Persepolis

Having never read a graphic novel before I was completely enthralled by this work, leading me to consider being more adventurous with my future reading. To be honest, I haven't ever really taken the time to determine whether or not the "Graphic Novel" was truly a part of the literary world that I felt needed exploring; this was wrong of me.
I loved the way this book is presented to the reader. Taking such a powerful time in a country's history and displaying it in cartoon frames with a young girl, no less, as the main character really struck me. I never found the pictures to be distracting, and often found them to be excellently concise in their portrayal of broad concepts like dream conversations with God, and protesting various regime changes in the city. Each picture told a little bit of the story that the dialog leaves unmentioned, such as scenery or physical descriptions of many characters, as well as adding to what is said in the word bubble.
To me a memoir discussing a childhood in a turbulent country during one of it's most turbulent times needs a lighthearted edge which is brought forth brilliantly through the child-like drawings. While the subject matter is morbid and frightening at times, you are still reminded that this is the life and times of a little girl. I loved the juxtaposition of total political chaos, and a child rebelling through any means possible, be it with music, clothing or otherwise. It really humanizes a part of history which could be glossed over in today's media as simply "Political upheaval in The Middle East."
All in all I found this novel to be an eye-opener for me in terms of how I will find new work to read in the future. No longer will I limit myself to the run-of-the-mill paperback, "Be adventurous" I"ll say to myself in the book store, buy a comic book!