Persepolis

Title: Persepolis
Author: Marjane Satrapi
Genres: non-fiction, graphic novel, memoir, autobiography, Iranian history, Iranian author

Chronicles the life of Marjane Satrapi as she grew up during the political unrest in Iran from the late 1970s through the late 1990s. It's her autobiography in graphic novel form and it gives Westerners a rare glimpse into a mysterious country and region. I watched the movie last semester for my history class and I enjoyed it more than I thought I would. I checked out the graphic novel because there are always more details in a book compared to its move counterpart.

As a little girl, Marji parrots the political slogans and ideologies she hears from the grownups around her. As a preteen her eyes slowly open to injustice in the world as she and the other females in Iran are subject to harsher and harsher rules regarding dress, opposite-sex relationships, and public etiquette. Marji's parents send her to Europe for her safety and to continue her education; although Europe is not dangerous, Marji's ethnicity keeps her from truly fitting in. She returns to Iran but finds that her home country has changed dramatically under the leadership of religious fundamentalists.