Reading Responce #4 " A letter to Marjane Satrapi"

Dear Marjane Satrapi,

I've been reading "Persepolis" in my English class for the past weeks. I could truly say I have really enjoyed reading this intriguing autographical novel. Quite frankly this is my first time reading a book that can be portrait-ed as a comic book. The books I have read before cannot be compared to this particular one. The images in Persepolis makes the book alive. When I read this book I get the scene of what your life was all about and what you have struggled. I believe that images say more details then just reading and picturing it from the text. Persepolis is overall a great book; it has made me realize what other countries go through and the reasons why they flee to a better country.

My life and your life have been very different but social class had always played a big role in both of our country. Social class in Persepolis was a big factor. It was strong enough to destroy the love of two innocent people who had a different lifestyle. Mehri a peasant who did not have the education to succeed was targeted as the “low social class”. Low social class people were isolated or were seen different to everybody else that were not in the same class. On the other hand Hispanic have always been pointed out as people that cannot be at a high level. I am myself come from the Hispanic culture and people assume that I am part of the low social class or cannot reach to college level as I am now. So far I have proved them wrong not everybody with the same ethnicity is target to be at the same class. Just like Mehri in Persepolis and I have been seen inferior to other people. Stereotype will always exist but this book has once again sent a message out to all the people; not everyone is the same nor have the same intensions.

Persepolis has opened my eyes in so many ways. Reading Persepolis has made me see life in a different perspective. I see how many people and I take opportunities for granted. We don’t see what we have until something wrong happens. Some questions I curious about are “As a child were you scared at some point to go demonstrate? “ “Did you ever fear that the war was never going to end?”. Your character in Persepolis was great; I admire you for standing up for what you believed. It’s amazing how at age 10 you had so much knowledge to speak your mind. Persepolis is definitely the best book I have read. I really recommend this book everyone and for you thank you for publishing such an amazing book.

Sincerely,

Joanna Solano

CSULA student