My take - Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi

Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi is a graphic novel which presents a first person account of Tehran in the 1980s through the eyes of an adolescent Iranian girl. It is an autobiographical account of the author’s adolescent and young-adult years. Graphic novel is a fantastic medium which exploits the seemingly light-hearted medium of caricatures to represent important issues. This book employs the black and white comic strip format to bring forth the early years of Satrapi’s life.
I believe that books by third-world authors are doubly important because they dispel the stereotypes and prejudices against their country and people; and Persepolis does so very effectively. The novel challenges the stereotypical view of Iranians as boorish, fanatics and terrorists. It once again emphasizes the odiousness of generalization by presenting the repressed, humane face of Iran which media does not bother to show as.
It is certainly an engaging and thought-provoking novel yet it cannot be said to represent the actual condition of Iran and the plight of Iranians during the 1980s and 1990s. It is because Satrapi belonged to an affluent family and was thus privileged enough to escape the ravages of the war. It is an honest and raw account of life and of course Satrapi had her own share of problems and plight, but despite all it still remains an account of privileged life. Satrapi is a staunch feminist and fiercely attacks the blatant discrimination of her country against women. She has an analytical and rationalist bend of mind which compels her to question the hypocrisies and injustices of society rather than comfortably conform to them.
The novel is excellently presented and some of its illustrations are simply brilliant. Reading it had been a great experience and the novel definitely achieved its objective, that of bringing forth the repressed face of Iran. Though it portrays the lives of Iranian yet every rebel and non-conformist irrespective of their nationality can relate with the protagonist, Satrapi.  
My rating - 4 ⭐

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