The Complete Persepolis
Quick take:
Recently I finished The Complete Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi. It contains both Persepolis 1: The Story of a Childhood and 2: The Story of a Return. Persepolis is a coming of age memoir in a form of a graphic novel. Satrapi's work is thought provoking, full of emotions, and not a work I wanted to put down for a second. Observing Satrapi grow from child to woman was an amazing ride. 9/10.
Setting:
The story begins with Marjane living with her grandma and well off, educated parents during the 1979 Iranian Revolution. The reader experiences the various changes and rebellions (personal and external) that Marjane goes though as she lives in Iran and in European countries.
Art:
Art is something that I've discussed in previous reviews. Given that it's a graphic novel, it's important to take how the art functions into consideration. While your average book may simply have a snazzy cover, art in a graphic novel, comic, or manga is central to driving the story.
The author's art is simplistic. And it works. It helps express the range of emotions of her and her family: joy, angry, sorrow. Sometimes the backgrounds are full or empty. Sometimes, simple silhouettes are all that are needed to convey devastation. The art really hits home.
What it did good:
-Unique, distinguishable characters: family, friends, antagonists, romantic interests
-Eye opening and refreshing
-Simplistic and moving art
-Both uplifting and heart rendering
What it could improve:
-The latter section, while by no means bad, lacked the same "oomph" that the childhood section had for me
Last thoughts:
You like graphic novels? Read it. You like memoirs? Read it. You like stories with a woman narrator? Read it. Straight up read it.
