This book, the second part* of a graphic autobiography by Marjane Satrapi (see first part) was even more gripping, radical and brimming with righteous indignation than its prequel. In part two, we follow her through teenage years struggling to find her identity as an Iranian in Europe, as she explores new experiences and subversive ideas - only then to return home to Tehran in desperation for belonging; but here, she meets obstacles of the post-revolutionary Islamic Republic repressing freedoms (especially for women) that only deepen her sense of struggle. As with part one, it's as educational as it is entertaining, and cannot be read without rowing out across a sea of empathic storytelling in a dinghy made of simplistic and striking illustrations; the dialogue matter-of-fact, sharply succinct, so that developments and relationships that spanned years are neatly condensed to their essence in the wider life story in a few pages, and the visual style and deftness of person and setting characterisation really pulls the reader into Satrapi's world.
* Okay fine I know that link is actually just for a book containing both parts - childhood and return - as I received it for Christmas and didn't see the point in reading the whole first half again just so I'd be able to do a post about the whole book. My blog, I make up the rules as I go. Maybe follow the link to the post about the first part anyway as this post is particularly short because I don't want to have to re-type out all my broad reactions to the general style and thrust of what Persepolis is, and the post about part one deals with those adequately.
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