Oh, sweet Marjane

I am attempting the impossible. Thus, I plead with you not to completely rip me to shreds in the comments section of this blog. While perusing at the nearby Half-Price Books, I came across a book that captured my attention Graphic Novels: Stories to Change Your Life (Yes, if Natalie Portman was into graphic novels `H-e-l-l-o she was in V for Vendetta, so this daydream may in fact be true.` she would have totally put down the old-school headphones after listening to The Shins and handed over this book as an endnote.). Anyhow, for a really long time I have wanted to get into graphic novels. I was in love with the bright, bold, forever-etched-in-my-mind images that leaped from the page to the film — so when the buzz about the film version of Persepolis came my way, I had no other choice but to jump on the bandwagon and devote my time to Marjane, the protagonist of the novel (the novel is actually the memoir-in-comic-strip form of the real Marjane Satrapi).

For the past two days, I have been reading The Complete Persepolis, a 352-page chronicle of Marjane's life growing up during the Islamic Revolution. I was a bit intimidated by the novel since there was a heavy historical plot to it; however, I quickly became fascinated with wide-eyed Marjane, her rebellious tendencies, and her family, who accepted and loved her for who she was. (Her parent's commitment to their daughter provided interesting anecdotes such as when her parents visited Turkey and smuggled in posters of Iron Maiden and Kim Wilde, a denim jacket, and chocolate for Marjane.)

I'm about 75-percent done with the book, but I will provide you with no spoilers (sorry!). Either read the book (which I highly recommend) or catch the film, when it comes to SA on February 2. As for Graphic Novels: Stories to Change Your Life, I've thumbed through a few pages and I already feel another graphic-novel-themed blog post coming real soon. (Fear not, loyal readers of John DeFore's Framed articles — I am nowhere near the master of graphic novels as he is … but DeFore, I recommend you watch your back.)