fantastic read. it's a struggle to understand how women can live so matter-of-factly with such fundamental oppression as a part of daily life - and how admirable to seek and find great freedom and personal growth in such a political climate. i had some minor quibbles about unanswered questions and format, but hardly a reason not to read the book.

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bookcrossing meetup at the Grind

Found at the Bookcrossing meetup. Looking forward to reading this book, it's one that I have been wanting to read. Will make another journal entry again when I have finished the book :)

I have tried to read this book but I really think it would be more interesting if one had read Lolita or some of the other books that are discussed in the book first. I haven't been able to find Lolita and I am having a reading block with this book so instead of leaving the book sitting here partially read I am sending it to Bookcroosser guinaveve in Ohio. I am sure she will be much more interested in it as it is on her wish list. I don't normally mail books because of the high cost of shipping but am making an exception in this case because guinaveve will be mailing me a hard to find book that I need for reference material. I appreciate her willingness to trade :)

Mailing it out today or tomorrow. Hope you like it guinaveve :)

Thank you Paperbackpal. This was on my wish list. I look forward to reading it.

I am about halfway through this book and wanted to give some impressions so far. My apologies if they are rambling.
I find this book very interesting. I can't fathom how a country where women were so recently professionals with respected opinions has become what Iran is today. It baffles and frightens me. This book of nonfiction is too closely related to another famous fictitious book, The Handmaiden's Tale, for comfort. It makes one thankful that our presidency has term limits, especially considering who we have in office now. What I mean by that is Bush seems to have little concept of the seperation of church and state. It is all well and good to hold religious values. I consider myself to hold many of these values. What is clearly dangerous is when one interpretation of religion is forced on everyone. I think it is great that America is religiously diverse and hope it will be key to maintaining freedom. The more diverse we are, the harder it will be for any one religion to dominate government policy.
I find it so sad for the women living over there. If one wants to wear the veils and live the life dictated by that religion, I don't see a problem with that, though I personally disagree with it. I don't want to sound critical of their religion exclusively, I disagree with some of the sexist beliefs in religions that are predomant in the US too. It is the lack of choice given to these women that I find so disturbing and the harsh penalties forced on them for not abiding by the government's choice of religions.
I think it is sad for the men. Why would they want a companion not allowed to be seen as an equal? Also, it would seem that caring for women's morals would be an awful burden. I have children. I want to raise them well so that I can trust their judgements as adults to do what is right. The responsibility of doing that now is more than enough for me, I don't want to be have to do it their whole lives. The control you have over someone does not seem worth that. On top of all that, how is it that people can feel men should be the rulers exclusively when they feel like men do not have enough self control sexually when a lock of hair falls out of a woman's veil? What kind of ruler is that and what kind of male is comfortable being portrayed that way?
I do have one complaint about this very informative book so far. I thought it was going to focus more on a personal level on the women in the reading group, the women "Reading Lolita in Tehran." They are present in the book, but what seems to be an even larger portion is dedicated to the politics of Iran. While this is important info well worth reading, I was looking for more personal accounts that would reveal how it affected people on an individual basis.
On another note, I am glad I read both Gatsby and Lolita recently. It is not imperative to do so to read this book, but I feel more connected to the mentions of these books for having read them, and recently too.
More thoughts to come when I finish the book...

I finished this tonight. It was really interesting and thought provoking. I was also pleased to find that I had read most of the books that were talked about. I could probably stand to reread some of them, but at least I read them once or twice and caught the references made to them. They aren't required to enjoy the book though.
I think it is noteworthy to mention the way the author wrote this book. Their are clearly many horrible things going on with people in Iran; 9 year old girls forced into arranged marriages, rapes, killings, ect. She mentioned all of these autrocities more than once, but focused mainly on day to day living, things like being forced to wear the veil, having books and movies censored or disallowed altogether, woman unable to be in public with men other than their spouse or immediate family, the constant propoganda everywhere, the disruption of classes, and more. I was very pleased with her focus in that regard. I don't know if it was because it was hard for her to write and dwell on the autrocities or if she was going for a day to day feel, but it worked. People need to know about the executions and slayings, but this book did not have a sensational feel to it. I was so happy to read that many people were leaving the country, because the conditions forced upon these women seems to be untolerable.

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RABCK to fullfill a wish.
Enjoy!

I am looking forward to trying this_ I have heard so much about it. Just got Lolita too so will get treadin!

I mooched this book from a bookmoocher named Barb. Amazon keeps recommending it to me so I'm going to give it a shot.

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Sending out in a bookbox.

This came home in my Wrap It Up Bookbox today. I already have a copy of this on Mt. TBR so I am reserving it to go into the Books About Books Bookbox that is coming my way.

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I already have a copy of this so I am releasing this into MaryZee's Books About Books Bookbox.

This came in the mail today. Thanks for sending it! I am planning on finding a copy of Lolita and starting a bookring with the two books. (after I read them both of course.)

This came home the other day in my Bookish bookbox. I read this several years ago on a bookring. This book will be vacationing here in Maryland for a month or two till the bookbox goes out again. Thanks to Whirligig, Elizardbreath and Nynjagrrrl, for helping it make its way into my box!

Being included in my Bookish Books bookbox. Enjoy!

This is part of the Bookish Books book box (http://www.bookcrossing.com/journal/6528744 and will be sent along with the rest of the remaining books in the box.