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4.21 AVERAGE
4.21 AVERAGE
Marjane left Iran for a life away from war. The only thing worse than awkward adolescent, is trying to figure out your place in a new culture while trying to figure out who you are. She has a very unique life, but I wish she would give a better ending to some of her stories, because it leaves a lot of questions. However, it's written in comic form, so I really shouldn't expect in depth detail.
Excellently told, eminently readable. More about Satrapi's life and growth into adulthood than the political situation in Iran, but still a very good coming-of-age story.
5/5 ☆☆☆☆☆
A feminist must read and the second graphic novel series I have read. I still managed to mark some pages that were explaining how misogynistic Iran was and still is. Those things apply to our modern European society as well, but in Iran men have the benefit of a law that protects them. Amazing series with a powerful message.
A feminist must read and the second graphic novel series I have read. I still managed to mark some pages that were explaining how misogynistic Iran was and still is. Those things apply to our modern European society as well, but in Iran men have the benefit of a law that protects them. Amazing series with a powerful message.
As much as I liked the first book of this series, I wasn’t so sure about this one. Being a Muslim girl, living in a Muslim country that is quite different than Iran, made it difficult for me to relate to certain decisions that were taken by Marjane, and that left me quite frustrated. As a character, I didn’t feel the growth of Marjane as a person, and I didn’t like how she hid behind the oppression to justify her actions, even though she lived in Austria and should have thought better of the choices she took. But she only owned up to her origins when she felt attacked personally and when it suited her. We’ll see how the third and fourth book goes though.
I grew really attached to Marjane and I can say that now I even consider her one of the best people I've ever know. Such a beautiful read!
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
fast-paced
Persepolis 2 rounds out the Persepolis series in an unexpected way.
The story picks up, more or less, where Persepolis 1 left off. Marjane, or Marji, is in Vienna after her parents sent her there to finish her education. Marji finds herself struggling to make meaningful connections in Vienna, partly due to the initial culture shock, the language barrier as well as the predisposition of some of her classmates to 'foreigners'.
As Marji attempts to carve a life out for herself in Vienna it becomes increasingly and appallingly clear that the culture gap is too wide and the loneliness too deep to overcome.
Hence, the title of this book: the return.
What strikes me about Satrapi's writing is how gobsmackingly beautiful and sad it can be at the same time. I wanted to race through this book but simultaneously, the deep set tragedy of the Islamic Revolution sets a sad back drop to even the best moments of Satrapi's young life.
I also loved Marji as a character who I felt smashed so many stereotypes of what a woman can be. I think there is an idea that people are good at one thing and one thing only, either being creative or being brainy. Marji constantly blurred those lines, showing nuanced and deep reading of sociological studies and simultaneously, continuing her studies in creative arts as an artist. It feels like a rare gem to have a book about a woman but also to have her nuanced even small ways like this. Even in some biographical and autobiographical writing this doesn't come across clearly but here it does.
I strongly recommend the Persepolis series to anyone who wants to learn more about Iran or someone who wants a strong female lead.
****
This Book is similar to:
- Persepolis 1: The Story Of a Childhood, by Marjane Satrapi (Probably obvious)
- Maus The complete Collection, by Art Speigelman
The story picks up, more or less, where Persepolis 1 left off. Marjane, or Marji, is in Vienna after her parents sent her there to finish her education. Marji finds herself struggling to make meaningful connections in Vienna, partly due to the initial culture shock, the language barrier as well as the predisposition of some of her classmates to 'foreigners'.
As Marji attempts to carve a life out for herself in Vienna it becomes increasingly and appallingly clear that the culture gap is too wide and the loneliness too deep to overcome.
Hence, the title of this book: the return.
What strikes me about Satrapi's writing is how gobsmackingly beautiful and sad it can be at the same time. I wanted to race through this book but simultaneously, the deep set tragedy of the Islamic Revolution sets a sad back drop to even the best moments of Satrapi's young life.
I also loved Marji as a character who I felt smashed so many stereotypes of what a woman can be. I think there is an idea that people are good at one thing and one thing only, either being creative or being brainy. Marji constantly blurred those lines, showing nuanced and deep reading of sociological studies and simultaneously, continuing her studies in creative arts as an artist. It feels like a rare gem to have a book about a woman but also to have her nuanced even small ways like this. Even in some biographical and autobiographical writing this doesn't come across clearly but here it does.
I strongly recommend the Persepolis series to anyone who wants to learn more about Iran or someone who wants a strong female lead.
****
This Book is similar to:
- Persepolis 1: The Story Of a Childhood, by Marjane Satrapi (Probably obvious)
- Maus The complete Collection, by Art Speigelman
I thought I didn't like graphic novels. I was wrong.
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced