Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood (#1 of 2) (oft-banned Graphic Novel memoir) [B1912]

2004 PB in excellent condition. A NEW YORK TIMES NOTABLE BOOK. Wise, funny, and heartbreaking, Persepolis is Marjane Satrapi's acclaimed graphic memoir of growing up in Iran during the Islamic Revolution. "A wholly original achievement.... Satrapi evokes herself and her schoolmates coming of age in a world of protests and disappearances.... A stark, shocking impact." -The New York Times: "The 50 Best Memoirs of the Past 50 Years" In powerful black-and-white comic strip images, Satrapi tells the coming-of-age 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. Persepolis paints an unforgettable portrait of daily life in Iran and of the bewildering contradictions between home life and public life. Marjane's child's-eye view of dethroned emperors, state-sanctioned whippings, and heroes of the revolution allows us to learn as she does the history of this fascinating country and of her own extraordinary family. Intensely personal, profoundly political, and wholly original, Persepolis is at once a story of growing up and a reminder of the human cost of war and political repression. It shows how we carry on, with laughter and tears, in the face of absurdity. And, finally, it introduces us to an irresistible little girl with whom we cannot help but fall in love.

From recent Amazon/GoodReads reviews: "Such a timely read. This opened my eyes to life in Iran during the Islamic revolution. Watching it unfold through child-Marji's eyes was haunting. Her spirit and rebellious nature stuck out. I cannot imagine going through what she experienced. The fear, the loss, the emotions. Our Book Club has now done 2 graphic novels in 3 months and I have to say I'm enjoying the format. I still don't know if I would choose a graphic novel on my own but I'm appreciating my typical formats bring challenged. Would highly recommend"; "This graphic novel is banned in Texas, so please read it. Excellent account by an Iranian woman of her experiences there during the Islamic Revolution and the Iran-Iraq war, which overlapped. She tells it from the perspective of her 10-11 year old self, which is wonderful. Wants to be a protester but also wants to go shopping. There are many parallels regarding extremism then and what is happening today in the US. The book is 24 years old, not sure why Texas doesn't like it, except for a couple of negative comments/hints about the US."; "A vignette into life in Iran during the 70s and 80s. It's an easy read, filled with nuggets of wisdom and insight into the life of real Iranians. A quote: --As long as there is oil in the Middle East, there will never be peace. "