Reading "Lolita" in Tehran: A Memoir in Books

by Azar Nafisi | Literature & Fiction |
ISBN: 0007178484 Global Overview for this book
Registered by AgnesXNitt of Godmanchester, Cambridgeshire United Kingdom on 11/28/2007
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This book is in a Controlled Release! This book is in a Controlled Release!
6 journalers for this copy...
Journal Entry 1 by AgnesXNitt from Godmanchester, Cambridgeshire United Kingdom on Wednesday, November 28, 2007
'In Iran in the late 90's, Azar Nafisi and seven young women - her former students - gathered at her house every Thursday to discuss forbidden works of Western literature. Shy and uncomfortable at first, they soon began to open up, not only about the novels they were reading but also about their own dreams and disappointments. Their personal stories intertwine with those they are reading - 'Pride and Prejudice', 'Washington Square', 'Daisy Miller' and 'Lolita' - their Lolita, as they imagined her in Tehran. Azar Nafisi also tells her own story, back to the early days of the revolution when she first started teaching at the University of Tehran, amid a swirl of protests and demonstrations.
Azar Nafisi's luminous tale offers a fascinating portrait of the Iran-Iraq war and gives us a rare glimpse, from the inside, of women's lives in revolutionary Iran. It is a work of great passion and poetic beauty, written with a startlingly original voice.'

Bought with the best of intentions from the Huntingdon Cancer Research Charity shop bookshelves last year - and never read. I did try, but I just could get into this at all. I think 'The Bookseller of Kabul' put me off to be honest.
Anyway, this is now off to UnwrittenLibra a.k.a. Jacob, who is in uni in Massa, Massa, Massa, well he's at Amherst College anyway! Sort of a combined Hannukah and Yuletide present in one. Oh, and I might manage to squeeze some of my favourute sweets in the package too... ;)

Journal Entry 2 by UnwrittenLibra from Middleton, Wisconsin USA on Monday, December 10, 2007
Received this a few days ago, to my surprise, as a Hanukkah present from my crazy Brit friend! It's going to trek to the top of Mt. TBR, but it is a beautiful British edition and it's not ever leaving my collection.

Thanks again, Claire! I hope you enjoy the Christmas gift I sent you.

Journal Entry 3 by UnwrittenLibra at Baltimore, Maryland USA on Tuesday, December 28, 2010
Not as fantastic as I was expecting it to be, but not a total waste of time read. Can't believe it took me 3 years to get to.

A lot of folks are wishing for it here, so it's going around the world! Yay!

1. Katweeble - Wolverhampton, West Midlands, United Kingdom
2. Cassiopaeia - Cardiff, Wales, United Kingdom
3. frutz - Luxembourg, Luxembourg
4. akosikulot - Panabo City, Davao del Norte, Philippines
5. Rebecca-Toh - Rawang, Malaysia
6. piemunga - Warrickville, New South Wales, Australia
7. D-face - Lyons, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
8. FeistyPom2Love - Carpenteria, California, USA
9. debbieosu - Carrollton, Texas, USA
10. janey-canuck - Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
11. UnwrittenLibra - Baltimore, Maryland, USA

Journal Entry 4 by Katweeble at Wolverhampton, West Midlands United Kingdom on Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Just arrived - looking forward to reading it next. Thanks for the offer of joining the book ring.

Journal Entry 5 by wingCassiopaeiawing at Cardiff, Wales United Kingdom on Thursday, February 3, 2011
This book is now here in Wales. My first book ring in a while, I'll get to it once I've finished my present read. Thanks katweeble for sending it on and to UnwrittenLibra for letting me join in.

Journal Entry 6 by wingCassiopaeiawing at Cardiff, Wales United Kingdom on Saturday, February 12, 2011
I have been reading this while the people of Egypt have for the last seventeen days taken their destiny in their own hands. Hopefully the outcome will be happier and more democratic than the result of the Iranian Revolution against the Shah of Iran and the rise to power of Ayatollah Khomeini. All of this made for very interesting reading from the perspective of recent history as well as of liberty and freedom. As regards the literature studied by the students, some of the books I hadn’t read but at least had a passing knowledge of; particularly Henry James, as I know more about the author than his work, which I will now need to rectify. I feel a need to get more acquainted with Daisy Miller! Thanks again UnWrittenLibra, this will shortly be on its way to Luxemburg.

Journal Entry 7 by frutz at Mersch / Miersch, Kanton Mersch Luxembourg on Wednesday, February 23, 2011
This book was in my letterbox today, thank you Cassiopaeia for sending it and UnwrittenLibra for organizing!
I already read a few pages, it looks really interesting, I will read it right after my current book.

Journal Entry 8 by frutz at Mersch / Miersch, Kanton Mersch Luxembourg on Thursday, March 3, 2011
This was an interesting read and insight into daily life in Iran and the direct effects of the revolution on the life of Iranian women in particular. I can also recommend Persepolis, a graphic novel by Marjane Satrapi on the same subject. For the litterary part of this narrative, I have to admit that I'm not familiar with all of the discussed works, for example Henry James whom I haven't read. Makes me also want to reread Austen and the great Gatsby.

Journal Entry 9 by frutz at Panabo City, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- Philippines on Friday, March 4, 2011

Released 13 yrs ago (3/4/2011 UTC) at Panabo City, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- Philippines

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

Send out to the Philippines to akosikulot today.
Happy reading!
Thanks again Unwritten libra for organizing.

Journal Entry 10 by akosikulot at Panabo City, Davao del Norte Philippines on Friday, March 18, 2011
Thanks frutz for sending it out - I kinda gave out a little squeal when I saw the postcard diaries! This is my first ring with that kind of thing - excited to add my postcard soon. :D

Journal Entry 11 by akosikulot at Panabo City, Davao del Norte Philippines on Friday, May 27, 2011

Journal Entry 12 by akosikulot at -- Controlled Releases --, Northern Territory Australia on Friday, May 27, 2011

Released 12 yrs ago (5/27/2011 UTC) at -- Controlled Releases --, Northern Territory Australia

CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:

On its way to RebeccaToh in Malaysia - enjoy the book! :)

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