Persepolis 2 Book Review

Persepolis 2

Imagine being a teenage girl in a war torn sexist country. Your only salvation is to leave to a far away land. Marjane Strapi wrote the novel Persepolis 2 as an autobiography. Marjane describes her life as an Iranian teenager living in Vienna. The novel goes in to depth describing the kind of people that Marjane met while she was in Austria. The reader then gets a look at Marjane’s life when she moves back to Iran. A poignant picture is painted of the differences between society in Iran as compared to Europe. Marjane has many great conversations in the novel with her parents and her grandmother about the war that tore Iran apart while she was in Austria. The novel describes what Iran was like after the war with Iraq and the Iranian revolution. We get a glimpse of Tehran and how it looked after the war. There are splendid examples of Iranian culture and the strict laws that were bestowed upon women. The book is eccentric and a lively read for anyone above the age of fifteen whom desires to learn about the Iranian revolution while reading a graphic novel.

Marjane Strapi’s scenes in the book brilliantly describe what life is like in Iran. The novel is keen, easy to understand, and thought provoking. It is comically graphic with many funny scenes depicting the struggles of women in Iranian culture. A spirited quote from the novel that represents this is, "Yes…but…when you run, your behind makes movements that are…how you say…obscene!" Marjane then responded, "Well then don’t look at my ass!" This depicts how men dominate Iranian society while providing a humorous context. The graphics are marvelous and make the book captivating. Many scenes in the novel masterfully illustrate the trials and tribulations teenagers’ face including sex, drugs, peer pressure, and change.

Readers will enjoy Persepolis 2. It is the story of Marjane Strapi’s life, a teenager during the Iranian Revolution. Teenagers and adults will relate to this superb first-rate and insightful novel. Persepolis 2 is a must read.
Book’s Rating: J J J J Book Review