Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood |  | Author: Marjane Satrapi
Publisher: Pantheon
List Price: $12.95
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Seller: seattlegoodwill
Rating:  189 reviews
Sales Rank: 8113
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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| Features:
| • | ISBN13: 9780375714573 | | • | Condition: NEW | | • | Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark. |
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Product Description
A New York Times Notable Book
A Time Magazine “Best Comix of the Year”
A San Francisco Chronicle and Los Angeles Times Best-seller
Wise, funny, and heartbreaking, Persepolis is Marjane Satrapi’s 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 Shah’s 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 Iran’s 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. Marjane’s child’s-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 189
 A little superficial for a political memoir January 11, 2010
T (NC)
1 out of 2 found this review helpful
"Persepolis" is a widely acclaimed memoir/graphic novel, it was rated highly by several of my fellow readers and therefore I've had my eye on it for a while. Sadly, now, after reading this book, I am a little underwhelmed by it.
As a graphic novel, it is a notable work. The cartoonish style of the drawing is superb, the subject matter is very current, the combination of tragedy and humor is clever.
However, as a political memoir, "Persepolis" lacks. I don't know exactly why, but I never got a grip on what Satrapi's personal views on the politics within her country are. In fact, I am not even sure if she really knows what what was happening in her country. Maybe it has something to do with the fact that this memoir ends when the author is 14 (although writing it as an adult, she should be able to present her views clearly). Or maybe it is because Satrapi herself never personally experiences any hardship in this book. I find it very interesting that in times of turmoil, during the civil war for democracy, during the rise of religious fundamentalism, during the war with Iraq, Satrapi's family never seems to experience any discomfort. Quite the opposite, when people die and suffer, the writer's most hardship is to hide the liquor at a party (which they are not supposed to have), or to wear a headscarf, or to get an "Iron Maiden" poster through customs. This narration from a perspective of a person in power is a little disheartening and has a bit of a fake tone to it, as if the author doesn't know what is really happening in her country and writes about from her million dollar mansion while being served by one of her maids.
It's not a bad book, especially for younger readers who want to know a little bit about Iran and its current political events. It is presented in a very appealing, easy format. But for me personally this book appears to be too superficial to leave any kind of lasting impression. I will however read the second part of the memoir. Maybe it will have some more insight.
 Poignant And Surreal January 9, 2010
R. Silva (Cape Cod MA USA)
This quirky and intense autobiographical b/w graphic novel tells of the author's childhood in Iran beginning during the fall of the Shah in 1980. In the opening scene, Satrapi and her schoolmates romp in the playground, using the veils that the school has just issued them as toys.
Her parents are active in the revolution against the Shah's government. Satrapi herself is a descendant of the last emperor of Iran. Her wealthy socialist parents attend demonstrations and educate their daughter in Marxism even as she daydreams of becoming a prophet.
But as the revolution progresses, the Islamist forces turn sentiment against the wealthy and the intellectuals, and Satrapi's family becomes the target of repressive forces.
Satrapi listens to smuggled tapes of Michael Jackson, Iron Maiden, and Kim Wilde while the war with Iraq devastates the country and her parents become increasingly desperate to find a way to protect her.
The black and white art, in small simple panels, is stark and effective, conveying a world that has become a bizarre and unfamiliar cartoon to a girl whose childhood had been one of love, learning, and safety. Much of what Satrapi experiences is the same for teenagers everywhere, and the mix of the familiarity and the surreal is what gives this story much of its power.
very happy December 1, 2009
Thomas Doratt (lancaster PA USA)
perfect condition couldnt be happier. actually turned out to be a good book, though i had it done in a day :(
graphic novel that appeals to anyone! November 29, 2009
Holly K. Lee (Chicago, IL)
I have been wanting to try reading more graphic novels for awhile now. It can be a daunting task picking from a new genre of book to read, but thanks to twitter, I had a ton of great suggestions. Persepolis stuck out in my mind because I remember the film adaptation of it being nominated for an Oscar. I dove into this book, and had a hard time coming up for air.
Once I started reading this book, the artwork stood out as interesting, unique, and not at all what I would have expected from a graphic novel. Many of the images need no words to express what the author is trying to get across.
What stood out to me the most though, was the amazing story of growing up in revolutionary Iran. I would argue that one of the best ways to understand a period of history, is to hear the story from the people who lived it. Marjane describes so many aspects of her childhood during such unstable times. I love when she talks about getting cassette tapes on the sly, and how her parents sewed pop culture posters into her dad's coat to smuggle them into Iran for her. Moments like that in the story remind the reader that she wasn't just a child living through a war, she was a child just like any other child. She wanted posters on her wall, the latest music, and had crushes on boys.
Interestingly enough, I was reading this on the bus to work one morning and a man asked me how I was liking the book. He then told me that he was a teenager in Iran during that time, he told me a bit about his experiences and how very frightening a time it was.
An absolute must read for anyone and everyone! I loved this book and can't wait to start the second book Persepolis: The Story of a Return.
 Awful November 27, 2009
Cherry (Lancaster, PA)
1 out of 8 found this review helpful
Wouldn't recommend. I like to read a story, not look at pictures. Author's unlikeable.
Showing reviews 1-5 of 189
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