Sign in with Facebook
Casey's Reviews > The Complete Persepolis
The Complete Persepolis
by
by
Ugh. I am deeply ambivalent. First, I found the political side fascinating. If you're interested in Iran's history, the graphic novel format is really accessible. However, I really disliked Marjane. I feel a little guilty about this, as she's a real person. While she and her family were proud that she was outspoken, I found her rude and obnoxious. They believed she was raised to be "free." I certainly appreciate their hugely liberal views in such a repressive environment, but their version of "free" felt more like "offensive" and "disrespectful" and "tactless." There are so many instances in this book where Marjane faces conflict, and instead of sticking up for herself in a decent manner, she resorts to calling people prostitutes or bitches or whatever. I never thought I'd be one to criticize profanity or being up-front, but I found that they made Marjane very unsavory.
Sign into Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ to see if any of your friends have read
The Complete Persepolis.
Sign In »
Reading Progress
July 9, 2008
– Shelved
July 9, 2008
– Shelved as:
children-or-young-adult
July 9, 2008
– Shelved as:
adults
Started Reading
July 10, 2008
– Shelved as:
2008
July 10, 2008
–
Finished Reading
Comments Showing 1-20 of 20 (20 new)
date
newest »
newest »
message 1:
by
Megan
(new)
-
rated it 3 stars
Apr 28, 2011 01:12PM
I totally agree.
reply
|
flag
When she falsely accused that man of saying inappropriate things to her and he was arrested, that was the last straw for me. How could she find that funny?
@Burd - Because you never did anything you were ashamed of when you were a young person?
Can't change the past. Nice perspective
I found it brave that the author even included the incident where she got an innocent man arrested in the book. It made Marjane a little more flawed and realistic, and it made it clear that she wasn't trying to come off as a hero.As for her being rude, I found it fairly warranted most of the time. I don't think cheating boyfriends, misogynists, racist nuns or other inconsiderate bigots should be met with politeness and decency.
Then again, I've always liked rebellious people who stand up against oppression and defy social norms. Girls with guts are the best.
The quality of a work is not a simple measure of how likable you find the main character. Marjane is presented as fully well-rounded person, flaws included.
Being tactful is a first-world luxury. Besides, its apolitical. We need more people like Marjane, that will speak up, and out.
Shawn, you really think we need more selfish sociopaths who make false accusations against an innocent man, laugh about it, and show no remorse for their clever little joke of getting him arrested and probably beaten, tortured, and executed?
LadyCalcio - This was an honest book. Did you get the impression she was proud of what she did?
The only part where I actively disliked Marji was the part where she got that poor man arrested. That was so awful. I don't know how she could continue to live her life, not knowing his fate due to her own cruelty. But otherwise I didn't really have a problem with her outbursts. It might have been something she just had to go through.
The only part where I actively disliked Marji was the part where she got that poor man arrested. That was so awful. I don't know how she could continue to live her life, not knowing his fate due to her own cruelty. But otherwise I didn't really have a problem with her outbursts. It might have been something she just had to go through.
Actually i like this, imagine you growing up on this situation. People made mistakes and even more when we are growing up
I'm feeling the same way. I'm only on page 57... not sure if I'm going to keep reading.
This is one of my favourite ever books. At least it is a quick read, please do not give up on it.
I sometimes found her a hypocrite. I reason its because of her identity crisis
Marjane wasn't "made" to be anything. The author supervised the translation of the text and shaped the story herself. I think this was her way of showing the readers that she was a real person who isn't perfect and had many issues resulting from her life, her culture, family and the war.
LadyCalico "show no remorese"? I'm sorry, but you completely misunderstood the point that the other was making there.
She was a child who lashed out against nuns who made a derogatory comment about her and her country. Sure, not the most tactful way to respond, but those things happen in the heat of the moment.
I agree with you in every sense of the way. I don’t find her very likeable at all.
She doesn't have to be likeable. it takes courage to show things like when she get the man arrested and also show what people are willing to do just to "survive" or get along with things. No one is perfect and it would be hypocritical to think so. Personally I think that even though I did not relate or find OK certain attitudes she had , think of when she was a kid an was playing torture with her friends. It just manages to portray the complexities of different issues. You cna be in acountry in war and have kids playing "the war" in the park. You can be repressed and in ocnstant fear of detention and it can cause you to act lightly in this manners (accuse someone so you get pass the potential detention). Human nature is just as complex and contradictory.
