(BOOKRING) Reading Lolita in Tehran : A Memoir in Books

by Azar Nafisi | Biographies & Memoirs |
ISBN: 081297106x Global Overview for this book
Registered by jamesmum of Richmond, British Columbia Canada on 3/31/2004
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11 journalers for this copy...
Journal Entry 1 by jamesmum from Richmond, British Columbia Canada on Wednesday, March 31, 2004



My second copy of this book. This will be for the North American bookring.

BOOKRING INFORMATION
The current shipping order is listed below. PLEASE USE DELIVERY CONFIRMATION when you send the book out to the next person, and enter the tracking number here in your journal entry.

1. Secretariat (CA, USA; int'l)
. Bella-Cat (Fresno, CA; USA) Removed - not responding to PMs
2. LabMomNM (NM; anywhere)
3. Writergrl (New Mexico, USA; US)
4. Roadrunner (TX; US)
AbbyR (Arkansas, USA) <-- asked to be skipped
5. AnnaLibrarian (US)
6. Mellion108
SilentDormouse (Michigan) <-- removed; not responding to PMs
Stensler (Milwaukee WI, USA) <-- removed; not responding to PMs
BlueAmazon (Chicago IL; US) <-- asked to be removed
EMitchell1017 (NH, US) <--- removed; not responding to PMs
Snowmyst (WV, USA; int'l) <-- removed; not responding to PMs<
7. CandyDarling (Finland; Europe preferred
Fio-Dagua (Portugal; within Europe) <--- removed; not responding to PMs
8. Pequete (Portugal)
9. BookManu (Portugal)
10. DebDebtig(US; NA only)<-- Book is here (received 3/02/06)
11. LindaLi (NY, USA; USA preferred)
12. CuriosityKT (NH, USA; anywhere)
13. Sherria (Connecticut US; int'l)
14. Amaradevinmom (APO; NA or Europe)
15. Princess1984 (Canada)




Sent 4/7/04 to Secretariat. DC tracking number 03040370000161171013

Journal Entry 2 by Secretariat from Carlsbad, California USA on Wednesday, April 14, 2004
Received in the mail from Jamesmum on a bookring along with a beautiful postcard of the San Jose Japanese Friendship Garden. A lovely sentiment. I'll be sure to do the same when I send it on to its next lucky recipient. I've long wanted to read this book and will start it as soon as I've finished The Adventures of Kavalier & Clay.
____________________________________________________

I'm not sure I can express well how much I enjoyed this wonderful book. It is definitely the best work of non-fiction I've read this year.

First, this book covers an 18-year span of time in which Azar Nafisi taught in Iran. It is broken up in sections in terms of literature--the first section being Lolita. In each section Nafisi juxtaposes Iran and the life there in terms of herself, her students, and her friends, against the book or books which were covered a given period in those 18 years. She discusses with great clarity, fervor, knowledge, and insight each book or author and the times in which they were all living.

Of Nabokov's works I had read only Lolita and had not read Northanger Abbey, but had read all the other works which Nafisi discusses. At every turn Nafisi gave me new insights which I hadn't before seen and reminded me of how wonderful the books were. It made me want to re-read them all with this book as a companion piece and/or to take her courses.

This book also gave me a peak into Iran, about which I knew virtually nothing. I remember well the taking of the American Embassy and the years of the war between Iran and Iraq, but was ignornant of many of the repressions and most of the deaths. I have known Iranian students who dodged the mandatory army service or return to Iran by marrying Americans, but I was not really aware of how severe the situation was. I cannot imagine how I would have survived such a life. I am very spoiled by the freedoms I have and take for granted every day. It seems that, even today, no one in Iran could take anything for granted. Today you might be a leader, but tomorrow the wind would change and you would be imprisoned or murdered. I don't think I will ever forget Nafisi hiding in her shoes the newspaper clipping pictures of those murdered students and teachers. Nafisi describes wonderfully her students, their individual personalities, and their trials against the extremely repressive system of Iran.

This book is beautifully written, educational, both literarily and historically, and very powerful. Thank you to Jamesmum for beginning this ring.

Sent 5/26/04 to labmomnm Confirmation No. 0303 0830 0000 6313 4619

Journal Entry 3 by winglabmomnmwing from Albuquerque, New Mexico USA on Wednesday, June 2, 2004
Received by mail from Secretariat - thanks!

6/8/04 - finished this last night so I can hand it off to WriterGirl at Meet-Up tonight. I really enjoyed this book, but it wasn't what I'd expected. I'd avoided reading too much about it, and had the idea that it was more about the students' views of the books & authors they read - that is certainly included, but not as much as I thought would be. The book is more about the author's experience of teaching these works and interacting with the students, while placing those experiences within the context of the times in Iran. So, even though it wasn't what I was expecting, it was an interesting read. One annoying thing was that she sometimes starts down a particular path and then abandons it - an instance that sticks out in my mind is when she went into the session armed with a copy of "Our Bodies, Ourselves" - I was really interested in what women raised under that regime would think about such a book - but nothing more was said about it.
The students' suggestions for the first line of "Pride & Prejudice" were scary-funny, by the way! And their feelings about Daisy Miller were really touching, in the end. Oh, one other thing - as I read, I kept thinking of other books I wish they'd read - Margaret Atwood's "The Handmaid's Tale", most obviously.

Journal Entry 4 by writergrl from Albuquerque, New Mexico USA on Wednesday, June 9, 2004
I got it from labmomnm at the meetup, as part of a bookring. I'll read it very soon.

Journal Entry 5 by writergrl from Albuquerque, New Mexico USA on Tuesday, July 20, 2004
I just finished it last night. Sorry I've kept it so long, but I found it kind of slow. My favorite was the last section ("Austen") because it dealt most with the treatment of women because of author Jane Austen's focus on marriage. I also thought it was interesting the way a social revolution with a good cause can be co-opted by extremists. I think alot of what happened could have been avoided if the US had just allowed the left-leaning president who was democratically elected to replace the Shah back in the 50s stay in power. That's something not mentioned in the book, but I read about it in "Lies My Teacher Told Me: Everything Your American History Textbook Got Wrong" by James Loewen.

I'll send it on sometime this week.

Journal Entry 6 by writergrl from Albuquerque, New Mexico USA on Monday, August 16, 2004
I sent it to Roadrunner today. I apologize for keeping this book so long and holding up the ring. It's just that right after school ended I got a bad cold that lasted for a whole week.

Delivery Confirmation No. 0302 1790 0000 6661 3846

Journal Entry 7 by roadrunner from Spring, Texas USA on Tuesday, August 24, 2004
This just came in the mail. I have several bookrings ahead of this but I will get to it asap and then get it moving again.

Journal Entry 8 by roadrunner from Spring, Texas USA on Wednesday, October 20, 2004
I had some trouble getting into this book. I had to read it very quickly and ended up skimming some sections so I probably didn't get as much out of it as I could have. My reading group is reading this book later on this year and I will probably read it again with them. I did slow down for the last part of the book which I especially enjoyed. This is leaving today via Media Mail to AnnaLibrarian.

Delivery Confirmation #0303 2460 0002 6846 8617

Journal Entry 9 by AnnaLibrarian from Richmond, Virginia USA on Monday, October 25, 2004
Arrived this weekend. Mt. TBR is at my leasure, so this goes to the top. :)

Journal Entry 10 by AnnaLibrarian from Richmond, Virginia USA on Thursday, December 2, 2004
I keep reading a chapter or four at a time, and then having to break in order to digest what I've read. Not my normal style of reading, as I tend to be a read it all in one sitting kinda gal. I'm at 3/4 of the way through, and I thought I'd best be getting this moved on. I'll finish it tomorrow night and have it in the post on Saturday morning, if I get the address from the next person in time (asking for it now). Here is a long stream of conscious bit of writing I did after last night's reading:

The struggle between the leftists and the Muslims in the Islamic revolution in Iran of the late 70's / early 80's that Nafisi describes suddenly hit home to me on the first Wednesday in November this year. In my own country, I can see a parallel struggle being played out between leftists/liberals and conservative Christians. Each wishes to shape the country to their political/social ideals. Each, in many ways, is willing to purge the other in order to meet those ideals. Neither is willing to compromise for the sake of the whole.

In chapter 26, Mr. Bahri confronts Nafisi and asks her why she protested the actions of the Revolutionary Committee. She does not want to be forced to wear the veil nor have her lectures filtered. He says to her, "Is it too much to ask you to comply with a few rules to save the revolution?" For him, the revolution - the eradication of the old, was more important than what the revolution brought to the people of Iran.

I see the same thing being asked of gays and lesbians by the Democrats - the so-called "liberal" party. We are blamed for the electoral losses because we had the gall to stand up and demand equal treatment under the law. I see the same thing being asked of the poor. No hint of class warfare must come into our speech because the billionaires and corporations that fund the political process will take their money to the Republicans.

The Muslims in Iran who wanted the government to be the religion, or was it the religion to be the government...? Or does it really matter how you slice it up? In the end, both become corrupt. They thought that the good of the religion could heal the corruptness of the government, but in reality, the government corrupted the good of the religion.

Here in the United States of America, we are allowed the freedom of religion and the personal freedom of choice, insofar as it does not break the law. However, there are those who wish to make their religion the law. In theory, God is the best ruler of all. However, every time we humans have tried to force God's will upon others, it becomes difficult to separate what is truly God's will and what is our own. If a particular sect of Christianity is permitted to shape the law in their vision of God's law, how free will the rest of the country truly be? Where will the line be drawn?

I am a Christian. I read the Bible. I pray in my own way. I go to church most Sundays. I have a personal relationship with Christ and with the Creator. There are things that I know that my Muslim/Buddhist/Atheist/Jewish/etc. friends and I can agree on as being right and wrong ways to treat fellow human beings. These are broad truths that are not weighed down by doctrine. These are the things that governments should use as guides in decision-making. It is the finer things that distinguish me from my fellow human beings that cause friction and factions. These are not things that should be used by governments, because they will harm or exclude some, or even many, of the people the government exists to protect.

I hope that we never get to a point in the current right-wing revolution where the revolutionaries are demanding the deaths of the members of the old regime or their sympathizers. I hope that we never get to a point where large segments of the population suddenly lose most if not all of their rights. I hope that we don't become such a closed and insulated society that any form of free thought is considered treasonous. I hope all of these things, and yet so did the people of Iran before the Islamic Revolution.

On a slightly ironic positive note, with the exception of a few bouts of pessimism, I suspect I will live in an optimistic sheltered world until the revolution comes knocking on my door one day, demanding my life.

Journal Entry 11 by AnnaLibrarian at Bookring 2 in bookring, Bookring -- Controlled Releases on Wednesday, December 8, 2004
Released on Monday, December 06, 2004 at about 1:00:00 PM BX time (GMT-06:00) Central Time (US & Canada) at Bookring in n/a, Bookring Controlled Releases.

Oy! I was so relieved to have finally got the book moving again that I forgot to make release notes until now! Sent the book off to Mellion108, who was next in line when I checked last week.

0304 1560 0007 2264 9317

Journal Entry 12 by mellion108 from Waterford, Michigan USA on Sunday, December 26, 2004
Joy joy! This actually arrived earlier last week, but I've been so caught up in the whirlwind of seasonal preparations that I haven't had time to journal. Thanks for passing this along my way, AnnaLibrarian, and thanks to jamesmum for sharing.

I've wanted to read this for a while, so this is definitely at the very top of my reading pile. Unfortunately, I may not have any reading time until just after the first of the year. I promise to read it as soon as I can and to get it moving along its way soon. Happy New Year!
Trade paperback, 356 pages
From the back cover:
Every Thursday morning for two years in the Islamic Republic of Iran, a bold and inspired teacher named Azar Nafisi secretly gathered seven of her most committed female students to read forbidden Western classics. As Islamic morality squads staged arbitrary raids in Tehran, fundamentalists seized hold of the universities, and a blind censor stifled artistic exprssion, the girls in Azar Nafisi's living room risked removing their veils and immersed themselves in the worlds of Jane Austen, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Henry James, and Vladimir Nabokov. In this extraordinary memoir, their stories become intertwined with the ones they are reading. Reading Lolita in Tehran is a remarkable exploration of resilience in the face of tyranny and a celebration of the liberating power of literature.

Journal Entry 13 by mellion108 from Waterford, Michigan USA on Saturday, January 1, 2005
I must say that if this book forecasts the quality of reading I'll have in 2005, I'm going to have a very good year!

I found this book simply amazing. I intended to read a few pages and then put it aside until after the hustle and bustle of the holidays and the new year. The best laid plans, eh? I couldn't put this book down once I started it.

The words that echo in my mind now are the ones I often hear from friends and acquaintances when we discuss the current political climate in America: Never in this country. I would be willing to bet that pre-Revolution Iranians had the same thought.

In my mind, Iran has always been about the American hostage crisis, Khomeini, veiled women, and scenes of anti-American hatred played out on the news. It's easy to forget the humanity, passions, and common human emotions and traits behind all of this. I was saddened, enlightened, amazed, flabbergasted, and uplifted by the memories of Iran presented in this book. Young girls jailed and often raped for infractions that seem so trivial. People starved for cultural experiences willing to endure hours of silence and immobilty simply to listen to an amateur band playing music. Mountains so beautiful that they dominate every memory. People unable to express their emotions who find their only safe outlet to be in political rallies and wild expressions of their faith. Non-Muslim establishments required to display "Religious Minority" in order to protect the faithful from contamination. Virginity checks--this is perhaps the most horrifying to me--heaped upon women in what seems like one of the most humiliating experiences imaginable.

Yet, I was most struck by the similarities between Dr. Nafisi's students and myself and my friends. These young women have similar dreams, fears, doubts, hopes, passions...The veil, the chador do not wholly define the women who wear them. I admire and relate to their love of literature and their eagerness to explore new territories. Humanity wins out!

I have long held opinions of Iran without actually knowing a great deal about the country, its history, and its people. This book provides a fascinating glimpse into the actual people. I don't know how much one can generalize about the Iranians based on this book. Still, I was captivated by Dr. Nafisi's memories, and I believe I've just expanded my reading list based on some of her recommendations!

Thanks so much for sharing this. I'll get this out to the next person as soon as possible.

Journal Entry 14 by mellion108 from Waterford, Michigan USA on Monday, January 24, 2005
No response from Stensler, and BlueAmazon asked to be skipped. I'm moving on to EMitchell!

Journal Entry 15 by mellion108 from Waterford, Michigan USA on Sunday, February 6, 2005
I'm beginning to think this little book isn't going to find a home. No response from EMitchell to PMs over the last couple of weeks. I'm moving on to Sherria!

Journal Entry 16 by jamesmum from Richmond, British Columbia Canada on Sunday, February 20, 2005
Okay, we've now had four people in a row not respond to PMs from Mellion108 about this bookring - what's going on? Mellion108 will continue in her quest to find someone - anyone! - who still wants to participate in this ring.

Journal Entry 17 by mellion108 from Waterford, Michigan USA on Tuesday, February 22, 2005
We have a winner! This book will travel to CandyDarling in Finland. Enjoy the journey, little book.

Journal Entry 18 by CandyDarling from Helsinki, Uusimaa / Nyland Finland on Wednesday, March 9, 2005
The book arrived today. Thank you jamesmum for organizing this bookring!

Journal Entry 19 by jamesmum from Richmond, British Columbia Canada on Saturday, June 25, 2005
NOTE FROM THE RING ORGANISER: Could we please have a status update on this book? Thank you.

Journal Entry 20 by CandyDarling from Helsinki, Uusimaa / Nyland Finland on Friday, July 8, 2005
I'm very sorry for holding up this bookring! I have now pm'd Fio-Dagua, and will send the book to Portugal as soon as I get an address.

Journal Entry 21 by CandyDarling from Helsinki, Uusimaa / Nyland Finland on Friday, July 22, 2005
I sent the book to Pequete in Portugal yesterday, as I never got any response to my PM from Fio-Dagua.

I didn't get to finish this book, as life got in the way, but I thoroughly enjoyed the first part focusing on Nabokov. I just wish I had read more of the books the author discusses. I think I will probably buy this book and read it through later when I've had a chance to read Lolita and the other books mentioned. As labmomnm already wrote, I too thought Reading Lolita in Tehran would focus more on the books, but I was very happy to see that there was so much about the author's and her students' lives. Reading Lolita in Tehran is a very entertaining way of learning more about Iran. Another book I recommend is Funny in Farsi : A Memoir of Growing Up Iranian in America. The author, Firoozeh Dumas, comes from a similar background as Azar Nafisi, but her memoirs focus more on everyday mishaps in America.

I'm very sorry for keeping this book way longer than I should have!

Journal Entry 22 by Pequete from Bragança, Bragança Portugal on Monday, July 25, 2005
The book has just arrived. Thank you CandyDarling. I'm almost finishing another book and this one will be next.

Journal Entry 23 by Pequete from Bragança, Bragança Portugal on Friday, August 19, 2005
Finished yesterday and really enjoyed it. I liked the life stories and I enjoyed all the comments on books - it made me read again "The Great Gatsby", left me wanting to read again "Pride and Prejudice" as well as others that I haven't read yet. Great book! Thank you jamesmum!

Journal Entry 24 by Pequete from Bragança, Bragança Portugal on Sunday, August 21, 2005
I mailed it yesterday morning to BookManu. I hope you like it as much as I did!

Journal Entry 25 by bookmanu from Cascais, Lisboa (distrito) Portugal on Wednesday, August 24, 2005
Received it today! Thanks jamesmum and Pequete!


Journal Entry 26 by jamesmum from Richmond, British Columbia Canada on Friday, November 18, 2005
Note from the ring organiser: This is just a request for a status update on this ring. Please let us know where it is, and if it will soon be traveling again. Thanks!

Journal Entry 27 by jamesmum from Richmond, British Columbia Canada on Sunday, February 5, 2006
Just another status check from your friendly ring organizer....

Journal Entry 28 by jamesmum from Richmond, British Columbia Canada on Friday, February 10, 2006
Another NOTE from the ring organizer: I am trying to find a replacement copy of this book, so that the ring can start up again. Be patient, and stay tuned....

Journal Entry 29 by bookmanu from Cascais, Lisboa (distrito) Portugal on Friday, February 10, 2006
:$ No need to find a replacement copy. It will be on its way to Debdebtig on Monday February 13th. Apologies to all for having stalled this ring for so long.:$

Journal Entry 30 by debdebtig on Thursday, March 2, 2006
I received this book in the mail. Thank you! I'm so looking forward to reading it.

Thank you bookmanu and jamesmum.

Journal Entry 31 by jamesmum from Richmond, British Columbia Canada on Tuesday, June 6, 2006
NOTE FROM THE RING ORGANISER: May we have a status update on this bookring, please? Thank you.

Journal Entry 32 by jamesmum from Richmond, British Columbia Canada on Wednesday, October 3, 2007
After working hard to get this book back from Europe, it appears that its most recent reader has declined to pass it along. Sorry, all.

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