Title: Persepolis
Author: Marjane Satrapi
I bought this book when I was holidaying in Macau with some friends. Will post photos of that trip later. Anyway, we went with the intention of shopping and eating, at least I did. In the end, we did eat a lot, but the shopping wasn’t as great as I had expected. We did take the ferry to Hong Kong for more shopping and eating. That’s when my friend brought me to this bookshop, one of those second storey shops. Now bookshops in HK or Macau are really not my thing. My friends spent hours in this bookshop in Zhu Hai (China), near Macau. It was horrible for me mainly because I don’t read Chinese books. It’s not worth the trouble. By which I mean my Chinese is so bad it would take far too much time to read. I would say my Chinese is as bad as my Japanese. In any case, the books here are in the traditional script, which makes it even harder for me.
But back to the bookshop on the second storey in Hong Kong. It stocks English books! I was elated to say the least. Something for me to browse, yeah! In fact, the English book selection here is actually pretty good and the prices are really reasonable. So I had a mini shopping spree there. Since I couldn’t find clothes interesting enough for me to part with my money. One of the books I bought there was this one – Persepolis.
I heard about this graphic novel because of the movie that was coming out. Thought that it would be interesting to read the book. I’m that kind of person – I usually prefer to read the book first before watching the movie. Except for some books – like the Lord of the Rings which I didn’t get a chance to read before watching.
Back to the book, it’s actually really funny. I actually finished reading this quite some time ago (right after the trip), so I’m basically reviewing based on my memory.
I’ve never read a graphic novel before. In fact, before they were make into movies, I’ve never heard of the term “graphic novel”. I’ve heard of comics -I grew up on a heathly diet of Archie and Judgehead and Lao Fu Zi (Old Master Q). But I’ve never been into Marvel Comics, which probably explains my not being exposed to the term. In any case, Persepolis is an interesting read.
The frames are all done in black and white, unlike what I’m used to in Archie, but that’s okay. The story and themes seem to go well with the plain monochrome tone. Or is it the other way round? Anyway, I like the humourous way that Marjane Satrapi has brought out the serious issues concerning her hometown.
The Middle East, and Persia in particular, is a mysterious place to me. It’s intriguing and from some books I’ve seen, absolutely beautiful. But also forbidden. In the sense that it is not a safe place for a Christian woman to travel to. Alone, which is usually how I travel (with the exception being this Macau/HK/Zhu Hai trip). So books open the door for me to get into the culture and mores for the region. In fact, Persepolis is not the first book about Persia that I’ve read. Many years ago, when I was in a Middle-Eastern phase (I was really interested in Islam and considered reading the Qur’an), I read quite a number of books. If I remember correctly, one was about English girls forced into arranged marriages by their Muslim father. A couple were by this Saudi princess about her decandent life as a filthy rich in the Arabian desert. Two which stood out for me were Daughter of Persia and Not Without My Daughter.
Title: Daughter of Persia: A Woman’s Journey from Her Father’s Harem Through the Islamic Republic (1992)
Author: Sattareh Farman Farmaian
Title: Not Without My Daughter (1991)
Author: Betty Mahmoody
Oh yah, back to the book. It’s kind of a Bildungsroman where the author shows her growth psychological and socially from a young girl living in Iran to her days studying in Austria to her homecoming to Iran, her marriage and divorce and eventual move to France.
The POV for each stage of her life are related to that particular stage, so the innocence and naïvety of youth is felt during her recount of her childhood where the things she say are shocking for the adults, but so typical of children in the sense that they are true but so very un-PC (politically correct). In the later stages, you get the sense of cynicism from someone who has seen and done it all, having gone through so much. In between, there’s also the sense of lost she felt when she was studying in Austria. So the whole gamut of emotions is present.
I guess I am drawn to books that explore the sense of identity in individuals as they try to decipher their place in the world. In a way, it kind of reflects my own inner struggles and I feel this connection with such kindred souls, if I may call them that. That is why I like Asian American literature (I’m not saying this one is lah).
After reading the book (which is actually a collection of 2), I don’t feel the need to watch the movie anymore. Well, actually, I did try to watch it online, but I fell asleep halfway and gave up. Not that it’s boring or what, but I guess the book is great enough. I don’t need the frames to be animated and all that. So in the end, reading still beats passive watching, couch-potato-style.
Can’t find the book now. Must have lent it to someone. Need to keep track of my books…
