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I have been watching people around blogland reading graphic novels (not that I know what the difference between that and a comic is), and a friend always talks about the graphic novels she has bought, instead of books like before. So I headed over to the library, yes we have a little English section of books, and among those are a tiny shelf with graphic novels and comics. So I picked some up, they did have many new ones. It is spreading. Dunno how to review it so I will just take it step by step.
Persepolis - The story of a childhood - Marjane Satrapi
Genre: Graphic Novel, Memoir
Pages: 160
Published: 2004
In powerful black-and-white comic strip images, Satrapi tells the story of her life in Tehran from ages six to fourteen, years that saw the overthrow of the Shah's regime, the triumph of the Islamic Revolution, and the devastating effects of war with Iraq. The intelligent and outspoken only child of committed Marxists and the great-granddaughter of one of Iran's last emperors, Marjane bears witness to a childhood uniquely entwined with the history of her country.
A story about a little girl who wants to be a prophet, then a revolutionary and throw down the Shah, and then the rebel who wants to listen to music and not wear a veil.
This is sure a map to some big years in Iran. Her family screamed for revolution and a communist regime. It was a difficult time because the Shah's men could arrest them at any time. Then the revolution happened but things did not get better. Instead they got an Islamic dictatorship, and the former fighters turned on that. Now women had to wear veils or suffer in public, all things Western got outlawed. Then comes the Iraqi war, and Teheran gets bombed. All this seen through a young girls eyes. A girl who don't get why things are like they are, a girl who has very strong opinions. All told with sarcasm, and humour, and sadness.
The black and white strips are excellent. They are well drawn (that is I get what they are trying to show), and with not much background or such they tell this remarkable story.
It ends when she turns 14, and I must get book 2 to see what happens then. I know that so many have read this years ago already, but to those that haven't, do read it. And because it was so good (and most importantly nicely drawn, yes I need that), I will read more. Well at least those few things I can find here.
