A memoir in books.

Received from lovemylife. Thanks so much. I will journal again once I read and release it.

The lovely Apolonia has graciously agreed to let me send her copy of Reading Lolita in Tehran on a little trip. Thanks so much, Ap!

I had so much interest in a ring for Reading Lolita in Tehran that I'm playing travel agent for 3 copies of the book. This copy will be referred at as Ring A. Here are links to the journals for the other two copies: Ring B and Ring C.

Ring Details
- Please journal the book when you receive it and again after you’ve read it and are sending it on to the next person.
- Please try to read the book within 3 weeks of receiving it.
(I don't care if you need to keep the book for longer than 3 weeks, just let me know so I won't worry)
- Feel free to use the most cost-effective shipping method.
- PM or email me (there is a link from my profile) if you have any problems or questions concerning the ring.
- Enjoy the book!
Shipping Order
1. Sidney1220 (Virginia)
~ lilygirl (Oregon) ~ no response to PMs
~ craftycomrade (Wisconsin) ~ no response to PMs
2. mitziyah (Washington)
3. WarEagle78 (Alabama)
4. Jumieges (Virginia)
5. tenneh (Nebraska)
6. Isabel-Batteria (Puerto Rico)
7. azuki (Florida)
8. WickedWordz (Florida)
& back to Apolonia (Massachusetts)

Received in the mail today. Thanks...

2/21/06 Read a couple of chapters and decided to give up. I know it's probably not fair for me to judge a book without having read it in its entirety but the parts I did read seem to have little substance. Yes, I know that it's hard for women over in that parts of the world, not being able to express themselves and being discriminated against and all, but the author didn't seem to have much to say beyonds whine about how tough they have it. Before picking up this book, I was looking forward to learning quite a bit about Iranian culture and current events, but that didn't quite happen.

Maybe I'm approaching this book all wrong. Maybe I would have gotten much more out of it if I had a little more understanding of Iranian culture and society, and if I had read the books the author referenced to in the book. But anyway, passing it on to the next person who, hopefully, will get much more out of it than I did.

I know I've had this book for a while but I've been having a heck of a time trying to get it off my hands. I've pm'ed lily girl a couple of times with no response, same thing with craftycomrade. I'll pm mitziyah next and hopefully will be able to get it on its way soon.

4/5/06 Finally got this book off my hands. Mailed at the post office.

Hooray. This arrived in my mailbox yesterday. Thanks. I'm currently reading another book and have a manuscript to edit before I can start this but I'll try my best to get to it within the 3 weeks. Thanks again for the ring.

I've finished the first two sections and this is completely unlike what I expected. I do think it's a very interesting way to frame a treatise on Comp Lit. This story is much more about the teaching of great literature, and less about Iran...although, obviously, the university's setting plays a large role in HOW these books are taught.

Wish I'd read Nabakov before reading this, however, as I'm sure I would have gotten more out of the first section. Also, the plots and endings of several of his stories were given and discussed, so those won't be a surprise anymore.

Loved reading the bits about Gatsby, partly because the in class trial of the book was fascinating (and something my best Lit Profs would have staged) and partly because I read The Great Gatsby in an intensive Lit course, and it was great to get back into the meat of that novel. But for someone who has not read The Great Gatsby, but intends to, "Reading Lolita in Tehran" will give away the entire plot.

Still, I'm enjoying this immensely. And BRILLIANT marketing on the author/publishers' part, because few people would wish to read a book that celebrates discussion and literary criticism of some of the "great novels" but the Iranian hook works very well to move books from shelves. Hope to finish this soon.

Okay, the final half of this book (James and Austen) are much more about life in Iran than about the literature. It was an interesting switch, as the first half had lots of Lit analysis and little Iranian life, and the second half swapped that. I found the second half much SLOWER to read. Not that it wasn't interesting...it was. But I'm normally a VERY fast reader, and it took me 10 days to finish. True, it's been a busy 10 days, so I've had less time for reading...but I still generally read a novel a week, so spending over 3 weeks on one book (especially one that's only 340 pages) was really surprising to me.

I found this to be very interesting and it made me miss my Lit courses. Didn't love ALL of this, but loved most of it. Sending on to Teresa now. Enjoy.

This book arrived safely in Alabama several days ago, but my internet connection was down until tonight. So sorry!

Will get to this quickly and journal again when read.

Facinating story of life of an English Literature professor in Tehran, focusing not only on the teaching of her literature classes but the life going on alongside. It took me a while to adjust to her point of view, but I think there is a chasm in the Iranian throughout the book, alluded to several times... they intensely dislike the West, particularly the United States. (The author was educated in the US but protested against our country while here.) However much of what they lose by way of amenities and of freedoms, much of what they bitterly resent having wrestled from their lives by the religious extremists, are viewed as "Western."

A book worth reading and worth thinking about, particularly since it's been years since I've done much formal lit analysis.

I have the next address and hope to get in the mail tomorrow.

Just got this book this morning and have already started to read it. I should have it done and sent out to the next person by the end of next week before I leave for my vacation.

A pretty good book - certainly a different way to see Iran, rather than just reading a travel journal. Anyway, it's off to tenneh now, enjoy!

Received today - will start as soon as I finish the book I'm on now. Thanks

While I did enjoy this book, I found it kinda slow going. I did learn a lot about the culture and life in Iran. That was worth reading it. I had only read Lolita before reading this but now want to read the other books talked about here (even though the plots are pretty well known now). Thanks for letting me join this ring!

PMed Isabel-Batteria for her address on Aug. 8 and
again on Aug. 11 and had no response.

PMing next person.

Ok WickedWordz got moved down so I'm PMing the next person!! I'll get rid of this book yet!! :-)

RELEASE NOTES:

finally heading off to azuki :-)

Heard so much about this book so I am glad it finally arrived safely in my hands. Thank tenneh. Interestingly I was just reading The Story of My Life, about an Afghan girl. I have one bookring ahead of this but should start it soon enough.

I feel bad that this book stayed with me for so long, I think it break my personal record. But somehow this book seems to be one that is not thick but takes time to read?

I thoroughly enjoyed this marriage of literary discussion with daily life in Iran. Although towards the end, the book was mostly about life, and the ocassional reference of literature seems to be thrown in to keep the book neatly in four sections. While I love books, I never took any formal classes in literary discussion so this book helps me appreciate a work more deeply. The author also worked hard to paint each student as an individual, colorful character.

I received WickedWordz's address, she lives just down the street from me though due to our busy lives this book will reach her by mail.

I recieved this a while ago, and journalled it once, but I guess it didn't go through the first time. I wouldn't have known if azuki hadn't emailed me to remind me to journal it. Maybe it was a glitch in the matrix.

Anyhoo, will read and pass on. I've heard a lot about this book, so looking forward to it :)

This book has washed ashore at the Lost Book Island after not being heard from for many months. This new arrival will be shown to a room and be allowed a bit of rest before being introduced to the many fun things to do here at the island.

All around there are books sipping cool drinks under shady palms while other books participate in a wide variety of beach sports. There is plenty of sand, surf and sun here for all of the lost and wayward books to enjoy.

It is hoped that very soon a new journal entry will come to rescue this book from the island and send it back out into the BookCrossing world so that it may continue on its journey. It is hoped that the new journal entry will tell all the interested parties where this book has been this long time and where it will be traveling to next.