Book Review – Reading Lolita In Tehran
I am an avid reader, so I am going to go through the most recent books that I have read and hope that someone else can enjoy them as well!
Reading Lolita in Tehran: A Memoir in Books
By Azar Nafisi
Synopsis:
Reading Lolita in Tehran is the story of one woman (the author) and her experiences in Iran after the Fundamentalist Muslims take over the country. Ms. Nafisi was educated in the United States and then returned in Iran in the 1970s to teach at English Literature at a University there. While she is teaching, her students are involved in various revolutionary factions – communists and Islamic Fundamentalists being the larger two. Eventually the Islamic Fundamentalists take over the country and Ms. Nafisi is forced to comply with “morality” standards which include the wearing of the veil. She eventually quits her teaching job as she does not want to wear the veil at school. Later, she forms a discussion group at her home with a handful of women. They read and discuss classic literature (including Lolita, Daisy Miller and The Great Gatsby). Lessons learned from these books are woven around the stories of the women (and men) in Ms. Nafisi’s life. Ms. Nafisi and her family eventually leave Iran and are now residing in the United States. A few of her students also have left Iran.
What did I think?
The book was very interesting, although Ms. Nafisi could be a little long winded at times. I was eager to learn more about the conditions in Iran than the discussion of some of the literature. The book was a real eye opener about how women are treated in Iran.
I really enjoyed this book and highly recommend it!
08 June 2008, 4:13 am
Sounds like a very interesting book. As soon as I finish the one I am reading now I will give yours a shot.