Marjane Satrapi’s graphic novel (she actually prefers the phrase comic book) “The Complete Persepolis” chronicles her childhood in Iran, her early adulthood in Austria and her subsequent return to Iran as an adult. She speaks frankly of how Iran’s cultural revolution impacted her life, the lives of family and friends and the general population of Iran. Though quite frequently joyous, this book is not for the faint of heart, due to its inclusion of explicit details about the loss of some of her family members. Ms. Satrapi is a straightforward storyteller- the entire book is black and white and her illustrations are best described as austere. This book not only provided me an inside glimpse into how the political situation in Iran effected a young woman in a very serious manner, but how she and her family persevered through these times with love and humor (we see a young Marji rocking out with the Iron Maiden and Kim Wilde posters her parents smuggled into the country by sewing them into their coats). Marjane Satrapi openly provides us with her bold voice and it feels like a real treat to be privy to her insights and adventures.
I was fortunate enough to randomly stumbled upon “The Complete Persepolis” (it was originally published as two separate books: Persepolis and Persepolis 2) back in 2005 at my local independent bookstore and a few years later, I had the amazing chance to hear Marjane Satrapi speak about her latest book, Chicken with Plums. Ms. Satrapi is a warm-spirited, witty woman who expressed that no matter what you are handed in life, the best you can do for yourself is to live every moment to the fullest. “The Complete Persepolis” was released as a film, starring Catherine Deneuve, entitled “Persepolis” in 2007.
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Tags: Graphic Novel, Iran, Islam, Kristan's Picks, Memoir, Middle East
