Locomotion

A bought me Marjane Satrapi's graphic novel, Persepolis, for my birthday a few months ago. I just completed the book. This book is insightful, funny, odd-ball, coming-of-age, idealistic and profound. Satrapi's biography is unusual because it takes place in Iran and it is unapologetic about the circumstances in which she is born since she is of the mind that it is absolutely normal. Reading it gave me pause since there are many moments in which I couldn't believe the circumstances in which she was being raised, while recognizing that she would think the exact same thought of my upbringing. The most refreshing component of the novel was it's authenticity. I'm not entirely sure how Satrapi does it, but her raw view of the world as she was raised is sincere while fractured. Death is normal, testing authority is required, survival is essential while risk is equally thrown into the mix. All this in a comic. She is also incredibly self-deprecating and downright funny.

Bottom line, stay true and damn the veil.