A review by kateelam
Persepolis 2: The Story of a Return by Marjane Satrapi

challenging emotional funny medium-paced

3.0

I did not enjoy this half of Persepolis as much as the first. I really struggled to connect with Marje's journey when she seemed to fail to understand her own place of privilege. 

The portions in Austria felt a little disjointed for me and then when she returned to Iran I was just really frustrated with some of her actions and decisions. On the one hand she would protest what she felt were injustices but then she would totally use culture to her advantage when it benefited her. 

The part where she blamed another man for touching her so the police wouldn't see her lipstick was a disgusting moment that I don't feel like she ever really dealt with. Or the continuous moments of partying and having her parents bail her out felt really disrespectful?

I never felt like she truly appreciated what her parents provided her and by the end I didn't feel like she had grown as a person much? But then maybe she's not supposed to, it's not like she was even halfway through her life by the end. 

I feel bad disliking the second half because it's someone's own story and history and Marje admittedly does not try to sugar coat her own story. But I just wanted more reflection.