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Reading Lolita in Tehran A Memoir in Books Azar Nafisi 9780812971064 Books

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Reading Lolita in Tehran A Memoir in Books Azar Nafisi 9780812971064 Books

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this memoir. Sadly I had not read Nabokov's Lolita at the time I read Nafisi's book. (I have since corrected that status.) Reading Nafisi's book inspired me, not only to read Lolita for the first time, but to add several new titles to my To Read List. (Coming from a science background, my exposure to great literature is a bit deficient.) Nafisi clearly has a passion for great literature.. and she introduced me to some titles of which I was previously unaware. Additionally, and importantly, the book offers a look into the chaos of civilian life during the Iranian Revolution (1979 and through 1980s). One can only feel empathy for Iranians under those circumstances... and particularly for females who were targeted for especially harsh treatment under the regime. In the end, I found myself wishing that I had been able to sit in on Dr. Nafisi's informal classes conducted in the living room of her Tehran home. What great fun-- and what a great learning experience -- that would have been..


Tags : Reading Lolita in Tehran: A Memoir in Books [Azar Nafisi] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. 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,Azar Nafisi,Reading Lolita in Tehran: A Memoir in Books,Random House,081297106X,Books & Reading,Women's Studies - General,Reading Group Guide,American literature,American literature - Study and teaching - Iran,American literature;Study and teaching;Iran.,BIOGRAPHY & AUTOBIOGRAPHY Personal Memoirs,BIOGRAPHY & AUTOBIOGRAPHY Women,BOOKS AND READING,Biography,Biography & Autobiography,Biography Autobiography,BiographyAutobiography,Biography: general,Books and reading - Iran,English literature,English literature - Study and teaching - Iran,English literature;Study and teaching;Iran.,English teachers,English teachers - Iran,English teachers;Iran;Biography.,GENERAL,General Adult,Group reading - Iran,Iran,LITERARY CRITICISM Books & Reading,Literary CriticismGeneral,Middle EastNorth Africa,Nafisi, Azar,Non-Fiction,Reference General,SOCIAL SCIENCE Women's Studies,Study and teaching,United States,WOMEN IN ISLAM,Women,Women - Books and reading - Iran,Women's Studies,memoir; iran; women; literature; middle east; islam; biography; autobiography; feminism; books about books; women's studies; politics; religion; censorship; education; literary criticism; tehran; history; culture; iranian; gender; 21st century; revolution; english literature; criticism; teaching; women's rights; azar nafisi; iranian revolution; lolita; american literature; war; nabokov; political; oppression; 20th century; essays; women's issues; international; sociology; adult; iranian literature; henry james; jane austen; 2000s; abuse,memoir;iran;women;literature;middle east;islam;biography;autobiography;feminism;books about books;women's studies;politics;religion;censorship;literary criticism;education;tehran;history;culture;iranian;gender;21st century;revolution;english literature;criticism;teaching;women's rights;azar nafisi;war;iranian revolution;american literature;lolita;nabokov;political;oppression;adult;20th century;essays;women's issues;international;sociology;iranian literature;henry james;jane austen;2000s;abuse,Biography & Autobiography Personal Memoirs,Biography & Autobiography Women,General,Social Science Women's Studies,Women,Biography Autobiography,American literature,Biography,English literature,English teachers,Iran,Study and teaching,Books And Reading,Women In Islam,Biography & Autobiography,BiographyAutobiography

Reading Lolita in Tehran A Memoir in Books Azar Nafisi 9780812971064 Books Reviews

I enjoyed the Authors view of Iran and the trials women in that country go through. Her writing style was very pleasant and created images that made me feel part of her group. I recommend this to anyone that wants an inside picture of daily life in Iran. It challenged me and humbled me at the same time. I felt connected to human beings that want the things from their life that I seek too.
I enjoyed this book. But for me it was a slow starter. Almost to the point of reading it later as a "fill in"between books. But once I got into the meat of the story, did I really wanted to finish it. There is a lot of detailed information that at first I didn't think was needed and only used as a space filled-but realized that without it, the story would be lost. And also must consider her environment and the nation of residence.
He patient when reading this story, otherwise you may miss out on connecting with the writer and understanding her perspectives! Enjoy!! --P/
It was an unlikely place to look for them, but I think I found more kindred spirits in these Iranian women from twenty years ago than I've found in my four years at college. I finally found in print what I've been long grasping for in people a better definition of womanhood, a verbalization of the fear that comes with being female, and a reminder of the poetry that comes hand-in-hand with our humanity. I have met some of my dearest friends in these pages, and my heart tore a little when I got to the end and realized that their stories were long past and that as much as I may know or love them, they know nothing of me. But I like to think that my knowing them was not in vain. It's as Manna says at the end, as long as I keep them in my eyes, I keep them alive in their truest, most intimate forms. My reading and remembering gives them a voice, and I suppose that's what they wanted.
I chose to read Reading Lolita in Tehran because I am currently in the middle of reading Lolita. I am very happy that I chose to read this book, it is beautifully written and powerful. This book details the authors, Azar Nafisi’s experiences in Iran after the revolution and her move to America. The book focuses on a class she teaches in her home, during the class they read forbidden western classic books including Lolita. This class gave Azar and her students a chance to take a break from he restrictions of the Islamic State, and gives them the freedom to express their individuality and opinions. I would highly recommend this book, especially to those who value individuality, individual freedom, women's empowerment, and those who appreciate he power of fiction. Personally, I plan on rereading this book in the summer after I finish reading Lolita, so that I can better appreciate Reading Lolita in Tehran.

Azar Nafisi's writing style lacked a lot of dialog, but made up for it with lots of descriptive language and powerful comparisons. The dialog that was included was appropriately placed within the memoir. Azar Nafisi is a talented story teller and while you read her book you can really envision the situations she was in and experience her feelings. A powerful composition made to compare Azars students to classic Greek characters is “Their mistakes, like the tragic flaw in a classic traded, become essential to their development and maturity.” (Nafisi 223). She uses Greek characters hamartia’s to relate to her young students. The student’s choices and mistakes help them become who they are by the end of their final class. Another great comparison was used to compare the students to some of Jane Austen's characters, “Austen’s protagonists are private individuals set in public places. Their desire for privacy and reflection is continually being adjusted to their situation within a very small community which keeps them under its constant scrutiny. The balance between the public and private is essential to this world.” (Nafisi 267). This comparison was used to show how important he class was for students to have their own private space to be themselves without strict laws getting in the way. The examples Azar uses are good for keeping the reader engaged and help them develop a clear image of Azar’s students. The most appropriate audience for this book is someone who doesn't expect a lot of intense action or dialog, but can appreciate hearing personal complex thoughts and feelings.

Even though I've never been in any situations similar to Azar Nafisi I was able to feel for her and think of points in my life that I felt similar emotions to hers. For example, I can relate to her students and herself feeling trapped without a private life. Being in high school while being controlled by adults can feel like I have no private life, but this is so different and less intense compared to Azar Nafisi’s experiences, regardless she makes it easy to relate to her emotions while reading the book. Azar did an incredible job of describing her students on a very personal level. She made it easy to understand their internal and external struggles. To a degree you were able to choose who to like and dislike, but most of Nafisi’s descriptions determined who you would trust and distrust. Nafisi’s explanations of characters struggles helped me better understand the characters as a whole, like this explanation of a characters relationship with wearing her scarf and the governments mandated dress code “…the revolution that imposed the scarf on others did not relive Mahshid of her loneliness. Before the revolution, she could in a sense take pride in her isolation. At that time she had worn the scarf as a testament to her faith. Her decision was a voluntary act. When the revolution forced the scarf on others, her actions became meaningless.” (Nafisi 13).By explaining the shift in the meaning of Mahshid wearing a scarf it allows the reader to better relate to her and have sympathy for her situation.
Azar did not write this book in chronical order. Instead the book jumps around in time from when she worked at a small university, to a large university, to her private class, and to moving to America, all of this is talked about but not in order of when the memories and situations happened. The way she does this doesn’t confuse the reader because she makes it clear what point in time she is describing within each chapter. This book was engaging the whole way through. Azar holds the reader’s attention by emerging them in the lives and emotional struggles of not only her students but her own life as well. Azar writes about many examples of the Islamic state restricting women’s rights and freedoms, she writes about how this effected students and herself. One student, Vida, is written about expressing her anger when she showed her rage regarding the regime’s new laws “‘The law?’ Vida interrupted him. ‘You guys came in and changed the laws. Is it the law? So was wearing the yellow star in Nazi Germany, should all the Jews have worn the star because it was the blasted law?” (Nafisi 134). By sharing Vida’s outrage with the reader they can become invested in Azar’s students’ lives. While reading this book I learned about what life was like for the people, particularly women, in Iran during the time Azar Nafisi lived there. I now have a better understanding of the restrictions the government put in place and the terrible things people unfairly suffered through.
Overall I am very pleased with Reading Lolita in Tehran. I learned about Iran and how their revolution affected the country’s women. I would recommend this book to anyone, primarily to anyone interested in modern history, learning about other cultures, women’s rights, and education.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this memoir. Sadly I had not read Nabokov's Lolita at the time I read Nafisi's book. (I have since corrected that status.) Reading Nafisi's book inspired me, not only to read Lolita for the first time, but to add several new titles to my To Read List. (Coming from a science background, my exposure to great literature is a bit deficient.) Nafisi clearly has a passion for great literature.. and she introduced me to some titles of which I was previously unaware. Additionally, and importantly, the book offers a look into the chaos of civilian life during the Iranian Revolution (1979 and through 1980s). One can only feel empathy for Iranians under those circumstances... and particularly for females who were targeted for especially harsh treatment under the regime. In the end, I found myself wishing that I had been able to sit in on Dr. Nafisi's informal classes conducted in the living room of her Tehran home. What great fun-- and what a great learning experience -- that would have been..