The Complete Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi

I just finished reading The Complete Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi for this month’s BAM graphic novel selection. To me, it is more of a graphic novel-style memoir. The author tells her own life story in Iran. The Complete Persepolis begins when Marj, the main character, was growing up (until age 14) as the only child of middle class, well educated, and left-leaning parents in Tehran. During this phase of her life she dreamed of becoming God’s new prophet and played with her friends while pretending to be Che Guevara; and her parents demonstrated against the Shah. Then in 1979 the Shah fell. Marj’s life change dramatically. The French school she attended closed and she went to an Islamic girls’ school. She and her mother were required to wear hijabs (Islamic head scarves). When they joined other women in street protest they were attacked by fundamentalist “guardians.” Universities closed. Then the war with Iraq started. Tehran became a target for bombing and eventually for Scud missiles. Marj’s neighborhood was bombed and friends and neighbors died.

In her teen years, Marj continued to be headstrong. At home, she wore Nikes, listened to heavy metal music, and hung posters of pop stars in her bedroom. In an effort to protect their 14 year old daughter, her parents sent her to a private high school in Austria.

She did her best to fit in and make friends. She ended up experimenting with drugs, becoming friends with homosexuals, and having sexual experiences with boyfriends. However, when a boyfriend cheated on her, she ended up on the streets and eventually returned to Iran. She was so unhappy with the repressive nature of Iranian society that she left Tehran permanently and immigrated to Paris. She continues living there today.

This personal portrait is painted in simple, but startling, black and white illustrations (created by Satrapi) that look like woodcuts. They greatly enhance the emotional impact of a life story that sometimes funny and sometimes sad.

The story of Marj’s life is one that was engaging for me and I fully expect that it would have the same impact on teens as well as other adults. The artistry of the illustrations and the political revelations make this a must read. It pulled back the veil and allowed me to take a glimpse at a Middle Eastern culture that I really don’t know much about. The importance of The Complete Persepolis takes on added significance since the United States government is currently preoccupied with Iran in the age of anti-terrorism. This memoir can help readers to understand that not all people who grow up in Middle Eastern countries like Iran are fundamentalist terrorists.

This is actually a nonfiction book (741.5944 SAT). It has been turned into a film that was a winner of the 2007 Cannes Film Festival Jury Prize.