Persepolis 1: The Story of a Childhood by Marjane Satrapi


My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Marji tells of her life in Iran from the age of 10, when the Islamic revolution of 1979 reintroduced a religious state, through the age of 14 when the Iran-Iraq war forced her parents to send her to Europe for safety. It is told in graphic format with simple, but expressive, black-and-white illustrations. The story combines the normal rebelliousness of an intelligent adolescent with the horrors of war and totalitarianism. You get a glimpse fo how stressful it was to live in Iran at this time. Marji had a strong belief in freedom and equality, and her education gave her a strong faith in God. The girl's independence, which made her parents both proud and fearful, caused them to send her to Austria. From this autobiography readers will learn much of the history of this important area and will identify with young Marji and her friends.
Once you have become attached to Marji you can go on to reade Persepolis 2: the story of a return.

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