Reading Lolita in Tehran

[verte76]

I didn't know if I should put this here or in LS. "Reading Lolita in Tehran" is a book by an Iranian woman, Afar Nafisi, who taught English literature in Iran, or at least tried to. It's about the lack of artistic freedom in Iran. The Islamicist government banned all of her favorite books. She started to teach a class in her house, and invited several women to take the class. They read and discussed their favorite writers. Eventually Nafasi quit the University of Tehran and then left Iran and came here. She now teaches at Johns Hopkins University. I haven't been able to put this book down all day.

 

[BAW]

Its a great book Verte

Have you read Funny in Farsi by Firoozeh Dumas? The author left Iran as child and moved to Southern California...pretty close to the area I live in actually. Its more of a comical account but touching at times too.

I also enjoyed Persepolis and Persepolis 2 by Marjane Satrapi. The author has illustrated her childhood and teenage years in revolutionary Iran in black and white comic book style. They were such great stories, I read each one in a day!

 

[dandy]

i got this book for christmas, and i can't wait to read it.

 

[Scarletwine]

I read this a couple of months ago.
Great book.

 

[U2democrat]

Someone I know read that and loved it..............I don't remember who it may have been my mom

 

[Sherry Darling]

One of my favorite books! Her writing was vivid and crisp, and the story she had to tell of life under the Shah was unbelieveable. And as an English teacher, I apprecaited how her passion for great books permeated every page.



SD

 

[verte76]

Her passion for literature is indeed impressive and inspiring. I can't put this book down.