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mim72's review against another edition
dark
funny
informative
medium-paced
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: War and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Drug use
harriet_dolby's review against another edition
dark
funny
informative
reflective
fast-paced
2.75
I found this second book slightly underwhelming after enjoying the first book so much. I think that was partly due to the first book covering the time before and during the iranian war, which the poltical an dhistorical aspect interested me the most. However, this second book more focused on the narrators life, which while important, I found less engaging and interesting than the first. As I was reading this book, I was highlighting all of the interesting moments, facts and events that take place (which I would like to write up so I can help learn that content better) and it was really clear the difference in amount of highlighting in the first book than the second.
Content Warnings
Minor: Suicidal thoughts, War, and Drug use
marissasa's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
fast-paced
4.0
Part 2 of Marjane's story continues where the first left off with her arrival in Austria, in her parents' attempt to free her from the oppressive life in war-torn Iran at the time. We see her go through huge life changes both physically and mentally, as she ages 4 years before her decision to return to Iran. She doesn't shy away from her experiences with drugs, alcohol, partying, racism, good and bad influences from friends, formative dating experiences, poverty, and homelessness that shaped her time in Austria. The difference between the young Marji in part 1 and the grown Marjane in this part is astounding, but we see and empathize with her struggles with loneliness, identity, and depression along the way. She continues to change even after her return, getting a degree and even getting married and eventually divorced. Although this is the story of her return home after time abroad, it ends on a melancholy note with her conscious decision to leave Iran for France for good in seek of freedom from the government's strict rules, with the knowing support of her parents and grandmother.
Content Warnings
Graphic: War, Drug use, Grief, Infidelity, Torture, Alcohol, Bullying, Death, Mental illness, Violence, Cursing, Sexism, Sexual content, Suicide attempt, Blood, Police brutality, and Racism
thalassaio's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: War, Xenophobia, and Religious bigotry
Moderate: Police brutality, Drug use, and Drug abuse
Minor: Suicide attempt, Suicidal thoughts, and Islamophobia
ashareadsbooks's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Xenophobia, Misogyny, and Sexism
Moderate: War, Islamophobia, Drug use, Infidelity, and Death
Minor: Torture, Violence, and Sexual harassment
egmamaril's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Mental illness, Emotional abuse, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Death, Drug use, and Infidelity
leahsbooks's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
5.0
After reading Persepolis 1, I couldn't wait for this to arrive at the library, so that I could find out what happened in Marjane's life.
Book 1 left off on a bit of a cliffhanger. Marjane had just left the repressive regime of Iran (and her parents) to head to Austria and finish her schooling there. It felt like she was trapped in a no-win situation. Staying in Iran gave her the family support that she's always relied on, but was slowly crushing her spirit by forcing her to bend to a religious regime that was stripping away personal freedoms and her ability to express her brilliant mind. However, as she found out quickly, Austria wasn't everything she had hoped it would be. While she had more freedom to express herself, both physically and philosophically, there was a definite culture clash. Marjane experienced racism and a complete lack of emotional support for the first time in her life.
Adolescence is a rough time for so many people, and I couldn't even imagine going through not just the physical changes, but the emotional changes as well, while living in a place without my family and a core group of friends who fully accept you and understand you at a deep level. I empathized so deeply with what Marjane went through, and was so impressed with the strength that she was able to display.
Even with everything that she went through, she demonstrated an ability to take in wisdom that was offered, and fortunately, her family members gave her enough room to make her own mistakes, trusting that she would learn from them. The drawings were stark, with the black and white format, but I thought that it fit the story perfectly. This is definitely a memoir that was well suited for a graphic novel format, and it will stick with me for a long time.
Book 1 left off on a bit of a cliffhanger. Marjane had just left the repressive regime of Iran (and her parents) to head to Austria and finish her schooling there. It felt like she was trapped in a no-win situation. Staying in Iran gave her the family support that she's always relied on, but was slowly crushing her spirit by forcing her to bend to a religious regime that was stripping away personal freedoms and her ability to express her brilliant mind. However, as she found out quickly, Austria wasn't everything she had hoped it would be. While she had more freedom to express herself, both physically and philosophically, there was a definite culture clash. Marjane experienced racism and a complete lack of emotional support for the first time in her life.
Adolescence is a rough time for so many people, and I couldn't even imagine going through not just the physical changes, but the emotional changes as well, while living in a place without my family and a core group of friends who fully accept you and understand you at a deep level. I empathized so deeply with what Marjane went through, and was so impressed with the strength that she was able to display.
Even with everything that she went through, she demonstrated an ability to take in wisdom that was offered, and fortunately, her family members gave her enough room to make her own mistakes, trusting that she would learn from them. The drawings were stark, with the black and white format, but I thought that it fit the story perfectly. This is definitely a memoir that was well suited for a graphic novel format, and it will stick with me for a long time.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug use, Mental illness, Misogyny, Religious bigotry, Suicide attempt, and Racism
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