Each Wednesday I am featuring a guest post by a book blogger detailing which books they think are the “best” and “worst” by the author of their choice. Visit the series page for more information about the guest bloggers, the featured authors, and the sign-up form.
Please welcome today’s guest blogger: Aths from Reading on a Rainy Day, who will be discussing the best and worst of Marjane Satrapi.
The first time I came across any work by Marjane Satrapi was via my friend’s bookshelf during graduate school. This was during my pre-blogging days when I didn’t read as sporadically as I do now or follow any book blogs. My friend had Satrapi’s Complete Persepolis on his shelf, and something about the cover intrigued me – probably the gothic look or the clean uncluttered yet articulate graphics.
Persepolis is the story of Satrapi’s childhood and coming-of-age during the Iranian revolution, and her high school years in Vienna. I found Persepolis incredibly hilarious and yet it was one of the most moving books I had ever read. The dark humor lacing the strips was sensitive and also self-deprecating. In the next two books by Satrapi that I read, this turns to be her telltale signature style.
I finished Persepolis in a day. It was my first experience with the graphic format, which is now one of my favorite mediums for reading books, especially memoirs. Even today, Persepolis remains my favorite graphic book, because it demonstrated to me the power of telling a story through pictures, while keeping all the emotions intact.
It is hard for me to even say there is a work by Satrapi that I didn’t like. Since Persepolis, I have read Embroideries and Chicken with Plums, both of which were fascinating. Embroideries was just as funny as Persepolis while behind the humor, it focused on women issues and their status, or lack of, in Iranian society. Although I enjoyed reading this book, it’s not a work that stayed with me, like Persepolis did. I found it too short to be able to embrace the messages within the book.
If you haven’t tried any of Satrapi’s books, I strongly recommend them. They are also a perfect introduction to the graphic book medium.
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Persopolis is really high on my list and has been for a long time. My library, which has a decent GN library, does not have it. Even though Embroideries wasn’t the favorite, I am loving that cover! Those facial expressions are priceless.
I have Persepholis but I haven’t read it yet. I’ll have to get to it at some point. I haven’t heard of the other one.
Glad your blog is back up!
I keep hearing about this author and her books. I really must try them one day!
I really loved Persepolis and have Embrodieries on my TBR shelf. She’s incredibly talented.
I have yet to read Embroideries though it is on my “must read” list since I enjoyed Persepolis 1 and 2 so much
I loved Persepolis 1 and 2…I need to get my hands on those other two!
I haven’t read any of Satrapi’s books. Just added Persepolis to my to-read list!
I agree. I also really didn’t enjoy Embroideries as much as other books by Satrapi.
The only one that I’ve read is Persepolis (both parts) and I thought it was great, although I liked the first half better than the second. Thanks so much for participating in this guest post series!
Persepolis was one of the first graphic novels I ever read, and it remains one of my favorites. My lovely Mumsy bought me both books in one volume!
I love Persepolis and do want to read more of the author’s work!
Not an author or books I’m familiar with, perhaps one day I’ll seek them out.
The is also an excellent movie of Persepolis (cartoon, same style as the graphic novel).
I heard mixed reviews but I liked it.
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