and murderers. This is obviously not the case and it is nice to read a book that gently explains this...though there are plenty examples of the horror one would expect from living under such a regime.

the only gripe i have with this book is it's format. They have published this as a book rather than a graphic novel. As such the art and the text are tiny, and it can be physically difficult to read and pick up on the subtlties of the (lovely) artwork contained within. They must have done this so that people can read this on trains or what have you and avoid the 'comic book' look and so capitalise on the recently released animated movie (I won't lie...this is why I bought the book too). Graphic novels may not be as chic as a book but Persepolis would benefit from the size and glossy finish that the graphic novel format would provide.

only a minor flaw to be honest but i really do feel that to read this in book form is like watching a film in old VHS when you clearly could get a much clearer and much more rewarding experience with the Blu ray version....you just weren't given the option cos the publishers etc etc wanted to reach a larger audience

Gripping graphic novel
This is a simply told story that touches on some very big ideas; the Islamic revolution; loyalty and family; and which boys you should fancy.
The main character is charming, naive, sympathetic and occasionally annoying - in other words, a very convincing young woman.
A fantastic read, especially if you think you don't like comic books!

Read it!!
I am no comic book fan, in fact I am closer to the opposite. I have always thought the term 'graphic novel' was just a term to make it OK for grown-up to read comics. So when this book was given to me as a present, I was doubtful..

But then I read the first page, and I was hooked! To tell the truth, I forgot that it was a comic I was reading, I was so onvolved in the story. The narrative just washes over you, and rather than the pictures becoming an annoyance as I though they would, they just added to the whole experience. I was impressed!

As for the story, it is intimate, delicate, honest and sometimes raw and shocking as well as touchingly funny. It is hugely informative, and presents a much needed fresh perspective on our own prejudices.

Loved it!!