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Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood |  | Author: Marjane Satrapi
Publisher: Pantheon
Category: Book
List Price: $13.95
Buy Used: $4.98
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Seller: internationalbooks
Rating:  197 reviews
Sales Rank: 491
Media: Paperback
Pages: 160
Number Of Items: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.6
Dimensions (in): 8.8 x 5.9 x 0.7
ISBN: 037571457X
Dewey Decimal Number: 741.5944
EAN: 9780375714573
ASIN: 037571457X
Publication Date: June 1, 2004
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Product Description
A New York Times Notable Book
A Time Magazine âBest Comix of the Yearâ
A San Francisco Chronicle and Los Angeles Times Best-seller
Wise, funny, and heartbreaking, Persepolis is Marjane Satrapiâs memoir of growing up in Iran during the Islamic Revolution. In powerful black-and-white comic strip images, Satrapi tells the story of her life in Tehran from ages six to fourteen, years that saw the overthrow of the Shahâs regime, the triumph of the Islamic Revolution, and the devastating effects of war with Iraq. The intelligent and outspoken only child of committed Marxists and the great-granddaughter of one of Iranâs last emperors, Marjane 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. Marjaneâs childâs-eye view of dethroned emperors, state-sanctioned whippings, and heroes of the revolution allows us to learn as she does the history of this fascinating country and of her own extraordinary family. Intensely personal, profoundly political, and wholly original, Persepolis is at once a story of growing up and a reminder of the human cost of war and political repression. It shows how we carry on, with laughter and tears, in the face of absurdity. And, finally, it introduces us to an irresistible little girl with whom we cannot help but fall in love.
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| Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 1-5 of 197
 A page-turner. July 16, 2010
Indian Prairie Public Library (Darien, IL)
Marjane's memoir of her years in Tehran from ages six to fourteen is a page-turning history of the events she witnesses. Her upper class liberal parents (she is the great-granddaughter of Iran's last emperor) demonstrate against the Shah. They are bitterly disappointed when the new republic is overtaken by the fundamentalist Islamic revolution. Despite the imprisonment and execution of friends and family members, her parents remain in Iran. The war with Iraq brings yet more tragedies. The book ends with her parents sending the fourteen year old Marjane to school in Germany. The author's black and white illustrations enhance the text. Persepolis 2: The Story of a Return continues the story.
 What an interesting viewpoint! June 30, 2010
G. Leinberger (Lancaster, PA)
Satrapi's graphic novel is an inspiration to expressing oneself in a medium other than words. Her illustrations are telling; giving hints of expressions and fabulous drawings that echo woodblock prints. My book club had some trouble transitioning from words to both illustration and words but found the experience worthwhile. We compared Satrapi's experiences to "Reading Lolita in Tehran," and "Infidel." We discovered that the artwork indeed added to the story, and concluded that the "graphic novel" is a legitimate literary form.
Forthright and heartbreaking June 16, 2010
Ty B. Powers (Nashville, TN)
This books begins my foray into graphic novels. The exact definition of a graphic novel is debatable, but Wikipedia defines it as "a type of comic book, usually with a lengthy and complex storyline similar to those of novels, and often aimed at mature audiences." Technically, this volume is a memoir, as it's the true story of author Marjane Satrapi's growing up in Iran during the Islamic Revolution, told in comic-strip form. I figured, "Finally, a book that won't make me cry," but of course, I was wrong. Maybe I'm just a cry-baby.
Though it took me only a couple of hours to complete, it was mesmerizing. I found it unabashedly forthright and ultimately heartbreaking. I appreciated Satrapi's illustrations which, in their broad-stroked black-and-white simplicity, were a stark, yet appropriate, departure from what most people recognize as that highly anatomical, Batmanesque comic-book style. I look forward to reading the sequel "Persepolis: The Story of a Return," and also highly recommend the Oscar-nominated full-length animated feature film of the same name.
 Graphical Novel Memoir June 14, 2010
Sandra Kirkland (High Point, North Carolina United States)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
In Persepolis, Marjane Satrapi uses the graphic novel format to share her life story with readers. Satrapi grew up in Iran during the years that the Shah lost power and the Fundamentalist Muslims became the government authority.
Satrapi was raised in a modern family that valued education and modern life. Her parents were part of the revolution that forced the Shah from power. They were shocked, however, when the ultra-religous government that took over soon made the freedoms they were used to and expected illegal. No longer could women dress as they pleased; they were instead forced to wear the veil. No longer could the Iranian people travel freely; the borders were closed for over three years, and even when reopened, passports were almost impossible to obtain. No longer could one count on an education; the universities were closed for over two years.
Darker items were to follow. There were 3000 political prisoners under the Shah, but there were 300,000 political prisoners under the new regime. Satrapi's family had both relatives and friends that were imprisoned, tortured and some were even executed. Then the government got involved in a war with Iraqi. Bombings were common, and over a million people were killed.
Satrapi's use of the graphic format is a perfect match to the story of a young girl whose life changes so dramatically and who tries to make sense of the things happening around her with a child's understanding. Satrapi ended up being educated outside of Iran in her teen years and later, and chose a graphic artist's career. This book was a perfect match for her talent, and her memoir is chilling. To see freedoms taken away gradually is difficult, and when one looks up and sees where the normality markers have moved to, it is eye-opening. This book is recommended to all readers who care about world events, and those who enjoy memoirs.
Tender and Thoughtful Graphic Memoir May 20, 2010
D. Peloquin (Massachusetts USA)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
After rave reviews, a blockbuster movie, and a sequel there is very little that can be said about Persepolis that hasn't already been stated. Still, I must join the cacophony of voices who have given this graphic memoir glowing reviews. As many already know, the story is about Marj (the author) who is a young girl living in Iran when the revolution begins. Her family is liberal and made up of very revolutionary thinkers, which puts them in great danger. As a ten year old, Marj watches as various members of her family are imprisoned and others are executed for their beliefs. Due to her young age, Marj gets caught up in the revolutionary sentiments that are all around her. However, she is unaware of the hazards of resisting authority and attending demonstrations that counter the government. Though her parents cultivate her passion and independence, they know that they cannot keep her safe in their homeland.
At times this memoir is troubling and frightening, yet it always remains tender and thoughtful. Despite the fact that this book is about war and oppression, it is not violent and none of the illustrations are explicit. The importance of family and close friends are lessons that readers of any age can enjoy and learn from. Perhaps the best aspect of this novel is that the reader does not need to have any knowledge of the Iranian revolution in order to understand the plot. It is also important to note that it is not your typical clichéd "coming of age" tale in which a young adult goes through a sexual awakening and suddenly sees his/her parents as real people and therefore is released from childhood. Instead, this is a true tale of maturation in which the main character finds herself and her own voice despite the rampant oppression around her. She grows up not because she finds love and has her heart broken but because she learns the true importance of family and freedom.
Showing reviews 1-5 of 197
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