The Complete Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi

The Complete Persepolis is a story that has been described as an autobiography. The term autobiography is a perspective done through the eyes of the writer. In this case, it's done by a person who wants to express her feelings about her country, Iran and explain how a country can be torn apart by differences of opinions. This is true with many countries including our own. Conflict is and probably will always be a part of our society. Satrapi takes us through her life and tries to show a perspective that we do not normally see here. There is a perception about Iran that has been very negative through out the world and I think she is trying to explain that there is not any real difference between Iran from most with the obvious exceptions.

We live in a society of labels and classes both here and in other parts of the world. To label this as an autobiography might not be accurate on its own. The viewpoints are not many, but one, our author. She takes us through her life and what she learned through out her life and it's interesting to see how much the girl change into a smart woman trying to still figure things out and keep her identity. These traits are universal and I think that for her to tell this story is good so as to see that Iran and the Middle East is not what we have been told completely. There is a sense of assimilation in culture with the younger people. Are they aware? Do they use this form to get through their lives? I wonder how one can condemn actions by the west and yet adapt their ways?

As for this book being a graphic novel? I think Satrapi might have intended this form to get to a certain group of readers, young readers. Young readers tend to be more susceptible to this genre and while this is not a children's book, young adults tend to read this genre and she might had hope to shape a new generation of readers about what is going on over there. I want to see how the author continues to grow in this book. I think my knowledge of the Middle East has grown a bit as well.