Reviews - In een sluier gevangen

Betty Mahmoody ha ben poche scusanti per non odiare l'Iran e la sua cultura; d'altra parte però, avrei preferito che il suo disprezzo non fosse così palese fin dalla prime pagine, perché mi è sembrata essere una scelta narrativa fatta a posteriori, col senno di poi, piuttosto che di un resoconto delle sensazioni provate sul momento. Capisco le preoccupazioni iniziali di Betty nei riguardi di Mahtab, capisco il brutto ricordo della permanenza del nipote di Moody, capisco l'allarmante avvicinamento di quest'ultimo a posizioni estremiste... ma a mio parere si avverte sin troppo presto un odio prematuro, come si volesse ulteriormente sostenere il drammatico punto di vista della protagonista -quando in effetti risulta essere un espediente superfluo se si pensa che l'intento del libro è COMUNQUE quello di raccontare la lotta di una donna contro una società totalmente diversa dalla sua.
Detto ciò, con l'eccezione di qualche passaggio, "Mai Senza Mia Figlia" è un libro che ho divorato e apprezzato per tanti motivi diversi.

kaushalaperera's review against another edition

3.0

adventurous informative mysterious tense fast-paced

jsundlyle's review against another edition

5.0

I had to take some time to think of the right way to review this. I looked over some of the negative reviews regarding the portrayal of Iranians and considered that maybe I was rating this too high, but no, my opinion stands. Maybe it's because I'm reading this years later, and I was not alive at the time of the events taking place, so I have a bit more of a historic view of it, but I did not get the idea at all that Betty Mahmoody was trying to paint Iranians with a broad brush. She tells her truth of those she disliked, those who were dirty, and rude, and piggish, but she also sings the praises of all the kind and wonderful people she met along the way and all those that risked their own safety to help her. There are plenty of awful people in every culture across the world. Pointing them out as part of a story does not mean that you are trying to convince anyone of anything.

That said, the story is the main reason for the 5 stars. I very rarely read non-fiction. I have read all sorts of horror, thriller, true crime. I started reading Stephen King when I was 12. But this... this is true horror. As a woman, the thought of being held hostage in a country where I have no rights is terrifying. As a mother, the thought of being held hostage in a country where I have no rights with my daughter is a fear I'm not sure there is a word for. Adding to the fact that you're being held hostage by a person you loved and trusted more than anyone else in the world, by the person you thought was your partner... I honestly don't know how this woman and her daughter made it through and out the other side as seemingly whole and healthy women. While not religious myself, I also have a certain appreciation for them keeping their own faith after everything they went through. Personally I think I would have renounced any and every organized religion after that.

I've just started her daughter's book and I look forward to hearing more from her perspective as an adult looking back.

ruggile's review against another edition

5.0

I read it a few years ago, it's one of the best books I've ever read. If the opinion hasn't changed in so many years, I don't think it will change in the future either

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