Journal Entry 1 by MarciNYC from Howell, New Jersey USA on Tuesday, January 20, 2004

Wow - this is one of the most eloquent books I've read in ages. I feel lucky that I live in a society where what I wear and read is not restricted by the government.

Nafisi weaves a beautiful tale about her 'girls', western literature and the upheavel in Iran - much of the book takes place during the Iran-Iraq war and I found it quite interesting to have an insider's take on the events of the time. I'd admit to shedding a few tears at the end - wondering what happened to the women in her Thursday morning class. I can only hope that their dreams have come true.

I have only read a couple of the books that Nafisi's students read (Lolita not being one of them), but that didn't distract from the story. I'm happy to be sending this out a bookring and sharing with other readers.  

Journal Entry 2 by MarciNYC from Howell, New Jersey USA on Sunday, March 07, 2004

INTERNATIONAL BOOKRING - CLOSED
To join this bookray please PM me and include your location and shipping preference (i.e., US only, international).

Once you're a member of this ring, you will receive the book from the person listed before you. When you receive the book please make a journal entry stating that you’ve received it, read it as soon as you can, and journal again with your thoughts, ideas, or opinions on it. You’ll then need to PM the person on the list after you for their address. Mail the book by media mail (in the USA - it’s cheaper!) and make a release note so that we can track it. Then sit back and watch the journey continue!

The members are as follows:
daidy - MI
LesliePB - OH
amusedbythis - IL
schmetterling - NC
Ilios - FL
ladybug01 - VA
GlasgowGal - UK
quizgirl - UK
loopy1 - UK

tantan - AUS
felicia-fairy - AUS
georgie-shaw - AUS
boreal - New Zealand
...then back to me 

Journal Entry 3 by MarciNYC at on Saturday, March 13, 2004

Released on Saturday, March 13, 2004 at BookRing in n/a, n/a Controlled Releases.

After some issues with PMs not getting through, I finally have an address for daidy and this it going out in today's mail. 

Journal Entry 4 by daidy from Kansas City, Missouri USA on Monday, March 29, 2004

Wow. Of course, it had to happen, the weekend I'm moving I go pick up my mail and I have *9* bookring books waiting for me. Not to worry though, as I've read 2 1/2 of them since Saturday, and this one will be up next on the list. I will PM the next person for their address now. 

Journal Entry 5 by daidy from Kansas City, Missouri USA on Sunday, April 04, 2004

I do wish we could know what happened to the girls after the end of the story. I'm just waiting on LesliePB's address to send this on. 

Journal Entry 6 by LesliePB from Columbus, Ohio USA on Monday, April 12, 2004

Received today. Thanks! 

Journal Entry 7 by LesliePB from Columbus, Ohio USA on Monday, June 07, 2004

Who hoo! It's a good one! My favorite parts are the discussions of Lolita and The Great Gatsby.

On to AmuzedByThis today.

Leslie 

Journal Entry 8 by LesliePB at Mailing to fellow bookcrosser in Columbus, Ohio USA on Monday, June 07, 2004

Released on Monday, June 07, 2004 at Mailing to fellow bookcrosser in Columbus, Ohio USA.

Mailing to the next in line. 

Journal Entry 9 by Amusedbythis from Chicago, Illinois USA on Sunday, June 13, 2004

Just received this book. Have two rings before it. I am very much looking forward to reading it, howver. Thanks! 

Journal Entry 10 by Amusedbythis from Chicago, Illinois USA on Monday, July 12, 2004

This was a wonderful book. It is the memoir of an English literature professor teaching her subject during the 18 years following the Iranian Revolution. Although the book eventually became all that it was promised to be, it started slowly with much of the beginning a lecture on Nabokov and less on the author and her students. Perhaps, it was that my recollections of Lolita differed from her interpretation, but I found myself wanting more details about Iran. I soon received them. Parenthetically, her interpretation of Gatsby was more on the mark. Her interpretation of Pride and Prejudice was a tad less so, but reasonable. The true charm of the book is that the novels crystalize much of the time as it unfolds.

Thanks for sharing! 

Journal Entry 11 by Amusedbythis at US Postal Service in Chicago, Illinois -- Controlled Releases on Monday, July 12, 2004

Released on Monday, July 12, 2004 at US Postal Service in Chicago, Illinois Controlled Releases.

Sent this book to Schmetterling. Hope that you like it. 

Journal Entry 12 by schmetterling from Durham, North Carolina USA on Monday, July 19, 2004

Wa-hoooo!! I have been looking forward to this for a while. So glad to have finally received it. 

Journal Entry 13 by schmetterling from Durham, North Carolina USA on Saturday, August 07, 2004

This was certainly one of those books that I looked forward to reading at the end of the day... often it would be way past my bedtime but I'd push for one more chapter... it was just so much fun to read.
I believe the author did a fine job of tying together such incongruous topics as revolutionary politics, English literature, and female friendships. She was able to paint vivid portraits of each student without reducing any to a particular stereotype, and I enjoyed finding out what happened to each as the book progressed. It was also a neat peek into the lives of university academics; I'll be the first to admit that English professors strike fear into my little heart, but maybe not so much now! (They're human, after all!)

I am a Nabokov junkie, so using Lolita as the first book discussed was the perfect way to get me "hooked." I've never been a James or Austen fan but was interested in those chapters all the same.

Additionally, this book made me grateful to live in America right this moment, where I can buy the books I want to read, and I can discuss them with whomever I choose, wherever I like, and I can openly express my opinions without fear of political persecution. It would be so easy for any nation to fall into a dogmatic dictatorship, I certainly hope I will never have to live through that sort of thing, and hope that one day everyone in the world can enjoy this freedom.

Sent to the next in line via USPS today. 

Journal Entry 14 by Ladybug01 on Wednesday, September 29, 2004

This came several weeks ago, and with home remodeling and kids going back to school, was hard to get much reading done!
Fascinating memoir of a bold teacher and her students struggle to continue studying western literature in Iran in the mid 90s. I'm grateful to have freedom to wear what I want and read whatever I choose.
Sent PM to next reader for address. 

Journal Entry 15 by BC-08041015142 on Thursday, October 07, 2004

Received safe and sound in Scotland. Thank you.
:-) 

Journal Entry 16 by BC-08041015142 on Friday, October 15, 2004

I really looked forward to reading this book and started it as soon as I received it from ladybug01. However, I have been left feeling totally disappointed in this, and have abandoned it after reading only half.

I really dislike event-based, as opposed to time-based, autobiographies. This may stem from a loathing of "Cider with Rosie" from school days; but it meant I really couldn't get into "Reading Lolita in Tehran". I found the flow of the book was disjointed with no distinct line to follow. Reading this almost felt like a lecture on the hidden depths of the novels discussed, rather than a memoir of life in Tehran.

Thanks for sharing MarciNYC, and I'm sorry I couldn't give it the glowing review others think it deserves.

:-) 

Journal Entry 17 by BC-08041015142 at on Monday, November 22, 2004

Released on Monday, November 22, 2004 at about 5:00:00 AM BX time (GMT-06:00) Central Time (US & Canada) at BookRing in n/a, n/a Controlled Releases.

RELEASE NOTES:

Sent today to Loopy1 (2nd class) after no response from PMs to Quizgirl 

Journal Entry 18 by loopy1 from Herne Bay, Kent United Kingdom on Wednesday, November 24, 2004

This book arrived here safely this morning, thank you very much. I have a couple of books before it - one being Lolita itself, in an attempt to get to know that book before reading a book about it!

I'm looking forward to reading this one - it's always more fun reading a book that has had mixed reviews :-) 

Journal Entry 19 by loopy1 from Herne Bay, Kent United Kingdom on Wednesday, January 12, 2005

Apologies for taking so long with this one - I did try to read it, and it did serve one purpose - I had Lolita here at the same time, and I tried Lolita, gave up, started this book, read enough about Lolita to whet my appetite and went back to Lolita. That happened a couple of times, then I finished Lolita and returned to this book properly.

Unfortunately, at that point I became irritated with the style of the book. I have to agree with GlasgowGal - I found the narrative very difficult to follow. I got around halfway through the book, then found I was trying to work out whether she was talking about teaching in Iran, studying in America, or her study group in her own home. I decided at that point that fascinating as it was to read about life in Iran, there were better ways than to read this book!

So sorry, after abandoning it I'll be sending it on ASAP. Thanks anyway, I enjoyed reading what it was all about - and it did inspire me enough to get me through Lolita! 

Journal Entry 20 by loopy1 from Herne Bay, Kent United Kingdom on Wednesday, March 30, 2005

This is one journal entry I really didn't want to make! I have to confess, I made a booboo :-(

The trouble was, I was in possession of two related books - Lolita and Reading Lolita in Tehran. So I sent both books off - and you've guessed it, I sent them in the wrong directions :-(

Many thanks to the UK bookcrosser who received this book in error and not only sent it back to me but included a very nice note and a bar of chocolate. I have contacted Tantan, but not received any reply, and since her profile indicated she was having rather a busy time at the moment, I felt it better to hold on to this book and ensure that at least one of the pair was safe until I heard from her.

Many apologies for the mistake, and I await further instructions. 

Journal Entry 21 by MarciNYC from Howell, New Jersey USA on Friday, December 09, 2005

Hi all - loopy1, I just saw your journal entry. If you still have this book, go ahead and skip the person(s) who are not replying. If it gets to the point where no one answers, just send back to me!