The Complete Persepolis - Marjane Satrapi

I think that this graphic novel should be compulsory reading for anyone truly interested in our world.  It is an autobiographical depiction of growing up in war-torn Iran, through countless wars and revolutions.  It follows Marjane's life from about 10 years old until her early twenties and is a fascinating insight into a previously untold slice of human history and the story of a country with its history usually so well guarded.

The drawings themselves are so wonderfully basic that you admire the simplicity and understand that this allows you to really focus on the story at hand.  Whether this is just the author's preferred drawing style or whether it was done intentionally, whatever the case it helps make the impact of the novel even more real.

You learn a lot about the coming of age of our author and what a long and at times very desolate journey that was.  She is not afraid to bear all unto scrutiny by her peers and this honest approach is one of the things I enjoyed most.

I'm not so great at summarising the recent history of Iran as she does so I've borrowed someone else's words to give you an insight into some of the things you learn while reading Marjane's tale:

"Starting in 1979, the year that the Shah of Iran was overthrown in a popular uprising,.. we learn the history of this unique country that lies between the Arab world and Asia. Throughout its history, whether as Persia or Iran, the country was constantly under attack and being invaded by one foreign power after another. After World War Two, the father of the last Shah of Iran led a revolt sponsored by the British in return for allowing them access to Iranian Oil. Instead of the republic that most people had hoped for, they merely replaced one dictator for another.

The uprising in 1979 started as a popular rebellion against the tyranny of the Shah, but was corrupted. A great many of those who helped ensure its success ended up imprisoned, tortured, and eventually executed by the new regime. Any chance that there might have been for the overthrow of the religious leadership was quashed by the American-sponsored Iraqi invasion, as those in power seized upon it as an opportunity to quash what remained of the opposition. Political prisoners were given two choices - die on the front lines as cannon fodder or be executed. After eight years of war, nothing was accomplished save for the deaths of close to a million Iranians, ensuring the elimination of any opposition to the religious authorities."

Imagine growing up through all that, while being the great grand-daughter of the last Shah of Iran and with two very intelligent and polictically motivated parents who were constantly protesting about the injustices happening in their country.

What can I say?  Read this one, you won't be disappointed.