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A review by kisseslilith
Persepolis 2: The Story of a Return by Marjane Satrapi
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
4.75
Marjane Satrapi held me hostage the entire Persepolis 2: The Story of a Return, and I fear I've developed Stockholm Syndrome.
Far different from her first book, where conflict is mostly external, Sartrapi's Persepolis 2 delved into internal ones—the good, the bad, the embarrassing. It was a complete 180-degree turn, and there were some panels where my jaw was on the floor. I couldn't believe how life turned around so much and so fast for the young Satrapi, whose eyes were once full of light and fire.
After having to navigate mostly on her own now, in a different country lead with drastically different values and culture, Satrapi experienced things that were presumably impossible before: dimming the light in her eyes after being a victim of addiction and self-sabotage, engaging in and with toxic habits and people, and straying far from the girl whom she was the day she left Iran.
Don't get me wrong, Satrapi is still intelligent and passionate, though those were translated in a wholly distinct manner. For the first time, she had to share her space with others, box herself and please them to fit in, fall in what she thought was love, dedicate herself to it, lose herself, and eventually crawl into a pit of utter shame and despair she thought she'd never bounce back from (hence the attempted suicide). From someone who never had to worry about money, she had to scrape off coins, sleep in public spaces, rummage for food in garbage bins, and suffer from a serious condition that almost left her dead out in the open.
But I guess someone like Satrapi is not meant to die young, die without having to speak her voice to a wider audience, die without leaving a mark in the world. Eventually, she decided to run back to where she had run away from: Iran. With unwavering love from her family and her again-found identity, she was able to get back on her feet and pursue the things she loves (again), and even find a husband (now divorced) in the process.
Persepolis 2: The Story of a Return, as the name implies, shows Satrapi returning not only to her homeland but also to herself. It was painful and disappointing and inspiring all at once. I loved how raw and honest the graphic novel is. It was a whirlwind of emotions: I could be laughing at funny jokes now (Satrapi is unbelievably hilarious), then have my heart broken after reading the next panel. It was a nonstop ride of ups and downs, a ride I don't regret getting in.
Similar to Persepolis 1, this graphic novel delved into serious topics of wars, conflicts, Iran's restrictive culture, and means of rebellion, among others. While those remain core topics, what I loved the most in Persepolis 2 is how brave Satrapi was in leaving where she doesn't feel she belongs and going after those she wants to, both in terms of love and dreams.
Admittedly, I once thought Satrapi admirable but a little annoying in Persepolis 1, but Persepolis 2 changed that completely. She's no longer someone whose strength and bravery were hugely supported by her privilege. This time around, her strength and bravery were pulled from the depths of her experience—the good, the bad, the in-betweens—fueling her to keep going no matter how many times she felt lost and on the brink of giving up.
Far different from her first book, where conflict is mostly external, Sartrapi's Persepolis 2 delved into internal ones—the good, the bad, the embarrassing. It was a complete 180-degree turn, and there were some panels where my jaw was on the floor. I couldn't believe how life turned around so much and so fast for the young Satrapi, whose eyes were once full of light and fire.
After having to navigate mostly on her own now, in a different country lead with drastically different values and culture, Satrapi experienced things that were presumably impossible before: dimming the light in her eyes after being a victim of addiction and self-sabotage, engaging in and with toxic habits and people, and straying far from the girl whom she was the day she left Iran.
Don't get me wrong, Satrapi is still intelligent and passionate, though those were translated in a wholly distinct manner. For the first time, she had to share her space with others, box herself and please them to fit in, fall in what she thought was love, dedicate herself to it, lose herself, and eventually crawl into a pit of utter shame and despair she thought she'd never bounce back from (hence the attempted suicide). From someone who never had to worry about money, she had to scrape off coins, sleep in public spaces, rummage for food in garbage bins, and suffer from a serious condition that almost left her dead out in the open.
But I guess someone like Satrapi is not meant to die young, die without having to speak her voice to a wider audience, die without leaving a mark in the world. Eventually, she decided to run back to where she had run away from: Iran. With unwavering love from her family and her again-found identity, she was able to get back on her feet and pursue the things she loves (again), and even find a husband (now divorced) in the process.
Persepolis 2: The Story of a Return, as the name implies, shows Satrapi returning not only to her homeland but also to herself. It was painful and disappointing and inspiring all at once. I loved how raw and honest the graphic novel is. It was a whirlwind of emotions: I could be laughing at funny jokes now (Satrapi is unbelievably hilarious), then have my heart broken after reading the next panel. It was a nonstop ride of ups and downs, a ride I don't regret getting in.
Similar to Persepolis 1, this graphic novel delved into serious topics of wars, conflicts, Iran's restrictive culture, and means of rebellion, among others. While those remain core topics, what I loved the most in Persepolis 2 is how brave Satrapi was in leaving where she doesn't feel she belongs and going after those she wants to, both in terms of love and dreams.
Admittedly, I once thought Satrapi admirable but a little annoying in Persepolis 1, but Persepolis 2 changed that completely. She's no longer someone whose strength and bravery were hugely supported by her privilege. This time around, her strength and bravery were pulled from the depths of her experience—the good, the bad, the in-betweens—fueling her to keep going no matter how many times she felt lost and on the brink of giving up.