AbrahamsenLENS5

Brynn Abrahamsen Dr. Sherry Literature for Young Adults LENS 5 Reader-as-Writer // Persepolis // Marjane Satrapi’s writing // Persepolis //is a memoir of her childhood to adulthood written in a graphic style. Satrapi’s story captures the reader’s attention through the pictures and storyline. Even though she is writing about a very serious manner she manages to incorporate a sense of humor into her work. The fact that this novel is a graphic one is what makes it such a great read. Before reading this book, it seemed strange to me that it was written in a graphic genre due to the subject it addresses. I soon came to realize that the graphics completed the story. I have never read a graphic novel before this one and I was able to learn how engaging they are. This style of writing engrossed me into the story wholeheartedly even with such few words. I think this is because all of the detail that the author would use to describe something was shown in the picture and not written over several pages. The fact that Satrapi used a comic strip style for // Persepolis // allows a sense of relief from the subject she is addressing. There are scenes in the novel that may be difficult to understand or even fully read if it was written in wordy paragraphs. The graphics make many topics easier to understand and interpret. Even though I do enjoy depicting things and using my imagination while reading, this approach was also enjoyable. Through Satrapi illustrating this novel I was able to view her perspective and not build my own of each character and scene. Being able to visualize Satrapi’s view on characters would not be understood if there weren’t pictures. For example, we discussed in class that she describes Marx and God looking alike and the reader can most definitely see the resemblance through the picture that is supplied. If there was not a picture then it would not make much sense to the reader because everyone has a different idea of what their God looks like and the comment would not be humorous. I also found it interesting how the characters were not drawn with much detail and all of the graphics were black and white. The slightest movement of an eyebrow or mouth showed such a difference of emotion that the characters didn’t need much detail. Throughout the novel I found myself laughing at times and I found myself crying at times. I wasn’t sure how I would like reading a graphic novel but // Persepolis //allowed me to understand the power they have over the reader. It astonished me how much information I received through such little words and how greatly I now appreciate this style of writing. In the future I would like to read more graphic novels and hopefully I will be able to teach this genre to my students.