Persepolis : The Story of a Childhood

Rating:
Summary: compelling story
Review: Satrapi's tale evokes a wide range of emotions from the reader. I was charmed by her excitement to get Western "contraband" smuggled into Iran that featured American popular music. At the same time, the tragic losses that are experienced by the oppressive government in Iran- losses of both individual freedoms and lives of those who dissent- remind one of the gravity of the situation that Satrapi grew up in.

The art is simple and black and white, which for me reinforced the perspective of our youthful heroine. Still, the images were adept at conveying emotion when they needed to; the rare use of large panels made the few that do appear seem very large and powerful.

The highest compliments I can pay "Persepolis" is that I would recommend it to friends who ordinarily do not read graphic novels, and that I could not put it down once I started it. A simple story in the best sense of the world- that anyone can identify with it and enjoy it.

Rating:
Summary: Absolutely incredible...
Review: Satrapi's 'Persepolis' is an absolutely amazing read and one that was completely surprising and quite unassumingly wonderful. I honestly cannot recommend it enough and can't wait to read 'Persepolis 2.'

It is just such a rare, warm, brutally honest, humourous and heartbreaking work that is completely enlightening. It is a revolutionary use of comic genre, and completely dissimilar to anything I have previously encountered.

There is such tenderness between its pages, yet also such strength. I finished it tearful, partly because the incredible journey was over and partly because I felt grateful to have encountered something so unlike contemporary media. The illustrations are simple yet humourous and profound, much like the work as a whole.

There is not much else to say, except I wish I could start over again not having read it, and perhaps I shall try. I suggest that you too give this glorious work a chance.

Rating:
Summary: Outstanding
Review: History of a young girl, blossoming into a rebellious and freedom-loving teenager, first during the days of protest against the Shah, then under the greater repression of the mullacracie. Would be hard to find a book that goes straighter to the essential points. Written in black-white comic book form.

Rating:
Summary: SO TRUE!
Review: I am a 28-year-old Iranian woman living in the US. This book is basically my life-story. It depicts the chaos and confusion of regime-change through a very wise child's eyes. Throw a revolution and a war into a country within 3 years of eachother and a child will grow up quick to ask questions and think deeper. Ms. Satrapi shows the way Iranians relate to eachother, the warmth of the family and the love for neighbors and friends in this short, illustrated book. I recommend this book to anyone of any nationality who wants to know more about what happened in Iran and what many Iranians and Iranian immigrants went through during those times(1979-198X). It can also be of interest to those interested in culture and politics and how the changing class and power structures affect human relations (the window-washer turned head of Ministry of Health.) I have yet to read the second volume but I'm sure I'll enjoy it.