After a two-year hiatus, I finally picked up a book again. Balancing a full-time career, the demands of parenting, and running a household has made it challenging to carve out time for reading. But I've finally found a rhythm, and I hope to stay on track as I tackle the ever-growing list of books I seem to add to each year.
I started The Complete Persepolis just before our move from Singapore to India, but life quickly got in the way. My Kindle was soon forgotten, buried somewhere amidst the chaos of relocation. But the bookworm in me refused to stay dormant for long. After some intentional restructuring of my routine, I've managed to set aside 30 minutes each day exclusively for reading. The direct result of that effort is this review! I'll admit that I'm feeling rather pleased with myself 😊
Persepolis is a series of autobiographical graphic novels by Marjane Satrapi, chronicling her childhood and early adulthood in Iran and Austria during and after the Islamic Revolution. The title refers to the ancient capital of the Persian Empire. The Complete Persepolis combines Persepolis (2003) and Persepolis 2 (2004) into a single volume.
Synopsis
Iranian-born Marjane Satrapi’s The Complete Persepolis is a powerful coming-of-age memoir told through comic strips, set in Tehran against the backdrop of the turbulent Islamic Revolution. Born to progressive and liberal parents, the outspoken and rebellious Marjane grapples with the harsh realities of civil liberties and women’s rights suppression under the fundamentalist regime following the Shah's overthrow. The Iran-Iraq war brings unrest, devastation and death, some striking close to home, eventually leading her parents to make the heartbreaking decision to send her to Vienna at the age of 14 for her own safety. Thrust into a foreign culture and left to navigate the trials and tribulations of adolescence alone, Marjane struggles with a profound identity crisis. After becoming homeless and suffering a life-threatening respiratory illness, she returns to Iran, only to confront once again the oppressive morality police, patriarchal norms, and societal repression. It all culminates in the painful realization for Marjane that Iran can no longer serve as her home.
My thoughts...
Reading The Complete Persepolis helped me gain a much better understanding of Iran's complex history, including the consequences of Western intervention and the Iran-Iraq War. The memoir serves as an eye-opening, deeply personal account of the 1979 Iranian Revolution and the rise of the Islamic Republic through the eyes of a young girl. Most importantly, it gives a human perspective on how political upheavals, religious extremism, and war impact everyday life and individual freedoms.
Most of us are aware that women in Iran had more freedom in the 1970's compared to what happened after the social, economic and cultural revolution that shook the country to its core. In present day Iran, the compulsory hijab laws, conservative dress code, discrimination with respect to marriage, divorce and custody issues along with exclusion from certain jobs, significantly impact Iranian women's lives. The death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini while in custody of Iran's morality police for not wearing the hijab in accordance with government's standards, sparked widespread outrage not only in Iran but on a global scale. Visually powerful images of women openly defying the strict hijab laws flooding social media has also been garnering much international sympathy.
“If hair is as stimulating as you say then you need to shave your mustache”
― Persepolis
Many people likely view Iran as just another war-torn Middle Eastern nation, governed by a fundamentalist regime where women lack freedom. However, I believe that’s an unfair assessment. Iran is also home to a rich ancient history, a vibrant culture, distinctive architecture, breathtaking natural landscapes, and hospitable people. If I had the opportunity to visit the country, I probably would.
While reading the memoir, I really liked the Satrapi family dynamics, the wisdom of Marjane's grandmother, her teenage antics in Austria and the meaningful conversations she has with family and friends in private about the revolution and its aftermath. The graphic novel format of The Complete Persepolis is engaging and undoubtedly the highlight of the book. I liked that the author stuck to a graceful black and white scheme for the illustrations instead of going for color which would have been distracting. Satrapi’s straightforward narration effectively conveys her raw emotions and personal insights without sugarcoating the grim truths. Her childhood recollections are remarkably strong, and she assigns emotions to them with ease. Her story is original, unique and her ability to be introspective and vulnerable adds depth to the story. While I admired Marjane’s courage and resilience, I found her attitude and actions off-putting at times, which made it difficult to fully relate to her. That said, the book offered valuable insights into Persian history and the lived experience of growing up under an oppressive regime which is something I’m grateful for.
The Complete Persepolis ultimately challenges readers to reflect on the true meaning of freedom and how easily it is taken for granted.
My rating for this book is,
Have you read The Complete Persepolis? What did you think of the book? Leave a comment to let me know.
Cheers,
Megha
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