Reading Response #3

Jennifer Leal
English 057
Reading Response #3
December 17, 2009
Dear Marjane Satrapi,

Hello, my name is Jennifer Leal and currently on my first year at college at East Los Angeles College. (ELAC) I’m writing this letter to mostly thank you for writing “Persepolis”. I’ve read a few graphic novels but none like yours. I enjoyed reading your novel “Persepolis” in my English class. You really opened my eyes to what actually happened in Iran during the war. You’re a very talented writer and your illustrations were fantastic. It was really brave of you to share what you went through during the war and for that I thank you. Through out the novel you stay true to what you believe in and you never once look back. I like you’re humanist views and I could tell merely by reading your book that you must be an incredible human being. You changed my ideology of how I perceived people from Iran. I was rather ignorant to mostly anything that had to do with Iran and with your novel you made me see that not everyone believed how the fundamentalist did. You’re family and yourself showed me how much an individual could love their country. I’ve learned so much from you and you’re life as a child growing up during that war that I will cherish for as long as I live.

It’s rare to find a child that is as well informed as you were during the war. You knew and even understood difficult situations that even adults’ way older than you had a hard time comprehending during the war. I liked the fact you always spoke your mind and never gave up hope. It’s funny how people in the United States seem to believe they have it bad just because they don’t get what they want or can’t seem to catch a break. While you grew up during a war and saw death everywhere you went. You grew up during a time of fear, but you did not let that ever bring you down. I am thankful that I live in the United States where I’m able to do as I please and wear what I want when I want. Where I’m able to have an education if I want. Where in Iran it’s the complete opposite. Growing up a woman in Iran is difficult, and through your graphic novel “Persepolis” I’m able to see that. You’re novel made me realize that life here is a piece of cake compared to growing up in Iran as a woman and for that I thank God that I was able to grow up in a nation where I have a voice and can make my own choices and I’m never hidden.

I cannot wait to read “Persepolis 2”. I’m really looking forward to reading about your life in Vienna and what you went through being away from your parents. I would like to ask why you chose to write your autobiography as a graphic novel? Why not write a more detailed five hundred page autobiography like most people do. Do you really believe that a picture is worth a thousand words? Also, if you had a choice would you pick the life you had? As in live through the war and in Iran, or would you choose a different life?
Lastly, I want to thank you once more for sharing your story not only with me but with the whole world. I want to thank you for informing me and reminding me not to judge a book by its cover and to always inform myself on anything that has to do with me. Thank you Marjane.

With much Respect,
Jennifer Leal