Persepolis blends personal memories with the history of a nation.
Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi is the kind of book you read and keep thinking about long after finishing it.
There is something special about it, both in its format and its story. It’s a timeless story that you can revisit years later and still find yourself impacted in new and different ways.
The book has received huge recognition, including being a New York Times notable book, a Time Magazine “Best Comix of the Year,” a selection for Best Books for Young Adults by the ALA and San Francisco Chronicle and Los Angeles Times best seller..
Well, why is it so special? First thing, it’s an autobiography by Satrapi who chooses to tell her life story in the form of a graphic novel. The story is told through simple yet profoundly impactful black-and-white illustrations to portray herself and the world around her—her family, friends, loves, school, and the tensions of the time. Secondly, she shares her childhood memories of growing up in Iran during the rise of the Islamic Revolution.
The book is a portrait of daily life in Iran through the eyes of a child trying to make sense of the drastic changes and contradictions between life inside and outside home. At home, she enjoys the freedom to express herself, to listen and speak openly.
Outside, however, there is only fear and silence, even more for a girl. In addition to following her personal journey, through the experiences of her family, the book immerses the reader in the social and political history of Iran. Satrapi takes us through her life in Tehran from the age of six to 14, during the fall of the Shah, the rise of the Islamic Revolution, and the devastating war with Iraq.
She was born in 1969 as an only child into a middle-class family and grew up in a progressive household. She is a tough and curious girl, determined to understand the world around her—or at least to comprehend the difficulties she and her family face under the new regime.
The book intertwines politics, religion, war, and emotions—complex topics that are not easy to discuss—and this combination becomes deeply personal and, at the same time, something digestible as the pages go by.
Satrapi never offers a clear choice between right and wrong; far from it, the story is not a simple battle of good versus evil. Instead, it constantly presents infinite shades of gray. From her perspective, even when reflecting on the past, these reflections resonate with the reader’s present, compelling them to analyze their own reality. This flow of reading adds layers to the storytelling.
As the book unfolds, the reader experiences countless emotions, from moments of laughter to minutes spent staring at the page, trying to process the events. Persepolis is a must-read for anyone who loves powerful narratives, history, and comics. Satrapi’s voice will stay with you long after the final page.
