Persepolis, Vol. 1

  I've really been trying to diversify my reading, not just in terms of genre but in terms of format as well.  I've really delved into audiobooks recently and now I've read my first graphic novel.  I'm glad I did!    I think Persepolis is pretty perfect.  It tells the story of Marjane Satrapi as she grows up in war-torn Iran, studies abroad in Austria, returns to Iran before leaving her homeland once again.  Coming into this I thought graphic novels were relatively childish compared to novels but I think the format allows Satrapi to tell her story more effectively.  Even though this Persepolis is entirely in black and white, Satrapi manages to inject so much life into her illustrations and contrast each setting beautifully.  She fully takes advantage of her skill as a writer as well as her talent as an illustrator to make a comprehensive story that works on every level.  And I really mean that.  You can look at Persepolis as the story of two very different settings and cultures.  You can also look at it as one woman's coming-of-age story.  Or you can look at it as everything in between.  That's the beauty of Persepolis.  It doesn't fit into any one box.  It's funny.  It's depressing.  It's inquisitive.  It's stupid.  It's optimistic.  It's pessimistic.  It is all of these things and more and yet it never feels confused.  Satrapi deserves all the credit in the world for taking her remarkable life and putting it into a compact 330 pages (filled with pictures as well as words) without making anything feel rushed or incomplete.  Overall this is a fantastic first graphic novel for me and I look forward to trying out more.