The post would have been a roadmap for this blog, but unfortunately, I didn't have time to do so due to some personal stuff. But it's not too late to start, and I will post the roadmap on a later date. But for now, this would be the first one.
The book I will be reviewing is Persepolis: The Complete Edition by Marjane Satrapi.
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"The First writing of the human being was drawing, not writing."
-Marjane Satrapi (1969-2026)
Recently, Marjane Satrapi passed away at the age of 58 on Thursday, June 4th, 2026. And this really hits home to me. I know I haven't mentioned this to anyone, but the first time I read Persepolis was in the 9th grade back in my high school days. And I would admit, I didn't understand the story at first, but over time, I've begun to understand the story, as it progresses to the second volume of Persepolis. Heck, my high school teacher noticed me reading Persepolis in her reading class and told me Persepolis is a real city, but an ancient city that's located in modern-day Iran. So for years, the only time I've come across Persepolis, whether it was from the school library or from the public library, I've already read the first volume, which focuses more on Marjane's life though her childhood to her teenage years. But I would say the first volume focused on some historical events, with one event that happened in 1979, with the Islamic Revolution, with the overthrow of the king of Iran, and the war in Iran that came with it. Basically, reading this book is like reading a story that takes place in a different era, back in time, despite how turbulent history can be. Something that history has never told you about the history of Iran, unless you do the research. But this is the kind of history you won't be able to find in the history books these days.
So, anyway, the first volume of Persepolis only covers the first part of her life from childhood to teenage years, while the second volume covers her life as an adult, navigating her life through turbulent times in Iran. But after purchasing the full and complete Persepolis from a college store at Valencia College, it basically completes the story altogether, as one big story. So anyways, here's the full review.
Persepolis: The Complete Edition & Why you need to read it.
Title: The Complete Persepolis
Author: Marjane Satrapi
Genre: Graphic Novel, Autobiography, Nonfiction
Verdict: "A Memoir of growing up as a girl in revolutionary Iran, Persepolis provides a unique glimpse into a nearly unknown and unreachable way of life...that Satrapi chose to tell her remarkable story as a gorgeous comic book makes it totally unique and indispensable" -TIME magazine
The Premise: Just like in the first volume of Persepolis, Satrapi starts her story of what happened after islamic revolution of 1979 to 1980, where society in Tehran, Iran, began to change from a liberal modernization and cultural environment to a heavily strict, deeply religious ideology. The ideals of how society should function in Iran, despite becoming a modernized society, would change into a theocracy. It is difficult to find any information on why Iran became a theocracy due to limited information. However, it doesn't mean that you can tell your story through an art form rather than through words alone. Persepolis is more than an unforgettable coming-of-age story; it's a historical textbook of what happened in her viewpoint of Iran from her family's point of view from her family. A living eyewitness to the changes in society in Iran from 1980 to the present day.
Pros: Through visual storytelling, but drawing in black and white, which became her signature trademark and art style. Satrapi tells her story as it is, from her days as a child experiencing what's going on around her. Not on what's going on around her, from her friends to her family, and the people she meets. As mentioned before, she included some historical events that happened during her time in Iran, which include the overthrow of the Shah and the Cultural Revolution. But also, she isn't afraid to tell her part of her story of how the people in Iran, especially women, are heavily policed based on morality. But it's also to note what she exposed, the wickedness and misogyny in a fundamentalist society of Iran are still occurring to the present day.
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| Persepolis Vol 1, the story of childhood. The Veil |
Cons: It's difficult to shake the stigma that Iran is a country of terrorism due to the prejudices and the hurtful, stereotypical, and racist undertones of painting Iran like this. Although Satrapi's best efforts to explain but layout the contradictions of Iran in a different light, unfortunately, she would come under fire by those who don't believe her viewpoint, but is often picked apart by some who want to accuse her of being a hypocrite on what she's saying about the ayatollah or accusing her of being a islamaphobe, which is not what the book is about.
Recommendation: The book is very much a historical textbook on what Iran was like in the 1980s. But also a brave woman such as Satrapi is not afraid to speak up, but also she isn't afraid to speak out about the wrongdoings whats had been happening in Iran. Anyways please read this book but also watch the film as well, because it's a good read, but also Satrapi is one of the best storytellers of all time.
Also, I have a copy of the book as well.
Okay so thats everything. So anyways cyas.
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