A review by tien
The Complete Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi

4.0

I have to admit that I jumped into this book not knowing exactly what it is about. I have been aware of this book for a while but the illustrations did not particularly grabbed me so it didn't get added to my TBR. Picking up this book now, though, I realise that I would have missed out so much if I didn't read it.

While I find the illustrations not quite to my liking (I'm more of a manga person), the content of this graphic novel blew me away. The author tells of her childhood in war-torn Iran, her 'exile' in Vienna, and then her return to Iran as a young woman. She spoke of her traumas, her love for her family, her love for her country (her home) but yet her abhorrence of the Islamic state, her diasporic feelings, and many more issues. I admire her for having remembered all these things that she could share and her ability to write her feelings out fluently. Admittedly, it probably took her a long time to grow and come to terms with all these things. And at the same time, I feel that I haven't lived at all (a very sheltered life is mine).

Highly recommended if you wish to discover what someone like Marjane Satrapi (Irani and emigrant) experienced.