In Persepolis, heralded by the Los Angeles Times as “one of the freshest and most original memoirs of our day,” Marjane Satrapi dazzled us with her heartrending memoir-in-comic-strips about growing up in Iran during the Islamic Revolution. Here is the continuation of her fascinating story.
In 1984, Marjane flees fundamentalism and the war with Iraq to begin a new life in Vienna. Once there, she faces the trials of adolescence far from her friends and family, and while she soon carves out a place for herself among a group of fellow outsiders, she continues to struggle for a sense of belonging.
Finding that she misses her home more than she can stand, Marjane returns to Iran after graduation. Her difficult homecoming forces her to confront the changes both she and her country have undergone in her absence and her shame at what she perceives as her failure in Austria. Marjane …
In Persepolis, heralded by the Los Angeles Times as “one of the freshest and most original memoirs of our day,” Marjane Satrapi dazzled us with her heartrending memoir-in-comic-strips about growing up in Iran during the Islamic Revolution. Here is the continuation of her fascinating story.
In 1984, Marjane flees fundamentalism and the war with Iraq to begin a new life in Vienna. Once there, she faces the trials of adolescence far from her friends and family, and while she soon carves out a place for herself among a group of fellow outsiders, she continues to struggle for a sense of belonging.
Finding that she misses her home more than she can stand, Marjane returns to Iran after graduation. Her difficult homecoming forces her to confront the changes both she and her country have undergone in her absence and her shame at what she perceives as her failure in Austria. Marjane allows her past to weigh heavily on her until she finds some like-minded friends, falls in love, and begins studying art at a university. However, the repression and state-sanctioned chauvinism eventually lead her to question whether she can have a future in Iran.
As funny and poignant as its predecessor, Persepolis 2 is another clear-eyed and searing condemnation of the human cost of fundamentalism. In its depiction of the struggles of growing up—here compounded by Marjane’s status as an outsider both abroad and at home—it is raw, honest, and incredibly illuminating.
Persepolis 1 was okay. But, Persepolis 2 is probably the real reason this book is famous across the globe. And it wasn't that good.
I can totally see how she and others felt their freedom was being suppressed. But, that's just the opinion of an elite living in some North Tehran district. Most of Iran at that time, felt liberated from the shackles of the Shah.
Academia, media, pop culture promotes this book clearly because it says the opposite. Otherwise very mid-book!
Review of 'Persepolis 2: The Story of a Return (Persepolis #3-4)' on 'Goodreads'
4 stars
Like its predecessor, I read this in one sitting. A part of me admits that I was not happy with some of the mistakes she made, yet I suppose one has to make the mistakes in order to learn. The story is as moving as ever; it is engaging. It just draws you in. The history lesson is there as well. Like other readers, I have wondered how people allow a totalitarian regime to rise. It often sneaks up on you, as it did in this memoir. A lesson to remain vigilant. The ending is bittersweet, but a good one as she finally finds her freedom. Definitely recommended. Though I borrowed them from the public library, these are books I would love to acquire for my collection. These are definitely must-reads. As I said before, a fine example of what can be done with the graphic novel format.
