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kdawn999's review
3.0
I was between 2 and 3 stars, but the last chapter with a political timeline for Iran was informative and useful. There are lovely, reflective bits in the memoir, but it isn't very exotic or provocative as a whole. My favorite parts were the references to books and fiction becoming part of the fabric of one's identity. Perhaps I should have read Reading Lolita in Tehran.
book_concierge's review
2.0
Audiobook read by the author
2**
Azar Nafisi is probably best known for her earlier memoir Reading Lolita In Tehran which chronicles her attempts at teaching Western literature to a select group of female students during the time when Iran was led by the Taliban. In this book she looks are her life, growing up in Tehran.
Both her parents dealt with life by telling stories. Her mother, intelligent but never able to fulfill her own dreams and ambitions, reinvented herself and her family in the stories she told of her own upbringing. Nafisi’s father turned to classic literature, bringing the enchanting tales of the Persian Book of Kings to his children to illustrate and teach them.
But Nafisi learned also to NOT tell, to keep secrets from her mother about her father’s affairs, to tell other stories to cover up the betrayal.
As if her family life weren’t turmoil enough, Nafisi was growing up in Tehran during times of strife, revolution and changes in power.
I had high hopes for this memoir. Nafisi is clearly an intelligent and strong-willed woman. But I really didn’t connect with her story. Her parents come off as seriously flawed, but she seems to easily forgive her father’s transgressions, while blaming her mother for everything. By the end of the memoir she seems to have come to a more mature understanding of her parents’ marriage and of their individual strengths and successes, as well as their failings.
But I was just tired of it. I finished it only because it was for my F2F book group.
Nafisi reads the abridged audio version herself. Not sure why she chose to abridge the work, but clearly she agreed with shortening it, as she narrated herself. Makes me think the original text should also have been shortened. Her delivery is marred by the loud breaths she takes between phrases.
ook group.
2**
Azar Nafisi is probably best known for her earlier memoir Reading Lolita In Tehran which chronicles her attempts at teaching Western literature to a select group of female students during the time when Iran was led by the Taliban. In this book she looks are her life, growing up in Tehran.
Both her parents dealt with life by telling stories. Her mother, intelligent but never able to fulfill her own dreams and ambitions, reinvented herself and her family in the stories she told of her own upbringing. Nafisi’s father turned to classic literature, bringing the enchanting tales of the Persian Book of Kings to his children to illustrate and teach them.
But Nafisi learned also to NOT tell, to keep secrets from her mother about her father’s affairs, to tell other stories to cover up the betrayal.
As if her family life weren’t turmoil enough, Nafisi was growing up in Tehran during times of strife, revolution and changes in power.
I had high hopes for this memoir. Nafisi is clearly an intelligent and strong-willed woman. But I really didn’t connect with her story. Her parents come off as seriously flawed, but she seems to easily forgive her father’s transgressions, while blaming her mother for everything. By the end of the memoir she seems to have come to a more mature understanding of her parents’ marriage and of their individual strengths and successes, as well as their failings.
But I was just tired of it. I finished it only because it was for my F2F book group.
Nafisi reads the abridged audio version herself. Not sure why she chose to abridge the work, but clearly she agreed with shortening it, as she narrated herself. Makes me think the original text should also have been shortened. Her delivery is marred by the loud breaths she takes between phrases.
ook group.
just_me_gi's review
Left off on ch. 7. Not in the right headspace to read this rn.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse and Sexual assault
veronicascarsi's review against another edition
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
4.0
booksconnectus's review against another edition
2.0
I did not finish this book.....perhaps because I had pre-conceived notions about the book and they turned out to be incorret. It's possible that I had another book in mind.....but whatever the reason I found myself not enjoying it....
cinnamon_girl9's review against another edition
5.0
خلصت الكتاب بدموع، كانت رحلة ممتعة ومؤلمة بنفس الوقت، آذر هي الي دخلتني للأدب الفارسي، قرأت لها "أن تقرأ لوليتا في طهران" من قبل ومن بعدها قررت أكمل باقي أعمالها.
laila4343's review
5.0
I loved this book. Nafisi is such a beautiful writer, and the story of her life in an upper-class Iranian family before and after the Revolution was gripping. Her mother was a troubled and vulnerable woman. I admit I don't know how much of my feelings for the book were influenced by my Dad being from Iran, but I think this book has a lot to offer anyone.
shirleytupperfreeman's review
This is a memoir by the author of Reading Lolita in Tehran. I remember liking 'Lolita' though I didn't always get all the literary references and I liked Nafisi's talk at the DC Book Festival but she does use a lot of words to make her point sometimes. She can get a bit tedious. But I enjoyed this memoir and learned quite a lot about the history of Iran without having to actually read history. One more reminder that totalitarian regimes are not ideal.
yassine1995's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
lighthearted
sad
tense
medium-paced
4.25