Reading Lolita in Tehran: A Memoir in Books Paperback

This is a beautifully written book, and so touching. It’s so apropos to what is going on in Iran today (history does repeat), especially with regards with the women there. Which also makes it terribly maddening and painful. I’m so glad that the brilliant woman who wrote this was able to get out of her country before things turned so horrific again. My heart goes out to all the women and girls (and everyone there, really) there today, and I so hope they are able to bring freedom and equality to that country again. Woman, Life, Freedom!

It was an unlikely place to look for them, but I think I found more kindred spirits in these Iranian women from twenty years ago than I've found in my four years at college. I finally found in print what I've been long grasping for in people: a better definition of womanhood, a verbalization of the fear that comes with being female, and a reminder of the poetry that comes hand-in-hand with our humanity. I have met some of my dearest friends in these pages, and my heart tore a little when I got to the end and realized that their stories were long past and that as much as I may know or love them, they know nothing of me. But I like to think that my knowing them was not in vain. It's as Manna says at the end, as long as I keep them in my eyes, I keep them alive in their truest, most intimate forms. My reading and remembering gives them a voice, and I suppose that's what they wanted.

I enjoyed reading this book so much I bought the author's next book: Republic of the Imagination.Leave it to someone who came from a society where this fruit has been forbidden to open our eyes to the value of reading western literatureand the contributions it has made to making the world a better place to live.

2nd reading, many years apart. Enjoyed it more this time because of an increased interest and awareness of all things Iranian. One needs a rather substantial background in English literature to grasp all the references Nafisi makes to books she is introducing to her students. Her relative calmness throughout her time in Tehran before leaving permanently for the US, especially when the Ayatola Kohlmeni was in power, is breathtaking. Nafisi is one tough cookie!

The book is well written, the story is captivating and she is a courageous woman. I highly recommend this story.

Well written

Arrived early. Great packaging. Item was as described. No complaints! Will use vendor again. For sure.

Accurate aesthetic description and arrived on time.

Excellent book

An interesting insight into women's lives in Iran. A brave book.