I visited Hub Comics in Union Square this past week and bought two graphic novels: Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood and Persepolis 2: The Story of a Return. Having enjoyed several graphic novel memoirs in the past (Maus I and Maus II by Art Spiegelman, Fun Home by Alison Bechdel, The Magical Life of Long Tack Sam by Ann Marie Fleming), I thought I would give this one a try, especially since the movie version has won many film awards.
I was not disappointed.
The books are beautifully written. They reminded me very much of Reading Lolita in Tehran and contained similar themes (how could they not?) but were much more accessible. Like every good memoir they read like a personal diary filled with secrets, gossip, lies and the truths behind them. Not only does Marjane Satrapi discuss politics and injustice, she spills out her entire life onto the page, including the most intimate details–the types of things that one secretly codes in diaries with the illegible script of shame.
I can’t wait until Netflix brings me the movie version.