Rating: 
Summary: Illustrating history
Review: Marjane Satrapi chooses an original format for describing the Islamic Revolution and one child's place in it. Satrapi grew up in 1970s Iran with two outspoken parents who encouraged her to express her views. Coming of age into a country in tumult, she discovers that expressing her views might not always be welcome or safe. Truly funny moments, including Satrapi's dad smuggling contraband rock music posters under his coat, bump up against moments of horrifying brutality and upheaval. Will Marjane "bow her head and let the wave pass" or will she stand up against oppression?I started this book knowing very little about Iran and its people. Not only did I get to know a brave and intelligent young woman, I also learned a lot about a country's role in modern history.
Rating: 
Summary: A book of rare style
Review: Satrapi has succeeded in creating an excellent children's book with cunning layers of meaning that make it appealing to adults of all ages. The book is illustrated, meaning it resembles a comic, but the art is simplified in a startling way that enhances the overall mood of the book. The book is the story of a dissolving society, told in the perspective of a child that tries to make sense out a world that is split between a mad propaganda which has been fanned by religion, and the clear view of the situation that her intellectual parents possess, which is tempered by their love for their child. It is a believable tale (which is good, since it is a work of non-fiction), and the child's point of view injects a dose of humor, which makes the tale's telling all the more poignant. Even though the tale is heavy, Satrapi succeeds in producing it in an easily digestible bite. I think Persepolis is a marvelous accomplishment, and am very happy that someone with a story to tell like Satrapi is endowed with a talent like Satrapi's.
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Summary: Iran is one of the pivotal countries today
Review: Iran is one of the most important, pivotal countries in the world today - and the more we know about that nation the better (especially if it really has nukes....) The writer's story mirrors that of many of the Iranian exiles I know personally and is therefore a great help in understanding a nation that we all need to know far more about. Christopher Catherwood, author of CHRISTIANS, MUSLIMS AND ISLAMIC RAGE (Zondervan, 2003)
Rating:
Summary: Superb!
Review: Read it in a sitting. Passed it to my husband. Strong positive recommendation. Emotionally affecting.
Rating: 
Summary: ho-hum
Review: I don't want to trivialize Satrapi's experiences, but this is your basic run-of-the-mill childhood-memoir-as-graphic-novel. Change a few details, and it could be any of a dozen other books. Yes, it's timely, but the story is nothing special. The artwork is completely plain and unimpressive.
And why it it next to impossible to find a graphic novel review on Amazon that ISN'T five-star? Are comic book readers completely lacking in critical facility, or are people who don't usually read comic books so swept away by the graphic novel format that they don't notice any flaws?
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Summary: Simply Profound
Review: I picked up Persepolis and did not put it down until I reached the last page. I then found myself wishing there was more and quickly flipped back and began reading many of the sections and staring at the stark but expressive drawings again. Marjane Satrapi's story of a few years of her youth is filled with the universal turbulent emotions of being a young teenager, but her experience has the added dimension of living those years as a young woman under an oppressive totalitarian regime. The graphic stories are linked together to show how Satrapi develops emotionally and physically as a young person in a time in history that was filled with fear, confusion, protest, death, and anger, but also tenderness, love, and occassional celebration. Her story and essential accompanying drawings are simple but profound as they teach about Iranian history while also reinforcing the universally confounding and exciting experience of being a teenager when one is self-absorbed and rebellious, but also forced to step into the realities and disenchanted nature of the adult world. Fortunately for us, Satrapi is able to bring her own experiences to life beautifully through her black and white drawings and in doing so illustrates both the joy and darkness of the human experience.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent stuff indeed...
Review: ... and a further proof that comics are not "just for kids" although you might leave this one in the hands of teenagers without worry, except for them learning something without realising it ;o). Comics with a vision, artistical, narrative and philosophical, are enjoying a certain renaissance in French-speaking Europe following the sizeable success of some artists such as Lewis Trondheim and Johann Sfar, who both publish at l'Association, like Satrapi
Regarding the "sequel" thing : this english edition contains thematerial published as volumes one end two in french. Volume three (telling her years in Austria) was released in French in October 2002, and volume 4, reportedly the last one, is due out in September 2003 or so.
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Summary: Satrapi's wondrous work
Review: Budding youth, with its fears and yearnings, exquisitely rendered by Marjane Satrapi in this autobiographical work. To be savored for its intimacy and candor. ...
Rating:
Summary: AN INNOVATIVE MEMOIR
Review: The subject matter is brave while the illustrations are unconventional and smart. In PERSEPOLIS, Marjane recounts her childhood of growing up in Tehran during the 1979 Islamic Revolution. There is no doubt that Marjane has experienced more during her nine years than many have during their entire life in this country. Being raised by two forward-thinking parents, Marjane is provided a progressive glimpse into the political and cultural events occurring around her in Iran. But she is different than most Iranian children. She rebels against wearing the veil, is a fan of Western pop culture, and speaks out against fundamental doctrines during religion class. It is amazing that she (or her parents) weren't seriously reprimanded for their actions and beliefs. Marjane even attends a demonstration with her parents against the wave of religious fundamentalism engulfing Iran. I truly loved PERSPOLIS because it provided a rare glimpse of growing up in Iran during the Islamic Revolution. I learned much about this very different culture while empathizing with her unique family. I feel as if I know them personally. Marjane's illustrations tell a thousand words. They are simple yet innovative and clever. I can't wait to read the next installment in this series and hope it is published soon. Enjoy!
Rating:
Summary: great but a few things annoy
Review: It's a great story and I won't spend as much time praising the book since every other review does that. The few things that got under my skin were.
1. She implies that Iran was somehow responsible for Iraqi invasion that's simply not true.
2. She accuses Iran of using chemical weapons, during the entire war Iraq used chemical weapons using US intel (Thanks Rummie) Iran never had/used any chemical weapons.
3. She totally ignores the fact that the socialists/MKO fought on the side of Saddam.
4. She ignores Khomeni, and I guess that's a smart thing, she probably would have had a price on her head if she had mentioned him directly. I lived in one of those border towns she talks about and lived through the early Iraqi bombings and later the Scud missile attacks. I've walked through the insanly large cemetaries that were created as the result of the war. Her description of life during the war is spot on. I look forward to reading her next book.
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