eleutheria

Sylvia Plath and Marjane Satrapi

Last week I read Sylvia Plath's The Bell Jar and Marjane Satrapi's comic book memoir Persepolis 2 2 days in succession. The Bell Jar has been on the book shelf for about 5 years - bought it back then as number 3 book in a 3 for 2 offer. Persepolis 2 was a chance find in the library. I was struck by parallels between the two books. At one point during Persepolis 2, I thought this book is a direct copy of The Bell Jar. At least, they show how similar the societies of America and Iran are. Both books concern themselves with a young woman growing up and learning about the daily realities of life as a "woman". Plath's book is driven by the young woman's insight into childbirth birth as a medical complaint, watching a doctor-controlled childbirth.I highly recommend both books.