BOOKS FROM IRANPersepolis
Tags:
Set in Iran
Female author
Description:
BEST SELLER • A NEW YORK TIMES NOTABLE BOOK • Wise, funny, and heartbreaking, Persepolis is Marjane Satrapi’s acclaimed graphic memoir of growing up in Iran during the Islamic Revolution. “A wholly original achievement.... Satrapi evokes herself and her schoolmates coming of age in a world of protests and disappearances.... A stark, shocking impact.” —The New York Times: "The 50 Best Memoirs of the Past 50 Years" In powerful black-and-white comic strip images, Satrapi tells the coming-of-age story of her life in Tehran from ages six to fourteen, years that saw the overthrow of the Shah’s regime, the triumph of the Islamic Revolution, and the devastating effects of war with Iraq. The intelligent and outspoken only child of committed Marxists and the great-granddaughter of one of Iran’s last emperors, Marjane bears witness to a childhood uniquely entwined with the history of her country. Persepolis paints an unforgettable portrait of daily life in Iran and of the bewildering contradictions between home life and public life. Marjane’s child’s-eye view of dethroned emperors, state-sanctioned whippings, and heroes of the revolution allows us to learn as she does the history of this fascinating country and of her own extraordinary family. Intensely personal, profoundly political, and wholly original, Persepolis is at once a story of growing up and a reminder of the human cost of war and political repression. It shows how we carry on, with laughter and tears, in the face of absurdity. And, finally, it introduces us to an irresistible little girl with whom we cannot help but fall in love.
Reviews:
(1 year ago) |
02 Dec, 2023
The Complete Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi is a remarkable memoir about growing up as a young girl in revolutionary Iran. It is written in a comic book style, which makes it unique and an easy read.
An Iranian friend loaned me this book because of my interest in learning about cultures that we, as Westerners, know little about. The true stories, not the stories fabricated by the media. This story ignited many emotions (including happiness and laughter) and humbled me. The fight for freedom, the hunger to be heard, the restraints of opportunity and the sheer frustration of wanting to be your own person. The wars, devastation, heartache and the shattering of innocent lives made me realise, there are many cultures we don’t truly know. I highly recommend this book. It will open your eyes to a political and social culture that has stood the test of time … and survived.
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(9 months ago) |
28 Feb, 2024
En Persépolis: La historia de una niñez, Marjane nos cuenta episodios de su vida entre los once y catorce años. Forma parte de una familia de buena pasar económico, instruida y politizada. Y la historia transcurre en Teherán, Irán, durante la transición revolucionaria entre el gobierno autoritario del Shah y la instauración de la República Islámica.
La familia de Marjane, al igual que mucha gente progresista, participa con entusiasmo de las manifestaciones contra el Shah, con la aspiración de alcanzar un sistema democrático moderno; y posteriormente quedó profundamente defraudada cuando la Revolución fue cooptada por los fundamentalistas islámicos, y la instauración de un régimen más conservador y autoritario aún.
La elección del formato de historieta, o novela gráfica, permite mostrar de manera más sencilla y directa muchos aspectos de la vida cotidiana y las reacciones, a veces impulsivas o ingenuas de sus protagonistas.
Aunque fue diseñada para ser leída por breves episodios, la lectura continuada se me hizo muy ágil, e interesante, y me ha transmitido, creo que con gran fidelidad la experiencia vivida por al menos parte de la población urbana de Irán.
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