Persepolis 2

Persepolis 2: The Story of a Return (2005) by Marjane Satrapi

Description: Here is the continuation of Satrapi's fascinating story. In 1984, Marjane flees fundamentalism and the war with Iraq to begin a new life in Vienna. Once there, she faces the trials of adolescence far from her friends and family, and while she soon carves out a place for herself among a group of fellow outsiders, she continues to struggle for a sense of belonging.

Finding that she misses her home more than she can stand, Marjane returns to Iran after gradation. Her difficult homecoming forces her to confront the changes both she and her country have undergone in her absence and her shame at what she perceives as her failure in Austria. Marjane allows her past to weigh heavily on her until she finds some like-minded friends, falls in love, and begins studying art at a university. However, the repression and state-sanctioned chauvinism eventually lead her to question whether she can have a future in Iran.

Review: Another captivating book by Satrapi. I could not stop reading, I just kept turning page after page. The author definitely had an interesting life and to share it with the world let us glimpse something many of us would never understand, except through her eyes. I am glad that I read these books as it has enlightened me on a few subjects. I really recommend the reading of both of this and the first installment, as they show us a world that we might not be able to see. There are some real series subjects, but a really great read.

Score: 4 out of 5